Purchased 1979 XS1100...????

[jmacsuga]

Anyone have a carb float????

The bike runs, and I have now started the dismantle. I just couldn't get the #1 cylinder to fire correctly (I put in NEW plugs, and that one did not get hot at all. I suspect that the carb float is not letting gas through. When I did the first cleaning, that one had a hole in it, and had BAD gas inside. I removed the solder plug, cleaned it out, and resoldered the hole and the spots where it leaked, but the frame was bent, and I just can't seem to get it right. Does anyone have a spare???? They want LOTS of $'s for one, and I am trying to cut expenses as much as possible. Thanks!!! Jim

Hello All: My name is Jim and I have just purchased an XS1100F, 1979. I have started the rebuilding effort to see if will even start after 25 years of sitting. So far I have put in oil (there was NONE when I got it), lubed the upper valves, cleaned the carbs (not bad really) and just trying to see if it will start. If it does start, I plan a complete tear down and frame out restore. It is a beautiful bike (in my opinion), and worth my time. I am retired now, and have the time and patience to do the work. If you would like to follow my progress, you can go to http://jimphoto.freeprohost.com/Yamaha and look at the photos. I am in the process now of cleaning the tank. The photos of the manifolds is interesting. I didn't want to buy new unless it starts, and well, I used a product I got from ACE Hardware called Plasti Dip. An aerosol rubber and it did a pretty good job after I removed the electrical tape from the previous owner. Your site has been a great help for me, and I plan to visit often. There is one question.....There is a rubber hose from a fitting on the top of what looks to be the transmission. Anyone know where this goes...it is NOT covered in the manual I have. Thanks to all for your contributions!!!

[jmacsuga]

Aluminum foil for cleaning chrome......

Well, I found a thread on here that talks about cleaning rust from the chrome. I thought to myself, Yeah right!!! So, I tried it yesterday, and was pleasantly surprised!!! It works great!!! Thanks for the tip. I posted some photos of the effort. http://jimphoto.freeprohost.com/Yamaha/yam040.JPG and http://jimphoto.freeprohost.com/Yamaha/yam041.JPG or you can see the whole progress to date at http://jimphoto.freeprohost.com/Yamaha. Thanks for all your help, and I will keep posting here on the '79 and on the new thread for my '78. These bikes are FUN!!!

[jmacsuga]

Working on engine pull.....!!!!

I have started getting ready to pull the engine. Exhaust off and clean, foot peg holders off and clean, coils/horn,etc., off and clean to make room. I am going to try and get the engine out whole if I can. I will be working on the carbs too!!! I have several new photos and you can click on the link below.

Hello All: My name is Jim and I have just purchased an XS1100F, 1979. I have started the rebuilding effort to see if will even start after 25 years of sitting. So far I have put in oil (there was NONE when I got it), lubed the upper valves, cleaned the carbs (not bad really) and just trying to see if it will start. If it does start, I plan a complete tear down and frame out restore. It is a beautiful bike (in my opinion), and worth my time. I am retired now, and have the time and patience to do the work. If you would like to follow my progress, you can go to http://jimphoto.freeprohost.com/Yamaha and look at the photos. I am in the process now of cleaning the tank. The photos of the manifolds is interesting. I didn't want to buy new unless it starts, and well, I used a product I got from ACE Hardware called Plasti Dip. An aerosol rubber and it did a pretty good job after I removed the electrical tape from the previous owner. Your site has been a great help for me, and I plan to visit often. There is one question.....There is a rubber hose from a fitting on the top of what looks to be the transmission. Anyone know where this goes...it is NOT covered in the manual I have. Thanks to all for your contributions!!!

[GLoweVA]

There's a lot here on the site about pulling engines.
Search and you'll see.
Some tips I've gleamed from reading some of them:
pull the oil filter housing, it just gets in the way.
Get some help (muscle).
Maybe lay the bike on its side and lift the frame off the motor.
Some have used an engine hoist.
It may give you more room if you pull the head off first. (not to mention less weight)
Oh and watch out for the middle drive gear boot. Many have said it can get snagged and ripped.

