OK so i'm new to this site and this bike or any bike for that matter, this is my first bike a 80 xs11 special and i think i killed her. so when i first got her i changed all the fluids to synthetic, found out she was burning oil. then the cam chain started slapping around and fallowing what i found on here i thread to set the self adjuster and it didn't work. so today i rode to work and it feels like one of the carbs is clogged up so i buy some of the fuel cleaner at the local cycle gear and put it in and start it up and starts smoking like crazy and spittin oil out of the header. i check the plug and that one was fowled so i take a wire brush to it and and start her up agin and she smoked a little but its OK. i decide to try to take the cam self adjuster off and see why its not working come to find out it was just dirty and after a little brake clean and a little new oil it works great. so this is where i think i f-ed up, i decided to turn the crank on the timing side to the letter c like it says in one of the forums in here then i put the self adjuster back in try to start her and the starter turns supper easy and she won't start. so i pull the valve cover to make sure the cam chain is OK and everything looks good so i don't know where to go from here. i know some of you might want to slap me up side the head but i am a newbie and i need some advice so thank you in advance for any and all.
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Not to put salt on yer wounds, but...you need to rotate the crank (clockwise, I think)til the pointer is on the "C" before ya mess with the CCT. Get a manual pronto and read that sucker.
Someone will be along to tell you if you effed anything up too badly. Don't start her until some of the experts weigh in.
You will need to remove and properly clean the carbs. Guys talk about "triple cleaning" their carbs...that is because they did not do a thorough job the first two times. Dis mantle them completely, soak parts as needed in carb dunk, and spray out everything else.Last edited by Shacknasty; 05-04-2011, 02:20 AM.
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First !!
Do not use the starter to turn the motor over without the chain tensioner PROPERLY installed and the cams in the correct timing. Might skip a tooth or two and you are looking at a valve collision. Alot of $$$ and time to fix.
I would suggest you get a manual, read about setting up the cams, pop the cam cover off, and check the set-up from scratch.
As far as the rest of the stuff, I think you will need a complete tune-up (also in the manual) to set everyting back right. None of it is hard to do, but it should be done one topic at a time and in a sequence (also in the manual)Mike Giroir
79 XS-1100 Special
Once you un-can a can of worms, the only way to re-can them is with a bigger can.
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Good company
As you may have deduced, turning the engine with the CCT out is very bad idea. However, if you read through the treads, lot's have done it and bent their valves. As stated get the manual from bugs site if you don't have one and go directly to that section and read. I don't know how hard you turned it, but it doesn't take much to bend them. If it were my bike, I'd pull the cams, and realign the timing marks, reinstall the cams and CCT, then compression test it. This will safely, tell you if did damage without doing any more.mack
79 XS 1100 SF Special
HERMES
original owner
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6932d5df.jpg
81 XS 1100 LH MNS
SPICA
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad305/mack-055/2.jpg
78 XS 11E
IOTA
https://youtu.be/wB5Jfbp6SUc
https://youtu.be/RaI3WYHSuWA
Have recovery trailer and shop if you breakdown in my area.
Frankford, Ont, Canada
613-398-6186
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As has been said, the timing mark is to be on the C mark BEFORE you remove the CCT, and the bike should be on the centerstand! The difference between the C mark and the T mark is that the engine is at TDC when on the T mark and almost wants to move. On the C mark any pressure in the compression cycles wants to pull the chain down on the back side, but there is little to no force wanting it to turn there.
Defintiely, before you try to use the starter at all again, pull the valve cover off. Then the timing cover, turn by hand very slowly feeling and listening for any odd metal to metal sounds, until the timing mark is on the T. Look at your cams and see if the dots line up with the arrows on the caps. IF yes, then you may be just fine. If not, chances are you bent some valves.
I would definitely check your compression just to be sure.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 XS750
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Originally posted by Mueller92672 View PostOK so I'm new to this site and this bike or any bike for that matter, this is my first bike a 80 xs11 special and i think i killed her. - - -
coming from an ex-Brit this is not a put-down but an expression of true commiseration:-
Oh, you poor bastard
I can't add anything to all the good advice already posted but I do hope you didn't get any serious damage and are soon up and running again.
Once running, this is your first bike?
The XS11 is a big heavy overpowered unforgiving monster of a machine.
