The XL600 thread

[Carter Pewterschmidt]

Originally Posted by Sierra Thumper

I wouldn't pull the motor unless its leaking oil like the Exxon Valdez. Not worth all the work over a few drops of oil imo unless you also build the motor up or do something else worthwhile at the same time. But then again I'd rather ride than wrench

My problem is with oil leaks is the smell. My head cover gasket leaked oil into the spark plug well and when you'd sit at intersections all you could smell was burning oil. To me it's a terrible smell because of certain memories it brings back. I used to work on cars as a kid and every whiff of that I get reminds me of all the leaky old shitboxes I had to deal with.

[davek181]

Originally Posted by Carter Pewterschmidt

My problem is with oil leaks is the smell. My head cover gasket leaked oil into the spark plug well and when you'd sit at intersections all you could smell was burning oil. To me it's a terrible smell because of certain memories it brings back. I used to work on cars as a kid and every whiff of that I get reminds me of all the leaky old shitboxes I had to deal with.

I know that smell and hate it too. The previous owner of my XL had taken off the breather and installed a miniture K&N looking filter there instead. Whenever I would stop you would smell that burning oil/blowby smell. I hooked it back up to the air cleaner and all was well with the world again.

[RFVC600R]

It leaks pretty good, I gotta top the oil off every couple days. I cannot stand oil leaks, it's more or less a pet peeve for me.

[Sierra Thumper]

Originally Posted by Dracus124

It leaks pretty good, I gotta top the oil off every couple days. I cannot stand oil leaks, it's more or less a pet peeve for me.

It does sound like it might be worth the effort then......a little work now, but a lot of peace of mind later

[davek181]

It is not so bad to do. Just get the engine washed and ready, get yourself psyched and ready and it really goes fairly quick if you have all the parts on hand. I recommend Honda genuine seals and gaskets and a light skin of Hondabond on the top cover gasket. ( I almost never replace that one since it is steel, just clean it up and reseal it).

If you are not pulling the head or cam, which it looks from the pictures that way, the whole job should take only about three hours without beer.

[brucifer]

Would anyone like to see a Cycle World test of the "new" 1983 XL600R? I'll scan it and post it up if there's interest.

[crobox]

Originally Posted by brucifer

Would anyone like to see a Cycle World test of the "new" 1983 XL600R? I'll scan it and post it up if there's interest.

One vote for YES

[HeadTrauma]

Is that the one with the XL flying over a cop's head on the cover?

[RFVC600R]

http://www.4strokes.com/articles/honda/cwxl600test/

[Zombie_Stomp]

Originally Posted by davek181

It is not so bad to do. Just get the engine washed and ready, get yourself psyched and ready and it really goes fairly quick if you have all the parts on hand. I recommend Honda genuine seals and gaskets and a light skin of Hondabond on the top cover gasket. ( I almost never replace that one since it is steel, just clean it up and reseal it).

If you are not pulling the head or cam, which it looks from the pictures that way, the whole job should take only about three hours without beer.

Good advice. +1

[RFVC600R]

The engine was rebuilt previously, about ~4,500 miles ago. It runs like new, and has excellent compression, real easy to start, mos of the time. It just leaks so much oil and its hard to keep the engine clean. I do a lot of trail riding so that just covers the motor in sand and it just cakes on after a few rides Hard to keep the bike clean commuting on it and working full time. I usually just wash the engine

[davek181]

Originally Posted by Dracus124

The engine was rebuilt previously, about ~4,500 miles ago. It runs like new, and has excellent compression, real easy to start, mos of the time. It just leaks so much oil and its hard to keep the engine clean. I do a lot of trail riding so that just covers the motor in sand and it just cakes on after a few rides Hard to keep the bike clean commuting on it and working full time. I usually just wash the engine

I know how that is, my XL started leaking from the cylinder base gasket years ago and I was using it as a commuter too. It was hard to catch it with the wheels stopped long enough to fix it. I eventually did though, planned ahead and bought parts. One saturday i I just did it. I had put a Wiseco 102.4 overbore in about 8,000 mile before that and was not sure if I would need rings so I hadn't bought them, but as I suspected the end gap was still fine so no problem there. Soon it was back together and running without oil blowing back on my pant legs in little droplets.

[brucifer]

Originally Posted by Dracus124

http://www.4strokes.com/articles/honda/cwxl600test/

That's the one. However, my pics would have been better and there would have been no ads.

[beardothebeardo]

I just wanted to post a follow-up with the issue I was having. Upper RPM after the secondary carb kicked in, the engine would break up and bog, badly. I installed a Rick's XR600R CDI, and while the bike started and ran much better than before, the problem was still there. At this point, being at whits end, I took the carbs off again. As soon as I removed the bowl from the secondary carb, I found the problem, laying there, as if to laugh at me, the main jet! I swore up and down, that not only had I had the carbs off, rechecked everything, but maybe I didn't. Admittedly, I've taken many shots to the head over the years, and probably mixed up which bikes I was working on, and which carbs I had off. Too many projects. So anyhow, after re-tightening the secondary main jet, the bike fired right up!

Moral of the story is this, never be a fighter for a living, because you will loose your marbles...or main jets.....

[amf4399]

I hate to ask this question because for those that know what they are doing will know this answer. I omit that I don't know what I am doing but I am learning as I go.

Is 101.00mm the stock rings for the 83 600r?

Thanks