Older members may remember I bought a 2000 Yamaha XT350 off Klaviator back when Bama Rides 1.0 was still alive.
I drove up to Huntsville and brought it home;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-dDFQT49/0/XL/DSCF1458-XL.jpg)
It needed a few things right off the bat,
Chain and sprockets;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-P735KPs/0/XL/DSCF2006-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-WpGDqDf/0/XL/DSCF2007-XL.jpg)
Fork seals;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-4n42B9X/0/XL/DSCF2018-XL.jpg)
new front tire;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-LXGQTkc/0/XL/DSCF3082-XL.jpg)
Took it on a few rides,
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Ride-with-Rundell-May-31-2015/i-fKP9JtP/0/XL/Ride%20with%20Rundell%205%2031%202015%20008-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Dual-Sporting-the-Free-State/i-3LpJLbd/0/XL/Dual%20Sporting%20the%20Free%20State%202015%20016-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Veterans-Day-After-Work-Ride/i-whbk5Bs/0/XL/DSCF3288-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Other/Veterans-Day-After-Work-Ride/i-xxKBd7r/0/XL/DSCF3291-XL.jpg)
Fun little bike, I was really enjoying a smaller lighter bike than the GS.
Last year I started to hear a rattle from the top end and decided it need to be investigated.
First thing I found was some debris in the oil filter;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-zhhd6kn/0/XL/XT350%20003-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-pfLXNSd/0/XL/XT350%20004-XL.jpg)
Time to tear into it a little farther;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-D75kQph/0/XL/XT350%20005-XL.jpg)
This is what I found;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-pD6tGQ3/0/XL/XT350%20016-XL.jpg)
This is the bottom of the cam chain tensioner. The one on the left is the new one. The barrel shaped object is what's left of the rivet that holds the bracket to the tensioner blade.
Time for new tensioners, cam chain, and a look at the top end.
I started to reassemble it, but when I started to reinstall the cams, the threads in the head that the bolts that held the cams down just all pulled out .
I tried to drill and helicoil them in the frame, but I couldn't get a straight shot at a couple, so decided to pull the head. Of course, 3 of the four bolts holding the exhaust came out fine, the fourth snapped.
I took the head to a machine shop to let them remove the broken bolt and helicoil the threads.
While I was at it, I pulled the cylinder and inspected the piston and rings.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-QzQtXFs/0/XL/XT350%202017-02-10%20002-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-VVmzjZz/0/XL/XT350%202017-02-10%20001-XL.jpg)
Turns out the piston was already on the first oversize. .50 and the ring end gap was in spec, so I just reused every thing.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-hphJ4vc/0/XL/XT350%202017-02-10%20003-XL.jpg)
Soaked the piston in a 50/50 mix of simple green and water over night;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-ZQLGTCC/0/XL/XT350%202017-02-10%20004-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-7q2mgWV/0/XL/XT%20350%202017-02-19%20001-XL.jpg)
ran a hone through the cylinder and installed the piston
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-4V4c7jf/0/XL/XT%20350%202017-02-19%20002-XL.jpg)
Placed the cylinder on the motor and installed the piston pin;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-KcHVGrj/0/XL/XT%20350%202017-02-19%20003-XL.jpg)
When I took the top end off, the carb boots fell apart;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-JvW4rrD/0/XL/XT350%202017-03-19%20008-XL.jpg)
Found a source on ebay that had them for far less than the yamaha price.
I ordered up a jet kit while I was at it and went through the carb (s).
This thing has the carb with the answer to the question no one asked...
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-rbsZMNB/0/XL/XT350%202017-03-19%20001-XL.jpg)
I didn't take any decent pics of the carb rebuild, lets just say it was a bit of a pain.
Cleaned up the header pipes too;
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-Cphtczq/0/XL/2016-12-26%20001%202016-12-26%20001-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-hhzmw6q/0/XL/XT350%20and%20GS%20work%20Dec%202016%202016-12-26%20002-XL.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-Cv7hnRk/0/XL/XT350%202017-02-20%20001-XL.jpg)
Top end is all back togeather, but the intake valves are tight, so need a couple shims before I can button up the valve cover.
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Motorcycles/Yamaha-XT350/i-JsG53wb/0/XL/XT350%20007-XL.jpg)
Interesting that the piston was oversize. I bought the bike with 730 miles on it and never touched anything inside the motor. I wonder how that happened? As for the carb boots falling apart, I had already replaced them once. They have a tendency to do that.
I'm glad you are getting everything fixed, it's way more than I could have done.
Yeah, I was curious about the oversize piston too. I measured the piston and the bore and both matched the specs for first over in the manual.
I could tell it hadn't been apart before, you can usually notice little things that indicate that someone else has had it apart since it left the factory, but none of those things were present.
I hope to get the shims this week and have it running this weekend.
Well Crap...
