chrisadams810

Camshaft is there minus the sprocket.

I'd take a gamble and fit a sprocket or camshaft but can't seem to find any. Now I know why po sold it.

Removing the cylinder head inspection holes I found the valves were failing to move at all. Upon lifting the head cover it appears the chain is resting on....nothing. There's absolutely no sprocket. That would also explain the missing spark.

Everything is now turning. Starter which turns the starter clutch which then in turn is turning the clutch. Pistons going up and down. A lack of compression to deal with. Oh and I don't seem to have a spark.

So finally a chance to fit the new starter clutch repair kit. Still no good. I think the kick start has been fitted wrong as the spring returns when you lift it up not after you've pushed it down.

I'm not even sure myself. I guess it was a statement. They my actually be a little worn so I've taken a punt and ordered a kit.

I've had the starter spinning with the rotor still on. It's turning the sprocket thus turning the cog attached to the starter clutch/rotor. Split the rotor and one roller fell out. Now I'm not sure if it felt out when the rotor came shooting out or whether it wasn't seated properly. But they all go back in okay.

Okay so the kickstart appears to be having no effect. I've just stripped the side off and can't see that there's anything wrong. I don't have a puller so I'm stuck on how to get the rotor off. Anything I can check for here before I grab a puller from somewhere?

Whilst I remember. When I pushed it in gear whilst clutch was in the other day it doesn't exactly push easily. But in neutral it does. I was thinking of adjusting clutch cable off. I've been told the clutch is brand new. Therefore incorrectly fitted?

It's just the starter. I'll have a look once I'm past two more nightshifts. Hopefully by then my kick start will have appeared too.

Bizarrely now it's turning over faster with nothing done. The lead isn't getting warm. I'll be able to do more once I've finished sodding nights. Like actually have a proper look when it's apart.

Sadly this is not the cause. The starter is turning over very slowly. Well at first I had just clicking but after a couple of attempts and a rock in gear it began turning slowly. So kickstart next to see if it'll go with that as I'm suspecting faulty starter motor.

I've got one in the post. It's fairly cheap despite knowing 'buy cheap buy twice' but I don't want to go wading into buying expensive not being 100% it's the solution. More like 99%

That's a very nice bike. I too want wire wheels. I'll see what this 250 engine is all about first I think. Are they fairly reliable? I've heard they're a bit gutless, but that I can live with.

I'll get one from Yambits thanks.

Okay thanks so much you've become my new favourite person .

I live between Doncaster and Scunthorpe. Here's the bike in question.

Thanks yep this and xs400.com looks pretty handy. I've just noticed after a slight delay that I have no sight glass or dipstick. Off to a cracking start I think not!

Ye it sits in oil alongside the starter clutch and starter motor chain so it's lubricated.

At the moment getting it running would be nice. I bought it the other day, the lure being the fresh new paint and parts. It's not original and for that I'm a little sad as with my cars I like originality. Having said that it was the way it looked that drew me to it. It's apparently been rebuilt etc. Except the starter motor just spins, well it did about four times and now the relays just clicking. Being curious and a little green on bikes (everything bike wise has been modern in the past so pretty reliable) I took the prised the cover open enough to see in. I of course dropped oil everywhere and became a little shocked to notice the starter runs on a chain (perhaps I should stick to cars) and the alternator sits in oil. Anyways I digress. In my head I had it like a car. The starter gear spins and engages in one movement to a flywheel. So if it can be heard spinning and it's already on the chain what is preventing it working? A starter clutch? Would it work on a kickstart if I had one (which I don't)?

Thanks for the replies. First things first I need to get it running. Apparently the engines been rebuilt so maybe I'll have trouble free motoring...maybe.

I'm hoping to connect with the like minded owners of the XS250 range and I'm after some info, history, advice etc on this particular bike as I've just bought one and know very little about them.

So after purchasing a 79 Yamaha XS250 which came with a starting issue I thought I'd ask for advice and make sure I'm heading down the right path. Before buying the bike the previous owner told me that it was working fine and then wasn't. He has claimed it is fully rebuilt etc etc. Anyways it's also been sat for some time. The battery was flat which I put on charge. When reconnecting the starter span but that's it. A spinning starter motor. And after about four attempts the starter relay simply clicks. So no.1 I think the battery may have had it. I've had a quick look and removed the side cover, lots of oil came out around the alternator (yes rookie mistake with the side stand). I believe the generator is meant to wet at least I hope so. I can see the starter drives the chain which still seems intact. And that's as far as I've got. I'm really hoping there's one or two XS 4 stroke experts going about as the bike is not as common as I was expecting. Thanks.

It was always inevitable that I would end up with another bike but I wasn't expecting it to be so old. So hi I'm Chris. This is my third Yamaha and I hope it'll be my favourite. I've taken a punt on a 79 XS250 which doesn't start so you'll be hearing from me pretty sharpish to get myself back on the road.