What have you done to your XS today?

Mystery solved.
As I said, you have an RD gauge cluster. And as I said, this will fit your current gauge cluster:
361320-01ee3a30479e2de1e89c7606fc07f0f3.png

https://hvccycle.net/yamaha-rd250-rd350-1973-1975-ignition-trim-plate-hvc20087-9-360-83519-41-98/

The problem, is that the above is either not what you bought, or not what they shipped to you. What they shipped to you was a 1974 TX650/1975 XS650 plate. Which will not fit your RD cluster.
I was unaware that anyone made a TX/XS plate. I would love to know where you bought yours.
 
TAFFY GETS TANKED....Again....

OK I'm pleased to say I have repaired Taffy's petrol tank. No more leaks on the test; and a quick run around the block proved it's good to go.
I need to tidy up my soldering and JBWeld work; then repaint the underside of the tank.

More on the Taffy thread at some time soon.
 
DogBunny said:
Mystery solved.
As I said, you have an RD gauge cluster. And as I said, this will fit your current gauge cluster:
View attachment 368885
https://hvccycle.net/yamaha-rd250-rd350-1973-1975-ignition-trim-plate-hvc20087-9-360-83519-41-98/

The problem, is that the above is either not what you bought, or not what they shipped to you. What they shipped to you was a 1974 TX650/1975 XS650 plate. Which will not fit your RD cluster.
I was unaware that anyone made a TX/XS plate. I would love to know where you bought yours.
Click to expand...
Years ago HVC used to sell one for the 74/75 xs model. I had one on my old bike and looks exactly like that. They discontinued it some years ago though. I would suspect that Pat's unit would be rather desirable as there are no other sources for the 75 xs overlay. Everyone's is faded dog-shit brown and likely scuffed up.
 
Decided to do a proper oil change and evaluation on newly acquired 81 S2 before frying to start it. I'm doing a combo of suggestions from Tech inspecting bow to stern. Skull's thread said change the oil 1st thing even if it looks fine and this is what I found
IMG_3553.JPGIMG_3567.JPGIMG_3568.JPGIMG_3566.JPGIMG_3572.JPGIMG_3575.JPGIMG_3576.JPGIMG_3585.JPGIMG_3581.JPG
I hope that's not too bad, I saw much worse on YouTube. The metal is aluminum as I did ther magnet test. the front drain plug was clean but the other one had a fine gray/black fine soot on it and so did the sump filter.. The weak spot on the filter has some cracks starting. I took some pics of the interior with and without my new endo camera. does anything look bad? How bad? The bike has just over 5K if the PO was honest. What do you think?
 
DogBunny said:
Maybe you already know this, but most likely, in my opinion, what appears to be at least a couple of black plastic strips in your sump filter/plate pics are from your front cam chain guide, and your cam chain is now rubbing on the bare aluminum, resulting in the aluminum flakes on your side filter screen.
Click to expand...
Thanks , I didn't know but suspected. I left that piece on the filter so you could see it but forgot to mention it. Is that what that wear is looking up into the block in the pics?
 
I am not seeing the front cam chain guide in your block pics. I'm not an engine guy, but I don't see anything unusual in those pics. All of your pics look pretty typical to me, and nothing to worry about, other than replacing your front cam chain guide and repairing your sump filter.
 
paint 001.JPG
I can't tell what's going on in your pics. This is what cam chain guides look like. The thin black part on top is nylon, and the cam chain rides on it. When it becomes very worn, strips of it like what you found on your sump get torn off. Then the cam chain rides on aluminum, producing flakes like you found on your side filter.

1775942134877.png

This is how it mounts. The two bolts #27...

1775942280009.png

... pass through the holders, part #11. On the front of the engine, behind the oil delivery pipe. Most, but not all, of the guide is inside the cylinder casting, between the two cylinders.
 
DogBunny said:
View attachment 369146
I can't tell what's going on in your pics. This is what cam chain guides look like. The thin black part on top is nylon, and the cam chain rides on it. When it becomes very worn, strips of it like what you found on your sump get torn off. Then the cam chain rides on aluminum, producing flakes like you found on your side filter.

View attachment 369147
This is how it mounts. The two bolts #27...

View attachment 369148
... pass through the holders, part #11. On the front of the engine, behind the oil delivery pipe. Most, but not all, of the guide is inside the cylinder casting, between the two cylinders.
Click to expand...
I was trying to get it as close to the front channel to see but you get turned around with that camera being on a flexible wand and I wasn't sure which direction was what and how far into the block it was if that makes sense. I read a bunch about replacing it and if I understand it right , I need to remove the motor to do so. I have a spare motor I picked up and I am going to open up that one first to get an idea before pulling the one out of the bike. I will start a build thread
 
Maybe 2 years ago I ordered stainless cam plugs to replace the chrome ones I put on 13 years ago- chrome ones rusted up within a year. Today I installed them. 3 out of 4 went fine, the last one has totally buggered threads out of the package. I worked on it with a small triangle file for maybe 30 mins but couldn't make it happy. Oh well. Put it all back together and went for a ride through the neighborhood, apparently I forgot to tighten up the mechanical advance lock nut sufficiently and of course it backed off and left me dead. Luckily only had to push about 50 yards then drift 1/4 mile home. All back together and running strong now. I think this is the best the bike has looked and ran since I first freshened it up 13 years ago. All I really need now is a set of new 34mm fork tubes that aren't pitted.
 

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Today not mine but my girlfriends xs650 (that I built) blew a hole in the right hand piston
I can't understand yet why it blew
The timing was right with no pre ignition the plugs were coming out about the right colour
She was doing around 70mph so it wasn't being caned
That cylinder had always smoked a little when hot and only done about 600 miles since I fitted new rings
I'm pretty gutted
 
bazz said:
Today not mine but my girlfriends xs650 (that I built) blew a hole in the right hand piston
I can't understand yet why it blew
The timing was right with no pre ignition the plugs were coming out about the right colour
She was doing around 70mph so it wasn't being caned
That cylinder had always smoked a little when hot and only done about 600 miles since I fitted new rings
I'm pretty gutted
Click to expand...

Two into one pipe? Those pipes suck. ;^)
The right side normally runs a bit hotter there's some that bump that side pilot one size over the other.
Jetting that seems "fine" in around town use can have shortcomings revealed on a highway run.
 
gggGary said:
Two into one pipe? Those pipes suck. ;^)
The right side normally runs a bit hotter there's some that bump that side pilot one size over the other.
Jetting that seems "fine" in around town use can have shortcomings revealed on a highway run.
Click to expand...
No it's running 2into 2 downpipes into 2 cocktail shakers
Bs34 carbs with pod filters
Plugs come out a perfect colour and no signs of pre ignition
It's running Boyer ignition
The left cylinder is running fine
 

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