Giving high mileage bike some love. Now ran when parked?

[jetmechmarty]

This bike had a nagging crankshaft seal leak and my Vision cam chain tensioner was leaking as well. It has over 100,000 miles on it. I've lost track exactly because it's on its third speedometer.

I replaced the crank seal and redid the flexible iggy wires. I also replaced the tensioner gasket. Then I had to make sure the cams were still lined up. I came this far, so I checked the valve clearances. All good.

While I'm at it I did the compression test. Ice cold, my readings are 90-100-92-92. A fail. I put a TSP of MMO in each cylinder. 130-140-130-150 Needs a top end. I put it all together, fired it up and got it warm. 100-100-100-105 She's worn out.

[bikerphil]

My take on this is, run it more and the numbers should come up. I'm sure you took good care of it, then it should have plenty of life left in it. Worst case, hone and ring job. The gauge could be wonky too.

[cajun31]

How often do you ride that bike? Could be like Phil said. The rings might just need to loosen up. As cheap as the cruzin image top end kit is it could be an option. Of course you can still get the Wiseco kits. Top End Rebuild Kits | Shop Powersports Engine Rebuild Kits - WisecoExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandEx pandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpa ndExpandAccountShopping CartFacebookTwitterYouTubeInstagramTikTokSearchSho pping CartToggle MenuFilterGridListLoadingDoneLoadingDoneFacebookTw itterYouTubeInstagramTikTokToggle Menu CloseToggle Menu CloseExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExp andExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpandExpan dExpandToggle Menu Close

[Radioguylogs]

Still a beautiful bike - worth fixing.

[LAB3]

I'm also going to agree on running it awhile before giving up due to compression numbers, I've seen bikes go from 100 lbs to 125 after only about 50 miles of riding.

There's also the ignorance is bliss" factor, if it doesn't smoke and otherwise runs decent then who cares what the numbers on the gauge say!

[jetmechmarty]

I'm also going to agree on running it awhile before giving up due to compression numbers, I've seen bikes go from 100 lbs to 125 after only about 50 miles of riding.

There's also the ignorance is bliss" factor, if it doesn't smoke and otherwise runs decent then who cares what the numbers on the gauge say!

That’s where I’ve been operating. I don’t remember ever checking compression. This was prompted by other work I was doing. My symptoms are sooty plugs, hard starting from cold, and minimized engine braking. I’ll give it a good run when I get a nice weekend.

It appears the only repair option is 1196 cc. I’ve known folks who were running those, but they aren’t checking in here anymore.

[cajun31]

Your bike is stock or you have already had to do the top end once? Just asking for those that are reading this. If you have never done anything as of yet and the bike is still stock then you still have the option to install the 1179 kit. From past posts there is no real appreciative gain in performance on either the 1179 or 1196 upgrade. Doing the 1179 leaves you room to go up to 1196 later if necessary. Of course no one is getting any younger and doing it twice is probably not in your or my futures anyway. The price is about the same for either size kit so you are not actually saving anything either way. Hopefully the bike just needs some time on the road. The mystery oil might do the trick.

[cajun31]

Straight from Google AI... so it has to be true right... wink wink.


AI Overview
The best way to break up gummed-up rings and restore compression without engine disassembly is a "soak" method. Remove the spark plugs, pour a cleaning agent like Sea Foam, Marvel Mystery Oil, or a 50/50 mix of Acetone and ATF into the cylinders, and let it soak for 24–72 hours, rotating the engine by hand occasionally.

[jetmechmarty]

Your bike is stock or you have already had to do the top end once? Just asking for those that are reading this. If you have never done anything as of yet and the bike is still stock then you still have the option to install the 1179 kit. From past posts there is no real appreciative gain in performance on either the 1179 or 1196 upgrade. Doing the 1179 leaves you room to go up to 1196 later if necessary. Of course no one is getting any younger and doing it twice is probably not in your or my futures anyway. The price is about the same for either size kit so you are not actually saving anything either way. Hopefully the bike just needs some time on the road. The mystery oil might do the trick.

My bike got a new timing chain several years ago. That and I had the 2nd gear failure. I replaced the four necessary gear wheels with new and performed the washer move at that time. Otherwise, even the clutch is original.

I’ll give the MMO a go. When I get a good weekend I’ll ride it to Vicksburg and back with a load of Seafoam in the tank. For now, I’m still looking at ice outside.

My bike saw little use in 2025. I’ve been leaning into the XS650 as I have several of them.

Does Cruzin Image have an 1179 kit? Any good reason to avoid it?

[cajun31]

The price difference between Wiseco and Cruzin Image is quite different and no I had just looked at Cruzin image and it appears they only offer the 1196. At $170.00 it is hard to say it isn't worth a try. I can't remember if it was on this site or out on Facebook that someone actually reported on the Cruzin Image package and had no real complaints about it. Of course the Wiseco is a proven solution. But at over 500 difference in price your pocket book will have to decide.

[cajun31]

Meant to ask do you have any good shops around you that you trust to do the machine work? I went out looking again and Cruzin Image does sell the oversize piston kits. They are mostly geared towards standards. Not sure what the difference is between the Specials pistons and those for the Standards. Looking at partzilla between a 79 standard and an 80 special like you have the piston part numbers obviously are different but the wrist pins are the same part number. Of course the price difference between just the pistons and the full fledge 1196 kit is negligible. If I were doing it I would probably just opt for the kit and be done with it. It does bring up a good question though. What is the difference in the pistons or is there any? I would suspect it has to do with the valve clearance at the top of the pistons.

[jetmechmarty]

Meant to ask do you have any good shops around you that you trust to do the machine work? I went out looking again and Cruzin Image does sell the oversize piston kits. They are mostly geared towards standards. Not sure what the difference is between the Specials pistons and those for the Standards. Looking at partzilla between a 79 standard and an 80 special like you have the piston part numbers obviously are different but the wrist pins are the same part number. Of course the price difference between just the pistons and the full fledge 1196 kit is negligible. If I were doing it I would probably just opt for the kit and be done with it. It does bring up a good question though. What is the difference in the pistons or is there any? I would suspect it has to do with the valve clearance at the top of the pistons.

I have Fletcher’s in Memphis. They’ve reworked a couple XS650 heads for me. I haven’t needed any bores done. They just honed them. I have another option in Dahlonega, GA that could prove less expensive.

There is no difference between a standard and Special engine that I’m aware of. 1980 got bigger valves and a camshaft change from 1979.

[DiverRay]

With the bigger valves in 1980, the piston is different due to a slightly higher dome to make up for the bigger chamber in the head to fit the valves. This is what I am guessing is the difference, but I'm pretty sure it's correct.

[bikerphil]

My friend and I just did a hone and ring job on an XJ11 (same as 80-81 XS) last summer. We used the standard size rings and the correct size ball hone. Also did a valve lap and valve seals. The bike is now running great for around $200 including the gasket kit....

[LAB3]

The price difference between Wiseco and Cruzin Image is quite different and no I had just looked at Cruzin image and it appears they only offer the 1196. At $170.00 it is hard to say it isn't worth a try. I can't remember if it was on this site or out on Facebook that someone actually reported on the Cruzin Image package and had no real complaints about it. Of course the Wiseco is a proven solution. But at over 500 difference in price your pocket book will have to decide.

I'm pretty sure that $170 price is per piston, not a four cylinder set.