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jrhendryx

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Posts posted by jrhendryx

  1. hello all, been a while since ive posted any issues about my bike, but im running into one now.

    pulled in the clutch handle the other day and felt a pop. got it home and took a peek at the cable, and it had started to fray (about half of the strands had given out). So, I took it off, and when I pulled the clutch side cover off the engine, I noticed that the return spring that forces the clutch mechanism (not sure of exactly what its called, but its the part that the cable actually pulls on) to return to place seemed compressed by about 1/3 of its total length.

    I had a new cable made for it at a local shop, and when i started installing it, noticed that before I hooked it up to the clutch lever, the spring was fully extended (but very very weak... I could easily compress it between finger and thumb). Once I hooked the clutch handle back up and ran the wire through to it, the spring was once again compressed to about 1/3 its total length......

    does this mean that there is a load on the clutch at all times? it seems to me that if the spring is compressed, that it must be slightly engaging the clutch, because above the spring is the mount where the cable guide sits, and it is solid. the only moving part is the lower portion.

    Any ideas how to remedy this? Should I get a stiffer spring? I noticed that at full extension, when I pulled on the cable (while detached from the lever) it would not extend fully. Would a stiffer spring fix this? I dont think that a longer cable is the answer necessarily, because I actually have a little extra play in the lever itself. any ideas where I might be able to find a stiffer spring? Perhaps adding a 3-4 cm spacer above the spring would achieve the same result of adding a stiffer spring?

    Thanks in advance!

  2. Thanks guys. No offense, but it has a 19 on the front and a 16 on the back.

    I believe they're the stock wheels too. I'm still looking for the correct front fender. I don't want to hinder the steering in any way, so it looks like the 90/90 is the way to go. Thanks

    same here on the wheel sizes, mines a 19 on front and an 18 on back.... thats stock - i even checked the yamaha shop book i have for it.

    ive been told at shops "no, both are 18" and then they get out the tape and scratch their heads.

  3. Thanks man! For $100, I may have it done, since the tank is in perfect shape outside.

    keep in mind, most places you take it to have it cleaned/lined are going to chem dip it... this will remove all of the rust, but it will also destroy the paint.

    also, most radiator shops (like the one i just had a replacement tank lined at) have a policy that says "not responsible to damage to motorcycle gas tanks" to cover themselves on the paint or any dents it might get from being dropped or not handled very gently.

    im happy with my results since i was planning on repainting it anyway.

  4. I havn't gotten anywhere on my bike yet. I havn't had time to look at it.

    Make sure the worm gear (that the clutch cable hooks into) is in the right position. If your kick lever just moves freely you probably have to much pressure on that pushrod the wormgear sits on. Try moving the gear to a different position or loosening your clutch cable (to diagnose).

    I do have a bit more information - 1st kick and I get no feedback from the engine (no sound of pistons moving). The 2nd kick I hear the pistons move with the 'putt putts' of air moving through the muffler. The third kick gives me no feedback. Fourth kick gives me feedback, and so on.

    ??

    um...

    based on what someone above said about the kick only cranking a half rotation, that sounds like the kick lever isnt actually turning the engine over on one of the cylinders....

    that doesnt make much sense now that ive written it out, but it did when i thought it.

    could it be something actually in the gear meshing that is screwy? i looked at my manuals for my xs500, and could the kickstart gear pinion not be engaging the gear threads on the shaft itself? since half the time it works, half it doesnt, could half of it just be damaged?

    that probably doesnt help with why it wont start, but it might help with the no feed back thing...

    or it just made it worse...

    :)

  5. When you find a new cam chain, find a new mechanic. :rolleyes:

    i think your mechanic should be purchasing the cam chain, since he is the one who didnt use a chain breaker to pop the link out.

    his mistake, you shouldnt have to pay for it.

  6. Where are you located? I have two of these bikes and if yours turns out to be a junker, I need to talk to you about parts.

    I'm in Wisconsin and just bought the second bike for $620. Runs great!

    there is also an XS yahoo group i think.... I joined it a while back, but havent checked in on it lately.

  7. The long side of the lever is the one that tells you what you are running on.

    Do you still have this bike?

    I need the top trim piece on the left side cover. Just looking for one to restore my bike to original. I have two of these bikes, neither has the piece I need.

    I figured out the petcock positioning after running out of gas..... lesson learned.

    I sure do still have it, but it looks like the pic I posted on your other thread. ebay for the trim piece. ive seen several on there, including the mesh (which you have to get seperately).

