1976 XS500 Valve Adjustment

[corlon]

i recently got my xs500 running after sitting for 3 years. the last issue i'm having is a noise coming from the right upper side of the engine. i'm assuming its the valves i hear. wondering if anyone can give me the specs for adjustment and the procedure.

[JimR]

Originally Posted by corlon

i recently got my xs500 running after sitting for 3 years. the last issue i'm having is a noise coming from the right upper side of the engine. i'm assuming its the valves i hear. wondering if anyone can give me the specs for adjustment and the procedure.

That is not a problem ... but I guess the cam chain tensioner as gone wrong .. just strip the case off and look at the hyvo chain ... but failing that pay my air fare & I'll fix it

[corlon]

are you thinking i have to replace a part or just make an adjustment on the tensioner? when you say strip the case off, is it the whole engine cover asssembly or just a certain part of it? the sound changes / almost goes away when i put my hand on the upper right of the engines cooler fins. i also believe the sound almost goes away when the clutch is engaged.

[JimR]

Originally Posted by corlon

are you thinking i have to replace a part or just make an adjustment on the tensioner? when you say strip the case off, is it the whole engine cover asssembly or just a certain part of it? the sound changes / almost goes away when i put my hand on the upper right of the engines cooler fins. i also believe the sound almost goes away when the clutch is engaged.

Ok what you need to do :-
strip the cam cover off - check the cams are fine
check the very iffy cam chain tensioner has not broken . that odd looking peice to the rear of the motor. if it has broken you will need to take the engine out of the frame but I will add my point .. pay the airfare I'll fix it !!!
Regards Jim

[corlon]

going to pull it apart tonight. can i get the specs on adjusting the valve and the procedure to do so. just want to make sure their right while i'm in there. just a note on my last post. the noise does not change when the clutch is engaged. went for a long ride yesterday and the noise was there the whole time, but the performance never changed, even when the bike was hot. thanks again for your help and insight.

[JimR]

Originally Posted by corlon

going to pull it apart tonight. can i get the specs on adjusting the valve and the procedure to do so. just want to make sure their right while i'm in there. just a note on my last post. the noise does not change when the clutch is engaged. went for a long ride yesterday and the noise was there the whole time, but the performance never changed, even when the bike was hot. thanks again for your help and insight.

0.10 mm intake 0.15 mm exhaust (cold)
Procedure :-
remove tank
remove the points cover (small cover on the r/h side of the motor)
remove the inspection cover on the generator
remove the air duct and cam cover (if you are careful/lucky the gasket may come off whole)
Turn the engine counter clockwise until the mark 'LT' lines up with the timing mark with both intake & exhaust valves closed on the l/h cylinder check & adjust the clearence at this point
do the same for the r/h cylinder replacing 'LT' with 'RT' (valves closed on the r/h cylinder also).
with all the slack at the back of the cam chain ... re tension it, (turning the engine counter clockwise puts the slack at the back) and if your bike has the inspection cover in the generator cover check the balancer chain adjustment also .... if that's slack ... its another post
Then just reassemble the bits you have removed !
Regards Jim

[corlon]

pulled the cam cover off today and checked the exhaust valves. they were within spec. the cam chain seems tight on top, but couldn't tell if the tensioner was good or bad from above. tried to adjust it by loosening the acorn nut on the right front of the engine, but nothing happened when i did that. if i pull the right side engine cover off will i be able to see the tensioner for the cam chain, or does more then jusy the one cover have to come off? curious as to why you only gave specs for the exhaust and not the intake? thanks again.

[JimR]

Originally Posted by corlon

pulled the cam cover off today and checked the exhaust valves. they were within spec. the cam chain seems tight on top, but couldn't tell if the tensioner was good or bad from above. tried to adjust it by loosening the acorn nut on the right front of the engine, but nothing happened when i did that. if i pull the right side engine cover off will i be able to see the tensioner for the cam chain, or does more then jusy the one cover have to come off? curious as to why you only gave specs for the exhaust and not the intake? thanks again.

intake = 0.10 mm
exhaust = 0.15 mm
as the previous post said

[corlon]

woops. sorry. missed it. thanks.

[JimR]

Originally Posted by corlon

woops. sorry. missed it. thanks.

No Worries .... so the bike runs real well now ?