Hello!

[Liam]

Hi there, just thought id just introduce myself and see if i can get abit of advice aswell.

Im Liam from London, i just picked up a XBR500 1986, i intend to make it cafe racer, but first hurdle is just to get it started! I have very limited knowledge of the workings of a motorcycle so its going to be a big learning curve.

when i bought the bike i was told it wont start because of a dead battery, so im charging that right now (how long should that take?) so hopefully that will get it started. should i be able to kick start it without a charged battery?

what should be my next line of enquiry if the batterys not the problem? how will i even no if worth getting a new battery?

also the exhaust has a couple of small holes in it, so im thinking i should just replace the exhaust alltogether, can anyone recommend what i should replace it with?

Thanks
Liam

[Mark]

Hello Liam, battery charging time will depend on charger, a few hours should do it. If the battery has been standing for some time and not used the chances are it'll be U/S but if it does spin the engine over then it 's probably ok.

Not sure if the honda will start with a flat battery, I'm sure one of the XBR boys will be along shortly.

If it's not the battery check the terminals and earth connection.

If it turns over but won't start, fresh petrol(drain carb) and a clean plug should hopefully see it go.

[guest295]

The XBR should start easily on the kicker; a dead battery won't stop it. Put it on the centrestand first: the geometry of the thing makes it really hard to turn it over whilst straddling it.

[andy230]

where in london are you mate?


(... I know nothing about XBRs....!)

a

[pigafetta]

The XBR should start easily on the kicker; a dead battery won't stop it. Put it on the centrestand first: the geometry of the thing makes it really hard to turn it over whilst straddling it.

Do you think so? I've never found it a problem to be honest.

They can be stubborn to start if they've been left standing for a while. I've found the electric start to be fairly inadequate unless your battery is 100%. They start far easier if you kick them - mine usually starts on the 2nd kick (and my battery's knackered  )

Draining the carb and fresh fuel is definitely a gooid idea if it's been laid up. Also the clutch tends to stick. If it does, pull the clutch in, stick it in gear, then try the kickstart - that'll usually free it up. Also when you fire it up, let it idle for a minute or so to warm the oil up before you put it in gear.

An oil and filter change is always a good idea. I do mine every 1000-1500 miles.

Let's know if you need a .pdf of the workshop manual.

All the best,

Dave B

[Liam]

Hi guy, thanks for the replys! i got it started after charging the battery, both kick and eletric start work. i was very pleased with my self until after about a minute of running it start smoking... there seems to alot of oil on the engine as well... little be concerned now!

any ideas of what that may be?
here are some photos, is the oil all over the engine a bad sign?  http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v299/LeeMM/XRB500/

Andy, im from East London, Bow. how about you?
Thanks everyone
Liam

[SteveC#222]

You can actually run the XBR without a battery at all, but I wouldn't recommend it doing it for long. It should start fairly easily on the kicker as they have an auto decompressor fitted. If you kick it over and find it has no compression  DON'T PANIC! Sometimes if an XBR is left standing for a while they seem to lose all compression - I don't know why, maybe a sticky valve or something. Just keep kicking it over and eventually compression will return.  Make sure you have fresh petrol in the tank AND carb, the modern stuff goes off after a very short time.

Welcome to the club! now do you have any views on Landrovers, camping stoves, weather girls..........

[pigafetta]

Have you checked your oil level yet? If not, do that before you go any further. Run the engine at idle speed for about 3 mins from cold before you check it.

It looks like the oil on the engine is coming from under the cam cover. You always get a bit of spillage when you take the cam cover off so if the previous owner was recently noodling about in there, it might just be left over from then. The only way to tell is to clean it off as best you can then run the bike for a few minutes and see if it's still leaking. If it is, you may just need to fit a new gasket and torque the cam cover down properly. On the other hand, if the previous owner has snapped bolts or knackered threads (I snapped 2 bolts getting mine off), you may need to take the head off to drill and helicoil it. You can get the head off with the engine still in the frame.

Is the smoke coming from the exhaust or is it just the oil burning off the engine as it gets hot? If it's the latter, don't worry about it. Smoky exhaust may clear up after you've run the bike for a bit. If not, valve seals or piston rings are the obvious suspects.

On the plus side, XBRs aren't the worst bikes in the world to work on 

Let's know how you get on.

Dave B

(Dave now spots the Camping Stove Interrogation Unit approaching in their Landladies and makes a hasty exit...)

