I want to cry...

[jrm000kc]

It's been a rough couple of weeks Greg. Hopefully it's just a speed bump I'll get over....

[MPittma100]

Noise

Past history has shown that when these bikes sit over the winter, gas can leak out of the carbs and into the crankcase. Make sure that this has not happened.

Always a good idea to park them on the center stand with a 2X4 under the front tire when the bike is not in use for extended periods. This will elevate the front and send any leaking gas to the air box instead of into the oil. And don't leave gas with ethanol in your bike for any length of time except when you are riding it.

[jrm000kc]

Thanks mpittma. I'll keep the 2x4 under it from now on. Yea, it's very possible gas may have leaked into the oil. All the oil is coming out of it this weekend-as well as a new oil filter. Btw, is that oil filter specific to the bike or will the filter from a car possibly fit? (It's always a mess like all internal filters are...it'd be nice to somehow mill some aluminum to make an adapter for an external filter.) Speaking of air filters, I'm thinking of doing away with the airbox and going to pod filters. Still need to re-shim my valves and get 2nd gear fixed so I can fully enjoy the power. Getting 2nd fixed would be like having a different bike.

[DiverRay]

(It's always a mess like all internal filters are...it'd be nice to somehow mill some aluminum to make an adapter for an external filter.)

T.C. makes an adapter that will use a spin on filter. Check with him on the price, or look in the mods section of repairs/mods.
The second gear fix should be done in a garage, not an open carport. Most managers I know don't like you doing THAT much work in the carport....

[sail4free]

Did You a Favor!

==========
Based on a few years of experience with my XS (since '83), if your friend -- in fact -- did drain your tank . . . however he might have done it? He did you a huge favor! And you should thank him immediately! I think it many, MANY times more likely that any and all issues you're now experiencing with your ride are the result of time and storage environment -- both variables your friend had absolutely no control over. These bikes are born to RUN! They do not store well.
JIM P. ~ BOISE, ID
==========

[jrm000kc]

I know, trust me. I think more harm was done to it sitting in a garage without being run most of the winter versus me keeping it outside with a tarp tightly wrapped. At least I would run it during fairly warm days during winter-at least once every two weeks at a minimum.

Yea, I don't think the landlord would appreciate having an entire transmission opened up...but that largely depends on if I was able to get it done in a weekend.

[DiverRay]

From experience, a tarp will NOT be a good thing! I know around here water gets in, and then it heats up in the daytime, turns to vapor and goes to work on ALL exposed aluminum and steel. I parked a bike for two months under a tarp, and it tool me a week to get it "presentable". Cloth covers work well, and use plastic just when it rains. the cloth keeps most of the dust off, and allows the moisture to evaporate when things warm up.

[jrm000kc]

Ray, that is one of my concerns with the plastic cover trapping moisture...but I do remove it once the rain is over. I'd rather have trapped moisture under the plastic vs a soaked through bike that won't fire worth a lick because of my crappy plug caps/wires.

While letting it warm up just now to warm up the oil to make it drain better I kicked into 1st and 2nd gear on the center stand to work the drive oil because it's getting drained also. I notice when I give it throttle in gear on the center stand there seems to be a slight delay, like something is loose. I would assume there shouldn't be any slop or delay...at least it shouldn't shudder so badly when I do this. I'm gonna check the u-joint to be sure.

As for checking the auto tensioner is doing what it's supposed to what's the procedure for that? Can I just take out the whole assembly?

[DiverRay]

There IS some "slop" in the drive system that you will really feel when on the center stand. If you have a large vibration when holding about 2,000RPM, you probably have a problem. At idle, they seem to "jump" a LOT, but all of the bikes I've worked on are like that.
I would not worry about the auto adjuster unless you have over 80K miles on the engine.
The U-Joint I have is a Precision #392 . The bar-code on it is 46079 01668. You should be able to cross the Precision number for something your local auto parts shop carries.( the box has an old part in it, as a spare)

[motoman]

Ray, that is one of my concerns with the plastic cover trapping moisture...but I do remove it once the rain is over. I'd rather have trapped moisture under the plastic vs a soaked through bike that won't fire worth a lick because of my crappy plug caps/wires.

While letting it warm up just now to warm up the oil to make it drain better I kicked into 1st and 2nd gear on the center stand to work the drive oil because it's getting drained also. I notice when I give it throttle in gear on the center stand there seems to be a slight delay, like something is loose. I would assume there shouldn't be any slop or delay...at least it shouldn't shudder so badly when I do this. I'm gonna check the u-joint to be sure.

As for checking the auto tensioner is doing what it's supposed to what's the procedure for that? Can I just take out the whole assembly?

Nothing wrong........put a little 'load' on rear wheel by gingerly applying rear brake when running in gear on centerstand. Spline clearances, gear clearances and rubber 'bumper' inserts on final drive causing the noticed slack with no load on rear wheel.