Fer chrissake take a rider's course.Fred Hill, S'toon
XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
"The Flying Pumpkin"
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Click the link in my signature to get a manual. Read the ENTIRE thing before you do any more work on your bike. As simple as the CCT is, you have to be careful with the mechanism it controls, or you can be in for a major headache. Hopefully, you haven't bent anything, and you can just get a little greasy and learn about the engine while you put everything back into alignment.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
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Thanks all but I really screwed up I did everything I wasn't suppose to do and I’m pretty sure I bent every valve in that thing. I’m really bummed out but when I purchased the bike it came with another engine so I am going to pray, read the manual then put it in my baby and hope I can get her running soon. Then I have a reason to learn to rebuild an xs motor from the ground up. Besides fallowing the manual word by word does anyone have any advice or things to look out for when installing an engine I know nothing about or even if it runs? Thanks again for all the advice. I guess a suspension tech needs to be more careful when I'm dealing with engine stuff.Last edited by Mueller92672; 05-05-2011, 02:04 AM.
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The best advice anyone can give you at this point is, use the search tool on this forum, it's that easy. Anytime your about to do something to your bike you should come on here the day before and do a search for whatever your trying to accomplish. EVERY problem you could possibly run into most likely has been addressed, it can save you a big hassle especially when it comes to something like this! GL'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~
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hi and welcome Mueller! you will find this site very helpful and if you are lucky and ask nice there may be fellow members out your way that could lend you a hand ! good luck and ride safe ,,slow mo!The Belfast Express {1980 xs11oo special/TC fuse box/mikes xs pods/bad boy horn!/mikes green coils/mac 4 into 2 exhaust/ standard bars/vetter fairing c/w ipod CD iphone am/fm radio/tkat fork brace ,,,tuned by tinman
moemcnally@hotmail.com
i AM THE KING OF NOTHING
the people here are great , doesn't matter about the bike really/hamjam ////
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Biggest help would be as stated, ask then do. Start a build thread and keep it updated with your progress and plans. Ask questions about what your going to do and hear how someone screwed it up once and don't do it that way.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 Roosevelt
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Before you go changing engines, check the one you have anyway. It is not to terribly difficult to swap engines, but it is not a simple task either, and yes, you can tear stuff up in the process like the rubber boot over the u-joint if your not careful and those are very tough to find IIRC.
If you bent up the valves, you might be able to simply swap heads between the engines.
If you determine you want or need to swap engines, I would do the following checks before you install the other engine:
1. Check the valve shims, much easier to do out of the frame.
2. After you check valve shims, run compression check on the engine, if it has a starter use it, if not swap yours over, your going to need to anyway.
3. Check the transmission gears, or just go ahead and do the dremmel repair, again MUCH easier out of the frame.
4. Check the VIN of the engine, and the timing set-up. If the two engines came form different years bikes, specifically if one engine came form an 81 or an XJ, the timing setup will be different and may need to be swapped out. Not necessarily any easier off the frame, but good to know going in.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 XS750
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Head
I'm with DGXSER on this, pulling the head and lapping in a new set of valves in the original head is a lot better than swapping the engine. From your original post, cleaning the valve seats and lapping the old valves may have been a good idea anyway. pulling the head is not a big job. 2.5 hours max to get it out and completely disassembled. New valves are available, or you can swap the ones in out of the other motor. Just lap them to your head. Find yourself and auto CCT while your at it and put that on as well. Very happy with the one I installed.mack
79 XS 1100 SF Special
HERMES
original owner
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/a...ps6932d5df.jpg
81 XS 1100 LH MNS
SPICA
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad305/mack-055/2.jpg
78 XS 11E
IOTA
https://youtu.be/wB5Jfbp6SUc
https://youtu.be/RaI3WYHSuWA
Have recovery trailer and shop if you breakdown in my area.
Frankford, Ont, Canada
613-398-6186
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Originally posted by natemoen View PostBiggest help would be as stated, ask then do. Start a build thread and keep it updated with your progress and plans. Ask questions about what your going to do and hear how someone screwed it up once and don't do it that way.'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~
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Help
There's a few XSives in the San Diego with lots of experience and probably more than willing to help. Check the member's list for those in your area and send them a PM.
As for doing everything wrong, there have been dealers who did the same things because their mechanics didn't understand these machines....You can't stay young forever, but you can be immature for the rest of your life...
'78E "Pathfinder" Show bike...
Lovingly restored by Dave Delzell
Drilled airbox
Tkat fork brace
Hardly mufflers
late model carbs
Newer style fuses
Oil pressure guage
Custom security system
Stainless braid brake lines
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