  8. The link works for me, and yeah, it takes you to a jpg that gets updated every minute. Since it's taking you directly to the jpg file, you have to refresh manually on your browser.

    yeah, sorry - I should have mentioned that it only gives snapshots... :huh:

    its still kind of neat though. you can see them staging every now and then, and I saw some lotus (not sure what model) lined up against an r1 the other day. im sure it proved interesting :)

  9. I use it a lot. I can stay in touch with the people on my course at Uni :D

    If u wanna add me, drop me a PM. ;)

    Same here....

    pm sent by the way.

  10. I don't have pictures yet. It is in very good condition, just sat for the last decade. In order to make this bike like new, I just need the top trim piece from the left side cover and original exhaust pipes.

    The "donor bike " I just bought for #620 is in real good shape. Pipes are starting to rust out and missing the same trim piece.

    I'll try the mike's site you mentioned.

    What shape is yours in?

    engine is relatively solid (i think i hear a slight rattle on the left side at idle though - maybe cam chain tensioner starting to go?)

    im having a used tank with no dents chem-dipped to remove the rust/old paint and am going to have it painted by a friend. im also missing that trim piece on the left hand side cover, and the top one needs to be re-painted.

    its my first bike, and i love it... its too bad that its so hard to find parts though.

    I have seen some of those trim pieces on ebay. make sure you click "worldwide" because a lot of the parts seem to be located in germany.

    Here is a pic of mine as it looks now.

    I also want to try to find an original seat that wont cost me $200...

    IMG_1072.jpg

  11. I am new to this, so please bear with me.

    I have a 1975 yamaha, XS500B, that I purchased new. It has been sitting for about the last 10 years. It ran when I parked it so I suspect with a fluid change, battery and clean up of the carbs, it should run.

    Here is my problem... I will be needing some parts for this bike. I just bought another bike or the same year and model on ebay as a donor bike. It is really too nice to take apart and runs well. I can get some of the parts I need from this bike but still need some other. My biggest needs are an exhaust system and the trim pieces for the left side cover.

    Anyone have suggestions as to where I could start looking for parts? Any help I can get will be greatly appreciate.

    Thanks

    you may be able to fit up some of the mikesxs.com exhaust to yours, not sure... perhaps have your old ones re-chromed?

    as for the side covers - good luck finding one for under $100. they are not cheap.

    I have the same bike.

    Pictures?

  12. When I got my bike I could get on it for a bit of a ways and then it would die. I let it sit, it would crank back up to rinse and repeat. It was a charging problem - replaced the voltage regulator and it was fine. Like I said, check for ~14.5volts across the terminals.

    With yours, your regulator will be mechanical and you may be able to adjust it.

    also, your petcocks have a tiny (but not that great) filter built in most likely. if you pull the back cover off the petcock, you might be able to clear out any rust that has built up in there. thats what I do whenever mine starts trying to run rough/backfire.

    good luck

  13. Hi everybody, I'm new here but as I glanced (and searched) around I could tell you've all contributed to a valuable resource.

    My bikes a 1975 XS650 B but I know for a fact that it has the later model forks that are beefier (1978, I believe). I'm basically slowly checking the maintenance on everything since I bought the bike last summer and need to ride to escape these insane gas prices soon.

    My question is pretty simple: the local Yamaha shop has various fork oils and fluids (including an awesome looking Japanese import, OEM, Yamaha, tin canister of fork oil for $30) and I just grabbed some 10wt Rock Oil figuring it was probably going to work but I really didn't even notice that there we various viscosities. Which viscosity is best for my set-up? Does it depend at all on preference, because I really don't have one. Any suggestions or tips would help (because the 650Wiki and my Clymer manual didn't and, to be honest, the kids they hire at the Yamaha shop are... dumb... sorry).

    my yamaha shop manual for my xs500b calls for plain old 10w 30

  14. Thanks for the suggestions on the parts suppliers. Can a mechanical type petcock be retrofitted to work in place of my vacuum operated one? It seems to me that the vacuum system is an over complication.

    i believe so.... there ought to be a vacuum barb somewhere on the carb that you cap off when you change from a vacuum to a manual petcock. i dont know - i dont have much experience with the vacuum systems.

  15. yep, that's the original way,i suppose its protects them via the lower leg.

    odd.... mine is faced the other direction....

  16. Hi,

    Just finished restoring my xs, and thought I'd share it with you.

    Mods have included twin disk with xs1100 master cyl and drilled disks all round.

    Just been out to Rivington today on it and it ran beautifully, can't wait till Stafford

    xs400C.jpg

    Drewpy, i have a question about your front brake calipers.

    are they faced towards the back of the bike originally, or was that a decision you made when you changed it over to dual front discs?

