Loud shifting

[teck_mountain]

I have a 79 xs special that seem to run okay. Couple of questions. First, when shifting it tends to make a clanging sound. Does not seen to mis gears or grind. Does shift but sounds somewhat loud. It this normal. I seem to be using oil. 1 liter per 300 km. Does not seem to be burning, no blue noted but a bit of grey and the bike smells like gas? Any suggestions?

[nashville_bill]

Sounds like an XS11 to me. I think they all are noisy when shifting. Look for oil leaks but that much is probably being burned. The gas smell is common with XS11s - check to see if there is gas in the oil and in the air filter housing. If not, chech all the plumbing: petcocks and fuel lines.

[sixtysix]

A loud clunk into first gear is NORMAL for this bike, as long as it does not pop out, or slip. You can minimize this buy pulling in the clutch for several seconds before shifting and to make sure you are always at low RPMs. if moving it should go in fairly smoothly. It shifts loudly in to all gears though. Not usually a problem. Burning oil? Oil dissappears on an XS for the same reasons it does in any other motor, bad / worn pistons, rings, valves, etc. Start with a compression check and go from there. Gas smell usually mens rich, what kind of milage are you getting? Is the air filter new or cleaned (if aftermarket)?

[teck_mountain]

Loud clunk

Garry and Bill

Thanks for the info. I will look at doing a compression test. What should the compression be about.

[teck_mountain]

sixtysix

Have not calculated the millage yet. What should I be getting?

[jkorn]

I think mine has always shifted with a quite of bit of a clunk. Some times I even hear a tooth or two click....

Souds like a XS.... Jeff

[sixtysix]

Best thing to do is a search for 'mileage' and 'compression' we have had several recent discussions on each one. In general milage from 35-40 is normal (highway 65 MPH).

[Mark_E]

Yup, I clank into first but don't seem to have much trouble with the "second gear" folklore. (.... That 2nd dies out after a long life.) After I'm moving I tend to not use the clutch at all and just snap off the throttle as I give shifting pressure to the next gear. With a flick of the wrist I've shifted and that works quite well. I've noticed then that often I'll shift to N, not 2nd from 1st. Other than that, no problems.

I get about 32 MPG at 105 KPH avg. I'll get 36 if I'm only doing 90 KPH. If I wanted to drive with better milage, I'd drive my car.

I burn about 1L on about 800Km. Every 2 tanks or so requires 1/4-1/3L. Pretty much I put some more in when the low oil warning comes on. I don't notice any blueness but friends of mine say I puff some blue when I juice it to pull out to pass.

Later

Mark
E

[TopCatGr58]

When to add oil!

Hey there Mark,

You're living dangerously if you're waiting to add oil when the light comes on!!!! Aside from running risk of engine damage from low pressures, the oil is also the coolant for these engines, and with less oil running around/available, you could be overly heating or inadequately cooling your engine, not to mention prematurely breaking down what oil is in there cause it's running at hotter temps than if it were a full crankcase!?!?

Also that speed shifting technique is a great way to speed up the wear and tear on those dogs and slots so that you will eventually see that 2nd gear malady appear, not to mention the same thing can occur to first gear as well.

Just wanted to mention this in hopes of you rethinking your strategy to perhaps prolong the life of your XS!?

Teck, when I first went riding with some friends that were running V-twins, and very quiet, and he was running behind me, he told me he was expecting to see tranny parts falling out from my bike every time I shifted gears, it was so loud of a thunk!!!!
T.C.

[Mark_E]

Clutchless Shifting

Clutchless shifting on a contstant-mess tranny (besides the point that this IS an XS/XJ with it's specific shifting characteristics) should not at all be hard on dogs. My line of thinking stems from the fact that semi tractor trannies are c-m and those guys CAN'T use their clutch to shift, only to start out. And how long do those dogs last? 1/4 -1/2 million miles. Yes, I realize they can do a couple hundred miles w/o shifting but lets still realize the similarities.
And I do often use the clutch when I'm at a highway light and am powering up to speed, at least 1-2 gear but puttering around town the gears shift so fine, there's no damage being done.

Mark

[xssiveone]

Re: Clutchless Shifting

Originally posted by Mark_E
My line of thinking stems from the fact that semi tractor trannies are c-m and those guys CAN'T use their clutch to shift, only to start out.

Afraid I will have to disagree with you on this one. I drive one for a living and can shift with, or without the clutch. My preference is without, but that has nothing to do with the tranny and everything to do with my own laziness. I do city p&d and after a busy day my left leg will be feeling it if I use the clutch.

[Mark_E]

Shifting

I see. My apologies for a sweeping statement. The International we have pretty much requires I don't use the clutch.
Mark

[beechfront]

when i worked on the farm we had a truck the same way - you use clutch to start off but after that it was impossible to shift using the clutch.


i have noticed myself using the clutch less and less to change gears. Shifts are usually quieter when I don't use the clutch.