1980 Xs1100 Lg

[shchuck]

New to this site and have only hade the xs 11 for about 6mo. I THINK IT NEEDS A TUNEUP is there anyone in the Sacramento Ca area that anyone knows of that is good with this XS? I sure could use some help.
Thanks Chuck

[CA.XSer]

New to this site and have only hade the xs 11 for about 6mo. I THINK IT NEEDS A TUNEUP is there anyone in the Sacramento Ca area that anyone knows of that is good with this XS? I sure could use some help.

I don't know of anyone in Sacramento that is good, but with all the help here in ths forum you don't need anyone but yourself!!

[newmaac]

SHCHUCK,
I have 2 differant shops here in San Jose, that I have used with success, but as was earlier stated, you are usually encouraged to do as much as you can by yourself.
Most bike mechanics, including our local Yamaha dealer, will not work on anything more than 10 yrs old.
There is a wealth of knowledge available in this site, that is free for the asking.
If you post a message, you might even be able to get a small group of people in the Sac. area to do a carb clinic.
You will find that there is not much to do in "tuning" an XS1100.
The majority of the time, what is needed will be related to carb work.
Good luck

[justyn.smith]

I'm glad this issue was raised.....

Once we (all of us 'new' XS owners) get our bike running well, does the periodic 'tune up' involve anything more than fluid + spark plug change? I don't imagine the carbs getting glogged up much if the bikes are ridden daily?

It would be good to know what we should check every 6 months or so...

[John]

Probably the most difficult aspect of a tune up is checking/adjusting the valves. Not everybody has the special tool, and I don't know if it is even available anymore. Fortunatly, I had one given to me many yeas ago. The actual replacing of the shim is easy when you have this tool. It's probably better to do your own work anyway, as the bike is probably older that the pimply faced kis working on it, and it will save you a ton o' bucks. Most of the mechs in the dealerships have probably never seen an XS of any displacement before. That is unless they are in their 40's

[Pat Kelly]

I'm in Modesto, I have the original Yamaha valve shim tool (tho I've yet needed to use it). I also have a set of carb sticks to sync the carbs. Any help I can be just let me know. What is your bike doing that leads you to want/need a tune-up?

[Jerry]

The most common tune-up job, other than plugs/oil, is the cam chain adjustment. This is fairly easy to do, but the timing marks have to be aligned correctly. Manuals have the directions. I do mine about every other oil change, or about every 6K miles. Is a 10 minute job once you do it a couple times.

One other thing I have to check on my XJ fairly regularly is the nuts that bolt the header pipes to the head...these always seem to work loose after about 1K miles or so. I carry the correct size Allen wrench with me now on long trips. I'm running Jardine headers with Yamaha seals, didn't have this problem on the stock pipes.

[Hobbit]

tool

I just bought a valve adjusting tool from BikeBandit.com on sale for $13.59.

It's at the bottom of this page:
http://www.bikebandit.com/partsbandi...281&sel_path=3

[John]

Wow

The whole kit for just $14! Good deal. Once you learn how to use it, it will save you a ton'o bucks on valve shim changing. Just follow the directions in your manual. That is probably the most difficult task in a tune up, and it doesn't need to be done very often. Just depends how often you want to pull the valve cover, and buy a new gasket.

[Hobbit]

tool

The picture is deceiving. The tool only consist of one piece and a bolt to hold it. But that's what it calls for in the book I use.

[TopCatGr58]

Originally posted by justyn.smith
I'm glad this issue was raised.....

Once we (all of us 'new' XS owners) get our bike running well, does the periodic 'tune up' involve anything more than fluid + spark plug change? I don't imagine the carbs getting glogged up much if the bikes are ridden daily?

It would be good to know what we should check every 6 months or so...

Not sure if you have vehicle inspections down there, but you'll want to keep an eye on your brake pads, brake fluid levels, air filters, middle and rear gear oil levels. I rode mine for 9 years when I first got it, NEVER checked the valve clearances, tore it apart to do a top end big bore job another 9 years later, no burned valves! I don't even recall doing the cam chain adjustment, but that was when I was very ignorant about the bike, actually took it to the shop for maintanence...back in the mid to late 80's!!!!! I've seen written about folks repacking their wheel bearings every few years. Put some fuel/carb cleaner treatment....Seafoam in every few tankfuls and you probably won't have to worry about the carbs much either!! I'd check and replace plugs every 1 to 2 years, along with a brake bleed to purge out old fluid. But these bikes are almost bullet proof, not much to keep them running right!!! ENJOY
T.C.