[JGBYJ]

As suggested I tried to hook up a compression tester today, but that ended in failure, didn't have the right adapter to get in there, likewise the valve setting, somebody snapped off the thin feeler gauge blades of my dads.

I've noticed also that the bike is now running quite a bit warmer, stays right on the space between the thin and fat white lines normally, but now I've noticed after running highway speeds then sitting at idle in a line that it crept and stayed about halfway up the fat band, I'm concerned about it overheating or doing something nasty before I get it to California, I'll be in Vancouver another two weeks so I might have a go at borrowing tools or something or worst case taking it to a shop to have a quick look see.





I am suspecting a lean situation or a head gasket even more strongly now, the left hand pipe has some bronzing and a bit of blue on the inside of the curve of the pipe nearest the exhaust port on the motor, it does sometimes still feel warmer to the touch than the right. Is there any easy fix to keep it going until I get to bring it to LRCX.



I have tracked down a tapping noise a bit more that I was worried about, it goes away when I pull the clutch in, I'm now hopeful it's something wrong with my clutch rather than the motor/transmission. Is this something that is likely to wear out soon?



My coolant level is slightly down from full, and has a little bit of brown oil froth floating on the surface, maybe 2 small patches a few cm in diameter each. It doesn't really seem to be increasing, what could cause this?

 

[senile_seinen]

Here's what I would do:



1. wait until the bike is completely cold (before first ride of the day), remove the radiator cap, and top up with either antifreeze or distilled water depending on how much of what you find in the radiator.



2. ride the bike. Watch the temp gauge. If it stays low, problem solved. Don't worry if it creeps up at idle in summer after a ride as long as it goes back down once you start riding the bike again. If the water mysteriously goes down again after a few rides, you have a leak somewhere.



3. Clutch noise is probably burrs on the clutch basket tines. Completely harmless. Ignore it if the clutch works as it should. When you finally have to replace the clutch lining, you can file the burrs off, which should quiet it.

 

[phantomcxmenance]

also make sure you have the correct level of oil.

 

[Abes_CW]

What bike is this? If it's a 650 with an electric fan you have no issues according to the guage.



Pull your plugs and take a look, if you have white on the one plug, you are lean and can try to correct by turning out the mix screw for that carb, quarter turn at a time.

 

[JGBYJ]

Sorry, it's a 500C 1979.

 

[kingston73]

As suggested I tried to hook up a compression tester today, but that ended in failure, didn't have the right adapter to get in there, likewise the valve setting, somebody snapped off the thin feeler gauge blades of my dads.  

I've noticed also that the bike is now running quite a bit warmer, stays right on the space between the thin and fat white lines normally, but now I've noticed after running highway speeds then sitting at idle in a line that it crept and stayed about halfway up the fat band, I'm concerned about it overheating or doing something nasty before I get it to California, I'll be in Vancouver another two weeks so I might have a go at borrowing tools or something or worst case taking it to a shop to have a quick look see.





I am suspecting a lean situation or a head gasket even more strongly now, the left hand pipe has some bronzing and a bit of blue on the inside of the curve of the pipe nearest the exhaust port on the motor, it does sometimes still feel warmer to the touch than the right.  Is there any easy fix to keep it going until I get to bring it to LRCX.  



I have tracked down a tapping noise a bit more that I was worried about, it goes away when I pull the clutch in, I'm now hopeful it's something wrong with my clutch rather than the motor/transmission.  Is this something that is likely to wear out soon?



My coolant level is slightly down from full, and has a little bit of brown oil froth floating on the surface, maybe 2 small patches a few cm in diameter each.  It doesn't really seem to be increasing, what could cause this?

I don't know how much stock you can put in the pipe color,  for the coolant and oil issue, the only way to truly solve that is to take the engine apart, but for now you could maybe just drain and refill the coolant and see if that brand new coolant gets oil in it.  You don't say, how's your oil?  I'd think if coolant and oil were mixing it'd go both ways?  The clutch noise could be harmless, I'd worry more about the oil in the coolant first.

 

[rogerb]

I would be concerned about the oil/water mix. It should not be. As far as the header pipe changing color is a real good indication of too lean of a mixture that may be caused by an air leak in the intake system.

 

[JGBYJ]

I would be concerned about the oil/water mix. It should not be. As far as the header pipe changing color is a real good indication of too lean of a mixture that may be caused by an air leak in the intake system.

I'll check that, see if I can't just richen the mixture a bit for the time being, doesnt' seem to have any intake leaks.



As for the oil water mix, it's not even a mix, just a little bit of oil foam on top of my coolant in the reservoir around the edges, never seems to get less or more there really.

 

[Shep]

You have not posted any history of the bike?



Has the coolant been changed?



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/Coolant.htm





Has the oil land filter been changed?



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/OilChange.htm



What condition and colour are the spark plugs?



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/Plugs.htm



Have the tappets and Cam chain been checked?



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/CXGLTappets.htm#CXGLTappets





HTH

 

[bear351c]

The difference between Absolute cold and Absolute hot on a temp gauge is something like 15 degrees. So anywhere between the C and H is OK. If it goes over the H, stop and pull over.



As suggested, check your engine oil, its main purpose is to drag heat away from internal engine components, and dissipate in the sump. (Obviously it lubricates, as well)



Check your thermostat, if you have one. Some owners change theirs to match the seasons.



Also, I'm not positive, but I dont think coolant and oil mix, to make milkshakes. I believe its only water and oil. So, as coolant level drops, engine oil may go up. Correct me if I'm wrong guys. I dont even own a Shrodingers cat ! Went to the pet shop, and they threw me out !! Go figure....

 

[bandit]

The difference between Absolute cold and Absolute hot on a temp gauge is something like 15 degrees. So anywhere between the C and H is OK. If it goes over the H, stop and pull over.



As suggested, check your engine oil, its main purpose is to drag heat away from internal engine components, and dissipate in the sump. (Obviously it lubricates, as well)



Check your thermostat, if you have one. Some owners change theirs to match the seasons.



Also, I'm not positive, but I dont think coolant and oil mix, to make milkshakes. I believe its only water and oil. So, as coolant level drops, engine oil may go up. Correct me if I'm wrong guys. I dont even own a Shrodingers cat ! Went to the pet shop, and they threw me out !! Go figure....

bear,im sure they will mix,coolant and oil,especially when hot.

i dont go to pet shops,but been thrown out of many bars

 

[ponderbuzzard]

You have not posted any history of the bike?



Has the coolant been changed?



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/Coolant.htm





Has the oil land filter been changed?



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/OilChange.htm



What condition and colour are the spark plugs?



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/Plugs.htm



Have the tappets and Cam chain been checked?



http://www.pdsrecording.site90.com/cxgl500/CXGLTappets.htm#CXGLTappets





splain to me this oil land filter thing Shep!





HTH

 

[bear351c]

Hah, me too, Bandit