[jmacsuga]

Side Covers.....????

Hi, All: Ok, I got the engine ready to pull out of the frame and am waiting for a couple of friends to come over and help. But, I have been thinking about my side covers, which are NOT there. I have a '78, with the side covers, and am thinking about trying to MAKE them out of resin (build a cast and try and do it that way....saw it on American Restoration). Have any of you ever tried that, or have you just bought the bullet and paid the BIG $'s for ones on eBay???

[DiverRay]

The LEFT side is the big ticket item, as the latch for the lock is gone most of the time. Right side covers should NOT be that bad, and if you search, the left CAN be repaired easily. I would say look around, and keep an eye out for a set that has the left broken, and cheap. You can try and cast them, but they will be hard to get correct as the resin can shrink a little as it cures.
But, if you can cast a set, and make a good mold before hand, you may be able to sell them for a little extra money, and have the bikes cost even less!

[jmacsuga]

Motor is OUT!!!

Well, thanks to all of you, we got the motor out yesterday with NO TROUBLE! Just jacked up the engine, and worked it out onto my ATV jack. Now I can get started with getting the blasted exhaust bolts out!!!! Thanks again!!
New pics are 051 and 052.

Hello All: My name is Jim and I have just purchased an XS1100F, 1979. I have started the rebuilding effort to see if will even start after 25 years of sitting. So far I have put in oil (there was NONE when I got it), lubed the upper valves, cleaned the carbs (not bad really) and just trying to see if it will start. If it does start, I plan a complete tear down and frame out restore. It is a beautiful bike (in my opinion), and worth my time. I am retired now, and have the time and patience to do the work. If you would like to follow my progress, you can go to http://jimphoto.freeprohost.com/Yamaha and look at the photos. I am in the process now of cleaning the tank. The photos of the manifolds is interesting. I didn't want to buy new unless it starts, and well, I used a product I got from ACE Hardware called Plasti Dip. An aerosol rubber and it did a pretty good job after I removed the electrical tape from the previous owner. Your site has been a great help for me, and I plan to visit often. There is one question.....There is a rubber hose from a fitting on the top of what looks to be the transmission. Anyone know where this goes...it is NOT covered in the manual I have. Thanks to all for your contributions!!!

[jmacsuga]

Main Drive Chain Slack

Ok, so I have a question, and before I post a new thread, I thought I would try and explain my thoughts here. I got the engine out, and after draining all the fluids, I turned it up side down. I took off the oil pan, just to be able to gaze lovingly at the insides of my motor. No worn gears, all nice and clean (even the oil pump screen was clean, and then I saw it. The two inch wide main drive chain. In this position, there seems to be a LOT of play in the chain. There is no tensioner that I can see, nor is there one in my book (Clymer's). And, there is NO discussion on this site as to if I have a problem, or if this is normal. Looks to be about a half inch play (pull the chain and let loose) and my mechanic neighbor thought this might be too much, but he in no motorcycle mechanic. Would any of you, while doing your engines, have any experience with this chain and how much play it should have? I did start the engine before I took it all apart (I really don't want to completely tear the engine down if I don't have to) and there was no major clattering. Any thoughts????

[bikerphil]

To me it seems when these motors get to about 30K, the HY-VO chain stretches enough to cause some racket in the engine. The slack is normal and there is no adjustment other than a new chain. I wouldn't worry too much about it, they won't develop enough slack to jump and I've never heard of one breaking or coming off. New ones aren't cheap either.

