Starting a Yamaha XT500
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- čas přidán 28. 07. 2024
- In this video, I review the starting procedure I use to start my '77 Yamaha XT500 utilizing the cam position window and flag. I would recommend reviewing the user manual as well for the procedure.
Here is a link to the full XT500 Restoration Series:
• XT500 Restoration
Enjoy!
I’ve got a 76 no window XT 500 -
Make sure the switch is in run
Choke down or on
Ignition off
Fuel on
Compression lever in / pulled
Kick 8 times
No throttle
Switch ignition on
Compression lever in / pulled
Slow kick down all the way
Back to top
Slow half kick down
Back to top
Full hard kick
No throttle
Usually 3 to 3 kicks
When she starts let her warm up
Enjoy 👍🏻👍🏻
I have a 1978 SR500, I've had it for more than nine years and done over 80,000 kilometres
This is my second 78 SR500 soon after I got the first one in the early 1980's I was shown the trick to starting one without looking at the kick indicator window by an older wiser SR owner
Find compression then using the decompression lever move the piston very slightly passed compression (passed TDC) then kick
Once you understand this trick you will never need to look at the kick indicator window again unless you are showing someone that it has such a thing
Other things to know, they will flood at the drop of a hat so don't move the throttle untill it starts, and before trying to start it I pull the decompression lever and roll the engine over a couple of times to clear the cylinder, if after you try it doesn't start it's possibly flooded so again pull the decompression lever and roll it over a few time to clear the cylinder then release the lever find compression and using the decompression lever move it slightly passed TDC and kick again
If you do this once it's slightly passed TDC look at the kick indicator window and you will see the gray mark is showing in the window but as I said once you get the hang if it you'll never have to look at the kick indicator window again
Early SRs with standard carburettors have a hot start button under the throttle linkage near the carburettor by pushing it up it will open the throttle a tiny bit to aid hot starting
I fitted a simpler VM36 Mikuni and it will generally start first kick or if need be second kick hot or cold
Thanks for the comment. What filter are you running on your VM? Did you buy a pre-jetted VM or jet it yourself?
@@CK-Cycles
I'm using a "Hifol" filter sold by Wemoto
I suppose Hifol is the brand name more than it really being a high flow filter
It's the same shape as the original filter but seems to be a paper filter and fits like the original in the original plastic air filter case
I found the rubber tube that connects the carburettor to the air filter box on the side of the road, I imagine it's from the induction system of a car or light truck but after reducing it's length it fits like it was made for it
If anything I would like to increase the diameter of the plastic tube in the air cleaner case by a few millimetres
Whatever I use as a replace tube would need a slight bend and It would probably need to be plastic welded in place or I could use steel or aluminium tube instead
I'll look at doing it if I find another spare original air filter case to butcher
The VM36 came jetted for the 500, I got it from one of the vintage Yamaha places in the USA it ran great straight out of the box without any issues about eight years ago
@@hodaka1000 thanks.
@Chris, besides knowing how to start your XT500, you also know how to make it look a lot smaller than other XTs 😮
Chris. I hope your videos explode on CZcams. You are one hell of a mechanic and teacher. You always strive for excellence. People who don’t listen to you are loosing some incredible information. Love ya ck2
Thanks Ck2
I also bought my XT500 in ‘77…a ginger brown too! Still ride mine regularly, love it!
That’s great!
Nice job Thank you
I owned a '78 XT-500 Enduro back around the mid. '80's.
I found, by trying to start it using the factory start procedure, it would kick back half the time! I found, thar by bringing the piston up to compression stroke, and having the kickstarter all the way to the top, then firmly kicking it over, most times it would star
Also, initially giving it a couple of small "prime" squirts of throttle, and holding the throttle ever so slightly opened while kicking it over, usually worked.
Yes, I've had it kickback quite hard on occasion, sending my foot into the bottom of the handlebars! Ouch!
And yes, I preferred kicking it over on the sidestand.
My XT550's Owners Manual advised that one should stand on the footrest/s with the side-stand down while kick-starting it.
