1946415cd

Ahhh... competetion for the last remaining link, ha ha ha... I too will let you know if I find some links. Thank. Don

I live in western Canada. I'll take a link from wherever I can get one. Email and the postal system work just fine. Thank you. Don

You are correct, mine is a 1976. So, the engine on your bike is quiet? It doesn't sound like it needs a valve and timing chain adjust? Thanks. Don

The Xs500 has a duplex chain (double row roller chain) the xs650 has a single row chain, so they won't fit. Thanks for offering though. Any idea's where I can find what I need, please let me know. Thank you. Don

Anyone know where I can get a couple of XS500 timing chain master links from? Thanks. Don

Are XS500 engines noisey by design? I have a 1975 C model with only 5200 miles on it. The engine runs very well, has good compression and no visable smoke or oil leaks. At any rpm above 3500 it sounds like any other air cooled twin, below that and especially at idle its quite noisey. If I had to guess, I would say that the noise is coming from the right side of the crankcase and the right side of the valve cover. I'm sure its all timing chain related.The chain tensioner is just a bogus spring loaded affair that really is not adjustable ( sorry Yamaha, the adjustment proceedure in the shop manual is all BS, the tensioner is free to move up and down regardless of how tight the adjuster nut is) I believe the noise is coming from the crankshaft gear drive part of the timing chain and the chain clattering between the camshafts. The only other bike I have heard running also sounded horrible as do the ones I have heard online. So... what do you folks say? are the 500's just noisey by nature? It makes sense to me that with all those gears and chains it would make for a noisey engine, but it also makes me wonder how Yamaha ever sold the bikes? Thanks. Don

I suppose he just doesn't like you??? He still has filters listed, It makes no sense to me. Good luck with the filter mods, let us know how you do it. DM

I bought filters from him twice in the last 2 months. Talk to him, find out whats gone wrong. I received mine pronto.

That is why I bought six of them. 1 per year, if I still have the bike after 6 years and its still running I will review the options available.

I have already done that. If I recall correctly, the threads measure 21mm and the closest I could find is 19mm. The spacing for the O ring is also odd. Nothing matched up at all. I think its a pretty fair deal when you can buy a long gone discontinued filter for about $12. Now if you are just cheap and want to be able to use $3 Walmart filters, I can understand that and even agree, but to call the ebay supplier a "profiteering bastard" seems unfair.

Did you even look? The item # is 370302738754 The filters are new but old stock, you get 3 for that price, expect to see a tiny amount of rust.

I replaced the 400-18 on the back of my XS500 with a Shinko 712 110-90-18. Its plenty wide enough for the skinny rim, looks like a good tire, turns true, balanced well,its a much rounder profile than the old tire. only $42 from bike bandit.com I'm glad I didn't go for the 120 90 18 instead.

Sorry, you will need to search for "XS 500 oil filter" its the same thing.

There is a guy on ebay that will sell you 3 oil filters for $32 ( I bought 6 ) they will be slightly rusty and I could not fit them without pulling the stator cover off by about 1/4 inch. Good luck.

Thanks Drewpy, but they list it as NA at this time, pretty costy too!

I have a 1975 XS500C with only 5000 miles. Its a very clean bike and I have it running really well now. However, it seems that the timing chain is making a fair bit of noise. I can't imagine why it would be worn out at 5000 miles, the rest of the engine is in great condition. Could it be a tensioner problem? I did the tensioner adjustment and it did nothing for the noise. If I turn the engine over slowly by wrenching the exhaust cam the chain will gather slack between the cams and I can see the tensioner backing off. The few XS500's that I have seen and heard make the same sort of noise but, it would seem that the engine is only 1 good starting kickback away from the chain skipping a tooth and leaving me stranded. You thoughts are welcome and if anybody knows where a new chain and link could be had at a reasonable price, that would be great. Thank you. Don