Recent content by jakefromstatefarm

I plan to check valve clearances again later this week, but assuming they're all in order, what should be the next places I troubleshoot? I'll try to upload a video tomorrow night of what it sounds like. For now I'll describe - It's uncanny loud... Almost as loud as the engine at idle. It...

Somebody said his total charge was $140 after shipping. I can't find any new replacement stators online at all, and if I were to find one, it looks like it'd be a little more expensive. Any ideas?

@drewpy Where do you recommend I get a new one? The custom rewind guy apparently throws in new wiring in and out of the stator which I also need. Thanks.

Joseph - if it ends up being handy for you, I would probably benefit from some pics. I have a feeling I'm missing the spring you mentioned that retracts the worm gear/clutch line.

SWEET. Sounds like a plan. There have been so many times that a thread discussion on here helps my brain's light bulb to go on. Finally understand how something works feels so good. You guys are the best.

Hi guys - I gotta wake this thread back up. I'm having a similar problem with a '79 xs400 special (SOHC?). Is the push rod supposed to connect to the worm gear? If not, I have no idea what is supposed to pull the push rod back out once you release the clutch. Thanks, Jake

Thanks so much for the quick and sincere reply Joseph. Nope - never ridden it. It wouldn't surprise me if it was missing parts (it wouldn't be the first part). The cable will move, you just have to manually pull the lever back out. I put a different set of handlebars on so the clutch line will...

Hi guys, Earlier on in my rebuild project, while troubleshooting for spark, I noticed that the headlight didn't work and the blinkers are really faulty - sometimes they come on, sometimes they don't, and only rarely do they actually blink. Moreover, while checking fuses, I got a zero resistance...

Hi guys, I posted about this a while back within an unrelated thread I made. One dude had an idea, but I think I've eliminated the probable cause he suggested. So - here's the issue... A slap test will only work if the front brake is engaged, the bike will only start if the brake is engaged...

Hi guys! The clutch on my 1979 xs400 doesn't spring back out after its compressed and never has. Also, sometimes when attempting to kickstart, the kick will slip right through without engaging the crank, as if the clutch were still pulled in. One thing I've noticed and am skeptical of is that...

Hi guys - I'm currently working through the charging system on my 1979 xs400 in search of at least one gremlin. I can get the bike to start, but it won't run for more than a minute before it eats up its own juice and dies. I determined that the stator was shorting out thanks to some awesome...

@drewpy what do you mean by small ends?

Got it to start again, it seems that the main issue is battery strength. However, the engine turns off as soon as I let off the front brake - maybe some wiring is messed up somewhere? Also, there's some loud knocking in the upper engine - probably a valve clearance issue. Anything else it...

I couldn't get it to start tonight so I checked for a spark and now it's not sparking... Battery reads at 12.4ish volts. Primary and secondary coils all read correctly on my multimeter. Spark plugs also still in good shape... Any ideas?