34l Recent Purchase General Help.
 

Hi all
I have recently purchased an 34L XT 600 TENERE Italian import 28 litre tank version ,mileage 26 000 ish.I have previously owned a 1983 Y plate XT 550 ,1984 standard XT 600 A plate, and Kawasaki KLR 650 (can t remember the plate!).These were all owned as fairly new bikes (all those years ago!). I never did any work on these bikes myself and I now hope to get this 34L up to speed doing servicing etc myself. I have scanned through many posts on here wondering where my last few days went! Great site.
I have a few questions and hope you can all help.
1) I was told by the previous owner that this is a 1983 import from Italy so should be on a Y or A plate? It is now on an H plate date of first reg. in UK showing as 09/02.Can I find out an exact date this bike was made in Italy and how do I go about registering it as a Y or A plate ? There is no Engine number on the document either saying not known. Does this mean the engine has been changed at sometime? Is there a way of telling from the engine number the age of the engine also? I have run a police and HPI check on the bike confirming Italian import and not stolen etc.
2)I purchased a cd rom manual and was told it was correct for this bike. It is a TT600K service manual from Yam. 1st edition Mar 83 2nd edition Jan 84. Have I been mislead here or is this correct engine wise bar tank obviously.If this is not the correct manual can anyone tell me where to acquire a clymer as I have not seen a Tenere version only XT/TT 600 on line, or a cd rom correct version for my model.
3)Any general advice on what to check for as common faults on this bike I have read the post mentioning the 5 th gear problem etc. I have only really ridden the bike once from purchase as been busy with work etc. I started it with no throttle full choke after a few goes from cold. When the engine was hot riding back to my house I had trouble re starting. Any advice there? I have started the bike again same method but after it stood idling for ten mins and was switched off same problem, hells job to start her again.What basic things may be causing this? spark plug? fuel probs? anything I need to check.
4) The decompressor lever play? where exactly is the 0.5 mm play supposed to be measured?
5)Any advice on plug types, oil to use and any other general advice would be appreciated greatly people.

Sorry if this is all too much for one post but I m dying to get her starting and running well and want to start planning a first tour somewhere.

Many thanks people. Dave.

congrats on the bike,
1) If the engine is original the serial numbers( frame/engine) will have several digits the same.
2) sounds like they wanted to sell ya a manual, the tt book is ok for most things but there is aftermarket xt manual
3) Lug the bike a bit in fifth gear if trans is smooth and quite your gears are fine, Don't lug the bike alot this is what kills the transmission.
The hard hot starting is likely a pluged or out of adjustment carb mixture screw

4)The decomp free play is the movement of the lever on cyl head measured at the cable end, the exhaust valves must be closed (TDC) to check play.

Good luck and have fun

Hi mate
Many thanks for yr reply,so what manual do I need and where to buy it please ? Any more info about the re registration of the bike question anyone?

Another thought can anyone tell me which tools I will need to buy and what sizes of plug spanners etc to do a service and valve clearance check. Which oil for an oil change, which oil filter is best?

With the start problem when hot especially what is the adjustment with the carb and what spark gap do I need ?

Many thanks in advance.

Dave.