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Been a while...

Started by musicweb, February 09, 2022, 07:34:02 PM

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musicweb

Been a while since I've posted here...hope everyone is fine and healthy...
My vision has been down for a few years because a bad water pump and seal...
Coolant in the oil, etc...

While I'm working on it now, I decided to do the valve shims.
I'll be checking clearances tomorrow, but if I need any shims, does anyone know
of availability?

I also read on this forum to go by the Haynes manual for clearances, which I do have.

Thanks in advance...
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

kevin g

The valve shims are the same as BMW 1000cc K-bikes from the flying brick era, 1986 to 1994 and list for half of the price of the Yamaha ones.  There is also an aftermarket source that you can search for.  When I needed some I went to my friendly BMW dealer and bought them.

musicweb

Thanks Kevin... I'll check it out once I know what I need...
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

musicweb

Well, I took off the front head thinking it was a blown head gasket before I found the bad water pump seal and impeller.
The gasket was fine... but the valve seats didn't look good, so I lapped them all and put new valve seals.
I'm thinking the rear valves are probably in need of attention also, and maybe the head gasket is needed there.
But, is it really true the engine has to be removed to remove the rear head?
Maybe I should leave it alone....
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

jefferson

I would do a leak down test to see if they really need attention before pulling the engine and removing the head.

The Prophet of Doom

Quote from: musicweb on February 09, 2022, 07:34:02 PM
Been a while since I've posted here...hope everyone is fine and healthy...
My vision has been down for a few years because a bad water pump and seal...
Coolant in the oil, etc...

While I'm working on it now, I decided to do the valve shims.
I'll be checking clearances tomorrow, but if I need any shims, does anyone know
of availability?

I also read on this forum to go by the Haynes manual for clearances, which I do have.

Thanks in advance...


Shims are available from Yamaha, wemoto many other places
Yes, you'll need to drop the engine to remove rear head, but it's not as hard as you'd think.  Use 2 ratchet tie downs to lower it

fret not

If I recall correctly there are some Toyota shims that fit.  Make sure you get the correct diameter, as Toyota has other diameters for some vehicles.
Retired, on the downhill slide. . . . . . . . still feels like going uphill!

musicweb

Thanks for the inputs...
I'll be doing the leakdown test sometime today.
If all good, I'll put the front back together and hopefully get the timing right.
Is there anything special to watch for when putting the chain back on, or
just follow the manual?
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

musicweb

Update:
No shims needed on front valves... all within specs.
For the water pump, I ended up using a friends large drill press
to push in the mechanical seal. Worked like a charm!
A 1" craftsman socket was used as a tool....
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

jefferson

Kawasaki Z1 shims are the same size if memory serves. Some shops will trade you for the size you need. It's been a while and not sure if they still do.

musicweb

ooops... I guess I'm supposed to run the bike for a few minutes before
doing the leakdown test...
So I'll do that after it's running...
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

kevin g

When I went the local Yamaha dealer for shims they barely knew what I was talking about until an old guy dug the box out of the back room.  They didn't have my size and since the wanted twice what the BMW shims cost I went there them.  Since I have bought several BMWs from that shop they are friends of mine.

I also read that the Ford Taurus SHO has the same shims and even a wider range of sizes in 0.025mm increments.  It is a Yamaha designed motor so...

The Prophet of Doom

Quote from: musicweb on February 11, 2022, 06:33:12 AM
Is there anything special to watch for when putting the chain back on, or
just follow the manual?
Always use the punchmark on the cam inboard of the cam sprocket.  If you use the punchmark on the sprocket, it's easy to misalign by a tooth.
One tooth out is enough to strike a valve with the piston.


musicweb

Hehe... I think that has happened....
I used the marks on the sprockets and now if I go about half a CCW turn on the crank, it locks up...
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

musicweb

#14
So where should the rear cyl be when the front cyl is at TDC? I may have screwed this up... maybe not.
When I line up the flywheel at T line for the front cyl, the intake valves are closed on the rear cyl. Is this correct?
Or do I need to do another crank revolution?
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

musicweb

Found this from Prophet, so I guess my timing is ok.

1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

musicweb

Going to start to put my vision back together today, and wondering if I should pull the valve cover off the rear and check clearances and timing.
Carbs have been soaked and rebuilt, even with new shaft seals...
Crankcase has been sorta washed out, and I'll run it for a bit, then do an oil change again.
New water pump seals and good used impeller and drive gear. Old impeller was cracked and drive gear had some chipped teeth.
Radiator looks clean, and I have a good thermostat, tested in hot water.
Any recommendations of other things to check?
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

musicweb

So I pulled the rear valve cover off (not much room there to remove it) and intake clearances
were fine but the exhaust was .10mm and .23mm, so they need attention.
Also a lot of the yellow gook around because of the coolant in the oil.
Breather hole was almost plugged up.

So I'm thinking I should drop the engine and do the rear valves, head gasket, cleanup, etc....

Prophet says to use 2 ratchet straps to lower the engine, and I have those from when
I transported my bike down to VA.
I would imagine the exhaust has to be disconnected.

Any input as far as dropping the engine would be helpful....

1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

fret not

Just a thought regarding the coolant in the oil; sometimes when this happens the plain bearings on the rods/crank become 'destroyed'.  The aspect I am curious about is how long did the motor run this way?  How hot did it get?  Did the RPM slow down, as in bearings seizing on the crank?

If any of this happened it becomes a good idea to open the motor and actually check the rod bearings.  Otherwise you can take your chances on the rod bearings being in serviceable condition, and keep your ear alert for any rattling/knocking sounds, and your eye on the oil pressure. (good luck with that)
Retired, on the downhill slide. . . . . . . . still feels like going uphill!

musicweb

#19
I had taken it for a ride to Lowe's about 20 miles from my house.
On the way back the temp gauge was reading low, then high... fluctuating...
So I headed home and parked it. It was hot, and not much coolant left.
Pushed it into the garage...
No noises, no seizing up, just hot....
Engine still turns ok by hand at the flywheel bolt, no spark plugs, CCW...

How big of a job is swapping out the bearings?
And are they still available...?

And... if everything is still ok, I read somewhere that running diesel fuel for a few minutes
instead of oil will help clean out the engine. True?
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!