Steve C
XS650 Addict
Hey everybody. I'm new to the forum and just picked up a cherry 1983 XS with just under 2800 miles. Its a real survivor. The seller shared with me a video of the bike running with the mystery whine. Tried to upload the video but wouldn't let me. Sounds just like a couple other clips I've seen on this forum. I thought 'How bad could it be with such low miles???' Stuck starter was my first thought. This thing is truly untouched, perfect wire harness, everything intact, absolutely 0 signs of use which is what you'd expect with such low miles.
I drained the oil and it looked ok. Then I got into the filters. Sump filter looked ok, no metal. The pump filter was my first clue, there was a little bit of metal flake in it. Told myself 'It's prolly just break-in debris...how many oil changes could it have possibly had with such low miles?'. So, removed the clutch and checked out the starter Bendix. It was perfect. The spring clip in the right place and very good tension. Well balls. The noise is coming from something right? Lets get forensic. So then pulled the primary gears off the crank, removed the spark plugs and turned the engine over on the starter. Well hey hey...that crank shaft is NOT supposed to wobble like that. Double balls. The dreaded pressed crank syndrome.
Looks like this might have been a warranty issue that went undiagnosed. I can just imagine the previous owners rolling it out of the garage each spring, firing it up and going 'Yep, noise is still there' and rolling her back into the garage.
Any who. Picked it up for $800 so I don't feel too bad and I like dirty fingernails.
So after I finish the RD 350 endurance racer currently on my lift, engine comes out and gets torn down. Crank & cam go off the Hughs for the 277 treatment.
I've read though a few threads that seem to reference the same issue so thought I'd share.
Cheers!
I drained the oil and it looked ok. Then I got into the filters. Sump filter looked ok, no metal. The pump filter was my first clue, there was a little bit of metal flake in it. Told myself 'It's prolly just break-in debris...how many oil changes could it have possibly had with such low miles?'. So, removed the clutch and checked out the starter Bendix. It was perfect. The spring clip in the right place and very good tension. Well balls. The noise is coming from something right? Lets get forensic. So then pulled the primary gears off the crank, removed the spark plugs and turned the engine over on the starter. Well hey hey...that crank shaft is NOT supposed to wobble like that. Double balls. The dreaded pressed crank syndrome.
Looks like this might have been a warranty issue that went undiagnosed. I can just imagine the previous owners rolling it out of the garage each spring, firing it up and going 'Yep, noise is still there' and rolling her back into the garage.
Any who. Picked it up for $800 so I don't feel too bad and I like dirty fingernails.
So after I finish the RD 350 endurance racer currently on my lift, engine comes out and gets torn down. Crank & cam go off the Hughs for the 277 treatment.
I've read though a few threads that seem to reference the same issue so thought I'd share.
Cheers!