1980 XS1100 Standard won't start

[lamity101]

I recently bought a 1980 XS1100 Standard with 35000 miles on the odometer, and the PO says that it just quit running a few months ago. When I try to start it, the engine turns over rapidly but does not fire. It seems to me to be turning over too fast, almost like there is no compression. Using starting fluid does not do anything, and I checked each spark plug for spark, and they all have a good spark. Does anyone have any ideas as to what may be going on with this bike?
Also, the bike came with a fork brace. My daily rider is a 1981XS1100 Special, and I would like to trade the standard fork brace for one that will fit the Special. Thanks. lamity101

[81xsproject]

would go with your gut and do a compression check first. Good info to know no matter what the problem ends up being. Just make sure you hold the throttle all the way open while turning it over with the starter to perform the test. It is a good idea to put you bike info (anything that might help someone else help you ) in your signature. Some folks probably think I went a bit too far with mine

[prometheus578]

I agree with 81 XSProject (just this once) DO a compression check, and then pull the valve cover.. check timing, clearances, etc.

[midnight1980]

check out ebay Item number: 300098835238

[Kingpin]

Turning over too fast?.......sounds like one thing to me.............broken timing chain

[79XS11F]

Do the compression test. If the timing chain is broken I'm sure there will be other issues now like bent valves from turning it over with valves in the wrong positions.
Rob

[TopCatGr58]

Could also be a severely jumped timing chain, several teeth perhaps, enough so that it very well may have been every valve, or at least one in each cylinder so that it's not making any compression and so it's spinning freely without any compression resistance? Hope not! Good Luck!
T.C.

[lamity101]

Hi: thanks for all of your responses. However, I need some clarification on the timing chain. Are the timing chain and the cam chain the same thing? Tnanks.

lamity101
1981 XS1100SH ( runs sweet, just turned 12000 miles)
1981 XS850LH (rebuilt the top end last summer)
1980 XS1100G (just bought it)

[prometheus578]

same thing.
Automotive, we called them timing chains...
Now that we work on better machines... we call the cam chains.
I wouldn't think it's broken, as it would most likely puddle up down around the crank and jam it.
If it's really spinning too fast, I'd say it jumped, due to not adjusting the slack over the years... maybe a bent valve or two. Need to open up and check.
Pop the valve cover, and bring the marks up to time. to see if it jumped a tooth.. Check the valve clearances. My bent valve had a clearance of .035(obviously bent and not closing.)

[lamity101]

update

Hi everyone: I finally got the time to take off the cam chain cover, and it looks like the master link came out of the cam chain--one half of the chain was visible on the top of the front sprocket, the other half fell into the engine. Part of the master link was visible, but when I moved the chain, it fell into the engine. So I decided to not go any further at this time, but wait until I have a day or two to investigate any damage to the engine. I assume that I will need to look at the valves, stems, etc. Thanks for pointing me in the right direction. lamity101 aka Kai

[Ljay40]

Part of the master link was visible, but when I moved the chain, it fell into the engine.


Oh OH

now the fun begins use the search tool at the top of the page and check out tech tips main forum page scroll down page other guys have done exactly this and its been overed before on how to deal with this
perhaps some of there ideas and suggestions may help you in this tuff situatuion
good luck
keep us up to date

[Ken Talbot]

Magnet on a stick, a flashlight, and some wire and you'll be in action. I would recommend removing the cams first so you can adoing bending any valves if they haven't already been bent. You're going to need to move the crank around any number of times to get the chain fished out and get the crank onto TDC, and that will bend an open valve for sure.

[TopCatGr58]

Ken,

Too late, he's tried to start the bike, the crank was spinning but the cam chain wasn't rotating the cams since the chain was broken, so he's probably bent 1 or more depending on which ones were being compressed.

Ljay, you should be able to see which valves are being depressed by the cam lobes, so you can get a decent idea of which valves may be bent. You'll definitely want to remove the cams before doing anything else.

And....unless the PO had put in another chain, there ISN'T a master link, they are all pressed....continuous loop chain. When we get the replacement, it has a "master link", but it's really just a spare link that you peen over the ends once you have it in place, it doesn't have that fancy U clip like Motorcycle drive chains!

T.C.