Noob bike problems

[howitz]

Hey guys! So i've tried searching, but did not find many answers (though the write up on carbs was rather helpful) but if anyone knows of a thread i've missed with answers I need, please feel free to point me in that direction. I was also going to post this on the xs500.proboard.com website, but when I try and register, the captcha doesn't appear, so it wont register me

Anyways, I just bought my second bike yesterday (76 xs500) and it is my first bike with kickstart/no electronic ignition. It has pod filters and what appears to be debaffled stock exhaust. If I understand correctly, these both result in more airflow=leaner mixture=more difficult to kickstart (which is even tougher as it's getting rather cold. I'm also a little guy and have no experience in kickstarting a bike. I can barely get it on the center stand) but I fear not! I am determined to learn.

SO!! Big questions include:

1. Any secrets to kickstarting a bike in general. I can seldom get it going when its warm. Haven't gotten it to start cold yet.
2. If anyone is familiar with the carbs (mikuni I believe), is there anything I can do without taking them off (i'll save that for the winter. I want to get as much riding in as possible before it gets too cold in salt lake) to tune them and maybe enrich the choke circuit.
3. A little embarassing to ask, but any advice for getting it up on the center stand? I can barely get the bike going on the center stand, let alone the side stand.

Thanks for your time, sorry for the novel

 

[DreadRock]

Try putting the bike on its center stand and kicking it that way. Takes lil learning but you'll get it as your kicking it over and have choke on just give it a very small of a twist on the throttel should help. I got away from the Vac carbs on mine mostly because i hate Vac carbs and tend to be boring .
As for getting it up on the center stand hold the left bar and left foot on the stand and push to the floor. There should be a small grab bar between the bottom of the seat and the shock . Grab that with the right and as you push down with your foot pull up on your hand and back that should do it man !
Get some pics up so we can see what you got !!!

 

[ToastyTofu]

omg, is that a fairlady z? yeaush.

sounds like they didn't rejet; if this is the case, the easiest thing you can do without removing the carbs is revert back to the original box air filter. (pod filters, contrary to popular belief do not necessarily make your bike "faster". search: "standoff")

the less elegant solution would be to electrical tape parts of your pod filters, thus restricting air flow.

even less elegant and possibly bad for you engine is to run it with the choke slightly engaged.

you are going in the right direction.

other than that, try some "seafoam" and new spark plugs.

 

[howitz]

it certainly is

I believe he said he rejetted, but if I understand, carbs most often come unsynched/detuned due to vibration...and this bike vibrates ten times as much as my last bike (I believe he removed the balance shaft in order to take weight off the flywheel).

Unfortunately, I wasn't given the stock airbox when I bought the bike. I will, however, try wrapping a bit of the filters and see what happens. The choke on the carbs is a little funny. Its just a small switch that you press on. On my last bike, there was a lever that allowed different levels of enrichment.

I've heard of different ways to use seafoam. Do you guys recommend putting a small amount in the crankcase (i've heard of people doing it, but it seemed sketchy) as well as the gas tank? And new plugs are definitely on the way.

 

[DreadRock]

As for the sea foam i say i like it over all and ran throw my FJs fuel system. Was reading where they run it in the crankcase but did sound odd to me also. Dont know if it would break down the oil or not but was thinking maybe putting it in and running a hour or so then change the oil !

 

[ToastyTofu]

these days i just run it in the gas; i have run it through my crankcase in the past. didn't seem to do much in the oil.

is it producing a loud tapping noise? if so, check your "tappet valve clearance".