I had never thought about putting my hand over the air filter intake hole to pull a vacuum on the carb to suck out anything that might be in it. I had just bought an XR650L a few weeks ago that appeared to be starving of fuel at WOT or 55MPH+. I didn't notice it when I test rode it around the guy's neighborhood; I was somewhat dreading having to pull apart another carb (I'm already rebuilding a Suzuki Savage's carb for a friend.) and tried what you recommended during the weekend. She's ripping now. I appreciate you putting this info out there, bud.
Well done Mr 😎 P.s Had a Cali import honda slr 650 back when. Stripped all the emissions crap off it. Cut open the stock silencer. Cut out the restrictions and repacked it with fibreglass wool. Coat of olive drab and satin blacked the rest. Everybody thought it was ex army. My legs dangled like a kid on a swing on it, due to being a short arse. I got turn up's in my underpants!!. Sold it after a few years and made my money back on it. Good bit of kit 😎
I'm restoring a XL 600 LM right now and the right cam chain guide is broken. No spare parts left in the world it seams but I've heard a conversion to the chain of the XR 650 L is possible. So thanks for giving me a look inside the engine of one of those.
I used a xr650l cam chain, cam sprockets (2), and the xr650l cam chain sliders (2) and you need the hardware to hold the xr650l cam chain slider in. I did it in two 1983 xl600r's. Also its a good idea to change the cam chain tensioner and tensioner spring, Its the same as a xr650l too
If you ever burn out your rockers or cam its also possible to have a machine shop machine the valve cover to accept the xr650l rockers and use a xr650l cam in the xl600r
I had an intermittent tapping noise on my xr650 but only when hot, turned out to be the valve seat popping out and slapping around in the head. Replaced it with oversized seat and never had any more trouble. Quite common problem with these I believe
Awesome job man. At least it has a damn electric start. My '87 XL 600 didn't and it was a beast to start. Wore out more than a few boots starting that sob..
the absolutely worst thing about the XR650l in my opinion is the 37" seat height ! I've had 2 XR650L's and lowered both of them easy.... just extend the dogbone underneath and drop the tripple trees on the forks ! on the one I own now a 2001 XR650L with 5k miles I simply bought a adjustable dog bone and replaced it... though it wasn't enough for me so I cut it in half and added 1/2" of steel rod to the turnbuckle and that did the trick. i have a 30" inseam and with cutting the seat foam I can now flat foot the bike with both feet while on it.... a tall bike is a bigger danger to it's rider than anything ! lower that beast ! you'll be glad you did !
I wish he showed the welding and finishing of the cam holes... also that he explained what he was doing with the wire ties and hot exacto knife, was he compressing a valve spring ?
i just finished my rebuild. found the decompression spring stuck to the magneto on the clutch side? replaced the cam anyway... i found some metal shavings in the bottom of the case. probably from long ago though. i think that i'm sliding the engine back in later today, but still need to upgrade the stator for all the extras i'm planning.
Check the timing chain guides mine broke, and made a mess out of the top end, but my bike had 50,000 miles on it, still it's a good thing, check, I'm in Middle of a rebuild I need a cam, thank's for the info. THANK'S from NOR-CAL!!!!!
I just got a 650L w/ 13k miles and I frankly didn't notice the ticking when I bought it. I think I was just too excited. I think mine may have this exact same issue, but I'm curious... on mine, once I start riding, or giving the motor throttle, the sound goes away. Which I'm guessing is because at the higher speed, the decomp is actually disengaging. But it's not disengaging at idle. Are there alternatives to removing the system? If I'm not adding a manual decomp... I wonder how that will work out?
Learned a lot. My 2002 xr650l has a lever for decompression. Seems like that will be more reliable. Just bought the bike with 5400 miles. Has FCR carb so it rips. Thanks!
