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Hey I'm the new guy here, least for now. I brought home a '79 1100 XS last night and it's in sad shape. I pulled the plugs and sprayed a healthy dose of lube in the cylinders. They looked OK for living outside as long as it has. When I tried to kick over the engine it won't budge but I put it in 5th gear and rolled it on my slick garage floor and it spun the engine over fine. I am certain the engine spun as I measured the distance to #1 piston before and after. The positive lead is melted from the solenoid so I'm assuming the starter has problems, could it be preventing the kicker from working also? Perhaps locked engaged?
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US Army 1986-1991
1979 1100 Special (on the road after 16 years!)
1983 GS300L (wifes ride)
1985 Super Glide
2012 Super Glide -
Welcome aboard! The kick-start is really only for emergency use on these bikes. They actually removed it entirely for the later models. The gearing should allow you to turn the kick-start shaft slightly and feel the gears slide on the shaft and engage. When you let off the lever, it should rebound back (on a spring) to a disenganged status. Does that feel like it's happening?1980 XS850SG - Sold
1981 XS1100LH Midnight Special (Sold) - purchased 9/29/08
Fully Vetterized and Dynojet Kit added, Heated Grips, Truck-Lite LED headlight, Accel Coils, Irridium plugs, TKAT Fork Brace, XS850LH Final Drive & Black SS Brake lines from Chacal.
Here's my web page devoted to my bike! XS/XJ User's Manuals there, and the XJ1100 Service Manual and both XS1100 Service manuals (free download!).
Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot - You're right.
-H. Ford -
Welcome to the madness of XS11 Ownership!! Best way I know to check the engine for rotation, is make sure it is in neutral (actually put it on centerstand and verify the rear wheel turns) then pull the timing cover off. Under there you can use a 6mm IIRC allen head driver on a 3/8" socket wrench and turn the engine. That bolt is directly into the crankshaft end.
If it is stuck, then put soem Marvel Mystery Oil or transmission fluid in the cylinders through the plug holes and let it sit a few days or so. Then try again. repeat a few times if required. Should come free for you.Life is what happens while your planning everything else!
When your work speaks for itself, don't interrupt.
81 XS1100 Special - Humpty Dumpty
80 XS1100 Special - Project Resurrection
Previously owned
93 GSX600F
80 XS1100 Special - Ruby
81 XS1100 Special
81 CB750 C
80 CB750 C
78 XS750Comment
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The engine is NOT stuck, it spun over when I pushed the bike in gear. I do not have the kicker arm so I used a large set of vise grips. I can not rotate the engine the slightest amount with them. No clue about the starter yet, I have to get a battery and some cables. I want to check the compression before I start disassembly such as carbs and the entire wiring harness. As I said it's in sad shape currently but if the engine is mechanically sound inside it's worth the effort and price.US Army 1986-1991
1979 1100 Special (on the road after 16 years!)
1983 GS300L (wifes ride)
1985 Super Glide
2012 Super GlideComment
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Your not likely going to be able to move the engine with the kick start shaft while using anything other then the kick-start lever. Even with the kick start level you would need to use your weight to turn the engine over. Check just behind the kick start shaft and up under the frame where the kick start level is normally stored on these bikes. It is pretty much right under the air box.
RobKEEP THE RUBBER SIDE DOWN
1978 XS1100E Modified
1978 XS500E
1979 XS1100F Restored
1980 XS1100 SG
1981 Suzuki GS1100
1983 Suzuki GS750S Katana
1983 Honda CB900 CustomComment
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I will check this evening. I'm surprised I couldn't spin it even with the plugs removed. Hopefully the kicker is still there.US Army 1986-1991
1979 1100 Special (on the road after 16 years!)
1983 GS300L (wifes ride)
1985 Super Glide
2012 Super GlideComment
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as 79 was saying its most likely still on there. There should be a little wing nut holding it on the frame down there.Nathan
KD9ARL
μολὼν λαβέ
1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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Chopper, welcome to the forum!
It wouldn't have been easy, not even a little, but vice-grips should have been able to turn the kicker shaft with the spark plugs removed from the engine. If the clutch works, try it again with the clutch disengaged so you're just turning the kicker gear train and not the engine.
The kicker gear train turns the 1st gear wheel to start the engine. The 1st gear wheel is the only gear that always turns whenever the clutch is engaged no matter which range is selected in the transmission, even (especially!) Neutral.
