Bryan Dover , thanks man...I appreciate it. I do enjoy working on cars and bikes so it’s fun to walk through an issue and get it resolved...getting used to talking for the videos is another thing entirely as you can tell, lol. All the best, Steve.
Hey again ! Yep, the first thing I thought it might have been (prior to actually finding the problem) was that the cams or rockers were worn and causing the noise. I actually took the cams out and inspected them and they were worn with scores, but there weren’t any flat spots on them that would make that type of noise so I then took the heads off and found the head gasket issue. If your head gaskets are good and there wasn’t any signs of gasket bypass (black soot that was on the outside of the gasket sealing area on the head) the yours might be the valves, rockers, or cam tapping. A loose timing chain also makes a similar noise, but since these have the self adjusting plungers on the chain guides, I would think one of the guides would have to be broken or something for the chain to be loose and slapping.
Hey Steve I have a question for you I've got an 85 xv1000 virago and I'm thinking I might have sucked the valve or maybe that one it makes pretty much the same noise I heard in your video. And as soon as I put it in the gear and disengage the clutch it automatically dies on me the compression in the front cylinder is 90 and that is the cylinder that's I'm hearing the tapping sound coming from so & compression in the back one is about 120
Hey man, yep, with low compression numbers, it could be the head gasket like what I ended up with. I’ve had a couple non runners I’ve gotten with valve issues, but those didn’t have any compression since the valves were not closing. These actually should run in one cylinder (enough to keep running when put in gear) so that may be something to do with a kickstand switch or stuck clutch plates if it has been sitting for a long time. You might be able to spray soapy bubbles the the seam of the head to see if the head gasket is leaking prior to removing it just to see. I would have done that on the one in the video, but I had my self convinced it was a cam issue so I didn’t even think about it being a bad head gasket.
I was thinking cam chain or broken guide but they look perfect. The rockers though were really worn, kinda dished out where they run against the cam. I’m putting new rockers and a better condition cam in it. I’ll keep my fingers crossed.
👍. Yep, if they have a cupped area in them that’s deep enough, they will do like a double tap as they come over the cam and make a little tapping noise as they double hit indeed.
Hi Steve, I know this video’s been here a while. But just curious if th missing gasket was in fact the cause of the tapping sound? How’d your engine run after the fix? Reason Im asking is coz my xv920r sounds exactly the same once warmed up Thanks, I’ve learned plenty from your videos
Thanks and glad the videos have helped some 👍. Yep, the deteriorated head gasket ended up being the issue causing what sounded like tapping. The bike is still running great after the repair and hasn’t had any issues related to abnormal motor noises. It’s got some more miles on it since then so it’s getting due for a rebuild as my compression is getting lower year by year, but that’s just what happens to a 40 year old bike that’s had a good life being ridden lol. I’m holding out till the end of riding season this year to do the rebuild, but it’s gonna have to be done soon. Nothing really planned for the top ends for the rebuild, but it needs some new rings and the cylinders honed for sure. Thanks again and all the best ! Steve
@@StevesDIYs Thanks for the reply. I’ve already ordered the gasket kit for mine. I’ve looked close under the heads and there’s definitely some leak. All the best, always looking forward to your videos
Did you by chance do a compression test? Was just curious what it would have shown. Only reason is my 84 XV1000 is making a similar noise on the front exhaust valve.
Hello, I believe I did do a compression test on it before pulling it apart…seems that it was a little low, but I had only checked it when it was cold and I guess it would seal back somewhat until it warmed up and things started expanding. The tapping wasn’t too bad when it was cold, but got really bad after it warmed up some. It was quite the surprise to not find anything left of the head gasket except for a few of the little metal spiral pieces the gasket is made from…no telling how many years it had been like that, lol. Hope this helps and all the best ! Steve
Hey ! From what I found, it might be, as the blow by from the bad head gasket sounded exactly like really bad valve rattle. I actually pulled the cam prior to taking the motor off as I was sure it was a cam problem. It only started the loud tapping sound after it was warmed up. Since changing out the head gaskets (several years ago it seems), she’s been running fine and only has the normal slight tapping that comes from the valves like normal.
