1st post and some questions

[BillyRok]

Thanks for the replies/tips...I have a better understanding of the valve train now and can go to bed a little smarter than when I got up today.

A little more info if anyone's interested. I'm at least the 4th owner. The guy I got it from only had it a month...he buys bikes, fixes what needs fixing, and resells them...said he'd been working on bikes for 30 yrs. He changed the engine oil and filter as well as the oil in the middle and final drives. Also rebuilt the front brakes (not "breaks" right Fred?) I did some work on the rear brakes as they started to hang up a bit one day...followed the advice I found on the site and they are fine now. Not sure if the drive shaft splines were greased. That will be checked before I ride again as I have an 850 FD on the way. I've read about the auto CCT, seems like most of you feel it's the way to go and it appears they were used on a lot of bikes so it'll be easy to score one.

What is this Yamabond that Poprock mentioned? Is it used in place of a gasket? The gasket on the valve cover did not survive the removal of the cover...part on the cover and part on the head...are new gaskets available?

Thanks again to all for the input, I know I'm going to have many more questions. (Now I need to figure out how to fix my signature)

Billy

[motoman]

The valve cover gasket and the cam-end plugs are both still available from dealer and other sources also.

[Schming]

"What is this Yamabond that Poprock mentioned? Is it used in place of a gasket? The gasket on the valve cover did not survive the removal of the cover...part on the cover and part on the head...are new gaskets available?"



Here is one source for decent priced parts.
First link shows the Cam Cover Gasket and the second the 3 bond gasket sealer HTH

http://www.partsnmore.com/parts/yamaha/xs1100/?filters[fitting]=custom

http://www.partsnmore.com/parts/yamaha/xs1100/?filters[fitting]=universal

[ddragon63]

Ultra Black RTV works great for a valve cover gasket. and virtually any other gasket...

[crazy steve]

One nice thing about Yamabond over 'plain' RTV is it doesn't leave a 'bead' where it squeezes out. It's a bit runnier, so it flows over the joint, adding to it's sealing ability. And without that 'bead', no chance of that coming loose and possibly clogging a important passage....

[ddragon63]

One nice thing about Yamabond over 'plain' RTV is it doesn't leave a 'bead' where it squeezes out. It's a bit runnier, so it flows over the joint, adding to it's sealing ability. And without that 'bead', no chance of that coming loose and possibly clogging a important passage....

if your bead is coming loose you've got way too much on there to start with. I've used it on the front and back sections of v8 engine intake manifolds for years. sometimes you gotta lay a 1/4 bead in there to make up room for a highly decked motor or angle milled heads. I've yet to see one come loose. not trying to sell anyone on the fact that it couldn't happen. I've seen my share of RTV and gasket shilack in oil pans upon dis-assembly. I'm just saying when done correctly it shouldn't go anywhere.

Yamabond is great stuff. getting your hands on it can be a chore other than the internet. I asked my local "Yamaha" dealer about it when I stepped in there last month to get a couple valve shims. The kid @ the counter looked @ me like I was speaking Portuguese! But most of you know how I feel about my local "Yamaha" dealer... I'm not sure how they stay in business