Timing '81 XS1.1H

[DGXSER]

It should have the pointer. You can fab one out of metal pretty easy. It is not exceptionally thick or strong metal.

What you want is to have the bike at top dead center of the number one piston and then have the pointer line up with the T mark on the plate.

To tell when it is at TDC, pull the plug from no 1 cylinder and put a straw or a screwdriver onto the cylinder and turn the engine over until it stops rising up. Note where the T is located at that point. Continue turning until the srewdriver or straw just begins to drop. Note that location of the T mark. The center of those two marks is TDC. The degree wheel Doug (dbeardslee) showed you is the best answer for you since you do not have a pointer.

Otherwise, you need to make a pointer, install it very close to this location. Then go through the process described and put the T in the TDC position. Then move your indicator so it lines up with the T. Now you are ready to time the engine.

To get the timing for your engine, go to Catatonic Bugs members page and follow his link to his personal page and then to his bike page and you can fidn the manuals for the XS11 there for you to download. All of the specs are in those manuals.

[Athedra]

Thanks, been hunting for a workshop manual for it for a while now. Feel kinda stupid since I am registered there, and never spotted the manuals on the right.
o you by any chance have a contact on a yamaha verago 400 manual on download?

Ok, read through the timing section briefly, and all makes sense. Will have to make a pin like you explained. Just out of curiosity. Which spec's should I be working on? They mention a G and a SG and a few others in there all with different spec's. I originally was under the impression it is a '81 XS1100H, but now found it to be a '79 XS1100 European. What would my post-fix be on it now?

Appologies for the continuous questions

[DGXSER]

No apologoes required. We all ask questions which is why the site is so active and enjoyable. We learn from other people asking.

As to your situation, i doubt they changed anything inside the engine for the european models, so I would think you would follow the settings for a 79 or F model (or the SF). That is my best guess. Others may know more and correct me.

[CatatonicBug]

o you by any chance have a contact on a yamaha verago 400 manual on download?

All I could find so far is the XV535 manual ('81-'03). Would that be too different from the Virago 400?

[DGXSER]

Pics Pics and more Pics.

The TCI and connectors of an XS SH model. This is off th eproject bike which has a serial number of 520 so an early model of the 81 year.



And just so you can see without the glare of a flash, the ignition components of an SH front and side. Yes I know we figured yours to be a 79.



This one is turned 90 deg. Sorry



Hope that may help you or someone else.

[Athedra]

Same TCi unit, apart from the slotted pickup plate (On mine), and some holes in the degree wheel, same thing.

[Athedra]

Questions that just struck me.

If this bike was manufactured in Japan in '79, and shipped in '80 and sold in '81. What model bike will it be then?

Would the engine numbering be similar or different to the "regulars".

So far I have purchased most of my parts under XS1100 - Midnight Special, since the guy at the Bike shop firmly believes that it is a midnight special, whether my papers shows different.

Now what would make the midnight special different to the normal H? I looked at several pictures all over the net, and just don't seem to find my bike. The fastest way for me to spot the difference is on the seat area. I have the duel seat, Pillion slightly elevated above the driver and the have a plastic dome (shaped) cover attached to the seat the covers most of my rear mudguard. No fairings, but could have been removed.

Don't know if that would be of any help, but just to ease my thoughts, if someone can give me some insight there.

[CatatonicBug]

Questions that just struck me.

If this bike was manufactured in Japan in '79, and shipped in '80 and sold in '81. What model bike will it be then?

Would the engine numbering be similar or different to the "regulars".

So far I have purchased most of my parts under XS1100 - Midnight Special, since the guy at the Bike shop firmly believes that it is a midnight special, whether my papers shows different.

Now what would make the midnight special different to the normal H? I looked at several pictures all over the net, and just don't seem to find my bike. The fastest way for me to spot the difference is on the seat area. I have the duel seat, Pillion slightly elevated above the driver and the have a plastic dome (shaped) cover attached to the seat the covers most of my rear mudguard. No fairings, but could have been removed.

Don't know if that would be of any help, but just to ease my thoughts, if someone can give me some insight there.