Hello, dear friend, thank you for the great videos you make. I am Majid from Iran and I have been following your videos for some time. I have two questions. I have a 125 cc Honda engine, when I press the gas, there is a whooping sound from the air intake, is it because it is made of plastic? It is a ventilation chamberAnd the second question, what is the reason why the engine slows down when I shift to fourth gear? Thank you and your wife for always being with you
You guys that have never had issues must baby them. I had one when I was 13 and rode it hard. 3 engines while under warranty hard.. If I felt like they were as reliable as people say they are, I'd buy a 650. The XL600 handled so much better than my dads KLR600 and also the XT600 I had. The KLR was one that was very reliable. I always thought the water cooling had a lot to do with that though. However, The KLR was heavy compared to the XL600 and handled like a pig where I rode in the desert. The XL and XR's were much better in the dirt.
thanks homie. I got that from East Coast PowerSports when they were closing. It's the same one I used to work on back in 2005 when I was a motorcycle mechanic.
Mine was in same situation. broken rocker arm plate once and I had replace a new one with doul pin spring as well but I noticed the motor couldn't rev up for higher rpm and again the rocker was broken and so the rpm is getting normal. I think the issue was the cam is not in good shape so the Decompreser place is hitting that broken peace before the rocker hitting the cam. now I'm rinning with same rocker that brok and runs grate
Just wondering if that carb cleaning trick would work with an outboard motor. I keep having a problem with my engine where it will run and then all of a sudden just cut out on me. I think it might be a fuel pump issue but it is an older motor so maybe the carbs are gunked up? Any advice? Love your videos.
So, hypothetically... Say I have xr650l with a similar ticking. If I check my valves and that's not the issue, does a faulty decompression device really cause any issues other than the ticking? Loss of power?
I have the same issue. valves seem correct, but I am getting a loud ticking noise when cold. Soon as it's warm the ticking goes and the bike sounds great. Unfortunately i am halfway across Africa and don't have the resources to check the decomp system. How much damage do you think i will do if i run it like this for another 5000miles?
17:37 did this taking the bike out of a truck, front brake on, and front tire simply sild.. very scary could have fallen over on thouse helping me take it out. Was when I first bought my bike.
Hi NNKH im Azry, i think im having the same problem on my xr650L . I plan to the same mod like u did as to remove the auto decompression. But i need know is good for the engine . Does it give any other problem? Will it effect the starter as it has to work harder. Is it ok if i just remove the auto decompression in long term? Pls help and advice me . Tq
In 1990, I bought a 1988 NX 650 brand new in Oceanside, CA .for U$2650 with the same engine. I loved the style, the engine character, the torque. As far as handling it was a rail, however the engine didn't last too long. The top end ended-up being all worn out prematurely; Followers, cam shaft, finger ring of decompression mechanism.This RFVC Radial Valve system wasn't a good or robust mechanism. Mine ended-up being toast at 25'000 miles or 40'000 kilometers. That is the funny thing with Honda, normally, they make some really good engines, but from time to time, they also make some really crappy ones depending on which model ....Maybe there was a deficiency in the lubrication of that particular model, as well ( the way the rocker arms and cam shaft were wearing off!!! ) or the case hardening wasn't good enough. I have been wary of Honda valves mechanisms ever since. I would never buy a Honda with a Unicam system. (The DOHC is the reason why I got a Suzuki V-Strom 650.) For some reason only the Honda Factory 450 rallye has a DOHC ( with 60 horsepower!!!) , but for the consumer grade stuff, they only sell the Unicam or the RFVC system ( they probably make more money on those...:) I don't know why people claim they were bullet proof. I guess nobody keeps them long enough to start running into problems. If they were so good, from time to time, you would see one with lot's of miles or something. I never did. They just seem to have disappeared! :) That is the other thing, Honda made these XL/XR's for ever, but they never bothered to fix them.....I would feel far more confident with a DR650 which has an oil cooler and doesn't suffer from this weak SOHC radial valves/decompression mechanism to start with....This is the Achilles heel of these engines, too bad because the look/style was quite nice........I wish I had seen your video back then, maybe I could have fixed it instead of getting rid of it!!! Great video by the way. ultimatemotorcycling.com/2020/12/31/2021-honda-crf450-rally-first-look-9-fast-facts-specs-photos/amp/
I agree. It was a weak system. BTDT. I think these guys that get 50,000 out of them don't really know how to ride and baby the hell out of them. The air cooling kills these, especially in a desert environment where I raced them. I had the last of the big thumper '87 XL 600. In '88, they brought out that NX650 you had and then later on they brought back the XL in the form of the XRL 650, but still used the RFVC head. If they were even a 10th as reliable as some guys claim they are, I'd buy another one in a heartbeat, but I know valves are toast in short order when you run them hard..
