Old Brown

[gggGary]

And easier for some guy to dig back out when restoring a tank to original paint and badges....
I've dug out 3 or 4 mudded over badge cavities and was always thrilled to find the brackets in there.
Hint use a heat gun to make bondo removal easy......

 

[Team Junk]

Any suggestions ?
No sign of tank being repainted. Rust from inside?

 

[Jim]

Rust holes tend to gather in herds. My guess is you only just scratched the surface. Tapping with a center punch will most likely reveal a lot more. Only safe bet is to have all the rust cut out and new metal welded in. Even a minor accident could cause untended to rust to rupture and spill gas everywhere. Making a bad day even worse. Just speaking for myself, I'd pitch it and get another...

 

[gggGary]

FWIW It seams like the 72 tanks were more prone to rust out than other years.

 

[Team Junk]

Just bought what is claimed to be a NOS TXA tank with matching side covers on Fleabay. When in doubt throw money at the problem. Cost about the same as a Mikes repo tank. Nice to have a matching tank for the TXA but now the paint I have won't match the tank. Found a repo gas cap with keys. I have a new gas cap and petcocks for the special tank. I think the bolt spacing on the petcocks is different. What are the chances that they can be adapted? I know the spacing on the early petcocks is not as wide.

 

[Jim]

My opinion... good choice. 300 bucks for NOS tank and side tins sounds like a damn good deal to me.

 

[gggGary]

The petcocks won't adapt, sorry about that.
Hmm just saw these.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/New-YAMAHA...psAAOSwPg9cS2tx:sc:USPSFirstClass!53913!US!-1

Note they are vacuum activated so would require a bit of McGivering.
No Idea if they are any good.

Non vacuum left AND right, Well kind of...........
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-TX500-XS500-XS650-XS1-TX650-Fuel-Tank-Petcock-LEFT/303279593875?fits=Model:XS650&hash=item469cdf5993:g:OSQAAOSwiBRddrZp

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-TX500-XS500-XS650-XS1-TX650-Fuel-Tank-Petcock-RIGHT/303279597343?fits=Model:XS650&hash=item469cdf671f:g:ehIAAOSw6jpddrdC
It seems like the handle orientation is a bit weird with one position being UP. When in the off position one handle will be forward, other back, shouldn't be a clearance issue I guess, but not like the stockers.

 

[Team Junk]

Petcock spacing
standards through 77 42mm (non vacuum petcocks)
Specials and 79 standards 46mm (vacuum petcocks)
XS750 46mm

I would think I could wallow out the mounting holes enough to to fit. The 74 is narrower so there should be 2MM meat towards the valve. They are non vacuum Mike's replacements. Would save me $80+.

 

[gggGary]

Make sure the mounting pad on the tank is long enough to catch all of the o-ring seal.

 

[Team Junk]

Good point. Will be the first thing I check.

 

[Mailman]

FWIW It seams like the 72 tanks were more prone to rust out than other years.

Now he tells me.....

 

[Team Junk]

Meanwhile back at the ranch, I went back to the courthouse with what I think is the plate for the bike. Unfortunately the number has been reissued and they can't search previous history. She did give me the info for a title service that can do the bonded title for me.

 

[Team Junk]

Sellers photos. Love the step thrus in the background.

.

 

[Team Junk]

While I was busy budget busting I snagged this. So shiny. Anyone had luck adapting XS400 gauges.

 

[Team Junk]

After soaking in pb blaster for several days tried removing the inner cables on my speedo and tach cables. Speedo cable came out just fine but tach cable broke into 3 sections with one piece stuck about 8 inches up the outer sheath. Looking for replacement I found a Motion Pro but the details are a little sketchy. Is there a difference in the tach connection on the various engine years?. Special vs. standard ?

 

[Jim]

Not positive but I think the only dif. in models was the color. I've got a few black ones if you're interested.

 

[Team Junk]

Gonna have to wait for the gauges to show up and get them mounted to see if the stock one is long enough to reach. looks to be about inch short with the xj top triple tree. Just a guesstimate at this point. Looking in the barn of the xj speedo cable because the 650 cable is too short for the xj forks.

 

[Team Junk]

Well as usual FEDEX did not show today. Contract driver claimed I was not home. Interesting because it was scanned un deliverable long before he could of driven to my house from San Antonio when it was last scanned as leaving. No wonder Amazon told them to stick it up their "". Every time something is shipped to me via Fedex ether my address is non existent or supposedly no ones home and I have to chase down the package.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Something to consider, repurposing the oil light on that gauge panel.

http://www.xs650.com/threads/77-79-standard-in-dash-voltmeter.49689/

 

[Team Junk]

I had the same thought. Hot to one side of the bulb and yellow stator wire to the other.

Just finished watching Lewis Hamilton win his sixth world championship in Austin. Amazing record. And great drive today.!