XS500 E - Cam chain adjustment?

[ehud42]

Lots of threads / comments on the need to regularly adjust the cam chain tensioner on the XS series bikes. But I'm lost. My 1978 XS500-E (VIN 1J3-3xxxxx) does not seem to have the often mentioned cap and nut.

But there is this port on the right hand side of the engine. What is it? And does anoyone have a link to a manual for the E-series engine that notes whether the cam chain needs regular maintenance or not?

That cover this pulls off. It's a rubber plug with a metal cap. Inside looks like a tube/portal to deep inside the valves with something held in place with a C-clip.

 

[Its been a long time]

The cap and nut you mention is the XS650 camchain adjuster. It's a completely different engine to an XS500, nothing is the same.

The bit you pulled off has absolutely nothing to do with adjusting the camchain. It looks like a plug over the end of the rocker arm shaft. You really don't want to be fiddling in there.

I really suggest you try an Internet search for a workshop manual.

 

[5twins]

It seems that only an older manual for the TX500 & 500A is readily available as a free download, but it will give you the info you need ......

https://dn760105.eu.archive.org/0/i...e-manual/Yamaha_TX500_500A_Service_Manual.pdf

The carbs and wheels differ on this older model but the engine is pretty much the same as yours, so the cam chain adjustment section should apply.

Wait a minute, I found one, lol ......

file:///D:/Downloads/XS500B,C%20XS500E%20Service%20Manual%20LIT-11616-01-46.pdf

But, I would download both as it's nice to have multiple manuals to refer to and cross-reference between. There's an XS500 Facebook group you might be interested in .......

https://www.facebook.com/groups/32819776037/about

That's where I found some of these files.