Just Bought an XL500

[Neilios]

I would put that back together, the main problems with the cams tends to be where it runs in the ally head due to oil starvation. I like the retro look of the bike> Nice.

[Wakner]

Agree with earlier poster, cam lobes, bearing surfaces and rocker arm faces look OK ... although judging from photos is not always the easiest!!! There are aftermarket needle bearing camshaft conversion available if you want to go that route.

Cheers

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[M6NTL]

Thanks for the replies guys, your time is much appreciated.
I'm interested in the needle bearing cam idea, where are these available from please???

Cheers, Mark.

[Wakner]

Here:

Megacycle Cams

They have a UK importer, if I can find the details I'll post them - otherwise I'm sure they'll tell who if you email them.

Let me know if you decide to buy and I may join you ... poss. discount from importer

Cheers

[M6NTL]

Right then,
I've fixed the threads, made them stronger than they ever were, replacing the stooooooopid 7mm threads (and others that were stripped) with M8 - I fitted stainless steel studs with loctite stud and bearing fit - they won't be failing in a hurry...





Think I'm gonna order a new (standard) cam from David Silver and put it all back together with the existing rocker arms, unless someone can tell me how the f*** to get the rocker arms out of the cover!!!

[Neilios]

A dowl in the rocker cover holds the small cover plate (smaller than a 5p) on the end of the rocker shaft, this needs to be removed and then the cover turned slightly and withdrawn, the shaft then slides our releasing the rockers if its the same model as I am thinking off. Sorry if its not its a ling time since I had one of those motors apart.

maybe post a picture of the cover and I will point it out.

[catteeclan]

Looks like a bit of butchery has gone on in here. Top of the picture with the grind marks. That steel post is holding in the shaft.

Can see it better on this one.

[M6NTL]

Thanks guys,
Bugger, it looks like someone has already had a go at butchering these in the past - maybe I can drill them out on my vertical mill...

The shafts only appear to have a small amount they can slide out (check the last pikky), I'm not sure if it's enough - still, it must be or how would they have gotten the damn things in there in the first place??...

[M6NTL]

Megacycle have the billet roller bearing cam in stock, $348 plus $35 shipping to England.
This works out (at current exchange rates) at a little under £250 delivered.
I'm very seriously considering this - it will eliminate any future cam wear issues...

[M6NTL]

Bum.
Things are worse than I thought.
I was using a small paintbrush thru the spark plug hole to check piston TDC and I broke a bit off. So, I had to take the head off. I found the following damage...








The piton slaps around in the bore, the bore is scored, the ring gap is MASSIVE (1.1mm), and the valves have been twatting the piston at some point... Oddly, it sounded fine when running...

So, I'm getting a Wiseco high compression (10.25:1) piston, a Megacycle roller bearing camshaft and a bunch of new gaskets...
Dunno whether to push the boat out good 'n proper and get their highest performance road cam which requires new (shorter) valve guides and performance springs etc - it'd be a beast, but an expensive beast!!!