Is it worth it.

Wolfy · 03-15-2011, 10:51 PM

So i just got my 1989 Yamaha Enduro XT500E up and running but it is still a pain in the but. It is hard to start and once it is running the idle is very very inconsistent. I have been working on it for a couple months now and there is no improvement. My plans were to fix the bike up and then mod it into a cafe of sorts. My question is. Is it worth it?

Jesterrace · 03-16-2011, 02:41 AM

Honestly it all depends on your level of skill. If you can do some research and can find a work-around then it will be worth it. If you absolutely can't do anything else with it, then get rid of it (if you have to pay someone to fix it then it isn't worth it).

DachshundUberAlles · 03-16-2011, 12:44 PM

What do you mean by "working on it"? Have you owned it for a long time or is it a recent purchase? If the latter, was it running or did you buy it in need or repair?

Wolfy · 03-16-2011, 02:30 PM

It was my dads old bike. He gave it to me but it has been sitting for twenty years. I have it so that it starts and such but it is very inconsisent and barely idles. And by working on it i mean taking the bike apart and cleaning it, worked on some wiring and just trying to get it to run well.

Jesterrace · 03-16-2011, 02:43 PM

So you really haven't replaced any parts on it then?

markk53 · 03-16-2011, 04:16 PM

Those Yamaha singles were about the easiest thing to work on. You may need to do a serious clean job on the carb and don't try to see how low you can have it loping. It should have a decent enough idle to not have it stalling. Also look up how to adjust the manual cam chain adjuster, it has one OEM and is simple to do and might be part of the idling issue if the cam chain has play in it.

As for starting, I have had a few SR500s, same basic engine, and they start relatively easy when you do the proper big single manual decompression lever technique. I think there was even a specific throttle set button on the Yamahas to set the throttle so you didn't touch it. I never had that luxury, but never needed it. Just kick it up to TDC compression, pull the trigger and ease it just over top, then let the kick lever up and give it a serious kick through - no sissy two stroke kicks, or you might get a good kick back. My SRs would consistently start on two or three kicks.

If the bike stalls, the cylinder will usually be full of exhaust. To clean it out turn off the ignition, hold in the compression release lever while kicking it through about six or seven times. That cleans out the cylinder. Then do the routine to start it.

Big singles are cool and that XT would make a really sweet street/tracker or cafe.

Personally I'm a street/tracker sort of guy. Here's one made with a TT, which had to be set up with lights where your XT already has them.

03-15-2011, 10:51 PM	#1
Wolfy Motorcyclist Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 12	Is it worth it. So i just got my 1989 Yamaha Enduro XT500E up and running but it is still a pain in the but. It is hard to start and once it is running the idle is very very inconsistent. I have been working on it for a couple months now and there is no improvement. My plans were to fix the bike up and then mod it into a cafe of sorts. My question is. Is it worth it?

03-16-2011, 02:41 AM	#2
Jesterrace Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 988	Honestly it all depends on your level of skill. If you can do some research and can find a work-around then it will be worth it. If you absolutely can't do anything else with it, then get rid of it (if you have to pay someone to fix it then it isn't worth it). __________________ Without a bike again. Thanks to Harley/Buell.

03-16-2011, 02:43 PM	#5
Jesterrace Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2010 Posts: 988	So you really haven't replaced any parts on it then? __________________ Without a bike again. Thanks to Harley/Buell.

03-16-2011, 04:16 PM	#6
markk53 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Delaware, Ohio Posts: 3,232	Those Yamaha singles were about the easiest thing to work on. You may need to do a serious clean job on the carb and don't try to see how low you can have it loping. It should have a decent enough idle to not have it stalling. Also look up how to adjust the manual cam chain adjuster, it has one OEM and is simple to do and might be part of the idling issue if the cam chain has play in it. As for starting, I have had a few SR500s, same basic engine, and they start relatively easy when you do the proper big single manual decompression lever technique. I think there was even a specific throttle set button on the Yamahas to set the throttle so you didn't touch it. I never had that luxury, but never needed it. Just kick it up to TDC compression, pull the trigger and ease it just over top, then let the kick lever up and give it a serious kick through - no sissy two stroke kicks, or you might get a good kick back. My SRs would consistently start on two or three kicks. If the bike stalls, the cylinder will usually be full of exhaust. To clean it out turn off the ignition, hold in the compression release lever while kicking it through about six or seven times. That cleans out the cylinder. Then do the routine to start it. Big singles are cool and that XT would make a really sweet street/tracker or cafe. Personally I'm a street/tracker sort of guy. Here's one made with a TT, which had to be set up with lights where your XT already has them. __________________ KLX650C, Zephyr 550 SR500, Bultaco Sherpa T

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03-16-2011, 12:44 PM	#3
DachshundUberAlles Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Alabama Posts: 846	What do you mean by "working on it"? Have you owned it for a long time or is it a recent purchase? If the latter, was it running or did you buy it in need or repair?

03-16-2011, 02:30 PM	#4
Wolfy Motorcyclist Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 12	It was my dads old bike. He gave it to me but it has been sitting for twenty years. I have it so that it starts and such but it is very inconsisent and barely idles. And by working on it i mean taking the bike apart and cleaning it, worked on some wiring and just trying to get it to run well.