[Liam]

Hi,
so i thought i would go for my first/short a ride on this bike to the local mechanic to see what he had to say about the oil on the engine. first thing that soon come apparrent was both the brakes need looking at, the front is the worse so il start by replacing the pads. when i did get to the mechanics there wasnt that much smoke coming off the engine as there was when i first started it for the first 5 mins (however when i got back home the smoke was back! grrr)

The mechanic didnt seem to interested in helping me, he did say it looks like the gasket need replacing and thats where the oil is leaking from and the smoke is the oil burning burning on the outside of the engine..
 he said it would cost hundreds to take it apart and sort it. well this is my project so im going to have a crack at it myself!

does anyone know of an online guide to doing this? and where i can get the gasket?
am i in over my head here? i do have very little expiernce of mechanics.
Liam

thanks guys

[andy230]

Hi mate

I am in N12.

Forgive my short but sweet answers, wee bit busy, work seems to be getting in the way today!

I do not wish to be a prophet of doom!  But,

1) Brakes.  Bank on a caliper rebuild rather than just changing the pads
1.5) Try www.wemoto for spares at reasonable prices.  Pads, brake rebuild kits, gaskets etc.   David Silver??  (tho possibly dearer)
2) Bike shops in london will take your money, perhaps equal to the value of your motorcycle, and do little good.  Avoid, unless absolutely necessary
3) Oil on the outside of the motor may not be a major issue, so dont get too caught up about it
4) Good on you for having a crack.  Now is the time to learn!! 
5) Online guide- no sorry, not an "XBR man", but there is plenty of knowlege here.  Anyone else a homepage etc??

Cheers, keep us posted!

a

[pigafetta]

Hi Liam

I've emailed you a download link for the XBR workshop manual. It's pretty good and covers pretty much everything. It should answer a few questions for you.

The valve clearances in the manual have since been revised to 0.15mm inlet and 0.19mm exhaust.

I've got a part number/diagram list somewhere too. If I can find it I'll pass it on. You can view it online at Lings or CMSNL if you need it.

Wemoto, David Silver, Lings, or CMSNL are alll good shops. You'll get your gasket from one of them. Dave Silvers are very helpful if you're a bit uncertain. A pattern one will do the job but genuine ones are better. Fitting is covered in the manual but be careful with those bolts if they've not been shifted in a while.

I'm with Andy230 with regard to the brakes. A caliper strip is probably in order. I think wemoto do stainless pistons plus everything else you need.

Your best bet is to just get in there and have a crack at it. It beats paying silly money and you'll know the job's been done properly.

All the best,
Dave B

[andy230]

And still not being a prophet of doom, it may be a cylinder head gasket you need...

But I still dont think this a prohibitively expensive or exceptionally difficult job...

It would explain the oil on the oitdue of the motor, and out the exhaust pipe...

But it may just be the rocker box.

If it runs, ignore it for now!!  (but not forever!)

a

[SteveC#222]

For brakes - put www.xbr.de into google search - it will give you the 'translate' option. On the translated page on the left side click on 'techN test' and there is a 'how to' on overhauling the front brake - it's in English-ish but you should be able to understand it, it's an easy job. Lots of other stuff on the site too. if you need to do a top end overhaul the workshop manual is pretty good or ask on here, you'll get plenty of advice.

[pigafetta]

re: Exhausts...

I've just been looking around out of curiosity to see what's available. They're a bit thin on the ground!

The stainless Predator 2-1 is excellent but pricey, about £300 last time I looked.

www.OSMC.co.uk are also doing some nice stainless pipes. I don't know what they're like but they look the business. They don't list prices.

Laser and Micron used to do XBR pipes but they appear to be discontinued. It's always worth keeping an eye out on Ebay though.

Genuines sometimes turn up but Lings and CMSNL only have the left hand pipes at the moment. Dave Silvers might be able to get them.

All the best,

Dave B

[SteveC#222]

re: Exhausts...

 Dave Silvers might be able to get them.

As far as I know, standard XBR exhausts haven't been available from David Silver for a while ...I had one of the last few. 

If the downpipes are in reasonable condition you should be able to seperate the silencer and fit something classic Brit - Peashooters or BSA shorties.  Another possible option would be to get some stainless downpipes made so you can fit classic Brit - a mate of mine had some made by ( if I recall) Armours for his Ural.

The moral of the story is look after 'yer pipes!!

Oh, if by chance an original GB500 system came up just remember they won't fit the XBR as the GB had wider frame rails for the collector box.