valve

Hi, I'm Dorian Redden from Victoria BC and welcome to my startup business! These window kits were inspired by my appreciation for mechanisms coupled with my love for vintage motorcycles. I showcased these XS650 Lexan window kits over a year ago and received a huge amount of interest in them. I...

Hi all, I recently created an account, but I have visited to the forum to learn and have specific questions answered for several years. I bought my XS650 several years ago and it ran pretty rough when I bought it. I cleaned out the carbs and it ran better for awhile but eventually died on me and...

I'm currently in the middle of tearing down the top end of my motor(1980 XS650) because it bent a intake valve last fall when the valve spring retainer split in half. My clutch was also slipping last time I was riding it and I had already adjusted both ends of the clutch cable. I'm going to be...

Stuck on adjusting the valves. Well Ive gotten myself into another pickle before Born Free 11 last week. It started with just getting the bike finished to overnighting a camshaft kit and rocker arms from mikesXS. I have a 1980 Yamaha XS650SG that currently started ticking at the top. It was...

I have been re-assembling my bored, rephased XS650SJ. I have hit snag while degreeing the cam, and want to ask your advice. Background: Valve job, head re-surfacing, and boring (to 700) by Hoos. 447 crank and cam 277 rephased by Hugh's. New pistons, rings, cam chain, cam guides (both)...

I have been working on this top end rebuild for months (making time for it has been hard), but I'm nearly there. Before I rivet the cam chain together, I want to know if this is a normal amount of air leakage (you can hear the hissing of air as I turn the crank): I am turning the crank with a...

I guarantee this is a new one... Finally got my valve spring compressor in the mail and went to town taking the valve springs and plungers off. Everything was going swimmingly, I have to say the valve spring compressor was a fantastic purchase. So I get to the exhaust valve on the right hand...

Hey all, I'm working on getting a '75 put back together that I bought from the previous owner in pieces. I finally got my top end back on the crankcase and I noticed that the rockers aren't lined up with the valves very well. Of the pictures I attached the first two are the intakes and the...

Hey folks! Playing around with my 79' Special, following some of 5twins amazing advice, and I've got a quick question regarding valve adjustment. I've removed the alternator cover, and I am trying to line up the T with the Timing mark on the rotor. Two things: 1) Directly as I get the timing...

Hey All, I am lapping my valves and they appear to have good seat with no pits on the valve or the head. When I place the valve in its seat and shine a light on the other side I see light come through when I put a flash light up to it. Do I need to keep lapping or will it seal tighter when...

Hi all, About to try to get this puppy up and running and I just checked the valve clearances (1979 2F), I noticed that the only oil seal on those valve covers are the o-ring on the inside of the covers. Should I have a gasket between the cover and the engine? They didn't come with my top...

Bike Engine: 1979 650 XS, Stock as far as I know About a month ago my engine started knocking like a jackhammer, I adjusted the cam chain tension and valve clearance and the sound went away. Then I went on a 50 mile ride with a buddy and by the end of it the sound was back. Checked the cam...

I bought a set of adjustable compression damping valves at mikesxs.com - turns out early '77 D model 35mm forks have different (earlier type) damper rods than other '77-84 forks. Can anyone tell me how to fit these valves to the smaller diameter top ends of my dampers? Not included in mikes...