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1981 XT500
- Thread starter Sparkle
- Start date
Sparkle
New member
imported post
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Hi bchunter:
When I first got one many years ago...I did the same thing. Finally I RTFM. The glass window on the right hand camshaft cover is there for a reason.
I cut the followingfrom my website.
http://www.members.shaw.ca/me.walsh/
If you wantto impress your neighbour, have a read. Never "prime" the throttle on a XT. If you accidently twist it before starting (or during)....ignition off, clutch in...throttle on full, decomression lever full in. Give it about 5 kicks to blow the juice out and try the starting routine below.
Mine starts 1st time every time.
Sparkle
The following method will start your XT on the first kick.
MIKE'S SURE FIRE XT500 STARTING DRILL:
DO NOT TOUCH THE THROTTLE!!!
1. Put the sidestand UP.
2. If the bike is cold, push down on the choke lever. If the bike is real hot there's a small hot start button on the idle adjustment. Push it up only if the bike won't start without it.
3. Holding the compression release lever in, crank the bike slowly until the shiny flag shows in the window on the camshaft cover. This position is the start of the EXHAUST STROKE. This is important because there will be little resistance to your kick at the start, and you can get the engine spinning through the compression stroke.
If you try to kick the bike at the top of the compression stroke, IT WILL KICK YOU BACK HARD!
4. Make sure the RUN/STOP switch is switched to RUN, and turn on the ignition.
5. Kick with a quick motion from the top right to the bottom. Resist the urge to give it gas!
If you made the mistake of cracking the throttle before you crank the bike, open the throttle wide, push in the compression release and crank the bike with the ignition off 5 or 6 times then try again.
Sparkle
imported post
Hi bchunter:
When I first got one many years ago...I did the same thing. Finally I RTFM. The glass window on the right hand camshaft cover is there for a reason.
I cut the followingfrom my website.
http://www.members.shaw.ca/me.walsh/
If you wantto impress your neighbour, have a read. Never "prime" the throttle on a XT. If you accidently twist it before starting (or during)....ignition off, clutch in...throttle on full, decomression lever full in. Give it about 5 kicks to blow the juice out and try the starting routine below.
Mine starts 1st time every time.
Sparkle
The following method will start your XT on the first kick.
MIKE'S SURE FIRE XT500 STARTING DRILL:
DO NOT TOUCH THE THROTTLE!!!
1. Put the sidestand UP.
2. If the bike is cold, push down on the choke lever. If the bike is real hot there's a small hot start button on the idle adjustment. Push it up only if the bike won't start without it.
3. Holding the compression release lever in, crank the bike slowly until the shiny flag shows in the window on the camshaft cover. This position is the start of the EXHAUST STROKE. This is important because there will be little resistance to your kick at the start, and you can get the engine spinning through the compression stroke.
If you try to kick the bike at the top of the compression stroke, IT WILL KICK YOU BACK HARD!
4. Make sure the RUN/STOP switch is switched to RUN, and turn on the ignition.
5. Kick with a quick motion from the top right to the bottom. Resist the urge to give it gas!
Sparkle
Kitimat KLR
New member
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bchunter wrote:
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bchunter wrote:
...don't tell your neighbour! ...he might want to give it away if he can't start it ...& I might be passing through one day soon
bchunter
Member
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He was mumbling and grumbling about it, then the DR came along and I haven't bugged him since about it.
Thanks a ton for the help Sparkle. I think I will memorize this, then when I ride with him and he has kicked his brains out for 10 minutes, I will causally stroll up to it and get er going
imported post
He was mumbling and grumbling about it, then the DR came along and I haven't bugged him since about it.
Thanks a ton for the help Sparkle. I think I will memorize this, then when I ride with him and he has kicked his brains out for 10 minutes, I will causally stroll up to it and get er going
100milehowie
New member
I've heard about an XT550 project that has recently become available. I don't have any experience with them, but after reading this thread, I have to check it out. Thanks you guys...I think...