how to

so, while my motor is on the bench, I'm looking at the big long mounting bolts and suchlike and they look like crap... rust, oily crud and alu white-dust, what the best way to get em looking nice? or at least not like shite.

Simple to replace, here are some helpful pics, tips and torques. Depend on where you look and what year you have, this might help confuse you. I just torqued mine at 80 ft/lbs. Front drive gear nut(36mm) Torque specifications per Haynes manual- gearbox sprocket nut 72-87 ft/lbs. (pg.17)...

I've been looking through the manuals and posts and they don't show a washer or shim that fits inside the right side case cover to shim the Kick Starter Seal? Can you take a look at these pics and suggest if it's right or is there a part number for a missing shim here? There is about .014 room...

For this ancient post on using electrolysis to clean the inside of a tank. I've used electrolysis a lot for cleaning various parts but never gave a thought to using it on the inside of a tank. His picture of the rubber cork and the bent anode was all I needed. A quick variation on his...

Hi guys, posting from Australia. Just got a 1973 TX650 and going to do the funny chopper look. I want to fit a king-queen seat, happy to do some minor welding/fab if need be. Anyone got any they want to sell? I know a lot of people didn't like this look back in the day, surely there are some...

The pictures on MikeXS are very outdated, so here are some new pics to venture in the unknown. . . . Good Luck! Here is the part link https://www.mikesxs.net/parts/yamaha-xs650-bushing-clutch-pushrod Or the tip/faq link to the instructions at Mikes XS https://www.mikesxs.net/faq.html...

Hi everyone, It's my first time on this forum and I am David aka Renard49. So, I bought that Yamaha XS650 from 1971 that was already customed by the previous owner. I am in restoring that queen and I have issues with the wires as the previous dude redid everything and nothing is per...

I'm going through everything on my first build, and the alternator's stator coils look really grimy. Take a look at the attached pictures; should I clean these, or do they need to be replaced? I can't find replacements on MikesXS (either that or I don't know what I'm looking at), but I've...

Have a few photos here,to solve the puzzle with this engine stand, just remove the cross member on the front of your frame(temporarily) and add it to the Sub Stand Dard Frame! See Pics.

Hello and thanks for your time. I bought a 1980 xs650 and I want to know what would be cheaper route to complete the electrical/ignition. All I have is the wiring harness. I'm missing everything else electrical. I need to know what I'm missing and if I should upgrade the system. Thanks again

I went with this clutch kit, here are some tips, before installing. Soak plates before installing( up to 24 hours and atleast 2 hours) I used JASO MA rating on the oil (for wet clutches) 10W 40 Scotchbrite the steel plates before reinstalling, a little scuff grips better than a polish. There...

Some pics showing the procedures taken to modify the clutch. There is an album on my account with quite a few more pictures. Album with 87 pics http://www.xs650.com/media/albums/2751/ Here is the kit at Mikes- https://www.mikesxs.net/parts/yamaha-xs650-clutch-hub-cush-spring-repair-kit

I started to rebuild my clutch and had to find this 1mm washer that goes up against the axle bearing, hope this helps anyone missing the correct placement of washers or other parts of the clutch assembly. If you need more pics, I have an album with 87 pics of the rebuild.

Disclaimer: This is for a Suzuki GT550, not a Yamaha XS However, a spoked rim is a spoked rim, n'est-ce pas? I have a used replacement 18" rim for the GT. Overall, it's in good shape and runs pretty true, but it has one missing spoke and three bent spokes. So, questions: 1. Is there...

Hello! i have determined that i have oil getting into the left cylinder when parked up, fouling the plug untl it coughs up all the un-burned petrol and oil in a series of very loud crash, bangs and wallops...! so, i am going to re-do the top end over the next few grey miserable english winter...

OK now we know what today is and we all are going to eat and drink our asses off. So tomorrow we need a walk a thon and post the distance that you walked to get off those pounds. Walking is the beat exercise that you can do even if you just walk down the street or around the house once a day it...

To those with trailering experience... what is the minimal size trailer that would handle a stock 76? Tractor Supply has a 4X7 lightweight trailer (350 pounds) that my small car can probably handle just fine. But I don't know if it would be long enough. I'd rather have the bike go straight...

hey I'm new i have a 71' xs650 bikes been sweet done some mods rode about 1000's ams haven't had many issues til today i washed my bike, had it running and rode in back into the shed after then a few hours later went to ride to a friends rode 4-5s then bam bike stopped I've checked for fuel, has...

I would like to convert my kicker to a Harley style kicker pedal and I am not sure how to do this....I've seen other xs with this and I would like to do this with my 72 xs and I was curious if anybody knew how to do this and give me a play by play please :confused:

Hello, I Have a standard 1979 xs650 With the pamco High Output Electronic Ignition Kit with Electronic Advancer. I am trying to understand how to adjust the carbs (vm34mm mikuni) with out using the dead cylinder technique. If I pull one of the plug wires while the bike is running you lose the...