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XT550 – parked for 10 years – what to do before starting. XT550 – parked for 10 years – what to do before starting.
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  #1  
Old 9 Feb 2010
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XT550 – parked for 10 years – what to do before starting.
Hi all


My buddy parked his ’83 XT550 in his garage 10 years ago. It is in decent shape I think (hope). I have a soft spot for this model so I bought the bike today, and plan to restore it.

I want to get the engine running and check if it has normal power, runs normally in all rpm’s, test the gearbox/clutch etc. before I start spending money on parts. The engine probably isn’t perfect but I want to know its condition before moving on.

What should I do before attempting to start the bike? I squirted a little oil down the spark plug hole and plan to change the oil. The plan is to simply replace the gas and then try to start it.

Should I do something more before trying to get the bike running? I am a little concerned if I will damage the engine when (if) it fires, since it surely is bone-dry internally after the 10 year rest. But then I usually worry too much…
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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I would do as you have done; little bit of oil down the plug-hole and leave the plug out.
Change engine oil.
New fuel and drain the carb bowl. Check the tank is clean or just put half a pint in a bottle and hook it up to the carb.
Check it has an air filter and not a mouse nest.
Cycle the engine a few times with no plug. By hand if you can; just to check everything feels right.
Stick a clean plug in and cross your fingers.

With a bit of luck, it'll fire straight up.
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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Change oil
Drain carbs and clean them.
Change plugs
squirt a drop or 2 of oil into the plug holes and turn the engine by hand to distribute the oil and like said, make sure everything is turning correctly.

The clutch will most likely have seizing. Rock the bike back and forwards in gear to unseize it.
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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Ditto...
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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I hope your carb is alright, as an ex dealer Ive bought many bikes that have been stood awhile and no amount of cleaning the carbs have made them run right. After the things the other guys have said Ive also squirted easy start down the spark plug holes on some bikes to help them start when stood for ages but dont think they're that accessible on them bikes.

Hope it wasnt running like a bag of crap when it was parked up.
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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Thanks guys.

Panzer, the bike was running fine when my friend parked it, but had some oil leaks and other issues. He bought a Suzuki DRZ400 in 2000, and didn’t use the XT after that. Time will tell if the carburetors are a mess now. As I said before, I want to check if the engine runs and feels decent before I start spending money.

The rubber bits on the bike are in better shape than I expected, carburetor boots etc. (not cracked)

The tank had maybe 4 liters of fuel in it. The fuel was almost odorless. Funny.
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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....don't forget to spray some carb cleaner through it, it works wonders, and all as said above... a new battery is a must, and new fuel, make sure you gap the spark plug right. It should go first or second kick on full choke - no throttle, and leave it to just do it's stuff. Check cables are all oiled, and yes..... the clutch may be a problem.....take the axles out and grease them as well...
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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....don't forget to spray some carb cleaner through it, it works wonders, and all as said above... a new battery is a must, and new fuel, make sure you gap the spark plug right. It should go first or second kick on full choke - no throttle, and leave it to just do it's stuff. Check cables are all oiled, and yes..... the clutch may be a problem.....change the oil and filter, with a magnetic sump plug, run for a couple of days then drain it and look at the colour if ok, put it back in, if very very dirty, change it again. Better safe than sorry.
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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G600 - we're gonna need some photos (or better still VIDEO) - pronto!!!!!!
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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BTW, you're brake calipers will most likely be siezed too..

New seals and fluid required !!!


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Old 9 Feb 2010
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There's also a reasonably good chance one or more valves are seized in their guides from sitting for a long period. So before starting the engine or rocking to free up the clutch, turn the engine over very slowly by hand to ensure the piston doesn't hit & bend a valve or two.
Bob
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Old 9 Feb 2010
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Errr G600 are you still interested in this project lol ???

My brother in law paid less than £600 I think for an N reg XT 600 thats a 95 for non Brits.
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Old 10 Feb 2010
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Babybadger View Post
........ the clutch may be a problem.....take the axles out and grease them as well...
Quote:
Originally Posted by tedmagnum View Post
BTW, you're brake calipers will most likely be siezed too..

New seals and fluid required !
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bobmech View Post
There's also a reasonably good chance one or more valves are seized in their guides from sitting for a long period...
Bob
:e ek3::eek 3:


Just kidding. I do understand that a 27 year old bike that has been standing for 10 years will have some issues. Thanks for the tips.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Panzer View Post
Errr G600 are you still interested in this project lol ???

My brother in law paid less than £600 I think for an N reg XT 600 thats a 95 for non Brits.
Panzer, financially this project makes NO SENSE WHATSOEVER!! But I have a soft spot for this model. I used to have one, and rode it on the tracks, trail riding, did some touring etc… I like how the bikes look, how they sound, how they ride… I LOVE the ridiculously simple design. Drum brakes front and rear. Monoshock but no linkage. I will have other bikes for the more “serious” riding, but I look forward to taking this bike for rides on sunny afternoons…

I got the bike running for a few minutes yesterday. Then it died, and would not start for a while. Then it ran for maybe 10 seconds. …. So I think the engine is ok, at least no valves are stuck or anything like that. I don’t know if it has a carburetor problem or ignition problem. Also the lights are not normal, they are weak, there is not enough juice. Don’t know what the problem is, but the charging system on these bikes is not complicated..

So the work on the bike has begun… great fun I must say.




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Old 10 Feb 2010
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Hey G600 that thing looks bloody interesting and I like that 1980's style mono shock, them older Red and white XT600's that some of the members of here have also look bloody sporty too.

Yeah I think thats got potential, I'm sure all of us on here have done bikes up that have made no financial sense but its the love of doing it though I must say on three occasions two when very poor ive bought abused pieces of crap Moto X bikes slowly spent a fortune on them and eventually ended up with an abused Moto X bike that has had a fortune spent on it only about 3 years ago I bought a below market value 98 YZ400F road legal as I started stripping the bike down to the frame for a full frame paint regreasing and checking bearings etc I found numerous faults not least I dont think it had ever had any maintenence in the whole of its abused life, we never learn, any way after two weeks work in my garage turning a sows ear into a err sows ear I did manage to sell it at £25.00 profit lol.

Good luck your bikes got potential.
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Old 10 Feb 2010
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That looks in remarkably good nick for a 27-year-old bike. I'm not surprised you want to get it running again.
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