Old XS, new member !

MrQ

MrQ

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Hello!

Just a quick post to introduce myself. I'm Marc, have been riding various bikes for the past 40 years, and just got this awesome project bike from a friend who'd parked it since 1997.

00. right.jpg


Almost 65000 kms on it, engine not stuck but I get a really scary knocking sound when I turn it ; a LOT of work and learning ahead. I don't have the dealer service manual, but a fairly good aftermarket booklet plus the original parts list.

So I thought let's become a member of the premier forum on this bike, and roam through the decades of wisdom already here. I'm off to a pretty good start with the "justa joke" section :D

Oh, and that's my daily rider for the past 12 years on the right, some other toys on the left, and my son in the background working on his Solex 2200.

Cheers!
 
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MrQ said:
Hello!

Just a quick post to introduce myself. I'm Marc, have been riding various bikes for the past 40 years, and just got this awesome project bike from a friend who'd parked it since 1997.

View attachment 337167

Almost 60000 kms on it, engine not stuck but I get a really scary knocking sound when I turn it ; a LOT of work and learning ahead. I don't have the dealer service manual, but a fairly good aftermarket booklet plus the original parts list.

So I thought let's become a member of the premier forum on this bike, and roam through the decades of wisdom already here. I'm off to a pretty good start with the "justa joke" section :D

Oh, and that's my daily rider for the past 12 years on the right, some other toys on the left, and my son in the background working on his Solex 2200.

Cheers!
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Wow! I just love it. There are links on this forum where you can download the factory service manual. They may even have the EU info in them, but I can't assure that. So, that's a 1977 model. It looks just like the current calendar bike.
 
Welcome. By being an XS650 owner I am a "mechanic" by default, but not an experienced mechanic. Hopefully your knocking sound is a valve clearance issue. Check it carefully. If not you may have bottom end issues. With knowledgeable maintenance these bike are very durable. Many of us in the US envy your front twin disc set up.
 
Wow, thanks to all for the warm welcome and the kind words. A few more details below, to answer some of the questions. And here's the other side.

00. left.jpg


About the model year, I thought it was '79 because of the chart below.
XS650 VERSIONS - cropped.jpg
My serial number being #300311, it looks like the line "XS-F (Eur-Fr)" applies. The property title is from '79 too, but it could have spent a couple of years in a crate at a dealership. I got the feeling that XSs have evolved quite a lot over the years, so I'd prefer to get this right rather than buy the wrong parts. Any idea how reliable this is ? I don't remember where I found it on the Internet.

The engine is NOT running, the knocking sound is heard when actioning the starter motor. Not with the kick starter, but probable kicking just doesn't get enough revolution to reach the knock. It sounds more serious than just valve clearance. The engine looks in sad shape overall, missing bolts and even studs, oil leaks everywhere, ...

01. engine.jpg


I've found a 10cm / 4" long shard in the oil sump, plastic+metal, I assume it comes from a worn out cam chain guide. Maybe that's the source of the knocking. Anyway, I won't escape opening the top end to work on that. A bit scary, I'll admit, for someone who's never touched a four-stroke engine before (neither a multi-cylinder), but looking forward to it nonetheless.

For now I'm just removing everything I understand, cleaning things just to get familiar with the beast and assess the overall shape of it, and of course to bolster confidence for the hard parts. I'm sure there's a thread somewhere explaining how to get the engine out of the bike and on the workbench :)
 
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zrx1100 said:
Love the arcade games in the background. Which ones are those?
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The left-most was a Bomb Jack cabinet, now converted to Galaga which was my favourite game as a teenager. I barely ever play it, but like to bring it to a yearly convention and see people of all ages having a blast.

I've picked up the driving cabinets recently and not done anything on them. They share a World Rallye 2 PCB and run in twin racing mode, but the plan is to convert these cabinets to run many more driving games ; especially Outrun 2.

But the bike takes precedence, of course :D
 
Signal said:
Nice bike, it looks complete "just" needs a good going through and you will be in business. Just is in inverted coma's as its never like that. Welcome and enjoy your new obsession.
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Indeed. I never thought I could find so many issues in just one motorcycle. Luck of the draw buying a near 50 year old bike.
 
Welcome, the link below I have collected data for the different models, US and Europe, pics and brochures. 78 and 79 are the same colours it is the gauges that changed as can b seen in the brochures. Manufacturing dates, (model), straddle 2 years so a July/ August 78 to July 79 will b a 79. There is some leeway in the months so the ID # is the model.

78.
Yamaha_XS650_78__1.jpg


79.
fol1U3_9.jpg


https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...orkshop-manuals-tech-information-links.30569/
 
Yes, it seems many hands have been on one of these before you get it, and that's not always for the best, lol. Lots of things will need correcting and fixing to get it back in shape. But, this is a very well made machine and easy to work on. Most things are where you'd expect them to be, and over the years, owners have come up with "fixes" for most of the bike's short comings. And it's all pretty much covered on the forum here. You can make improvements to the brakes, suspension, and charging system, and carb tuning is well covered.
 
I have been reading many threads, and I'm impressed. I found many answers, mostly to questions I didn't suspect I would soon have. The skills (centuries, if combined :D ), the passion, the respect and humility, and overall just great vibe of mutual help and brotherhood. Exactly what you hope to find on a forum, but in my experience so far barely ever do. Great community.
 
I have a few questions I didn't find the answers to (doesn't mean they aren't somewhere of course). What is the community's preferred way to ask these ? In this thread, ~dedicated to one project ? In the "closest" thread, to keep topics together ? In a dedicated short thread ?
 
Just as an example, the threads for several rocker covers holes are gone ; see picture below. The most obvious solution seems to be threaded inserts, but I'm not really comfortable just drilling the head without making sure there is no better alternative. Couldn't find a dedicated or "final" thread on this particular problem.

20241014_183601.jpg


I also wonder how this can happen at all. I understand the alloy of the head is much softer than the screw/stud, but still, how can it damage this badly ? Overtightening ? Vibrations ?
 
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