xt600 engine service? and parts questions
 

Im not sure what has been done on my xt600e 2001 since I bought it only 2 weeks ago and the previous owner didnt say much. It looks very good, looks like it hasnt been used on dirt /gravel at all. It always starts right away cold or warm. Idles well, no noticeable hickups in the rpm range and accelerates when i want it to though theres no worrying about the front wheel going up i think.

Im thinking about getting a service on the engine though, maybe valve adjustment and change of gaskets on the top end? It looks like the right front side of the cylinder is getting dirty, almost like someone blowing black dust onto that side, the other side is clean! Maybe the gaskets are leaking air? would this make it less powerful?

Is valve adjustment important on the XT600 and how often should it be done? Will the power get better?

How powerful should the xt600 2001 be? Mine has 40HP (the registration card says so), it accelereates hard but i dont think i could get the front wheel up without helping. Is that normal or should it go up easy?

I dont want to ask the shop for a full service I just want to ask them to do a couple of the most important things..

And would this be possible to do myself? I have downloaded the service manual in pdf format but the one i got says 1st edition january 1990, does this cover the 2001 model? didnt the engine change in 1996?

I have some questions about parts too, I would like to get some handguards for wind protection and maybe a windshield:clap: anyone know where to get nice looking and functional hand guards?got pics?

Hi
I have a 2005 TT600RE. It has 12.000 km on the clock. It has the same engine as the „older“ XT600E I am told (from 1990 – 1995). It is very similar, but not the exact same you have.

You are supposed to check/adjust the valves every 10.000 km. I just did the valves on my bike, three of the four valves were off. Adjusting the valves on these engines is easy, if you have basic mechanical skills. Unlike some other engines (for example KTM RFS) the valve gap seems to grow and not shrink. That is a good thing since there is there is danger of burning the valve seats in the head if the valve gap disappears, but I would still check/adjust the valves.

My bike is not “snappy” either, and will not pull wheelies without effort. It has good power, but power delivery is soft and mellow. I had a XT550 ten or fifteen years ago and it was much snappier and would pull wheelies easy.

Yes good description of the power. Snappy is not this engine, but the power comes out when you go uphill on low gear.. I can go at 90km/h when the road goes up the bike still goes at 90 :p without changing the throttle :o Torque ftw:thumbup1:

The 'black dust' might well be a blowing head gasket. Can you do a compression check to see if it is making good compression? If it is, I wouldn't worry too much. As G600 says, the vales are dead easy to do with a few basic tools, and then you know it is done right. Getting the valve clearances spot-on is unlikely to give you more power unless they were horrendously bad to start with, but it will make the engine quieter, easier to start and run a bit more 'tight'.

Check the valves, check the compression (should be about 120-130 psi) and then report back.

do an oil and filter change it may give a clue to how well the bike has been looked after.
you could do a talc test for head gasket leak.

these engines are not that powerfull as standard but can be tuned i uprated the carbs on mine and it was a lot more responsive and would lift the front wheel off the throttle in second gear.

Its superduper weather these days in norway and yesterday I was going with the XT to a store 2.5 hours away just to get a compression checker that they sell there, and a torque wrench..unfortunately after riding a while i checked the gps and it told me i would get there 15 minutes after they closed :p But I continued my adventure anyway..ofcourse :scooter: Il go get the compression checker another day i guess..

I mounted the gps yesterday and took off the tank seat etc and noticed that it says 2KF on the back side of the top end, isnt that an old models part?

On dumps etc I can feel greater vibrations in the foot pedals coming from somewhere when the shocks are taking hits, feels like its coming from the frame, isthat normal?

most of the numbers on the engine can be ignored they are casting type numbers i have a pair of brand new cases yet they have 1vj stamped on them :confused1:

the only numbers and letters you need to know is the first three on the engine and chassis i think it will be something like 4pt on your bike.

if its banging on bumps and all the nuts and bolts are tight the suspension and linkage might need a service, the linkage gets neglected on these bikes so might need new bearings and that linkage mounts to the frame below the foot pegs so it would feel like its coming from the frame.