Crabby's Build

CrabbyCustoms

XS650 Addict
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Location
Scarbrough, Ontario Canada
Hi There!
I've just recently purchased a 1978 XS650 parts bike, as well as a 1978 frame with a wassell gas tank, rear fender with sissy and a set of Panzer handle bars. I also purchased a 1976 "rebuilt" engine.
I'm very excited to have found this forum as this will be my first bike build and i'm sure the site will be extremely helpful.

I'm working in a fairly cramped space but after spending the last week tearing down the parts bike I think it's going to work out fine. The tearing down of the parts bike was fairly easy, one thing that I will need to figure out is that the frame i'm using is a rear disc brake set up and i'm hoping to use a rear drum wheel so I need to start searching how to do the conversion.

I also think I have an issue with the "rebuilt" engine as I took of the valve covers and noticed rust on the rocker arms and rust on the cam. The engine looked so clean when I bought it that I didn't really check it over. Maybe it was rebuilt but then not stored properly?. I have the engine from the parts bike so i'm guessing I could use the cam from it?

I'm hoping to have a rolling chasis done this week and then have to figure out what the next step is?

I'm super excited and my goal is to have it finished in time for the CVMG Rally in Paris Ontario in June.

Thanks!
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is that the frame i'm using is a rear disc brake set up and i'm hoping to use a rear drum wheel so I need to start searching how to do the conversion.
Is the spare frame a drum brake bike? If so, all the parts should swap.
 
Wait...what? You need to show us a good side view of the rear of your bike. Does it have a mag wheel/disc brake setup in the back? Your extra frame's serial number will tell you if it's a "Standard" or a "Special" (originally spokes/drum or mag/disc). I'd go over that motor carefully also. Just from your pictures, it looks like maybe the (dreaded) P.O. spray-painted the lower case to "clean it up". Looks like all the seals and the stator cover were painted.
Uh, and unless you took them out, your points are missing..... :doh:
P.S. I was a little late with this post... Can you post a good pic of that spare frame? If your going "bob", I'd like to see it...:thumbsup:
 
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Can`t really tell from the pics but the bare frame doesn`t appear to have the MC mounting bungs welded on it. Everything will interchange if they`re both 78 frames. Do they have titles? (the most important part of any build). All the info you`ll ever need is here on this site. Good luck with your build.:thumbsup:
Also are the spoke wheels steel or alloy?
 
Lots of questions there Crabby and you sure sound super excited. Unfortunately, restoring a forty year-old bike is not going to be totally straightforward and there will be obstacles to overcome as I think you already anticipate. But having most of two bikes is a good starting place and you have definitely come to the right place for the advice you will need.
 
Hi There!
I've just recently purchased a 1978 XS650 parts bike, as well as a 1978 frame with a wassell gas tank, rear fender with sissy and a set of Panzer handle bars. I also purchased a 1976 "rebuilt" engine.
I'm very excited to have found this forum as this will be my first bike build and i'm sure the site will be extremely helpful.

I'm working in a fairly cramped space but after spending the last week tearing down the parts bike I think it's going to work out fine. The tearing down of the parts bike was fairly easy, one thing that I will need to figure out is that the frame i'm using is a rear disc brake set up and i'm hoping to use a rear drum wheel so I need to start searching how to do the conversion.

I also think I have an issue with the "rebuilt" engine as I took of the valve covers and noticed rust on the rocker arms and rust on the cam. The engine looked so clean when I bought it that I didn't really check it over. Maybe it was rebuilt but then not stored properly?. I have the engine from the parts bike so i'm guessing I could use the cam from it?

I'm hoping to have a rolling chasis done this week and then have to figure out what the next step is?

I'm super excited and my goal is to have it finished in time for the CVMG Rally in Paris Ontario in June.

Thanks! View attachment 157651 View attachment 157652 View attachment 157653 View attachment 157654 View attachment 157655 View attachment 157656

Hi Crabby and welcome,
first; "everything takes longer and costs more" but you already know that, eh?
Swapping disk rear to drum rear is easy as long as you have all the wheel & brake parts.
Just make and weld a drum brake torque stay bracket onto the disk brake swingarm.
 
Just thinking about your brake swap. It doesn`t matter what your 78 frames are, just remove the entire swingarm assy from the drum brake parts bike and install it and the brake pivot in the other frame. one bolt and your done.:shrug:
 
Wait...what? You need to show us a good side view of the rear of your bike. Does it have a mag wheel/disc brake setup in the back? Your extra frame's serial number will tell you if it's a "Standard" or a "Special" (originally spokes/drum or mag/disc). I'd go over that motor carefully also. Just from your pictures, it looks like maybe the (dreaded) P.O. spray-painted the lower case to "clean it up". Looks like all the seals and the stator cover were painted.
Uh, and unless you took them out, your points are missing..... :doh:
P.S. I was a little late with this post... Can you post a good pic of that spare frame? If your going "bob", I'd like to see it...:thumbsup:
I just checked the serial number for the extra frame it says it's a XS-SE Model. I took a few photos. The first photos are of the extra frame.

I just checked the serial number for the extra frame it says it's a XS-SE Model. I took a few photos. The first 4 photos are of the extra frame. Part of the problem is that the swing arm has been set upside down to accomodate the brat kit/fender install so the drum brake arm's hook up is on top of the swingarm.
The next 3 photos are of the parts frame that the drum brake came off of. The last photo is of cast wheels that I'm not using, I assume they came off of the extra frame?
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Hi Crabby and welcome,
first; "everything takes longer and costs more" but you already know that, eh?
Swapping disk rear to drum rear is easy as long as you have all the wheel & brake parts.
Just make and weld a drum brake torque stay bracket onto the disk brake swingarm.

I do have all of the drum brake parts so I just have to add one of these to the swing arm?
December 23, 2019-24.jpg
 
Just thinking about your brake swap. It doesn`t matter what your 78 frames are, just remove the entire swingarm assy from the drum brake parts bike and install it and the brake pivot in the other frame. one bolt and your done.:shrug:

Unfortunately the swingarm has been modified to accomodate the brat kit and rear fender.
January 07, 2020-12.jpg
 
Crabby. Welcome to the forum. The spare frame goes with the cast wheels/disk brakes. The rear brake master cylinder bungs are on the spare frame.
View attachment 157693

The brackets on the top of the swing arm with the fender welded to it are for the disk brake.

Thanks Peterg, Yes I figured that the cast wheels were meant for the final build frame but I wanted to have spoke wheels and I liked the look of the old school Drum brake. Do you think it's possible? can I cut off the brackets for the disc brake? Thanks!
 
Can`t really tell from the pics but the bare frame doesn`t appear to have the MC mounting bungs welded on it. Everything will interchange if they`re both 78 frames. Do they have titles? (the most important part of any build). All the info you`ll ever need is here on this site. Good luck with your build.:thumbsup:
Also are the spoke wheels steel or alloy?
Hey Halfmile, I only have a title for the extra frame, no title for the parts bike:( I'm not sure if the wheels are steel or alloy?
 
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