Motorcycle Repair: motor oil wieght, mason dixon line, yamaha xs500

Question
Hi Chris,
A while ago I picked up a 1975 Yamaha XS500 for a deal at an auction. I've searched the net for basic maintence info to no avail. First off, I cant find what motor oil wieght to use for an oil change. Also  I replaced the battery when i got it and after some finessing i got it running but it's still very hard to start. What suggestions can you make for tuning up to bring this bike to a reliable status so I can start riding again this spring.
thanks
mike

Answer
Hi Michael.

 Levesque, huh?  I was in the military with a guy who had that surname.

There are a number of places to get the info that you need.  But first, I recommend Spectrol Golden 10W40 (or 20W50 if you live south of the Mason/Dixon Line).  The bike will normally take 3.5-4 quarts of oil.

You should be able to find repair manuals for your bike either through the local Yamaha dealership or online.  Online you can find them through www.repairmanuals.com or at www.jcwhitney.com. There are likely other places to find them, but those two sites ar almost sure things.

Good luck and ride safe.
FALCON