What you did will work but it takes longer you should do half a dozen priming Kicks with the Ignition off and then choke down. Line everything up and you should get it in 1 or 2 tries . I have quite a few of these and they seem to be starting better when you prime them.
Thanks.
Correct
Roll it over a few times before kicking it to prime it
If it doesn't start first or second kick roll it over a few time to clear the cylinder
Looks like a beautiful fall day to take the XT500 out Chris. I can attest that kick starting any 500CC single can be a challenge for sure. Love the new V-Max poster in the background.
I like the poster as well. It’s a motivational piece. A V-Max will be in my shop some day 😀.
I actually traded in a ‘74 DT250, like yours on the bench, on my ginger brown ‘77 XT500…both great bikes! 🏍️🇿🇦👍
Like the Yamaha bikes for sure.
That's right, kick it like a 2 stroke. Maybe you'll learn. The kicker is designed with a ratchet release at the bottom of the stroke - guess what, if held against the footpeg at the bottom of the stroke - IT WILL NOT KICK BACK
Thanks all the way from UK 🇬🇧
You forgot to give a few pumps on the accelerator. That squirt of fuel makes a difference.
A very nice bike.
Make more videos with xt500
Chris, didn't they make a XT 350 back in the day??
I am not 100% sure. I think they made an XT250 in the 80s and the XT350 picked up in the 90s.
What if you don't have that window? I have a 76 TT500 no window......
In New Zealand, we didnt get XT's in that brown color, yours looks like the bike on the cover of my Clymer XT/TT 500 service manual. I had a white ,black and red XT500 in the early nineties, and it was hard to get started , seemed to be down on power, and it drank oil ,but it didnt smoke out of the exhaust ????, so I sold it ,and now I wish I'd kept it and fixed it . Any idea on what it's problem would have been ?
Thanks for the comment. I am curious to know if you checked the oil level when the bike was cold or warm? Hard starting and low power could be a result of a few things.
@@CK-Cycles To be honest, I cant remember if I checked it cold or warm , but I remember I rode it to my job Monday to friday ,on the monday it was full of oil ,and on Saturday I'd check it ,and it needed a big top up ,and yet no visible smoke from the exhaust ( and no leaks). I also had a TT500 years prior to that XT , and it's oil level never needed topping up ,as you would expect, and it was much more powerful. It would be easy to suggest that it needed a rebore and new piston and rings ( which it probably did need) but why no smoke to go with that rapid oil loss ? always made me wonder.
My '76 doesn't have a cam window. Whatever will I do? :-)
Ya, I did not get into non-window bikes in this video.. perhaps a future video. As a new person to the XT, the windows was nice to have after getting kick-back a couple times..😁 Was your window removed or did the '76 not come with a window?
@@CK-Cycles The 76 never had a window. I learned to start it the hard way. It was my first bike. I still have it and ride it.
@@James-dt7ky Nice! I should do a non-window video. Thanks for the comment.
@@James-dt7kySo cool that you've still got your XT after all these years , I had a '78 TT500 when I was sixteen (1980) and out of all my prior cars and bikes, I wish I hadn't sold that . I didn't realize the '76 doesn't have a cam window, I remember when I first got the TT I'd heard stories about broken legs , so I used the cam window, but it wasn't long before I just started it by feel ,and anyway you couldn't see the cam window at night ( mine had lights, and I used it on the street).
@@barrycuda3769 Yes, they can kick back.
I did a total restoration on mine years ago.
I just started riding it again last year. Not many trails left where I live unfortunately.
I also have a 1988 Honda Hawk GT that sees more frequent use.
Not good Is dirty heavy Is oldd
Make more videos with xt500
Thanks for the suggestion. I have a few ideas for future videos on the bike. What would you like to see? Here is a link to my current playlist in the XT.
czcams.com/play/PLQlEkt4rxhcWhodey4kpF9F_J1LrI1hYX.html&si=3IvEkrFv2-uHeKxm