All the XS500 gurus

[Kithegearhead]

Hi guys

Got an XS500D, I am going through mental swings on this thing from selling it to building it back up. You must know the frustrations of getting parts for those suckers.
My bike had low compression, leak down test showed that it is the rings are shot. Pulled the motor, tool it apart for inspection.
I looks really nice on the inside, I just need to rebore hone cylinders, install 1 size up rings and it will be fine.

Need help locating engine overhaul gasket kit. New chain link for the camshafts and oversized rings. seems like I cannot find any US or Canadian distributors for these parts

Please help. I already put the bike frame and the motor for sale, but there is no interset in it what so ever, so I figured I might just finish this bastard with your help.


Thanks

 

[tv321406]

ill buy the frame for the title!!

if not... ebay will be your only friend for parts. theyre there i just did a full resto/cafe on one but i dont have a title arghh!

 

[teazer]

Pull the motor out and measure teh pistons and the bores and see if they are still within limits. if teh bores are worn and you rebore and hone them you need oversized pistons and rings - not just rings.

 

[SrgtBear]

ill buy the frame for the title!!

if not... ebay will be your only friend for parts. theyre there i just did a full resto/cafe on one but i dont have a title arghh!

I'm not sure if the frame for the later models will work for the 73-75's model engines. Hopefully they kept the motor mounts the same.

As far as your parts. Travis is right. eBay is the only place that I have seen the parts you are asking for.

 

[DreadRock]

i'm working on a 75 xs500b now and im finding parts on ebay and from DTT members . also look into NW vintage cycles,HVCcycles. besides motor parts there are a few diff bikes you can pull parts from .

 

[Kithegearhead]

Hi guys
Re tv321406: Unfortunately I don't have the title for the bike, plus as SrgtBear mentioned the frames might be slightly different between the years. I will attach a pic of my bike and you can compare.

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/muuuTrErrV8MXn6Xzs8ttw?feat=directlink

Here it is without gas tank and the motor

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/c30TNrq3npXKJIoiq07C5g?feat=directlink
I can grab another image tmr, without the interfering back ground

So I pulled the motor out and started inspecting for damage. Check out the pics:

https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/PUP_Geb7Yn-owbcd7DJxIA?feat=directlink

I haven't had a chance to get myself organized to do all the proper measurements but visual inspection wasn't promising at all.
I tested the valve seats for leakage, they have it . Poured a bit of simple green into the dome and it successfully leaked out within seconds.
Cylinder walls are scored, ring valleys are full of rust, btw the the compression rings were ceased in the grove, that explains the 0 compression test.

After spending a few hours online I have found a company that can make custom gaskets or sells gasket material. When I get
some free time I will grab all the old gaskets and see if they can match up some of the materials.

Another question for those that worked with this motor. Does the cam tentioner supposed to have the groves like in the picture?
https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/bUPj2cXUbNGQIsfOvwt4EA?feat=directlink
My experience tells me that it can be wear, but I have been wrong before.

 

[teazer]

That ring sure is seized in place. OK so the pistons are junk and the bores are scored and pitted, but they will clean up with a bore and hone and the valves and seats will probably clean up OK. Those cam followers look like they may be flaking, but if they are not too bad, they will last a while longer.

There are a few sets of pistons and rings on ebay at very good prices. I was surprised to find that the XS/TX motor is almost the same bore and stroke as a GSXR1000 or CBR1000RR. Who would have guessed it. It might be possible to use pistons from those motors but that could be an expensive proposition.

 

[Kithegearhead]

Thank you teaser for the idea, I will look into the specs and the costs, if the wrist pins are the same that would be absolutely crazy. Tomorrow I will take the engine to the re builders I want to get some quotes. Hopefully it won't cost me much. Too bad that everyone is of such a bad opinion about these bikes, it would have been easier to find parts.