[Ep 02] Yamaha Virago XV920 Cafe Racer Project - Engine Disassembly 

Illestrator out here doing the lord's work with the weirdest bike he could get his hands on

I love your build videos cos they are the realist shit out here, no fancy workshop, $5k snap on tool chests and sponsors throwing high end parts at you. You build bikes like the rest of us, in a back yard with the tools you got while waiting till payday ti get parts and selling what you don't need. Big love my man.

Shade-tree tip: auto parts store doesn't have a slide hammer? Yes, they do. It's in the paint and body section. It's a small Bondo brand "dent puller" and it's about $13. *The threads are a perfect match for a Mopar 727 Torqueflite front pump. I've been using the same one since your mom was thin.

As soon as the Illestrator music comes on my day is happier.

One of my favorite bikes. I had the version with the chain drive years ago. Round headlight, no CYCOM display (XV920RJ?). Better tech, worse styling than the 70s throwbacks, IMO. You did your research (roller bearing cams ftw), but I want to offer my experience anyway: 1. replace starter with solenoid-actuated version (on viragos up thru '96 IIRC). Good luck finding the starter gear you need, they're rare and crazy expensive. **The upgraded sidecover (also housing the solenoid) will hold the timing sensors proud of the stator by something like 7mm or 9mm. You gotta cut some tube spacers to place under the stator mount points. When you do this, you might want to upgrade the stator itself but I never got to that. I did end up replacing my 2-brush starter with the recommended 4-brush version. 2. toss that wiring harness and use an M-Unit. I'm sure you were already gonna do that. 3. RAM SHOX makes the cheapest/simplest replacement for this monoshock. 4. Cognito Moto blah blah GSXR front end. 5. Mikuni VM34 carbs (again, Cognito) 5. I'm jealous. Have fun!

Relaxing to watch . Dont mix the cams up , rear has different oiling ports/holes etc . Ditch the twin valve-springs (if this model has-them) use later virago 1100 single-springs, rev-better, less cam-wear and dropped-valves . Definitely change those cam-blocks to bearings, less-heat/wear on cams, better-revs and your valve-settings are constant . Also stops a lot of metal-filings (those bushings, plus dbl-valve-springs, destroy the cams , along-with too-low idle..oil-pressure.. ) You can modify and run a yamaha 600 dirt-bike pump if you want more-pressure , but the stock-pump has a huge-scavenge, so they're adequate for the job . Clean the 'Magnet' below the starter-gear assembly (designed to collect all the damaged starter-metal ! ) These are great-bikes when you sort a few things, as you mention, Steves DIY is an amazing channel . Don't run a rev-counter either, it steals rear-pot-spark . Replace the plug-caps or do Steves 'Mod' . Even 'indexing-plugs' helps virago's run better . I have a couple of TR1's, the 981cc chain-drive model, a little larger than US-spec 920's , Roadsters (different Rake etc) not cruisers like virago's . But the-same Beast at-heart , the Poor-mans Vincent (which yamaha dismantled and used as inspiration for this motor etc. ) These are bulletproof , set-up properly , check-out 'Skinny-Beast' ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-fgkLPGxKgsM.html and Manfreds TR1 Dave NZ

Come on, RevZilla, use all the talents this guy has! How amazing would an Illustrator playlist be on RevZilla's channel?

You always have a great story telling aspect of your videos. Always excited to see a new video.

Been waiting for an update, hell yeah!!👍👍

WOW. Good on you for taking on the engine rebuild. 👏 I think your cams are fine. Sometimes the case hardening wears through to expose a hollow in the casting. No worries, it’ll still work. Here’s a tip I recently discovered… When it comes time to scrape the mating surfaces to remove the old gaskets.. instead of using a razor or any metal tool.. go to a hardware store (Home Depot), and buy a couple of two inch wide plastic putty knives for less than a buck. They are as sharp as razor blades and last surprisingly long and it is impossible to mar the mating surface. You can split them in half to get into narrow spaces.

Nice watch, I’m currently building an XV750 cafe racer, a friend informed me that the rear cylinder is designated as number one cylinder, perhaps that’s the small confusion with the oil baffle plate🤔

Nice, I decided not to split. Heads n jugs off. Honed cylinder s. Checked ring gaps. Jugs/heads vapor blasted. All covers hand cleaned n polished. Also, rocker shafts I used a bolt, socket, nut n washer. Just hold bolt head with a spanner and tighten the nut down which pulls the rocker shaft. Haha, yours was a labour of love bro.

Dope dope dope I see your back to wrenching again. 🔥🔥🔥🔥

@StevesDIYs is the guy when talking 1st gen viragos. Good job as always, Illestrstor! Nice to see the tool arsenal growing

StevesDIY is the man!