@@foamer5490 thanks ! Glad the videos have helped some 👍. Hopefully it will be something simple like the head gaskets for sure. Even if the head surface is marked up a bit from the old gasket, I’ve found that they still seal up fine since the gasket gets squished quite a bit. I’ve only had one out of the three I’ve rebuilt that was so bad that I had to machine the surface and add an aluminum shim to build back. There’s a video on the channel for that as well if you want to compare the head damage once you get yours opened up. All the best ! Steve
Hello all , I'm Jay from Florida , I have a 94, 1100 virago, love the bike. I have a few questions , what do you think a good rebuild would cost or should cost, and anyone have any good forums suggestions , I need a part identified. thanks
Hey man ! Not sure on the cost to rebuild, but I’ll bet some of the owners over on the Facebook forum “Virago Nation - All things Yamaha Virago” would know 👍. It’s a really good forum and has a good mix of folks with all different experience levels with these. All the best ! Steve.
Wow..! I bet I would have never guessed a missing heag gasket...! I wonder now if the Virago is non interference engine. I just learned some Toyotas are. Where if timing goes bad piston and valves never crash anyway. Couple of questions, how much was the gasket kit? Have you ever put valve seals on Kia Rio? (mine is 2001). Are some of your vids missing? I was looking for followup on the xv1100 oil pump. Just a comment. I see you got low views but you got quality vids. Good detail, very helpful. Something to consider is following trends. I was thinking about your situation and wonder if you would have success transforming motorcycles into e-bikes (e-cycles). The electric vehicles designs are strange, for one I think that the motors can work without transmission. In fact in electric race car design they started off with 2 speed transmission and then realized they could gain more speed and efficiency by having no transmission at all. So, for a transformation of a bike like my virago the motor could connect direct to drive shaft. I dont know how some youtube vid guys get sponsorship, but if you built a good prototype, your design, youd be hitting a trendy market. Tesla becoming something of a phenomena, the predictions are mind blowing, but big oil is trying hard to pull the plug, it looks like big oil is spending money to deliberately short Tesla stock to tow them under. That and advertising against them. Its a mega saga. They all know that if Tesla breaks free the oil is going to crash, so big oil does everything it can to postpone Tesla. Some people are comparing this day and age to the era of the end of the horse and buggy. But transformations these days are much faster. So as cars took over the horse days eventually the horse obsolete. No one would even consider riding a horse on interstate. As well as future electric cars with self driving automation is already here and will take over. Itd be nice to tap into even a small wind of that shift. I still debate myself to invest in its stock. Big oil would love to end TSLA(stock). Or even catch some of the e-bike action. Rj
RJSoftware2000 , yep, I would have bet money on it being a valve making that noise, but the compression pop sounds just like one, lol. These are definitely interference engines...one of my bikes I got for a couple hundred bucks from a guy had a bent exhaust valve from him doing a rebuild and set the cam timing wrong and then cranked the bike vs checking the free rotation first (it’s the black one I’ll be bobbing soon). The gasket kit wasn’t much...got it off eBay, but don’t remember how much it was so it couldn’t have been too expensive. Car valves seals are pretty much like bike seals, but the heads are way harder to get off since the cams don’t slide out without getting stuff out of the way on the engines first. Depending on the car, I usually do them without taking the head off by removing the cam and pressurizing the cylinder to keep the valves up to get the keepers out. It would be cool to convert a virago to electric...would definitely be different for sure 👍
Well, I chickened out on swapping the flywheel s. I was thinking you might be right about threading the 3 holes so pulling screws would go in, something that spins that fast better be perfectly balanced. Anyway, was a bit scared about losing timing so the thought of screwing up the flywheel was enough to shrink my courage. I looked on side for those external jaw cutouts on flywheel side. Man they are tiny. Probably for some special puller maybe. Thanks for taking time to reply. Rj
Took a serious stab at getting flywheel off today. Bought air compressor and air ratchet. 20 gallon tank, cuts off just below 150, and second valve set to max. No good. Traded the air ratchet in for a stronger one I will try tomorrow. A Hyper tough 1/2 inch composite impact wrench rated 550 ft pounds. The cheaper Hyper tough that failed today was rated at 220 ft pounds. I also tried heating the nut with propane torch. I needed an air compressor and chose Walmart because its closer and I know I can take it back. If it works Im keeping it. $64 for airgun and $189 for the pump.
