79F Standard Rescue in progress

Randy's box is labeled "organic", mine

Randy's friction lining appears to be a bit darker and slightly
thinner than mine.
"Organic" realize they came from Eugene Oregon ? :D
And the color may have been darkened slightly by my cleaning them with Isopropal Alcohol.
Have fun I will hope to follow up on findings regarding the fitment issue I experienced.
-Randy
 
Saturday Garage time again. 79F progress report.
As described this general servicing and "rescue" is going as expected.
Actually its going so predictably that I hope to share some findings as reminders to XS owners.
Over the years I have seen the same needs on 4 XS Standards which should be addressed. Here are examples.
Master cylinders and Calipers need fluid changes ! Who doesnt do this ? Many people apparently. Its easy !
Fuel tank preventative maintenence ! This bike needed all related work done. Tank, Petcock, and Carbureator cleaning. ! For no real reason other than being parked neglectfully .
Here is an interesting point. Counter shaft sprockets must be checked and then properly cleaned and tightened. All of the XS's I've owned were found to have loose sprocket nuts ! The thin metal fold "safety" tabs do thankfully prevent the nut from coming off but JEEZ ! CHECK YOUR NUTS !
These old XS's I find ALL need grease , everywhere. Some owners never go there.
Sump Strainers are ALL torn, Go there too !
Anyway, Rotor checks good, No real leaks found yet. Just chain slime everywhere :thumbsup:
Im headed into a head bolt torque check as I am sure there will be some need found there as well. Like ALL of the others.
Tho this is a slowly advancing bike project due to avaliable time mostly. This is again very personally rewarding to find and maintain a deserving XS650 .
Later, I gotta get busy here.
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BTW, WA state titles do arrive quickly after the state gets its share of fees .
- RT
 
Stock wheels & hardware.
This bike suffered plenty of corrosion on the original hardware, spokes, wheels, and components due to sitting in a wet , cold climate. Tho it is not a "trailer queen" or a show bike, its wheels and suspension have now been improved to a clean and stock condition.
I replaced hardware and just cleaned it up. No paint or polish on this...
78E wheels (Nice ones) , fender, shocks, chain guard, etc were donated for this one by my other bike waiting for its "resto mod" day . :)
 

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Looking good Machine! To me, some bikes need to look their age. Hell, even these bikes at their poorest of look are still nicer than any newer bike that has not been taken care of.
 
By the way, happy retirement. You think you'll have all sorts of time on your hands now but somehow, it doesn't always work out that way, lol. Frankly though, I don't know where I found all the time to do all the motorcycle work I did while still working, but I did. Lots of late nights and midnight oil burning I guess, lol.
 
By the way, happy retirement.
Oh, In my dreams ! Happy Retirement to somebody.. I will keep working a loong time.
But, Happy Re-Tire ment is Goood ! Finally these "new" Dunlop tt100's will be rolling soon instead of just looking pretty in the garage :whistle:
 
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Huh? In a Feb. 1st post you said you were 16 days away from retirement. It's Feb. 16th now, what's up with that?
 
Huh? In a Feb. 1st post you said you were 16 days away from retirement. It's Feb. 16th now, what's up with that?
I believe that was 59Tebo that said that.
 
Sunday garage time was even more fun. Now that the wheels and suspension are freshly serviced and back on, the bike is stable again. Rather than balancing next to another XS also balancing on a jackstand lol. Im also done under the bike with the sump strainer & finally tightened the oil drains and cleaned up my cold messy garage floor .
Now checking and servicing engine valvetrain, ignition, and carbureation too.
Its So nice to have been patient enough to find an unmolested bike ! And to be spontaneous enough to go grab it in the dark of winter. Seems the risk is not going to hurt much.
Cracking 40 yr. old "virgin" carbureator float bowls , Top end head stays, and such is a great feeling !
Carbs required such an easy clean up that I didnt even pull the pilot jets. Just blew air thru everywhere I could. Floats look Primo ! Im putting em back together just as is for trial.
Cam chain adj.. was a little tight in my opinion ? Barely any plunger movement so I read past threads and am anxious to give the "adj while idling" a try.
Exhaust valves were just a little loose (.008) and the intakes were very good at about .004
Points ? Well, they are close but I ran out of good light and got cold.. The points plate is one of the very few places there is evidence of prior tampering. But not too bad.
2 slightly loose head nuts out of 8 isnt bad eh? I left it all pretty much alone.
Im working my way back to the original concern here, the rusty tank ! Going to put 3/4 gal of used tumbling medium acquired here at work and start shaking it to help decide whats next .
few pics - RT
 

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Do check the condition of the needle jet o-rings. Mine were so bad, the needle jets would almost fall out of the carb bodies on their own, no pulling on them required. Place a finger on top of the needle jet and see if it wiggles in the carb body hole.

Yes, adjust the timing chain while idling. It's next to impossible to screw it up that way. No plunger movement is too tight, excess movement and "clatter" like loose valves is too loose. You can run the adjuster in and out to demonstrate both those extremes to yourself, then put it back in the middle somewhere, at the "just right" setting.
 
Local salvage yard scrounging is one of my bad habits you all are aware lol.
So yesterday, even when the shop owner was fussing about the cold and snow flakes, I talked him into puttting by bicycle inside his fence and loaning me a 12mm wrench ;)
Back at his 79 750 Special.
Here are some tidbits maybe worth sharing.
Firstly, I noticed the kick start lever was in very fine shape. My own 79F a bit too rusty.
Hmm, this has potential. You see, Brassnecks So nice resto mod has that very slick kick starter that we are all jealous of.
I really like the bend of the 79 750 kick starter!
Sure, the 750's a little weaker that the 650 club/hammer but I've lost my mule stompin kick ability anyway. I doubt I'll break it. Check out these comparison pics of my own 78E kicker which went to the 79F now.
 

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Local salvage yard scrounging is one of my bad habits you all are aware lol.
So yesterday, even when the shop owner was fussing about the cold and snow flakes, I talked him into puttting by bicycle inside his fence and loaning me a 12mm wrench ;)
Back at his 79 750 Special.
Here are some tidbits maybe worth sharing.
Firstly, I noticed the kick start lever was in very fine shape. My own 79F a bit too rusty.
Hmm, this has potential. You see, Brassneck s So nice resto mod has that very slick kick starter that we are all jealous of.
I really like the bend of the 79 750 kick starter ! Sure, it is a little weaker that the 650 club/hammer but I've lost my mule stompin kick ability anyway. I doubt I'll break it. Check out these comparison pics of my own 78E kicker which went to the 79F now.

Ha! I never noticed the difference before. Nice!
 
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