1985 XJ700 X Looks like blowen head gasket

It was a trying but good day on the 700X, got pistons on, rings aligned and then the fun came. Getting those little buggers in the jugs without hurting anything. That is what took the time and next time if I do this to another bike the proper tools. Just a plastic container and cut out the proper size of the piston and rings. I then used a correct sized hose clamp and started. That took some time and a few breaks to cool down. All in all it went really well as I had them well oiled and made sure not to force it.

I was going to put the head on today too but after reading through the book I seem to be missing one of the "Pins" that hold the gasket and head to the jugs. It was not there when I took it apart, only one was there when I dismantled it. So back to getting more parts or this time Pin in the mail. Sure would be nice to break it in this week with all this nice weather.

 

Got some update pics from the top end rebuild...still one more part to come in the mail and then she will live!

That is how I did my rings, not as fun as I thought it would be but it worked.

 

Head in on slow but sure. I see in another thred that I might have a lot of work with the valve clearance (zero on at least one valve) when I get into that portion next. I will be putting on and taking off those cams a few times in order to get the shims correct.

 

Shims was the name of the game today. I started off with a baseline of 120's on the IN side well almost all of them as I could not find 12 at a price I was happy with. I did this because of how tight the valves were to the IN side of the cams. Anyway, got a good baseline and now have to order the shims needed but only for the IN side. I really lucked out with all the moving of the shims and a lot of guess work, I was able to get the EX side in spec!

The IN side will have 130's almost across the board. I also will need two 165's I little weird but that is what the feelers told me. Took measurements twice to make sure. Yes the cam holders were torqued to spec.

I am guessing my head is getting close to a full rebuild of the valve seats or valve angle at some distant point in time. If and when that comes along I will ship that off.

So back to waiting on parts and then removing the cams and do this all over again. Once you do this a time or two on the X if feels a little better. Still really weird getting that IN cam in place with no slack and the gear in place. Book is okay but they could really be more detailed. MY2C

 

If you think that the X valve clearance checks are fun, go have a look at the OW34; V-4, 7 valves per cylinder, three camshafts per cylinder bank.
Makes me glad that it was a race-only engine.

http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/ow34-info.1209293/

 

That looks like it might spin up a bit like the sport bikes of today. I do like the fact that the cam chain looks to be the side, easy to work with I would hope. I am still getting used to the old X and how all her little oddities work. So far we have a good relationship and much respect.

 

So close but then she started to leak!! Yes got her all buttoned up today, the only issue before the end was the exhaust. Had to get the little jack out and just fineness it back into place. Jack made it really easy and strapping down the center stand to keep it out of the way.

So as I was filling her back up with coolant all was well, right up to the point it was popped off and then it started. I looked down and sure enough there it was off one of the back lower seals was a drip. I guess I will have to order a set for the bike but I was hoping that I could pull them out and just to the hardware store and get replacements that would match. Unless one of you guys/gals knows that already?

I stopped putting the carbs on and just walked away for the night. I will take a look again tomorrow and maybe just try to start it and the heat will swell the ring and make it all better. I know the wrong thing to do but it is so close that I want her to run. I could fill her up and also the overflow and then give her a quick start and see how she does. Besides it is going to rain her tomorrow and well....I know...do the right thing...frustrated.

 

You'll get it and the frustration will be well worth it when you do.

Gary H.

 

She lives! So now I just need to dial her in and that will be that. Sure does should so much better with the valves in spec, Wow what a difference!



In the next day or so I will have her sync done and then need to do the break in on the rings/hone. Then all the little stuff to make it look a little better. But the mechanical stuff is in spec and she is safe to ride....if this WI weather ever changes.

Putting the carbs in was not that hard, but getting the boots to the air box and back of the carbs...a few choice words. Len sent me great replacement boots and they find great, thanks again Len and the folks at XJ4Ever.

 

Well just when I thought I was good to go, she let me know I needed more work. I have to admit I did not set the fuel level on the bowels as others have with the clear tube, I will now.