    Does it lessen the fatigue on the mounts - with them facing backwards, they push against the fork instead of pulling away when braking?

    just curious.

  17. I need a new fuel petcock. When turned to the off position fuel pours out of the left carb. I am pretty sure that the vacuum diaphragm is shot. From what I can find, a mechanical type petcock from a xs650 should fit. I think I may need a new coil also but need the get the fuel issue figured out first. Other than that I was mainly curious about upgrade parts, seats, tanks, pipes and so on. I also would like to convert to an electronic ignition setup. There doesn't seem to be a huge after market for the 400, and I am hoping that some of the more common 650 hop up goodies may work. Any ideas on where to look? Thanks for the help.

    mikesxs.com is one place that i have found some of the parts that work out. they carry the petcocks you need... though yours must be vacuum, mine are manual. i think that they carry the vacuum kind too.

    yamatopdog.com is another good place to look for NOS parts.

  18. Hi all. I recently bought a 1979 xs400 to ride over the summer and then restore/modify over next winter. I am fairly new to motorcycles in general and very new to Yamahas. The bike has a couple of issues as it sits right now that I am trying to work out. The biggest problem I am having so far is locating parts. Could anyone point me to a good parts supplier or a listing of parts that are interchangeable with other bikes? Any help would be greatly appreciated.

    is there a specific part that you need to make it ride-able?

    a lot of items on all of the older bikes (esp the xs series from what ive found) are interchangeable, except when it comes to motor parts. suspension parts especially are bin parts.

    welcome!

  19. apparently, "daewoo" is korean for "blind stupid twat"

    Was crossing a bridge this morning, one of two I have to cross on my way to work, and the longer of the two.

    it is two lanes separated by cement dividers in the center, with cement dividers on the outside between the roadway and a sidewalk.

    Some jackass in a little daewoo sedan started coming in on me from the left, even though i was even with his front window... talking on his phone and drifting into my lane. The car in front was slowing, and the one behind was even with the daewoo's bumper, so i was pretty well pinched.

    i hit my horn.... no reaction.

    i pegged the revs..... no reaction, and now he has me a foot from the divider, and hes maybe a foot and a half off my left side.

    finally, i didnt have any other choices - the guy behind was still on the daewoo's bumper, and the dude in front wouldnt speed up. my new summer gloves have pretty heavily armored knuckles, so i swung and smacked his door as hard as I could.... nice dent. that got his attention.

    this son of a bitch has the balls to flip me off once he gets back in his own lane.

    I chalked this up to him just being a moron, shot the gap between him and the guy in front, and got back into my original lane of travel.

    this guy then came up on my left AGAIN, and cut in so close that he actually clipped (just barely) my rear tire. it was touch and go for a moment, but i managed to recover - barely.

    let him pass, gave him the finger, and went on my way - after memorizing his plate.

    Called the cops and put in a hit and run/ road rage complaint on him.

    hopefully he gets whats coming to him. what a way to start the day....

    i cant wait until my wife finishes school so i can move out of here, these people are just so damn rude.

  20. New to this forum. I did a search and didn't come up with an answer. Hopefully someone will know. Will an xs650 motor fit an xs500 frame?

    I have access to a xs500 with a clear title for $250.00. It needs lots of engine work among other things (wiring). I also have access to a good used 650 motor. Will it bolt to the 500 frame without modifying the frame or is it a major project/unworkable?

    You know, I was wondering about this same question this morning wile I was riding to work. I have no idea if it would fit inside the frame, or would bolt into the stock mounts. I know that the frames are slightly different, but have nothing to measure against. I want to know the answer to this question as well. I doubt that it will though.

  21. do it yourself! fork seals are £8 and new oil £15 for 1 litre of 20w.

    I recon it will take you day to do, the hardest part would be prising out the seals themselves, but using heat and tyre lever/something similar and protecting the alloy leg with cloth, there should be no problem.

    if you do get stuck post on here and we'll help you!

    for a dealer to do, he won't want to do it, so will charge you big time to put you off. maybe 3 hours work @ £30 an hour plus parts

    I was quoted by a small shop that does the stuff i dont know how to do (and that i trust a great deal), at 1.5 hours labor at 62.50 per hour, plus parts/oil.

    I did it myself in one day. It took me a while because i kept having to run to the store and get the right tools, and had to go to that same shop to get a used stanchion when i cracked mine.

    I really think that you should give it a shot yourself. The most difficult part of my work was putting the seal back in place without damaging it. You will learn a lot, and I felt pretty proud of myself (im slowly learning this stuff). plus, once youve done one thing on the bike yourself, you will be more confident that you can fix other things, and will end up saving yourself a bunch of money.

    let us know if we can help!

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