Well, the stronger air wrench did the trick. Glad of that. So I have this monster sized 3 claw gear puller I had forgotten I had. I did all the things you mentioned but the gear behind the flywheel did not stay with the flywheel. Lucky me I put the nut back on. I tried to use regular socket wrench to turn the claws center bolt, I even had a pipe on the socket wrench for leverage, man, it just dont end. So I finally go for the gusto and put the air wrench on the claws bolt. Then BANG...!!!! that flywheel popped like a fire cracker. I was soo glad I had the nut on else I might be missing my nuts now!!! All the spring and metal pins 6 each, came out. That part was no big deal, the pins are magnets put in each spring, when same polarity faces they repel, this helps to spread the crack that 3 gear prongs go into, then view from side align and gear can be pushed back in place. The problem was when I lost timing as I pulled the gear out without refference. Pretty sure I got it back right. But this is where I changed direction. Im skipping the flywheel swap. I am going to reinstall my running 96 and do my first xv1100 rebuild on the 88. That way I get more familiar with these engines. I think I will buy the correct flywheel off ebay, its just Im giving myself a break, hate to mess up my 96. Well, hope I dont burn your eyes out reading. Oh btw, did not find any tensioner on the oil pump chain on my 88. But I can deal with that later. Rj
Phil Marino , hello, yes, the noise was from the missing (deteriorated) head gasket...I just changed out the valve stem seals while I had the head off. I also recently loaded another video on my channel of a different motor I’m currently rebuilding and it too had a blown head gaskets as well. It seems that this is pretty common for this type of gasket after many years of riding. The new video is named “ ‘81-‘83 Yamaha Virago xv750 Engine Rebuild Part 2-Head Removal” and shows what’s left of the head gasket for this motor too when I lift the rear cylinder head off.
Ryder Desmarais , hello, the gasket kit and the manual are both available off eBay. The manual I have is a hard backed Haynes one...on eBay it is “Haynes Service Repair Manual Yamaha XV750 Virago 1981-1983 & XV700 1984-1987”. The complete gasket kit is “Yamaha Virago 750 Top Bottom End Complete Gasket Set Kit”. Hope this helps 👍
David Melvin , hey man...From what I’ve seen over the years, if the engine smokes white (or a bit blue) at starting when cold, it’s usually been the valve guide seals. If it smokes white after the motor gets heated up I’ve seen stuck piston rings cause it. If you get decent compression pressure when it’s cold (throttle open and both plugs out), but then the compression pressure is significantly lower when warmed up, I would check to be sure the rings aren’t stuck in the piston grooves and also look to see if the head gasket had disintegrated like mine did. As the engine gets hot, things start expanding and gaps that are sealed when cold open up and then the compression starts dropping. I’m currently rebuilding another ‘82 750 (gonna make a cafe racer style out of this one 😃) and when I pulled the heads off it, all of the rings were stuck. It had been sitting for many years though. Hope this helps...before taking it all apart I would for sure do a cold and then hot compression check to see what the numbers are if it was me.
David Melvin , also, sometimes being too lean can cause them to smoke, but I’ve never even been able to keep one of these running stable when the are too lean...the idle won’t adjust down, carbs won’t sync, and the throttle hangs really bad.
