Valves

[CarolynS]

XSEast

I really do want to go and meet everyone. Looks like such a good time. I may pull it off, I may not. I'm not booking accomodations, afraid I'll jinx myself if I do. I can always bring the 2-man tent and find a spot. I don't mind roughing it, I prefer it.
I will drop off the manual when I drop off the bike. I have two of them.
The price was to get the head up and ready, carb boots and all. It will probably run me another $200 to have him put it together, tune it and have it rideable. HWMBO knows this guys reputation, as do some of the other people at pool. All say the bike will be purring in no time.
I'm happy.

[DiverRay]

Carolyn,
The Mechanic forgot the IMPORTANT part of the joke!

What do Harley's and Golden Retrievers have in common? They both like to ride in the backs of pickup trucks.

Whats the difference between the Harley and a Golden Retriever? The Retriever can get into the back of the truck on his own!
It's old, but still good for a chuckle now and then...
Good luck on the bike, and I do hope you make it out to meet some of the people here!

[Flatlander]

CarolynS,
Sorry to hear/read about your mishap. I was hoping that you just had the same thing that happened to me and all you had to do was retime the cams.
Good luck!

[CarolynS]

Thanks

Yeah, I was hoping it was something stupid that happened-well, I guess something stupid DID happen-just not as stupid as I'd hoped. Okay, THAT sounded stupid, but you know what I mean...
Yep, the mechanic is a cool, old guy. Had barely introduced myself and he's opening my car door and taking out the box with the head in it and walking away. I love that! Very much a Yankee...can fix anything or make a replacement, never throws anything away, uses it up and finds another purpose for the pieces left over.
I know I'm gonna catch it for the Yankee reference...But up this way, that's what you want...The Real Deal. HWMBO says if this guy is really as good as we're hearing, we'll just take it to him every spring-he has a HD, typical-to get it going for the season. I just smile knowingly and nod. 'Okay, Honey.'

[Flatlander]

Ya I know.......I AIN'T stupid.

Well, if that isn't the most gratious way to get called stupid.

Ya, us Yankee's sure do know how to take something from right under your nose.?. Just kidding, you make this guy sound like somebody that I wish I could just drop something off too, pick it up later and have years/miles of riding and seem like they had the magic touch. Anyway it sure is a good feeling to leave something with someone and still sleep at night.

Sounds like it'll be running in no time!

[CarolynS]

Update

The 80 head has BIG problems...
2 broken valve guides not to mention other damage. The concern now is whether we bent a rod too. I have to go and measure the pistons and if they are all the same height at TDC. There can be no deviation. I told Ed-the Wonder Mechanic-that he could double check my findings when the bike gets there Thurs or Fri.
He said I may want to look around for another head somewhere, rather than spend the big money this is going to take to fix. I never told him I had another bike. I learned the hard way-Never volunteer information to someone you're paying to work for you. Let them show you what they do-or don't-know. He was funny, he said he didn't know what kind of luck I'd have finding one. I chuckled and said that would be no problem. I'll take the one off of my 79 tomorrow. He said, "Oh, okay. You have another bike?" Yep, I surely do!
The worst that head needs is to maybe have the valves lapped. Did I tell you guys that that bike only has 27K miles on it? It just lived it's life outside that's why it's a rat. It idles high, but it runs good. I was riding it last fall, it just won't turn right. It's got a lot of little problems, but starting and running-no smoke from the exhaust at all-isn't one of them. For those of you who said to swap them out not so long ago-you were right(Malber)and wise to say so. Beauty be damned! I wanna ride! If there is a bent rod, guess what's next?
The bike and the other head will be loaded on Thurs and dropped off. If for some reason I can't do it, Ed has a van and will come get her-I love this guy!!-The way he's sounding I should have her back in a week to 10 days!! Yippee!!
I have to order the gasket set tonight when I get back from 9-ball finals! God I love the internet-shopping 24/7 and of course, all of you!! This little set back is going to SAVE me at least $300 in work. That head may be ratty, but elbow grease if free; I have my dremel and all winter to make it pretty!! For now, it will run!! Woo-Hoo!!!! He said he'll sync her and tune her too.
Moral of the story-If you love your old bike, and you happen to run across one of it's siblings somewhere for short money, running or not, grab it. An extra of everything is always a plus, and milk crates to put the parts in can be had behind any convenience store-Did I say that out loud?

[John]

Remember

There is a difference in the diameter of the valves, and lift and duration of the cams is different from the 79 to the 80.

[fredintoon]

Which right?

" it just won't turn right. "
Hi Caro,
is that:-
1) "it just won't turn properly" or
2) "it just won't turn to the right"?
If it's 1) perhaps you don't realize that the XS11 is just a bit of a monster to haul round a corner.
If it's 2) the frame is bent.

[John]

Re: Which right?

Originally posted by fredintoon
" it just won't turn right. "
Hi Caro,
is that:-
1) "it just won't turn properly" or
2) "it just won't turn to the right"?
If it's 1) perhaps you don't realize that the XS11 is just a bit of a monster to haul round a corner.
If it's 2) the frame is bent.

Or maybe it was owned by a nascar driver in a previous life.

[oldnortonrider]

? ~ Even if the valves and cams are different~~should be fine to plug and play the '79 head over to the '80 engine; shouldn't it?

[CarolynS]

That's what I thought

As long as I don't change cams from one to the other, or anything else it should just go right on. Well, according to previous discussions here. However, will my carbs from my 80 go on the 79 head, or do I need to redo the ones that are on the 79?
As far as it not turning to the right-either one of the forks is bent; the alignment with the top and bottom is off; or the frame is bent-none easy to diagnose without disassembling the whole thing. Hence the reason why I bought another bike. To fix that, and numerous other, problems. You don't want to see the list, believe me! Besides, the 80 has none of these problems. It's almost pristine, just won't run-and now we know WHY.
So what are my concerns, oh Wise Ones...notice I didn't say 'wise guys'...both are fitting depending on the subject matter.
Oh and thanks to the moderator that fixed those pix on the Members side. I didn't know how to put them so that it wasn't so graphic, but I thought it was an interesting story. A reminder for us all to stay safe this season.

[DiverRay]

IF the engine on the "spare" bike was running, just not well, put that into the new bike! If the carbs needed to be "tuned" and other than that it ran good, I would just do a complete engine swap. You can have the mechanic pull the advance unit/P.U. coils off the "bad" engine, and put them on the new engine IF it needs a newer box. If both bikes use the 2H7 TCI, it will be a "plug and play" swap. Probably take about 5 hours to get it running well, give or take.

[Paintman]

Update

Sounds like your on the road to redemtion,One can Never have to many spare parts i have my 2 11"s and i have 4 spare engines in the shop never know when i might need something or someone here may. sounds liek you found yourself a good mechanic.
John

[AlanB]

Hi Carolyn,

I am with Ray; I would keep the '79 engine together, and swap it in complete. Fix the '80 once the right bits turn up.

Less time, less labour, no expensive gasket kit, and the compression will stay stock.

AlanB

[Guy_b_g]

You should probably switch the whole head, including the cams. The later heads with bigger valves had a shorter duration camshaft to better comply with emission standards of the day (from what I understand). They made the valves larger to compensate for some of the HP loss. Puttiing the milder cam from the 80 with the earlier head (smaller valves) will choke down its perfomance somewhat.

Besides, the swap will cost you less and be easier if your mechanic doesn't have to swap out lifter shims, and in all likelyhood, the shims in the earlier bike are still in spec, or most of them are.

Just my 2cents.