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Been a while...

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

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musicweb

What I don't understand is how the yellow slime got up into where the blow-by hose is on the rear head.
And there was no slime in the oil filter housing, so hopefully my oil pump is clean enough.
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

fret not

To replace either rod or main bearings the cases must be split.  Big job but not impossible.  Some experience doing such repair work is highly advised.  Repair manuals are very helpful and necessary. 

I don't know about flushing with diesel, but it sounds likely.  I would hesitate to run with diesel as the lubricant for more than a few(10 - 20) seconds.  Maybe someone that has experience with doing this can expound. 

Bearing shells for the rods can be fitted from some automobiles, there is at least one discussion from some years past that has this information.
Retired, on the downhill slide. . . . . . . . still feels like going uphill!

musicweb

Engine is removed... rear cyl head is off...

Top of piston is fairly clean, which leads me to believe
a blown head gasket... ??

Head gasket came of real easy... evidence of some seepage
between the head and cyl at the back of the engine.

Going to do valves, seals, head gasket, etc....

Forgetting about the diesel flush. Just going to run some
marvel mystery oil with my oil and change it a few times.

Hopefully the innards are ok....
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

The Prophet of Doom

Quote from: musicweb on February 20, 2022, 06:48:46 AM
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....

The exhaust has to be removed, but you can leave the Y piece connected.  Don't touch those horrible clamps if they are gas tight.

Bearings last a long time - unless there is damage they probably won't need replacing.  They aren't available from Yamaha but hunt around I think they are all standard sizes (METRIC of course)

Splitting the cases is quite a time consuming job but it does go back together fairly easily - just follow the manual carefully.  You'll need basic tools plus a torch, Yamabond4, assembly lube and a few replacement parts - a lock tab and some copper washers from memory.  Plus anything that needs replacing of course

musicweb

If you mean the two exhaust clamps at back of cyl head, they came off easily. and
the rings look fine.
Waiting for 2 shims to come today hopefully so I can finish the rear head and get the
engine back in.
Will check other things on the bike while waiting....

Girlfriend would like her garage back, but she's very understanding...  :)
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

Walt_M.

Those clamps and rings are what he meant but the difficulty is not getting them apart but getting them to seal when reassembled.
Whale oil beef hooked!

musicweb

OK... so is there an alternative to whats in there as far as the seal rings?
Larger ones perhaps?
They did not move at all when disconnected... like they are stuck there.

Just found out my valve shims won't be here until friday, so I put the engine
back in this morning. A little twisting and turning on the floor jack and it slid right in.

It's a pain, but I can get at the rear exhaust cam when the shims come in.

Does taking off the right side frame rail and re-installing it affect the frame alignment at all?
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

musicweb

Finally got around to finishing up the engine...
It started after about 20 seconds of cranking, but now it has a knock in it. :(
Bearings? or maybe I screwed up the timing?
Oil light is out, but as it warms up, seems to get louder...
I had flushed it twice, but the knock is still there....
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

jefferson

Take a screw driver and put it to your ear on the lower cases and then the heads. Should tell you the location of the noise.

musicweb

Took the front valve cover off and found a lose exhaust cam gear bolt....
Sworn I torqued them before reassembly...
So, double checking my timing and torques tonight.
We'll see what happens...

Surprised the cam bolt didn't back out all the way, but maybe it can't.
Probably is my knocking noise...

Will also pull the rear valve cover and check everything there.
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

jefferson

Sure beats a spun bearing. Hopefully no bent valves.

musicweb

Yeah... now I can't get the timing right...
When I line up the cam dots with the cam caps the engine locks up
when I turn the engine and it gets to the intake stroke.
Must be a tooth off?
I don't use the dots on the cam gears, just the ones on the camshaft.
But it was running....
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

fret not

I can't hear your knock from here, but one thing to check is the flywheel rotor /starter clutch connection.  Does the knock disappear when the motor is revved?  A loose starter clutch will rattle more at lower RPM but seems to smooth out as RPM climb. :police:
Retired, on the downhill slide. . . . . . . . still feels like going uphill!

musicweb

I had done all the upgrades when I first got the bike Mike, back in 2007...
I'm thinking it's the loose cam bolts, front cyl....
Going to tackle it this morning, but read my previous post....
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

musicweb

Fixed the front cyl timing and it's running again, but overheated...
Went to check the fan switch and it came on for a while.
May have a bad switch or didn't get all the air out, or bad connection.
Will check after lunch....
But the knocking noises are gone and she runs smooth.... yay!
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

jefferson

Way to persevere. Your overheating will be conquered to I surmise.

musicweb

Yep... but I need a new battery. Mine is old and not much CCA left.
No problem though, now that she's running again.

Switched out the 2 sensors in the T fitting and now the fan comes
on just above halfway on the gauge.

Now just a matter of synching and adjusting the carbs again, although it
doesn't run too bad....
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

musicweb

First ride today for about an hour and it ran great...
Only thing I noticed though was the idle was erratic, going up then down slowly.
Maybe because I did the throttle valve seals on the carbs?
They seemed to open and close ok when I put the plates back in.
I can live with the idle...at least it runs good otherwise...
1982 XZ550 Vision
Most upgrades done... and a large pizza paint job!

jefferson

You might have a leak in the YICS chamber or hoses. Disconnect the hoses and plug the nipples and see what happens.

fret not

Musicweb, your mention of "yellow slime" causes me to wonder what you have there.  The mention reminded me of when I had a Norton commando, and accumulated moisture combined with some oil 'formed' in the valve covers.  It was creamy white slimy stuff and when poked with a screwdriver water beads leaked out.  It was just condensation combined with oil mist but it looked strange and I wanted it out of there.  I thought a good hard run would 'boil' it out and evaporate the moisture but finding a safe place to run hard for a half hour or so without getting in trouble was out of the question.  So is this sort of what you have?  Or do you figure it came from the leaking coolant?  Was there coolant in your oil when you drained it?
Retired, on the downhill slide. . . . . . . . still feels like going uphill!