‘77 XS650 get it running

[Its been a long time]

Took apart my Tach and Speed gauges ti replace the bulbs. The rubber seals are cracked and falling apart.

I’ve looked through other threads but haven’t found a definitive *this* solution.

I looked at the Yamaha site and the seals are $33 each. Not really interested in paying that for 2 piece a of rubber.

Does anyone have a nice solution for this?

Thanks again everyone.

I replaced the crumbled 47 year old rubber dampers with 89mm x 6mm O rings. Unless you look very carefully and know what you're looking for, you wouldn't really know I hadn't used the original rubber dampers. As you are in the US, you might find 1/4" work as well or better than 6mm. A very cheap solution.

 

[Woodrow31]

I replaced the crumbled 47 year old rubber dampers with 89mm x 6mm O rings. Unless you look very carefully and know what you're looking for, you wouldn't really know I hadn't used the original rubber dampers. As you are in the US, you might find 1/4" work as well or better than 6mm. A very cheap solution.

Thanks a ton for this.

 

[Its been a long time]

Thanks a ton for this.

You're more than welcome. If you were in the UK I have some you could have, I had to buy 5 and used 2. Cheaper to buy locally than post transatlantic.

 

[650Skull]

If anyone is up for it. I’ve found a new issue to chase haha.

I found last night that my right side turn signal does not always work. Left side is fine. Always works.

The front-right light will not come on but the back-right and the indicator on the tree will come on. They will stay solid. Not blinking.

If I give the bike a little throttle, the front light will come on and they will blink like they are supposed to.

I did a little digging already and found some saying it could be a bad battery, but the battery is brand new. Others saying it’s a bad ground, but this is a new problem. It wasn’t doing this before.

I have also noticed that when the bike is at idle and I turn the lights on and turn the turn signals on, the motor starts to stutter and will sometimes stall out.

I started thinking maybe a bad coil as someone had suggested before.

If your positive it isn't the battery then you have to much resistance in the loom. Need to go through it from one end to the other, cleaning up all connection, bullet and couplings, grounds, and dismantle, clean regrease, all switches. Check for corrosion, broken wires and remove and clean all ground points.

https://www.xs650.com/threads/continuity-testing-made-easy.49917/

 

[Woodrow31]

I found that it happens when the battery isn’t fully charged. When I’m struggling to get it started and the battery is starting to drain, the right side turn signal messes up. Once it’s running and the battery is back to fully charged, the lights operate fully.

 

[650Skull]

If anyone is up for it. I’ve found a new issue to chase haha.

I found last night that my right side turn signal does not always work. Left side is fine. Always works.

The front-right light will not come on but the back-right and the indicator on the tree will come on. They will stay solid. Not blinking.

If I give the bike a little throttle, the front light will come on and they will blink like they are supposed to.

I did a little digging already and found some saying it could be a bad battery, but the battery is brand new. Others saying it’s a bad ground, but this is a new problem. It wasn’t doing this before.

I have also noticed that when the bike is at idle and I turn the lights on and turn the turn signals on, the motor starts to stutter and will sometimes stall out.

I started thinking maybe a bad coil as someone had suggested before.

Found a new problem. Have a new battery

I found that it happens when the battery isn’t fully charged. When I’m struggling to get it started and the battery is starting to drain, the right side turn signal messes up. Once it’s running and the battery is back to fully charged, the lights operate fully.

I gave advice based on your previous post with a problem found using a new battery, (would have to assume it was fully charged),

Now your saying it only happens when the battery is low.

My post still stands. Going of how your blinkers act when the battery is low shows you have resistance in the loom.

If you ignore the solution , ( I posted), to the symptoms, that resistance in the loom is going to circulate, rearing its head in other areas.

 

[Woodrow31]

Found a new problem. Have a new battery

I gave advice based on your previous post with a problem found using a new battery, (would have to assume it was fully charged),

Now your saying it only happens when the battery is low.

My post still stands. Going of how your blinkers act when the battery is low shows you have resistance in the loom.

If you ignore the solution , ( I posted), to the symptoms, that resistance in the loom is going to circulate, rearing its head in other areas.

A new battery as in, I bought it less than 2 months ago.

Thank you.

I will begin dissecting and cleaning the wiring.

Once again, I could not be doing this without all of you guys chiming in with your knowledge and support.

I really appreciate it.

I am trying to ask for help less and less and just figure it out on my own now. Like a child learning to walk.

 

[650Skull]

Nothing wrong with asking. What is it they say..... There are no dumb questions.....might get some dumb answers though

Try not to do to many things at once. Work on one problem at a time. Getting all the electrics checked and cleaned up is an important 1st step.

Electrical issues at more often blamed on carbs, and hours lost fixing something that isn't the problem.

 

[GLJ]

If anyone is up for it. I’ve found a new issue to chase haha.

I found last night that my right side turn signal does not always work. Left side is fine. Always works.

The front-right light will not come on but the back-right and the indicator on the tree will come on. They will stay solid. Not blinking.

If I give the bike a little throttle, the front light will come on and they will blink like they are supposed to.

I did a little digging already and found some saying it could be a bad battery, but the battery is brand new. Others saying it’s a bad ground, but this is a new problem. It wasn’t doing this before.

I have also noticed that when the bike is at idle and I turn the lights on and turn the turn signals on, the motor starts to stutter and will sometimes stall out.

I started thinking maybe a bad coil as someone had suggested before.

As @650Skull has said fix the electrical problems first. You say that when he bike is idling and you turn the lights and use a turn signal the motor stutters points to a electrical issue. Volt drop in switches or connections could be problem or a charging problem or both. Never assume just because something is new that it is good.

 

[Woodrow31]

Hey everyone.

Deer hunting season has begun for me so this has been on the back burner for a minute.

I decided as a winter project I was going to refurbish my tank. I removed the tank and in doing so found that one of the brass tubes? that screws into the petcock was loose. Then I found that the hole that the brass tube screws into is actually stripped.

I would like to fix this somehow instead of just buying new petcocks.

Has anyone tried to drill and tap this and put in a different sized tube? Is there another fix that I’m not aware of?

Thanks again everyone.

 

[5twins]

I don't think they're tapped, just pressed in.

 

[Jim]

Yeah, pressed in. You can clean the hole with a bore brush, clean the tube and J B Weld it back in place.

 

[Woodrow31]

I don't think they're tapped, just pressed in.

Mine are threaded. The hole in the petcock and the copper tube is threaded. It screws in to the hole.

Originally I thought the tub threads were stripped so I ordered new tubes. Those wouldn’t grab either.

Upon further examination I found the hole in the petcock was stripped.

Also I’m referring to this tube. Not the tube that is inside the tank. Apologies for not using the right terminology.

 

[Woodrow31]

Technical term is “Spigot.” Apologies.

 

[5twins]

OK, yes, those are threaded. A used replacement petcock might be your best bet. Personally, I'd prefer that instead of one of the new repops.

 

[Woodrow31]

OK, yes, those are threaded. A used replacement petcock might be your best bet. Personally, I'd prefer that instead of one of the new repops.

Always a big help. Thank you once again.