@@lmbear yes, I have just watched one TH-cam video about a DR650. The guy has 91K Miles on it, before something went wrong and then I have this article of another one with 145K miles on it and the thing still doesn't burn oil..... I also found another video of one Guy in Spain with a ( Gen 1) DL650 V-Strom with over 250K miles on it. Tony Trotacaminos with his bike named "Babieca" Try that on a RFVC Engine.....😵
Hello. i'm Joan-Pao calling from France. I think i have the same problem, but it's very difficult for me to understand your english fast speaking. Would you please writte the solution, as i can read slowly and translate easely ? thanks a lot.
I'm sure this engine on a highway would be good and smooth etc. But of off road I'd much rather have a smaller torquey two stroke. But this is supposed to be a dual purpose bike so it probably is a great machine. Sounds boggy all the time but that may be just how it seems through the video too.
Yeah it's not the most racy engine in the world for sure. More of like a reliable tractor and engine. But they get the job done and are very reliable. Two strokes are fun
I had never thought about putting my hand over the air filter intake hole to pull a vacuum on the carb to suck out anything that might be in it. I had just bought an XR650L a few weeks ago that appeared to be starving of fuel at WOT or 55MPH+. I didn't notice it when I test rode it around the guy's neighborhood; I was somewhat dreading having to pull apart another carb (I'm already rebuilding a Suzuki Savage's carb for a friend.) and tried what you recommended during the weekend.
She's ripping now. I appreciate you putting this info out there, bud.
Well done Mr 😎
P.s Had a Cali import honda slr 650 back when. Stripped all the emissions crap off it. Cut open the stock silencer. Cut out the restrictions and repacked it with fibreglass wool. Coat of olive drab and satin blacked the rest. Everybody thought it was ex army. My legs dangled like a kid on a swing on it, due to being a short arse. I got turn up's in my underpants!!. Sold it after a few years and made my money back on it.
Good bit of kit 😎
I love my xr650l , your videos are the best .I
just rebuilt my bike ,
after 48,000 miles and
Your videos helped alot.
Thank's from NOR-CAL.!!!!
Thanks dude! I tore mine down today and determined the decomp mechanism was screwy. Gonna toss it and weld up the holes.
Chris
It would've been nice to see what the cam shaft looked like after welded those holes up.
Good video!!!
QUALITY! The video resolution was absolute perfection! Fantastic troubleshooting narration! This is one of your best vids!
Thanks Charles! 🙌
I'm restoring a XL 600 LM right now and the right cam chain guide is broken. No spare parts left in the world it seams but I've heard a conversion to the chain of the XR 650 L is possible. So thanks for giving me a look inside the engine of one of those.
Damn, that sucks. Last time I checked there is a ton of xl600r cards on eBay. Although it's been awhile since I looked. And no prob!
I used a xr650l cam chain, cam sprockets (2), and the xr650l cam chain sliders (2) and you need the hardware to hold the xr650l cam chain slider in. I did it in two 1983 xl600r's. Also its a good idea to change the cam chain tensioner and tensioner spring, Its the same as a xr650l too
If you ever burn out your rockers or cam its also possible to have a machine shop machine the valve cover to accept the xr650l rockers and use a xr650l cam in the xl600r
You know your stuff! Great diagnosing. She runs much better now!