For some reason today it would not take fuel into the bowels. I would even blow into the gas line and no go for air. Either that means that all the bowls are full and shut off and ready to start or something is wrong. She would start but that was it, no throttle response nothing but like a idle but only when I had the throttle while open. This was just strange so I pulled the carbs and took them all the way down again.

I found a torn rubber gasket on one of the cross over fuel pipes, so there is another part. Anyone happen to have the size of a brass fitting or any fitting that will bit the fuel bowls? Once I get the "O" rings in I will do the clear tube test on a level surface. I have seen a few pics on here just trying to find them.

Again, thanks for all the support, keeps me going, that and the sound of her running and smooth revving of the engine.

For those wondering, I was only using a small gas tank and I have not checked the oil for the smell of fuel.

As for the jets, I have the main @ 107.5
Upped the secondary by two
Also moved the pilot from 37 to 40.

This was because of the K&N filter.

 

Today's Jumble.

Parts. Chacal. Conversation. Start.

 

Productive day with a sad outcome. Cleaned and wet tested the carbs, they were good and I was happy. No leaks so on the bike they went. Did not put the boot to air box on as that is well something else. I just wanted to see I would have the same issue as before. Got a good AUX fuel source and started her up. She ran well until she heated up, then smoke??? I let her cool down and then came back and tried again....SMOKE!! Third time is the charm and I thought well maybe something in the exhaust from the PO and this would clear with a little run time in the field and then down the road a bit. Once it warmed up SMOKE!!!

I have to ask, is this a valve seal? I am guessing I have to take the head off and change out the valve seals?

On a side note, this bike is really small from the seat the handle bars and from seat to foot pegs, not too sure this is going to work out for my little around town bike? So the question is, sell her or fix her and then sell her?

Loved to hear from the forum to see if the valve seal is the correct action on my bike?

Thanks again.

Tim

 

What color smoke? Where from?

 

More of a cloudy color and there seemed to be "old" dirty oil coming from the left weep hole on the exhaust. I have not pulled the plugs yet to check and see if there is a tell tail sign. I just had to walk away for a bit and take a ride on one of my other bikes. Nice here today in the 60's.

Besides that the bike worked well, a small tick from maybe the #3 or #4 but nothing bad.

 

Might just be condensation. Does it go away once the exhaust is hot too hot to touch?
Does it smell sweet?

 

^^ agreed a white smoke is 'normal' after the bike gets up to operating temp it should go away.
Tim did say he ran it down the road and still had smoke after it was warmed up . . . .

Throwing this out there - cause we got a lot.
You don't have mice issues by you do you?
Although from what others have said here, if a mouse built a nest they usually blow out the tail pipes pretty quickly . . . .

 

Not the sweet smell that would be there from coolant, but I have no idea how much oil or water was in there from the PO. I even had it sitting on top of my double barrel heater in my shop for a while to cook off anything that might be in there. I don't think it did much.

No smoke at all on start up, and yes you would think the little condensation from moisture would be normal, this is more. There seems to be equal flow out of both pipes so not mouse block there.

But I really didn't like the oil drip off the left weep hole, but maybe I just need to run it a little more around and keep checking the oil. With the hone and new rings this could be normal?? Lol, I have no clue, I would think that it would not smoke once it got warm unless there is left over in the pipes and I just need to burn it out.

Thanks for the help and keep it coming.

 

Had a little time today, found that #1 spark plug had oil in it. I took the carbs of (getting used to this) to check the intake side for oil on the valve stems, looks clean no oil. I would guess that would point me to the exhaust side.

I can hold the valves in on #1 and remove the valve cap, springs and get at the seals. Fill the #1 piston with a shoe lace and then bring it up to hold the valves in place as one removes the valve assembly. Hoping this well save me from taking the head off again, just put the new head gasket in.

After a few times of taking the cams off the X you almost get used to it. Not that I want to but it looks like I have to.

 

Another short day with the bike but got down the what I needed to. Did the old string trick and was able to get the spring off the valves and remove the old really hard and brittle valve seals.


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On to the parts.

 

Well done, good persistence ( a lesser man as me would have thrown the towel in by now..) Hope it all works out.

J