ThePsuedoMonkey
XS400 Addict
I hate to be someone who starts out asking for help, but I think I need it.
After an oil change I stop for fuel, no problems yet. I get on the freeway and travel ~9mi before I start to lose power from the throttle, previously traveling 75mph with tachometer at 6.5k, at which point I grab the clutch and move off to the side. The engine may have stalled before I cut it off, but I'm not sure as there are a lot of semi-trucks on that freeway and I was too caught up in controlling the bike to look at the tach. After checking out the bike I realize that I was an idiot and didn't torque the oil plug properly
but there was still some oil draining from the pan, so I immediately call a friend to load the bike into a pickup. We double back to see how far I had gone after the plug fell and notice the trail about 3mi from where I pulled off.
I have not touched the bike yet, as I do not have the opportunity until the weekend, but have found a new plug, assuming that the thread on the '81 is also M14-1.5 like the manual for the '82 says, as well as a gasket set in the event that I need to tear down the engine. I have never done this before and am ridiculously nervous, but I know there may be extensive damage and that it must be done if that is the case.
I am hoping that it can be saved without a complete rebuild, so right now my plan is as follows: Remove the side covers, filter, and oil screen checking for metal flecks. If I find none I will fill the oil through the top end (heads/lifters was my first thought, due to my experience with cars), letting gravity do what it can to lubricate the system in lue of the oil pump. After leaving the oil to work through the system for a few hours I plan to start turning the engine via the kick start with the cutoff switch in the "off" position, slowly at first and being satisfied after ~5min of gradually increasing this. I will check the oil filter and screen for metal flecks before actually starting the engine and running for a few minutes, again before riding for about a half hour under gentle conditions ( <35mph, <4kRPM), and once more for good measure.
What do you guys think of this plan? Should I use a lower viscosity oil to clean out the system at first? Should I tear down the engine anyway? If I tear it down are there any curve-balls I need to look out for like bolts torqued to yield or parts that should have a liquid gasket? Should I use oil additives like Lucas stabilizer or Seafoam? If there is damage, where would it most likely be?
Thank you for reading that huge wall of text! Your assistance is much appreciated, have a great day everyone!
After an oil change I stop for fuel, no problems yet. I get on the freeway and travel ~9mi before I start to lose power from the throttle, previously traveling 75mph with tachometer at 6.5k, at which point I grab the clutch and move off to the side. The engine may have stalled before I cut it off, but I'm not sure as there are a lot of semi-trucks on that freeway and I was too caught up in controlling the bike to look at the tach. After checking out the bike I realize that I was an idiot and didn't torque the oil plug properly
but there was still some oil draining from the pan, so I immediately call a friend to load the bike into a pickup. We double back to see how far I had gone after the plug fell and notice the trail about 3mi from where I pulled off.I have not touched the bike yet, as I do not have the opportunity until the weekend, but have found a new plug, assuming that the thread on the '81 is also M14-1.5 like the manual for the '82 says, as well as a gasket set in the event that I need to tear down the engine. I have never done this before and am ridiculously nervous, but I know there may be extensive damage and that it must be done if that is the case.
I am hoping that it can be saved without a complete rebuild, so right now my plan is as follows: Remove the side covers, filter, and oil screen checking for metal flecks. If I find none I will fill the oil through the top end (heads/lifters was my first thought, due to my experience with cars), letting gravity do what it can to lubricate the system in lue of the oil pump. After leaving the oil to work through the system for a few hours I plan to start turning the engine via the kick start with the cutoff switch in the "off" position, slowly at first and being satisfied after ~5min of gradually increasing this. I will check the oil filter and screen for metal flecks before actually starting the engine and running for a few minutes, again before riding for about a half hour under gentle conditions ( <35mph, <4kRPM), and once more for good measure.
What do you guys think of this plan? Should I use a lower viscosity oil to clean out the system at first? Should I tear down the engine anyway? If I tear it down are there any curve-balls I need to look out for like bolts torqued to yield or parts that should have a liquid gasket? Should I use oil additives like Lucas stabilizer or Seafoam? If there is damage, where would it most likely be?
Thank you for reading that huge wall of text! Your assistance is much appreciated, have a great day everyone!
)
I was not aware that these required oil. Cleaned up everything with some Simple Green, but Brush#2 was wasted; got one off Ebay for $12 but #1 is still in spec (and costs $25!). Ordered new bearings for the crankshaft ($30!) as well as a backup crankshaft assembly in the event I screw up this one. I remember reading about some pin for the crankshaft elsewhere in this forum, but I do not recall this pin being present when I removed my crankshaft: does anyone know what the deal with this pin is?
