As painful as it is to say, I will start parting out a good-running 82 XT550 as soon as I start getting requests for parts. That is, unless night elves find and produce a titled frame for this thing. I may consider selling the bike as a titled parts bike, but know that the frame on this one is bent. I would also consider trading for a nice set of tires and/or a lift kit for a Jeep Cherokee. PM me your requests. Thank you.
That sucks man...I have two 82 XT550's and one needs a stator/pick-up coil assembly. Let me know what you want for that item. Or if you might be interested in taking this bike off my hands let me know.
I'd be interested in an Engine Bashplate......... our bikes in SA did not come with them (for some stoopid reason)...... PM me if you do strip down . regards Peter
Yes I do have the title. a little about this particular bike...about 100 miles on the new piston and rings, all valve work done in the head recently. bike has 18k miles and it has been torn down to the frame, all bearings looked great so I cleaned & greased them up, clutch in great shape, new decompression and throttle cables, new intake boots between carb and cylinder, new air filter, tank is faded and has some dents, but not rusty. I would like to get $750 for the bike or get the stator pick-up coil assembly and this bike will run another 18k miles. i don't have access to post pics here but if you send me your email i can send you some. let me know and glad to see you are interested in being a XT550 rider! I get compliments all the time on my other one. (my girl might be mad cause she wants this bike...but bros before hoes
I've run mine without a battery since 1993. I swapped it out and replaced it with a 2MC style capacitor mounted in a sprung holder from an old BSA ( any holder would done just fine.).and to make sure of the system everything is twin earthed. Since then I have had NO electrical problems. I've taken her up through Africa round Europe and dispatched round London and she's still going strong on the original capacitor I fitted. The lights work just great with this as the capacitor smooths the circuit and acts to the system as a brand new battery. I've a theory that because it always behaves like a battery in prime condition its makes for a optimum circuit, whereas if you run a battery and it sulfates,runs dry etc..... then that causes irregular or high outputs from the system that can cause damage down the line. I don't know how true it is but it makes sense to me. I'd never go back to one. Straight forward fit and inexpensive http://www.trialsbits.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1031
Thanks, great info. Makes sense to me to. What do you mean by everything is twin earthed? Are you talking about the two black wires from the capacitor (one for the wiring loom, and the other one to be connected to the frame I assume)?
No I just went a little over board when it came to the wiring.Most looms just seem to run a single earth wire throughout, a little corrosion and one bad connection later faults are showing up all over the place. What I mean is that where stuff is connected I've spliced in an additional earth wire in direct to the frame, CDI ,lights etc. I did it all before I took it through Africa in '93 and never had to touch anything since. Not even a bulb.
A good weld shop would be able to swap your steering head, where your VIN is, from your bent frame to a new one or fix your frame I would think.
Hi inmates. I entered the world of thumpers yesterday. 82 XT 550 with less than 2 K miles. PO said it had spark but I get none. I would like input here. I ordered the CD rom manual last night from Great Britian and hope to have it next week. If you guys can steer me to some troubleshooting procedures in the meantime that would be great! Maybe someone has a cdi II can borrow or one of the homemade units I saw linked to here I could borrow. I am a longtimer on the YE.com forum and need a helping hand. The obligatory pictures......
You might try without the battery. My XT had regulator problem, but the engine worked fine without battery.
Very nice find. Have you measured the ignition stator coil and the pickups? You have the ohm values in the manual, and usually (not always) you can spot a faulty coil by simple ohm test. Big Ed's idea (side stand switch) is a good one, but you can also unplug the black/white wire at the CDI and then check for spark. That way some wiring failures, the kill switch, sidestand switch and ignition switch are taken out of the equation as all engine kill switches turn off the the engine (spark) by shorting the black/white wire to "earth"(black wire). The lighting system (regulator, battery and all that) have nothing to do with the spark as the XT550 has a separate ignition system. I can not see how the lighting system can mess up the ignition system, but then again weird things happen....
I know it is here somewhere, but does anyone have any specs for a luggage rack for 82 XT 550? I was hoping to use the toolbag as well and rack. Put a spare gas tank on the rack. Thanks, Bob
Big Ed I know you are the XT man! I was mistaken. The bike does have spark but I am wondering if it is weak. I still don't have the manual. I believe this bike was parked when it quit and not monkeyed with much. Very clean. The carbs were pretty clean. I removed the jets and the bowls without removing the throttle linkage and stuff. Still no hit even with a little huff of starting fluid. Man that plug is hard as crap to get to.