The place I ordered shims from sent the wrong ones, plus I guess after rotating the motor a few times the valves settled in and now one of the Exhaust valves is too tight.
Any place other than Big # ! have yamaha shims in B'ham?
Hall's Motorsports in Pelham? But they aren't open on Sunday. I think there is a Yamaha dealer in Sylagauga, too. Smith Brothers in Oneonta, but they are closed Sunday/Monday...BUT their website says they have a Versys 300 on the showroom floor :o
I certainly didn't expect anyone to be open Sunday. But it would be nice to find what i need Monday or Tuesday, I'd like to get this thing off my bench so i can move onto Lynn's Norton and steering head bearings in the GS.
Well, Hall's Motorsports won't have to worry about me darkening their door.
Called and asked about shim availability and was basicly told if I didn't buy the bike there they wouldn't help me.
If i had, they would just exchange my shims, but because I didn't buy the bike there, I was SOL.
I had been excited when I read that they were opening in Trussville, now not so much.
Tech 46 is closed this week for spring break.
Moto Ace in Leeds?
Did you ask them how a model year 2000 motorcycle could have been bought from them when they weren't even in business at the time?
Dipshits...
Any Yamaha dealer should be able to order the shims and get them in a couple of days.
That's what I would have thought...Hall's said to call the dealer it came from.
Any Yamaha dealer should have the shims. They are a common 25mm diameter, Kawasaki, Honda, and Suzuki all use similar shims. You can buy a complete kit that would cover all those makes with all the sizes, but I don't want to spend $200+
I know Hall's has the shims, how would they adjust valves on customer bikes without a set?
In the past, on other bikes, other dealers ,hey would let you exchange them from the service dept. shop supply for a nominal fee.
that's just plain stupid. instead of selling a guy chain lube, grips, a new jacket, maybe a helmet, or a new wr450, they told you to not even bother coming into the showroom, for $20 worth of shims.
stupid stupid stupid
Yup, my last can of chain lube lost it's charge the other day, I need some 15 wt fork oil for the GS. I probably would have purchased up while I was there, not now.
Probably not in the Trussville store when they open.
They just ensured I won't be buying anything there either.
Thanks for the support.
If Moto Ace is open and has the shims, I may ask about some tires too. Need a new rear for the GS before the RFP next month, and a rear for the Norton now.
It's support...but also an extremely low tolerance for dumbassery. :)
Sounds like they have the same business model as Big#2 .Unfortunately this has apparently become normal business . It is becoming hard to buy any hard and electrical parts from local dealers, even if you bought the bike there (@ Riders Harley), they don't want to sell you parts , they want to do the work.
Give Allsport Motorsports in Decatur a call. I bet Steve or Seth will be sure to get you what you need.
They are closed today.
I sent them a parts request through their website earlier today, I'll follow it up with a call tomorrow.
Unfortunately, they are close to 100 miles from me. Be a good excuse for a ride though.
Be a good opportunity to Pony Express them to you.
There's also a Vintage Bike Night at Straight to Ale in Huntsville on Tuesday nights. One in Decatur on Thursday nights.
I'm sure Allsport will help you out. Ben is the parts manager and Ashley the service manager. Make sure you mention you are on Bamarides. If you end up buying a part they will give you a 10% discount for being a member of the forum.
Give us a call. I had a 1990 xt350 and loved it. Unfortunately it was stolen....and gave me more reason to buy the xt600 I have today. We can get you about any part you need. We can mail them too you as well. It seems like mother nature is having some issues with the rainy day to off day ratio and putting some strain on when you can ride bikes.
Just give us a call and ask for Jeff. He can hunt you down about anything you need.
Quote from: Campbell92 on March 28, 2017, 05:21:16 PM
Give us a call. I had a 1990 xt350 and loved it. Unfortunately it was stolen....and gave me more reason to buy the xt600 I have today. We can get you about any part you need. We can mail them too you as well. It seems like mother nature is having some issues with the rainy day to off day ratio and putting some strain on when you can ride bikes.
Just give us a call and ask for Jeff. He can hunt you down about anything you need.
Thanks. Wish you guys were closer. Work takes me once a month to the Compass Bank just down the road from y'all, I stopped in there and picked up some chemicals a couple months ago and got good vibes.
Wish I could have made it last Saturday and got what I needed then. Looked like a good time.
Moto Ace to the rescue, called this morning, told them what size shims I needed. Picked them up on the way home from work, an hour later I was done and am about to go for a short ride.
Bike ran well, bit of a surge around 50mph.
I had put a couple shims under the needles while I had the carb apart, think I will go down to one.
Also, I had drilled and removed the plug over the idle mixture adjust screw, played with that some, idle seems more reliable than before.
Oh, while i was at Moto Ace buying shims, I ordered a tire, bought chain lube, a few other items, and spent about $160.
Reach out to lawny he has a connection to a shop out in leeds. They may be able to help you.