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Chain

Here is your chain, $175.00 + S/H If yours isn't digging into the case, I would just keep on useing it. I haven't heard of one breaking either

http://www.speedsupplies.com/cartdisplay.asp

Ok, so I have a question, and before I post a new thread, I thought I would try and explain my thoughts here. I got the engine out, and after draining all the fluids, I turned it up side down. I took off the oil pan, just to be able to gaze lovingly at the insides of my motor. No worn gears, all nice and clean (even the oil pump screen was clean, and then I saw it. The two inch wide main drive chain. In this position, there seems to be a LOT of play in the chain. There is no tensioner that I can see, nor is there one in my book (Clymer's). And, there is NO discussion on this site as to if I have a problem, or if this is normal. Looks to be about a half inch play (pull the chain and let loose) and my mechanic neighbor thought this might be too much, but he in no motorcycle mechanic. Would any of you, while doing your engines, have any experience with this chain and how much play it should have? I did start the engine before I took it all apart (I really don't want to completely tear the engine down if I don't have to) and there was no major clattering. Any thoughts????

[jmacsuga]

Haven't been working on the Bike......

Hello, All!!! I have been remiss in posting for this bike, but I haven't been doing much with it until the last few days. I have it almost completely torn down, right to the frame, and am getting ready to do some painting. Man, what a mess!!! I don't think the swing arm, the rear drive unit, or the rear wheel bearings have had any new grease in them since 25 years ago....!!! I am cleaning, and painting, and just getting myself into all kinds of trouble. I have removed the engine, and have tried to clean it, but alas, NOTHING seems to take off the built up grunge and grime and baked on oil. So, unless you have some other suggestions (I have tried the Simple Green, the Super Heavy Duty De-greaser, and everything else I could throw at it, but can't seem to get the stuff off. Power washing was also in there and have managed to get the gunk out of between the cylinders!!!) I am going to take off the valve cover, cylinder head, and cylinder and bead blast them. I was thinking of doing it while intact ( I have a portable one) but my mechanic friend says that would get the sand blast material into the engine, and that would not be good.....!!! And, it has been too cold to go out in the garage....today the high is supposed to be above freezing!!! Yahoo!!! I just put some more photos up at the web-site http://jimphoto.freeprohost.com/Yamaha

[MaximPhil]

hi jmacsuga,
While you were blasting away with that high pressure hose
Did you dislodge the rubber spacers that go between the cooling fins ?
If so did you pick them up and save or push back in?

Phil

[XS1100_OEM4ME]

Steam Jenny

I know I get some crap for saying this, but find a shop close that has a Steam Jenny With everything apart like you have, load them up and pay a guy a few bucks to steam clean them. "EVERYTHING" will come off with "0" parts dammage and "NO" sand in your motor

Hello, All!!! I have been remiss in posting for this bike, but I haven't been doing much with it until the last few days. I have it almost completely torn down, right to the frame, and am getting ready to do some painting. Man, what a mess!!! I don't think the swing arm, the rear drive unit, or the rear wheel bearings have had any new grease in them since 25 years ago....!!! I am cleaning, and painting, and just getting myself into all kinds of trouble. I have removed the engine, and have tried to clean it, but alas, NOTHING seems to take off the built up grunge and grime and baked on oil. So, unless you have some other suggestions (I have tried the Simple Green, the Super Heavy Duty De-greaser, and everything else I could throw at it, but can't seem to get the stuff off. Power washing was also in there and have managed to get the gunk out of between the cylinders!!!) I am going to take off the valve cover, cylinder head, and cylinder and bead blast them. I was thinking of doing it while intact ( I have a portable one) but my mechanic friend says that would get the sand blast material into the engine, and that would not be good.....!!! And, it has been too cold to go out in the garage....today the high is supposed to be above freezing!!! Yahoo!!! I just put some more photos up at the web-site http://jimphoto.freeprohost.com/Yamaha

[Lonerider62]

I'm not sure about your bike Jim, but when I got my 80 Special, it had hose clamps just about where your's are that held the bottom of the faring support to the frame. I thought it was a rinky-dinky way of doing it but from what I could tell, that's the way it was intended. The top of the faring support bolted to the frame.

[JasonRedbeard]

My fairing support is the same way. Two bolts at the top, and four band clamps holding it to the frame rails. I thought it was pretty flimsy looking, too....but apparently it's held up for 30+ years.