Hey man, great job. Smart move to split the engine cases apart. I just picked up a 1981 Yammy XV920RH and have just noticed that there is a small oil leak coming from the bottom of the engine case where the gasket mates the 2 halves together. Cheers, A.G.

I enjoy your videos a lot man! Truly inspiring for those of us that are working on bikes in the same type of environments 🙌

I have an '87 XV920 that has been garaged since 2008 when I got my first car. You bet ya I'll be returning to this video in a couple years when the boys are old enough to show some interest in this kinda thing. They're plenty interested in the GSX1250, so I bet on a little extra muscle for the Virago, soon. Also, much more fun smacking a TV in the garage and watch you do it, rather than flipping through the murderously boring Haynes manual.

Love your style bro. Looking forward to the rest of this!

It's a good day when the Illest uploads a new build episode.

Love the series already❤

Thank you for in depth info. Your music in the first part of the video reminds me of the music in the tv show match game from the 70s.

Always looking forward to videos from this fookin' guy. Nice one!

love your builds.

Good video, it’s easy to tell which cylinder should have the baffle plates etc as it’s the only one that has the oil breather coming from it.

So good! Awesome seeing you out there getting it done in the yard with what you have! You're so close to having the whole thing stripped down, feels like you could take a few steps further and go for the vapor blasting. It'd be your one shot to have that done now before it goes back together :) Whatever you decide, I'm pumped to see the progress on the build.

The front and rear timing chain covers are switched. The one with the rubber in it needs to be at the front cylinder.

The motor looks pretty good

All I can say is wow …..❤

Love your vids…bro…keep up the good work

He's back!

Great video

The baffle on the cam is ABSOLUTELY supposed to only be on the rear cylinder.

That "nut rounder" looks an awful lot like an "adjustable hammer."

Yeaaaaahh HE'S BACK 😊

It's really time to up your tool game my guy. Painful to watch you use Plumbing wrenches when a decent quality Ring combination spanner set and a 3/4" deep socket set costs about $30 all-in. Maybe less. Invest. It's always worth it

Awesome

I was interested to see the oil pump gear and chain, apparently it's a mod on T150 's ,I'm looking to rebuild mine over winter as the bottom end is grumbling! Good luck with the next session 🛠⚒🪓🤣

Yay

21:21. Lol. Now I can’t unsee it.

Currently bidding on a MOTO GUZZI Daytona on BAT kind of hoping I get out bid but it's a steal at the curren price

Almost missed this one since RU-vid is being weird about actually sending me notifications even when I have “all notifications” on.

incase you don't upload again, Happy New Year Dude! Can't wait for the next upload

I've never clicked on a new video so fast lol

Those motors are solid, I got a vs 1100 wich is basically the same as you got. I think the cams tell you somebody was slack on oil and filter changes, biggest problem I ever had with it was the starter clutch, and on the v Star it's a pain in the ass to change the oil filter, but I fix it with a spin on filter adapter kit. I'll enjoy seeing where you go with this one!

This is going to be a good build series, and excited to see the direction you go aesthetically. Question, I’ve never taken an engine down that far so it seemed you already did 80% of the teardown why not go all the way, does the rest get too risky or just not needed and not worth it, even for the experience? Anyway really like this channel, always thoroughly enjoy your videos. Keep up the good work👏

Great job, how much would you charge for disassemble the the engine to be clean like yours and put back together.

I've seen that engine before...😊

Hey mate, nice start, I'm doing similar thing but mine was already (poorly) modified, so I'm fixing what it has to be done.. how's the progress going, any news? looking forward to the next video.

Yo tell me why I have those same joggers, a xv920 that I'm doing a cafe on and I just found your videos for the first time ☠️🤣

Nice project ! There is a french guy on New york also working on virago project. His main channel is in french, Tristan durand Bricole, but he also had an english channel. It could interrest you

Yooo I just got the same bike anyway you can share with me what sequence the bolts need to go into the left side of the crank case cover, I got one with it tore apart can’t figure out where the few longer Allen head screws ones go

Nice to see yamaha has always made fixings made of cheese

Do you have a set of JiS screwdrivers yet? You have enough japanese bikes to make them necessary at this point!

Please I have the same bike and am having big issues with my starter is making me sick 😔 everyday so I have Park the bike. Can you sell the old part for me or you help me get a new starter and front shorks absorbed

firing up youtube on my 30 min break, hoping for some cool motorcycle content. Ask you sha receive I guess! God damn adjustable wrench...rounded way too many nuts myself with that shit!

Lol I also use pet pee pads those things work great

theres room in my shop for you bro

rip the virago, well never see it done

They truely don't make 'em like they used to.

Keepin' it ill.

Thanks for the update on the build 🎉