Gears and timing chain

Me again, well, this old XLX 250 i bought has started not selecting 2nd gear
properly. Today i pulled the clutch in and lifted the shifter by hand whilst
stationary and it pulsed up and down a bit until i pulled that hard it went
into gear. Sometimes it takes a while to get it into 2nd when riding, from
2nd up it's ok. just from 1st to 2nd is a problem. last night i put it in
gear, pulled the clutch in to roll it foreward and it was as though the
clutch wasn't even working. That was with motor off. when the motor is going
it seems to work ok with a slight pulse foreward when motor is running , in
gear, clutch in. I first noticed it after riding for a day or so going from
1st to second it was going to neutral then getting harder and harder to get
into 2nd. I try and take off from second now.

Other question is about timing chain adjustment, cant seem to find the
adjuster for it.has a chrome bolt thing on the right top rear of the head. I
presume this is the bolt that holds the top of the tensioner there. I was
informed from previou posts that this is an XR250re motor. Any input
appreciated.

Thanks

Gary

 

In aus.motorcycles on Tue, 22 Mar 2005 08:23:53 GMT

IF it was a Guzzi, I'd say "so adjust the lever arm at the gearbox" but
I dunno what XL-whatsits do instead.

Sounds to me like the clutch needs looking at.

Zebee

 

Clutch is dragging. Adjust it. Gearbox problem will probably go away.
Buy that Haynes book I mentioned, okay?

It'll be automatic, although if it's thrashing around like a mad
thing it could be that the automatic thingo is at the end of its
life. Did you check which engine it is as per my earlier
post? Let us know ...

-----sharks

 

Clutch cable is at its MAX on the handlebars, no adjustment on the motor
casing.

Sorry mate, yes it is a 4 valve RFVC motor. I can take pics and mail off
list if that helps.
As far as the manual goes, i asked 2 motorbike shops (one was Laurrie Fox
Honda in mount gambier s.a.) and they said they would get back to me IF they
could find something. I'm still impatiently waiting for them. If you know
where i can get a *Haynes* from i'd be glad to get one.

Thanks again....


Gary

 

Is there an internal adjustment?

gary

 

Fark (as in "my forehead how has 'ertyui' indented
in it in a kind of reverse thing...).

Change the bloody cable already. (Or buy some new
walking shoes. Your choice).

GB, even *I* can see...

 

Ummm. No adjustment on the other end of the cable either, like
two nuts [shaddup Clem] holding it to a bracket?

And just to check, the adjuster is pulling the clutch *in* as far
as possible, right? Unusual, because normally clutch plates
wear *thinner*, and the clutch needs to be adjusted *out* in order
to fully engage. Perhaps your adjuster is right *out*!

If the oil isn't new, change it. Shitty oil does terrible things
to motorcycle gearboxes and clutches. If the oil is really shit,
change it, ride 100km or so and change it again. I have no idea
what the RFVC uses for an oil filter, but if you can, change it
too.

If there is no adjustment point at which the clutch neither slips
when engaged nor drags when disengaged (WITH CLEAN OIL), either
the plates are worn out or the clutch springs are shagged (or
something else is buggered, I suppose, but those two are the
normal ones)

Might be interesting! I don't know all that much about the RFVC
one, mostly the one before it (4-valve SOHC) but I think they're
pretty similar below the barrels. I might be wrong.

If you want beer, go to a beer shop, if you want books go to a book
shop! If you're in the middle of nowhere try borders.com.au (or
amazon.com, etc.) If you're a bit new to this bike engines thing,
the Haynes Motorcycle Basics Techbook looks pretty good. The other
one to look at might be the Haynes XR250L book, because I suspect
an XR250L and a XLX250 are pretty much the same thing (same engine,
anyway, the suspension and carbie might be different but that's
pretty general).

The other option is to try and blag a microfisch reader from somewhere
(they used to get thrown out a lot by libraries) and buy the workshop
manual on fische for $15ish. You don't want to know what it costs
on paper! (although no harm in checking out ebay or whatever) Even
if you're getting the workshop manual, though, the Haynes basics book
would be a good addition unless you're an expert already ...

-----sharks

 

Actually, that's two I didn't mention. Make sure the clutch cable
slides back and forth smoothly.

Oh, and sometimes the 'coarse adjustment' is a funny looking
widget part way along the clutch cable, a hex bit about an inch
long with the cable screwed into each end.

-----sharks

 

A cable adjuster? He needs a new cable, or learn to ride home without a
clutch.

Theo

 

That's why some manufacturers have different oil in the gearbox. Engine oil
is not the best thing for gears.

I'd be really worried if I had oil on my clutch.

Theo

 

Yes, yes, me too on the Beemer, but the guy wasn't asking about tractors
he was asking about a mid-eighties Honda. No point confusing the issue.

-----sharks

 

Ok, i found the long adjuster on the clutch cable and readjusted it so i
could screw in the one on the handlebars. I don't use the clutch when riding
anyway. Never have. ridden 3 ct125's and a couple XL250's and XL500 without
using clutch except for takeoff/stopping and never had a prob before. Rang
Redwing honda and have a Clymers being sent COD next week. The guy there
says the XLX is basically an XL bike with XR motor. the only difference was
one motor was taller or longer than the other. Went for another fang today
and it's still doing the no second gear for 10 seconds trick on me. Gonna
get this book and pull the motor out and the tools and strip it. needs about
another $300 bucks worth doing up top. Have put new oil in as well. can't
remember the brand/details but it was looked up in the book at the petrol
station. $25 - 4 litres.....Hmmmmm, funny how i remembered THAT bit!!

This thing has started making a noise like a loose timing chain, however, it
goes away after about 5-10 mins riding. WIERD. Has auto adjuster apparently
but they should work instantaniously.

Ok, that's it for now. Sharkey, still want some pics of this thing?? took
some last night.
Or go to bikepics.com. only have one there at the moment but will add more
tomorrow.

Thanks again.

Gary

 

Well, there's a likely problem then! The clutch is dragging when you
don't use it!

Could be the balancer chain, could be the adjuster being sticky, could
be just the tappets making you feel welcome.

Nah, she's right, we've IDed the bugger now.

-----sharks

 

See Chris Deans post "HOW TO FIX A RATTLY SPADA" for a possibility on
the timing chain rattle thing. I assume thats a similar vintage Honda
motor, so the "automatic adjuster" may suffer similar issues.

(Message-ID: <>)

big

 

Yep, read that this morning thanks. Gonna strip the whole motor so i'll find
out what it is then.

Gary