nklr? problems w/ yam xt 600 '91

[Jim Wilkinson]

I have a question that I have yet to see on this listserve, but then I haven't been a member for very long. My 2001 KLR has started making a high pitched sound that seems to be coming from the tail pipe. The pitch stays the same with increased throttle until its drowned out at highway speeds. Anyone had a similar problem? Jim Olive Branch, MS __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? HotJobs - Search Thousands of New Jobs http://www.hotjobs.com

[mnron2002]

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., Jim Wilkinson wrote:

> I have a question that I have yet to see on this > listserve, but then I haven't been a member for very > long. My 2001 KLR has started making a high pitched > sound that seems to be coming from the tail pipe. The > pitch stays the same with increased throttle until its > drowned out at highway speeds. > > Anyone had a similar problem? > > Jim > Olive Branch, MS > > __________________________________________________ > Do You Yahoo!? > HotJobs - Search Thousands of New Jobs > http://www.hotjobs.com

Check the archives under "tweety" MNRon

[Devon Jarvis]

I have two SR500 Yamahas, which is sort of an ancestor to the XT600. Generally Yamaha single-cylinder bikes are very reliable and very oiltight. A '91 with just over 3000mi has been hardly used at all, and that might be part of the problem. That motor is dry sump I think- if so, if the check valve is not working then you can't rely on the oil level unless you just shut off the motor five minutes ago. The oil leaks down, you then overfill it to get the correct level (not knowing there's a liter of oil in the sump where it doesn't belong), then the motor blows oil out the breather, blows gaskets, etc. Then, if you let the motor sit overnight, or for a couple days when you check it again it reads low. Oil can puke into the airbox, get sucked into the motor, and then the motor smokes like hell even with good valve guides and rings. The plug would foul in seconds from this and make the motor run like crap. The first thing I would do, is drain ALL the oil out of the sump and frame tank. Refill the motor with the correct amount, install a fresh spark plug, and see how it runs. GET A MANUAL, you can't just pour oil into the tank like a wet sump motor. On the SR you have to add 250cc of oil to the sump, and then bleed the air from the filter chamber when you restart it. I would think the XT600 is similar. As far as checking the rings/valve guides/etc, the right way is to do a leakdown test. It sounds like your local dealer is enjoying repeatedly fixing things (and repeatedly charging you for it) so maybe you want to find another mechanic. Start by finding someone who knows what a leakdown tester is. Look at: http://www.xs11.com/tips/misc/misc3.shtml Search for "leakdown tester" on metacrawler.com, you'll find a lot of info. Devon A15 Brent B wrote:

> > I have a friend that bought an XT 600 Yamaha. It's a '91 with just over 3000 miles on it. He is having problems with it. Does this bike have any inherent problems? It is using lots of oil and smoking, could it have sit too long and the valve seals are shot? Maybe some other seals and gaskets? Maybe there is lacquer in the carb? > when he got it after about 500 miles it started to leak oil around a small cover on the right side near the top of the cylinder. He had it fixed and within twenty miles it was leaking again. He took it to a Yamaha dealer and ask them to fix it. the said they fixed it and said it was the same thing, just a gasket under this cover. My friend didn't get 15 miles from the dealer, was smoking, lacking power, and running like crap in general. He said that from the dealers to oil was a little too much full. Then when he checked it later after less than 15 miles it showed low. > Any ideas, He wants to sell this bike and I think that I may buy it but I would like to know what's wrong with it first. > brent >