The MNS did not come with any fairings. Most of the differences are cosmetic, but there are a few things that make a true MNS stand out. First, is the Serial number. The MNS's were only made in '80 and '81, and had their own serial number prefix (4H3 and 4W1, respectively).

The '80 MNS was a lot like the '80 SG (Special) but had gold trim on the grab bar, the fuel tank cap, the swing-arm caps, and the wheels. The '81 MNS (LH) had swirly wheels, just like the XJ, and a linked brake system, making the rear MC control the rear brake AND the front left brake. The XJ had the same setup, but a different bore on the rear MC.

The side covers had "Midnight Special" badges on them, as did the front of the gauges. The seat also had double top-stitching across the seat surface, where all the others only had a single line of stitching. I'm sure there are a few other things I'm forgetting, but that is usually enough to tell, at a glance whether a bike being sold as a MNS is truly a MNS.

[Athedra]

Searched a bit on the net, found this picture. This is what I have, so definitely a '79 XS1100. Mine is same colour, but spraying it Lancia Ebony Black (LEB 502, if I remember the paint mixture correctly) in the next few weeks. Also considering airbrushing the fuel tank top.

http://www.classicbikes.co.uk/images/xs1100blk01.jpg

Thanks for all the help sofar.

[CatatonicBug]

Searched a bit on the net, found this picture. This is what I have, so definitely a '79 XS1100. Mine is same colour, but spraying it Lancia Ebony Black (LEB 502, if I remember the paint mixture correctly) in the next few weeks. Also considering airbrushing the fuel tank top.



Thanks for all the help sofar.

That one has aftermarket pipes, a rebuilt seat, pod filters, and the engine and brake calipers have been painted. I just remembered one other thing too - The '78 and '79 models had non-slotted brake rotors, like your picture. After that, they were slotted.

[Athedra]

O, thought that was the stock exhaust. Mine has got a 4-1 cowley system on, but busy negotiating for a 4-1 Micron Titanium system. The seat has got a higher pillion raise as mine, but is very similar with a single diamond stitch on it. I have Echlin Racing Cone filters on, but apart from the few differences, that is what I have. Someday when I can figure out how to upload a pic and post it here, I will post it for you to see it properly.

I went through the Workshop manual I downloaded. I downloaded the 78 - 81 OEM service Manual, and the pictures indicating the various positions etc, is similar to mine. Even has the slotted pick-up plate that I spoke of.

[Athedra]

All I could find so far is the XV535 manual ('81-'03). Would that be too different from the Virago 400?

Missed this one...sorry. They tell me it is similar, but that is like having a service manual for a 1600 kent cross-flow motor while driving a 1300. I saw in the forums that there used to be a site where you could find most manuals, but the user name and password dont work. Tried it several times.

Thanks for trying.

[CatatonicBug]

O, thought that was the stock exhaust. Mine has got a 4-1 cowley system on, but busy negotiating for a 4-1 Micron Titanium system. The seat has got a higher pillion raise as mine, but is very similar with a single diamond stitch on it. I have Echlin Racing Cone filters on, but apart from the few differences, that is what I have. Someday when I can figure out how to upload a pic and post it here, I will post it for you to see it properly.

The stock exhaust is a 4-2, with an external heat shield screwed to the area just below the forward foot pegs, and it's double-walled, so it won't turn blue (usually). The seat on the specials (except the '79) have the stepped pillion, and the standards (and the '79 special) have the flatter profile.

Here's a thread on how to post pictures.

[dbeardslee]

Someday when I can figure out how to upload a pic and post it here, I will post it for you to see it properly.

Here's a link to the tech tip on photo posting. Basically all you have to do is setup an account on photobucket.com (free) or other service, upload your photos to the service, click on the photo and underneath you'll see a "direct link" url. Copy the url, click on the little picture icon and paste it. There's a "feature testing" forum where you can try it out. Once you've mastered it if you could post a close-up of your carbs it might help to figure out what year you've got. The 78/79 carbs are different than the 80/81's. JAT

[Athedra]

Will take a close up of the carbs, but I purchased a second-hand set of carbs not so long ago and fitted them. The old set I am still man handling to get the broken air/fuel mixture tips out.

Will open an album in face books just for my XS, and will link the pictures from there as soon as I can.