Disengaging the clutch will allow the kicker gear train, 1st gear and the clutch/transmission input shaft to turn without turning the engine.
You can go to Yamaha's website and look at the parts diagrams for a 1978 or 1979 XS1100. Be aware that Yamaha split the kicker gear train between a couple of different diagrams so it's not all visible in one picture. http://www.yamaha-motor.com/sport/parts/home.aspx
Here is how the kicker gear train works:
The kick lever bolts to and turns a shaft with a gear and a return spring on the end that's inside the clutch cover.
The kicker gear turns a gear on the outer end of an idler shaft that goes through the engine case to an idler gear on the other end of the shaft with a one-way ratchet between them -- one kicker gear turns two idler shaft gears.
The inner idler gear is always engaged with the 1st gear wheel in the transmission. When the two idler shaft gears are turned by the kicker they turn the 1st gear wheel to start the engine.
When the engine starts or the kicker is released the one-way ratchet backs off and disengages the two gears on the idler shaft, disconnecting the rest of the kicker gear train from the inner idler gear.-- Scott
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2004 ST1300A: No name... yet
1982 XJ1100J: "Baby" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
1980 XS1100G: "Columbo" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
1979 XS1100SF: "Bush" W.I.P.
1979 XS1100F: parts
2018 Heritage Softail Classic 117 FLHCS SE: "Nanuk" It's DEAD, it's not just resting. It is an EX cycle.
♬Comment
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Good to know thats how the kick start works on these bikes! Thanks!Nathan
KD9ARL
μολὼν λαβέ
1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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Great news, the engine turns over fine. It took more to turn everything than I thought it would. I slipped the kicker on and it turned over good with enough compression to spray the lube out. Time to get serious now. This weekend I'll pull the carbs and start renewing them, then the wiring. The wiring will get simplified so I'll build a new harness. Hopefully I can hear it run in a couple weeks.US Army 1986-1991
1979 1100 Special (on the road after 16 years!)
1983 GS300L (wifes ride)
1985 Super Glide
2012 Super GlideComment
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Great to hear that, and good luck as you move forward!Nathan
KD9ARL
μολὼν λαβέ
1978 XS1100E
K&N Filter
#45 pilot Jet, #137.5 Main Jet
OEM Exhaust
ATK Fork Brace
LED Dash lights
Ammeter, Oil Pressure, Oil Temp, and Volt Meters
Green Monster Coils
SS Brake Lines
Vision 550 Auto Tensioner
In any moment of decision the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing is the wrong thing, and the worst thing you can do is nothing.
Theodore RooseveltComment
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Just an FYI
IDK what you initally sprayed into the cylinders to "lube" them but, incase you were not aware, WD40 does not 'play' well with motor oil. It has solvents in it that will degrade the lubricity of the engine oil. Just informing you of this b/c it could potentially be bad if you decided to start the engine and let it run/ride the bike with a large amount of WD40 mix in the oil... Welcome to the site and congrats on your new obsession.
'79 XS11 F
Stock except K&N
'79 XS11 SF
Stock, no title.
'84 Chevy K-10 "Big Blue"
GM 350, Muncie SM465, NP208, GM 10 Bolt with 3.42gears turnin 31x10.5 Baja Claws
"What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~Comment
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It was a good shot of liquid wrench in case the rings were stuck to the cylinders. It will have fresh oil and filter before I try to start it. Thanks for the warning!Originally posted by WMarshy View PostIDK what you initally sprayed into the cylinders to "lube" them but, incase you were not aware, WD40 does not 'play' well with motor oil. It has solvents in it that will degrade the lubricity of the engine oil. Just informing you of this b/c it could potentially be bad if you decided to start the engine and let it run/ride the bike with a large amount of WD40 mix in the oil... Welcome to the site and congrats on your new obsession.US Army 1986-1991
1979 1100 Special (on the road after 16 years!)
1983 GS300L (wifes ride)
1985 Super Glide
2012 Super GlideComment
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Right on, the kick lever works a whole lot better than ViceGrips!Originally posted by old_chopper View Post-- Scott
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♬
2004 ST1300A: No name... yet
1982 XJ1100J: "Baby" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
1980 XS1100G: "Columbo" SS Brakes, '850 FD, ACCT
1979 XS1100SF: "Bush" W.I.P.
1979 XS1100F: parts
2018 Heritage Softail Classic 117 FLHCS SE: "Nanuk" It's DEAD, it's not just resting. It is an EX cycle.
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