I had an intermittent tapping noise on my xr650 but only when hot, turned out to be the valve seat popping out and slapping around in the head. Replaced it with oversized seat and never had any more trouble. Quite common problem with these I believe
Nice work NNKH! I always enjoy watching your mechanical ability. Keep 'em coming!
Awesome job man. At least it has a damn electric start. My '87 XL 600 didn't and it was a beast to start. Wore out more than a few boots starting that sob..
the absolutely worst thing about the XR650l in my opinion is the 37" seat height !
I've had 2 XR650L's and lowered both of them easy.... just extend the dogbone underneath
and drop the tripple trees on the forks ! on the one I own now a 2001 XR650L with 5k miles
I simply bought a adjustable dog bone and replaced it... though it wasn't enough for me so I cut it in half and added 1/2" of steel rod to the turnbuckle and that did the trick.
i have a 30" inseam and with cutting the seat foam I can now flat foot the bike with both feet while on it.... a tall bike is a bigger danger to it's rider than anything ! lower that beast ! you'll be glad you did !
Dave owning it since new is pretty cool!
Great explaining. I like how you do the work and explain what is going on. Great channel keep up the great work
I wish he showed the welding and finishing of the cam holes... also that he explained what he was doing with the wire ties and hot exacto knife, was he compressing a valve spring ?
I miss my 650. Good job.
Honda n soft cams n ancillaries were common in the 90 s..too... I remember warranty claims galore back in the day..
Very good information man I'm truly diggin the channel
Hello, This is the first video of yours I've seen. I was impressed. Keep them coming. I run 600's. Never ridden a 650L, But I've got an NX650.
i just finished my rebuild. found the decompression spring stuck to the magneto on the clutch side? replaced the cam anyway... i found some metal shavings in the bottom of the case. probably from long ago though. i think that i'm sliding the engine back in later today, but still need to upgrade the stator for all the extras i'm planning.
Check the timing chain guides
mine broke, and made a mess
out of the top end, but my bike
had 50,000 miles on it, still
it's a good thing, check, I'm in
Middle of a rebuild I need a cam,
thank's for the info.
THANK'S from NOR-CAL!!!!!
Great seeing you do what you do best.
Thanks for watching And I appreciate that
Awesome job Chris as always..
Thank you! Cheers!
skill level at its highest 👍
I like the no nonsense git-er-done video. Thanks
This video is awesome!!! What was that little zip tie trick you did at 7:32??? I'm getting ready to replace my tensioner. Thanks!!
I really enjoy your videos , thanks for making them!
That's cool to hear. Thanks Rick. I really appreciate you checking them out.
@@NoNonsenseKnowHow - like your hand start on the 650, my 87 XL250R is kick start only.
@@NoNonsenseKnowHow - didn't much care for the Tampex commercial before you took IT for a ride....
Lol, that's weird they're showing you a tampax commercial
nice diagnostic work.
I like watching it helps me doing mine that's Great
Thx for the upload 👍
I just got a 650L w/ 13k miles and I frankly didn't notice the ticking when I bought it. I think I was just too excited.
I think mine may have this exact same issue, but I'm curious... on mine, once I start riding, or giving the motor throttle, the sound goes away. Which I'm guessing is because at the higher speed, the decomp is actually disengaging. But it's not disengaging at idle.
Are there alternatives to removing the system? If I'm not adding a manual decomp... I wonder how that will work out?
Learned a lot. My 2002 xr650l has a lever for decompression. Seems like that will be more reliable. Just bought the bike with 5400 miles. Has FCR carb so it rips. Thanks!
Hello, dear friend, thank you for the great videos you make. I am Majid from Iran and I have been following your videos for some time. I have two questions. I have a 125 cc Honda engine, when I press the gas, there is a whooping sound from the air intake, is it because it is made of plastic? It is a ventilation chamberAnd the second question, what is the reason why the engine slows down when I shift to fourth gear? Thank you and your wife for always being with you
Nice job, looks like you have some good friends.
I have a older school, XL600 love this range of bikes. mines never given me any sht though. but I bet these newer ones rip way better.
