Like I didn’t have enough to do already….! Today I drove over 400 miles (round trip) to pick up my new to me ‘79 XS650 Special. Bike has sat idle for about 2-1/2 years.
Overall condition quite nice. Rebuilt engine with next to no miles. Starter motor pooched. Started on 2nd kick. Needs battery. Needs timing, timing chain tension and valves checked and set. Needs tires. Brakes (master cylinders and calipers) rebuilt. Carbs need a rebuild (just in case). Need to replace sealing washers under head nuts. Original head pipes and mufflers. Right petcock leaks. Inside of tank 9/10.
Cosmetically: chrome pretty good. Front fender has some rash. No rust under fenders. Gauges not bad. Tach has a ding in the bezel. Frame and tank painted. Seat has a rip. I have the side covers - removed for the ride home. Bull horn bars will be replaced with lower rise bars, but not a priority.
Issue: the motor has a strange noise in the valve train. When the engine is turned over, there is a “clacking” noise in the head. Do not hear the noise if slowly turned over but will when kick started. Sounds like the exhaust side. When the engine starts, it‘s more difficult to hear it ( I only ran the motor for a couple of seconds because of the noise). I’ll set the valve lash to see if that helps. I’m not tech savvy enough to post a video of the noise. It seems like the “clacking” occurs multiple times per revolution of the motor (but. Oil d be wrong on this). Perhaps timing chain related? The noise is quite “metallic“ in sound - like someone is tapping a wrench on the front of the head. I’ll try to listen with my stethoscope tomorrow.
Anyway - not a ton of work (I hope) to make this a nice looking rider. I‘ll report my progress.
If anyone sees anything that needs attention please lmk. Thx
Overall condition quite nice. Rebuilt engine with next to no miles. Starter motor pooched. Started on 2nd kick. Needs battery. Needs timing, timing chain tension and valves checked and set. Needs tires. Brakes (master cylinders and calipers) rebuilt. Carbs need a rebuild (just in case). Need to replace sealing washers under head nuts. Original head pipes and mufflers. Right petcock leaks. Inside of tank 9/10.
Cosmetically: chrome pretty good. Front fender has some rash. No rust under fenders. Gauges not bad. Tach has a ding in the bezel. Frame and tank painted. Seat has a rip. I have the side covers - removed for the ride home. Bull horn bars will be replaced with lower rise bars, but not a priority.
Issue: the motor has a strange noise in the valve train. When the engine is turned over, there is a “clacking” noise in the head. Do not hear the noise if slowly turned over but will when kick started. Sounds like the exhaust side. When the engine starts, it‘s more difficult to hear it ( I only ran the motor for a couple of seconds because of the noise). I’ll set the valve lash to see if that helps. I’m not tech savvy enough to post a video of the noise. It seems like the “clacking” occurs multiple times per revolution of the motor (but. Oil d be wrong on this). Perhaps timing chain related? The noise is quite “metallic“ in sound - like someone is tapping a wrench on the front of the head. I’ll try to listen with my stethoscope tomorrow.
Anyway - not a ton of work (I hope) to make this a nice looking rider. I‘ll report my progress.
If anyone sees anything that needs attention please lmk. Thx
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