XS 500: the oil filter problem

* UPDATE  10/10/2017*

Brad's FilterFix

I checked in with Brad about the availability of his FilterFix, here's what he had to say, "I just sold the last one I had about two weeks ago, [Sept. 2017] and it looks like that will be it for now. "

Brad followed up with a post to the forum thanking everyone who purchased the now limited edition FilterFix: http://www.xs500forum.com/index.php?topic=2042.msg10913#msg10913

Tru-Vantage

It appears that the Tru-Vantage is no longer available. From CrouchyUK, the forum admin, "...was marketing the Tur-Vantage adapter for someone else- I am sure I read somewhere he can no longer get them."  I looked around and it appears to be no longer available.

I just have to say that this is a hobby not a business and many thank yous to Brad and Uncle Fuzz for going way out of your way to have these parts manufactured and all the logistics it takes getting them sold and delivered.

It appears that the torch is available. In the mean time, keep an eye out on ebay for NOS adapters. (part number are below) and/or change your oil frequently to get the most out of your old-OS filters.

- RideNorth

* UPDATE *

Tru-vantage video has been unpublished from YouTube

The Tru-Vantage adapter looks like an excellent option (and more importantly available) There's a YouTube demo and it's available through eBay. It sounds like both Brad's oil filter fix (TM) and the Tru-Vantage adapter started life in the same way. "So. An XS500 forum member walks into a machine shop...)

Good people are priceless.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=Tur-Vantage&ssPageName=GSTL

Find Uncle Fuzz on the YouTube.

*original post *

The most common complaint you'll hear about the TX and XS 500s is that the oil filters are out of production. To be clear, no manufacture makes an OEM replacement filter for these bikes. There are no workarounds for this. ( OEM filters can still be found on occasion ) Yamaha did however make a replacement oil filter adapter that will accept a modern filter. Unfortunately, this too is out of production. ( There is a guy who re-manufactured the Yamaha replacement part. )

For me, the answer to this problem was the XS500 Facebook group and eBay. I saw a post on "The Facebook" about a buy-it-now sale that listed a handful of OEM oil filter adapter kits. Within minutes I had the credit card out and was clicking buy baby buy! I can't preach it enough, if you have one of these bikes, get involved with the forum and the Facebook group.

The people:

http://www.xs500forum.com/

This is me. 

My new chain and sprockets installed. 

The air filter trick.

The Yamaha XS 500 Facebook group.

The parts:

the kit:     99999-02689-00

adapter:   371-13447-09

plate:       90201-422F3

gasket:     371-13449-11

o-ring:     93210-45578

oil filter:  Fram PH6607 (Yamaha 3FV-13440-00 will not fit)

drain plug gasket/ crush washer: 256-15353-00-00

Also, how to order Brad's FilterFix, a.k.a. the most read post on the forum.

The install:

The Yamaha adapter kit comes with the new oil filter adapter, a gasket, an o-ring and plate for accepting the oil filter's larger seal, and an oil filter. 

Drain the oil. 

You'll need to remove the left foot peg, shift lever, clutch adjustment cap, and sprocket cover to gain access to the oil filter. At this point, most TX/XS 500 owners will recommend that you pop open the engine case cover and adjust the tension your balance shaft chain. My 78' has an inspection cover that gives me access to the concentric adjuster.

After 37 years of oil changes, the crush washer/ gasket on my drain plug was beyond gone. A replacement was ordered through my local Yamaha dealer.

An important note on the oil filter supplied with Yamaha's kit: it is taller than the stock filter and will not fit under the engine case cover. Yep. There is a workaround for this. Fram part PH6607 It's cheap and fits wonderfully. 

Original in the left, replacement on the right.

The replacement requires a larger diameter plate that floats free, sealed on the back side with an o-ring set in a grove machined into the face of the adapter. This seemed like it would be annoying at best during oil changes so I attached it using high temp silicone applied to the adapter, being careful to keep the goo outside of the o-ring. This turned out to be a fail because the plate interferes with the machine screws that hold the adapter in. In the end, installing the filter while the plate floats free isn't too bad.

The Fram PH6607 filter installed using Yamaha's revised adapter.

Garage as still life.

- Ride North

Rooster's rules of the road -

Sand & gravel hides in the shadows.