You guys that have never had issues must baby them. I had one when I was 13 and rode it hard. 3 engines while under warranty hard.. If I felt like they were as reliable as people say they are, I'd buy a 650. The XL600 handled so much better than my dads KLR600 and also the XT600 I had. The KLR was one that was very reliable. I always thought the water cooling had a lot to do with that though. However, The KLR was heavy compared to the XL600 and handled like a pig where I rode in the desert. The XL and XR's were much better in the dirt.
Yelling at the gas station: Was day gas ding?! Aw no I ain doin das...
Completely normal...
Nice lift man
thanks homie. I got that from East Coast PowerSports when they were closing. It's the same one I used to work on back in 2005 when I was a motorcycle mechanic.
Great video bud!
A couple years later and I'm pulling my head right now investigating the same noise.
Good information 👍👍👍
Awesome vidio!! Thanks I always learn something. Keep up the good work.
Mine was in same situation. broken rocker arm plate once and I had replace a new one with doul pin spring as well but I noticed the motor couldn't rev up for higher rpm and again the rocker was broken and so the rpm is getting normal. I think the issue was the cam is not in good shape so the Decompreser place is hitting that broken peace before the rocker hitting the cam. now I'm rinning with same rocker that brok and runs grate
Just wondering if that carb cleaning trick would work with an outboard motor. I keep having a problem with my engine where it will run and then all of a sudden just cut out on me. I think it might be a fuel pump issue but it is an older motor so maybe the carbs are gunked up? Any advice? Love your videos.
Best day of my life.😂
You're a clever old stick aren'tcha! 👍 No question. 🙂
You guys have way to much fun. Super jealous lol
Have you done any videos of a timing chain replacement on the same bike?
No I haven't. Just one on the timing chain tensioner replacement
@@NoNonsenseKnowHow wanna borrow mine and make one ha
Lol, I appreciate the offer but unfortunately I got too many other little projects going on right now.
Same exact rocker arm broke on mine and it had nothing to do with any ticking sounds; the ticking sound is most likely the cam chain tensioner.
The ticking was the decompression sticking.
Nice repair 👍
Where did you learn your trade?
What did you mention that the engine stopped knocking?
Thumper therapy, sweet!
Hi, Dose the 650L camshaft fits for 600R ?
Thanks
So, hypothetically... Say I have xr650l with a similar ticking. If I check my valves and that's not the issue, does a faulty decompression device really cause any issues other than the ticking? Loss of power?
Depends what's causing the tick. If its the decompression then yes it could cause loss of power. And possibly hurt the cam.
I have the same issue. valves seem correct, but I am getting a loud ticking noise when cold. Soon as it's warm the ticking goes and the bike sounds great. Unfortunately i am halfway across Africa and don't have the resources to check the decomp system. How much damage do you think i will do if i run it like this for another 5000miles?
Great video
Thanks
These engines don't bust apart , especially at 10k unless they were put back together wrong . My money is on your mate .
Thumbs up 👍
can I ask something ?? the bike is not with the honda fmx 650???
It's an xr650L
17:37 did this taking the bike out of a truck, front brake on, and front tire simply sild.. very scary could have fallen over on thouse helping me take it out. Was when I first bought my bike.
Hi NNKH im Azry, i think im having the same problem on my xr650L . I plan to the same mod like u did as to remove the auto decompression. But i need know is good for the engine . Does it give any other problem? Will it effect the starter as it has to work harder.
