Action plan.

Right. Need to stop messing about and get things in motion now, I need a plan!

My TC Bro's hardtail should be arriving soon, so that means I need to get my frame stripped down and ready for welding. But before I can do that, I want to get an MOT on the bike. and before I do THAT; I need to get the bike running and ready for MOT. So this is what needs to be done;

Get the bike running - think (hope) its some kak in the carbs stopping it running, it definitely feels like a fuelling issue - I will take the carbs off and thoroughly clean, balance, etc

Fix front brake light switch - OK, it was me, I broke the old one. I also tried to fix it with superglue and failed. £6 for a new one - ordered.

Fill holes in exhaust - apparently they check for leaks on an MOT!! and my pipes have a few holes, so either bodge with silicone/tape etc (preferred method), or ask someone nicely if its possible to weld up. I hate the stock exhausts, they are shit, old and rusty and a bastard to get on.

That's this weeks mission. I just need to CRACK ON!!

oh Bandit!

Went down to steve's on Friday who has been sorting out the carbs on the Bandit. I replaced the starter motor and battery so it started really well but was only firing on three cylinders. Number 4 is the guilty party. Checked the spark plug - good spark, it also stank of petrol, so fuel is getting through....did a compression test and that was low so next thing to do is get the engine out and have a look in the top end......

....or could swap the engine out for something bigger!!

Pressies!

Got a delivery today of a few goodies from Lowbrow Customs. mainly wanted the Death grip gloves, but I didnt want them to get lonely on the trip over so....

 

Feels like christmas all over again!!

Up and Running

Got the XS up and running today, no problem, started almost straight away. Took it for a little trip round the yard and everything seemed to be fine, apart from the front brake which is a little soft. Hopefully a bit of adjustment should sort it out. Had a go at balancing the carbs also, but the readings where a bit too wobbly to make a decent job.
 

Next up - MOT.

Click no more

The answer is simple ladies and gentlemen - tighten your camchain tensioner.

I had to tighten it right up though - to the point of removing all freeplay, and there should be a small amount (1-2mm) apparently. Also it would appear that I am missing a copper 'damping washer' under the plunger which should help too.

You can see in the video that when the clicking occurs, the tensioner pops out. Why it happens at that point in the cycle, why it feels like the exhaust valves, I have no idea.

Anyways, lesson learned, and one day years in the future, when some little twurp goes 'my engine wont stop clicking!' I will be the wise old man with that golden nugget of advice 'ah, av yer checked yer chain tension lad!'

El Bandito eh no go-o

Went to pick up the bandit this morning, was really excited as I havent ridden it since march time when i first started stripping it down. Was greeted by the sight of my mechanic buddy running it up the yard to warm it up a bit, got me really giddy! But then he explained that unfortunately its only firing on three cylinders and wont run right :-(

Anyways, after several minutes of hearty spanner-chat, we realised that the pilot jet that he had used to replace a broken one was completely different to the rest, and also that the pilot jets that I had used from my 'carb rebuild kits' had come from america...so all round they were probably completely wrong!

So plan of action is to just buy new jets for all the carbs and put it straight. Oh, and I also need to buy a new starter motor as mine is lazy/sticking.....and the battery is knackered so I need a new one of them too.......and it was blowing a bit of blue smoke so will probably need a top end rebuild at some point.......seems like Ruby aint finished with my wallet yet!!

One day baby.....one day.....

Clickety click click clickeroo!!

Ive tried just about everything on the head of the engine to figure out whats making the knocking/clicking noise and it comes down to this; the noise does not occur when you remove the large, outer spring from the valve assembly. So this would lead me to conclude that this outer spring is what is making the noise. For those that don't know, there are two springs (one inside the other) on each valve in the cylinder head on an XS 650.

 

I still can't work out how it is making the noise, it happens when the exhaust valves are closing (ie. springs are expanding). If I cant work it out now then I will just put it back together and run it anyways cos I'm sick of taking the head on and off. Any suggestions/ideas/moral support much appreciated.