The slow and unsteady VI swingarm bobber build

[junkshow]

Shotgunjoe, you are being helpful and it absolutely appreciated.

I'm using an aftermarket tail light with three wires. The license plate bolts also have three wires so I'm trying to splice them into the corresponding tail light wires. The tail light functions correctly (not LED) but just the brake light on the bolts (LED) operate the opposite of intended.

Thanks again for your help shotgunjoe.

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[gggGary]

Sounds like you need to decode the wires yet.
A common scheme is

black ground
yellow running/tail
red brake

 

[junkshow]

Thanks gggGary, the only difference is there is a white wire rather than yellow. That's how I have it wired in.

I'm kinda at a loss here.

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[shotgunjoe]

Ive run into issues with chinese led lights, try disconnecting the ground wire, and running power only. This worked on my old bike... still dont know why. lol

You may need a inline resistor, but if they are wired in with the taillight (standard bulb right?), then its not likely, there should be enough resistance.

How about a pic?

 

[junkshow]

shotgunjoe,

Tried that too (pulling the ground), no luck. Yes, they are wired in with the tail light.

I was hoping to have additional brake lights for safety, but maybe I'll just run them with the license plate light only.

Also, none of the items i'm working with are stock. Aftermarket MC (two wire), single bobber style tail light (3 wire) and LED brake/plate light (3 wire).

I'll work on some pics.

Thanks again.

 

[shotgunjoe]

Its weird for sure... at this point I suspect the lights themselves. You should be able to put direct 12v to them and both power wires light the led, unless its not actually a dual function led.

 

[gggGary]

I am going to guess white is ground and the black red are the hots.

Current flow through the filament in the regular brake light bulb is a good enough ground for an LED, when that bulb gets powered you have +12 on both sides of the LED so no light.

 

[junkshow]

So I decided to hold off on the license plate/brake light for now and switch my focus to finishing up the electrical and riding this sucker.

One unrelated question I have is in regards to the fuel line and its routing. I am using a sporty style tank with a right mount petcock, the fuel barb on the petcock points to the front of the bike when installed with the reserve lever facing out. With the line facing that direction the fuel seems to flow ok, but my concern is maybe it wont flow fast enough and possibly cause sputtering/missing. My question is, do I need to have a downslope routed fuel line or will there be enough vacume to move the fuel to the carbs?

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[shotgunjoe]

No vacuum on a sporty tank, purely gravity fed. Stock vacuum petcocks only turn on and off with vacuum, not flow.

 

[junkshow]

That's what I kinda figured, thanks shotgunjoe. Guess ill have to figure out how to properly run my fuel lines.

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[junkshow]

UPDATE:

Put about 200 miles on the XS since last post. Retorqued everything since the rebuild. It seems that almost everything is good minus the nagging tick that comes back after every ride and my tail light keeps blowing.

As far as the tickin goes, any suggestions on valve clearance. Manual states that '79 should be .006. I think that's more than other years, any issues with going a bit tighter?

And my tail light issue. Possibly vibratin too much where it located, plan is to make a top shock mount license plate/brake light mount.

Pics/video to come soon.

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[gggGary]

.006" exhaust, .003" intake.....

Found an SB for a 1975 that gave .004 and ,002 for that year only,, claimed there was a valve system change the 74 and earlier were to stay at .006 and .003" I'll get a pic up in a bit.

I am sore tempted to try .005" on the exhaust. Yes hearing a valve is more common than not. It may be because of a dimpled valve stem causing a larger than desired clearance when done with a feeler gauge.

 

[retiredgentleman]

I use 0.003" intake and 0.005" exhaust. Works good for me.

 

[junkshow]

I was thinking that might be an issue. How much of an issue is it to keep riding? Maybe I can ride it this summer and rebuild over the winter.

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[gggGary]

IMHO it's not an issue, a question is could the lash be accurately set with the dimple still there? and would that reduce the valve noise? or does it move around enough that if you reduce the "feeler" clearance the valve will sometimes hang open?

 

[gggGary]

here's a copy of that SB Dated 6/3/1974
It's always possible this SB was revised again at a later date.........
It sure tempts me to try 4 and 2 see how it sounds. maybe do a hot engine check, see if they still have a little wiggle.
Does this / should it apply to all later engines, if so why do the later engines get wider specs in the manuals. (confirmation needed)

 

[junkshow]

Thanks Gggary, I set the valves to 0.005 exhaust and 0.003 intake. We'll see how it goes.

I have another question about the rear axle length. I purchased a no school choppers side mount license plate/tail light. Awesome quality and heavy duty. However, the steel is so thck, that when mounted, I can't get my castle nut(?) on far enough to install the cotter pin. Is there another, longer rear axle that I can use to replace the stock axle? Something that is at least 5mm longer but the same 20mm diameter?

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[junkshow]

The rear axle issue should be resolved shortly by the installation of a CB750 axle. They're 20mm and a bit longer than the XS axle.

Next issue is possibly with the battery. I'm currently running the minimalist battery from 650 central with no running is starting issues. However, the headlight flickers a lot. I've put about 150 miles on with this battery and it hasn't let me down even idling in stop and go traffic. But why the flicker?

FWIW, I'm getting 12v when at idle and 14 and change at full advance if that's an indicator of a proper functioning charging system.

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[gggGary]

Check your grounds to the headlight, I'm thinking the flickering is a different issue.

 

[junkshow]

Thanks for the reply gggGary, ill check out my grounds.

Of it matters, the light is a bit dim while at idle, but bright when excellerating.

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