Is it ok if i just remove the auto decompression in long term? Pls help and advice me . Tq
I wouldn't suggest removing it. Just repair it
Kick ass, man! 👍😁
In 1990, I bought a 1988 NX 650 brand new in Oceanside, CA .for U$2650 with the same engine. I loved the style, the engine character, the torque. As far as handling it was a rail, however the engine didn't last too long. The top end ended-up being all worn out prematurely; Followers, cam shaft, finger ring of decompression mechanism.This RFVC Radial Valve system wasn't a good or robust mechanism. Mine ended-up being toast at 25'000 miles or 40'000 kilometers. That is the funny thing with Honda, normally, they make some really good engines, but from time to time, they also make some really crappy ones depending on which model ....Maybe there was a deficiency in the lubrication of that particular model, as well ( the way the rocker arms and cam shaft were wearing off!!! ) or the case hardening wasn't good enough. I have been wary of Honda valves mechanisms ever since. I would never buy a Honda with a Unicam system. (The DOHC is the reason why I got a Suzuki V-Strom 650.) For some reason only the Honda Factory 450 rallye has a DOHC ( with 60 horsepower!!!) , but for the consumer grade stuff, they only sell the Unicam or the RFVC system ( they probably make more money on those...:) I don't know why people claim they were bullet proof. I guess nobody keeps them long enough to start running into problems. If they were so good, from time to time, you would see one with lot's of miles or something. I never did. They just seem to have disappeared! :) That is the other thing, Honda made these XL/XR's for ever, but they never bothered to fix them.....I would feel far more confident with a DR650 which has an oil cooler and doesn't suffer from this weak SOHC radial valves/decompression mechanism to start with....This is the Achilles heel of these engines, too bad because the look/style was quite nice........I wish I had seen your video back then, maybe I could have fixed it instead of getting rid of it!!! Great video by the way. ultimatemotorcycling.com/2020/12/31/2021-honda-crf450-rally-first-look-9-fast-facts-specs-photos/amp/
Mine ran 50,000 miles before it
broke a timing chain guides.
DR650 is a JOKE!!!!
THANK'S from NOR-CAL !!!!!
Go ahead stay away from
Honda.
I did a long time ago and never looked back.
I agree. It was a weak system. BTDT. I think these guys that get 50,000 out of them don't really know how to ride and baby the hell out of them. The air cooling kills these, especially in a desert environment where I raced them. I had the last of the big thumper '87 XL 600. In '88, they brought out that NX650 you had and then later on they brought back the XL in the form of the XRL 650, but still used the RFVC head. If they were even a 10th as reliable as some guys claim they are, I'd buy another one in a heartbeat, but I know valves are toast in short order when you run them hard..
@@lmbear yes, I have just watched one TH-cam video about a DR650. The guy has 91K Miles on it, before something went wrong and then I have this article of another one with 145K miles on it and the thing still doesn't burn oil..... I also found another video of one Guy in Spain with a ( Gen 1) DL650 V-Strom with over 250K miles on it. Tony Trotacaminos with his bike named "Babieca" Try that on a RFVC Engine.....😵
thenx man
pull it of and weld up the holes theres actually two holes need welding up not one
Hello. i'm Joan-Pao calling from France. I think i have the same problem, but it's very difficult for me to understand your english fast speaking. Would you please writte the solution, as i can read slowly and translate easely ? thanks a lot.
why ohv cam conception is old design metal wears out or engine parts lot times best top rebuild or bottom or cheaper replace or buy newer moter
What kinda tires do you use?
Trak Master
so what was wrong with the slide?
My xl600r makes that same noise from the bottom by the oil pump and goes away when warm
I'm sure this engine on a highway would be good and smooth etc. But of off road I'd much rather have a smaller torquey two stroke. But this is supposed to be a dual purpose bike so it probably is a great machine. Sounds boggy all the time but that may be just how it seems through the video too.
Yeah it's not the most racy engine in the world for sure. More of like a reliable tractor and engine. But they get the job done and are very reliable. Two strokes are fun
torquey two stroke???? tell us you know nothing about engines without telling us you know nothing about engines.
@@steveww07 a 2-stroke of the same displacement as a 4-stroke has much higher torque.
@@peterbonivart6818 proof?
9.23 pm
My bike makes a slight ticking = I think mine it just lifters tap
God bless you all Good friends 😊
❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹❤🩹❤
Auto de compression has given me lots of problems on my xr400r. Eventually I just eliminated it and presto no more problems.
Great video