What have you done to your XS today?

Cool, just tried to create a kinda "star black" silver speckle out of a rattle can while feeding squirrels. Almost nailed it lol..
Maybe some re touch and clear coat will be goodenuff, I'm thinking brown wood stain on the side emblems to try to closely match the tank badges.. ,(not a body man) except
( . )( . )
:)

So how did you do that? Fog a little silver over the black?
 
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Emptied Two Engine Stands Today
Getting all the bits in one spot. The motors for these two were taking up space, so I bolted them in. The Special will get put together to go to a new home, but the 76 may stick around for a while.
Frames were painted last fall.
 
Not much. Been too blustery and windy lately for me to ride. Had some rain too.
 
New to the forum, new to the XS650.

Re-torqued the head bolts. Spent 15 minutes trying to find that “front” bolt. Maybe it’s hiding behind this oil tube? Take it off, no bolt. Look at torque sequence chart, turn it 90° counter clockwise, and BAM! Suddenly it all makes sense.

Ha ha, I’m such a dumbass. Let’s just say that this isn’t a 15 liter diesel, my normal project.
 
Yes, the stock pads are good and I do like them. When I first put the Platinums on my '78, I didn't feel they made much difference. But now that I've been running them for several years and they're fully bedded in, I think they are better. Now that I have two bikes to compare side by side, one with stock pads and one with the Platinums, it was easy to tell and feel the difference. The bedded in Platinums definitely stop better.

These used to be the pad 3M at 650Central said was best. He now sells a sintered metal pad that he says stops a bit better, but it's harder on the disc. I bought my 1st set from him as he's one of the few sellers. They are premium priced from him though, about $35 a set, but I figured what the heck, they're supposed to be one of the best. This recent set I ran across on eBay for around $20 so I jumped on it.
 
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Yes, it is the first time at any real speed. It's very stable. It's low and more of a wind deflector than anything. Seeing how rain drops were deflected was actually impressive. It's home is on this bike and to never find another one like it.

I threw mine back on, third time a charm? Considering it as a deflector more than a windshield may give me a different perspective on the function and a tolerance for what it's not.
 
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Fresh oil change tonight for the TX, chain lube, shake down ride, and about 100 mile ride planned for tomorrow. Meanwhile, my new last summer 2019 DR650 sits waiting with no insurance as I am enjoying my first Yamaha so much I can't think of not riding it!
 
Humm, looking up at the 5twins post, mentally noting weather I should try and turn down the surface of my stainless disc...Rather not lose material and get close to the limit as I save the old pads ft. and rear that look great that are sintered. But, I am here as I have my butane torch out sitting next to my ft. forks to get the seals out, and start to sand n polish. See how some new polish pads wok on my 1 HP grinder wheel. Then move onto the other case 1/2 and rear hub stuff...if I get it right. Oh, logged on the see if I might use little crow bar on those fork seals if I recall someone did effectively.
 
One fork seal took 9 mins in a boiling sonic bath and came out normally. One took 16 min. before it was ready. Looks like the easy seal was a replacement and the knuckle head was an original. Getting the hang the polish wheel. Stopped to wipe off that dk.grey polish stick with KruddCutter, soap and water..throw a few beers and a big bottle of sangria in the fridge. Going to switch pads and do a pass with the white compound, clean and put a few drops of this stuff on The paint sealant in the middle.. Sure it will look good after a few beers.:cheers:P1010147.JPG

>> That paint sealer is a bit different from the last batch I had. It's water based. One I had before was not and a few drops on 3 fingers would coat this entire lower. Left it to dry and looked so good...after that#2 beer, replaced some artwork on the wall with it.
 

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That rattle can paint job is nicely done!

I rode out with a couple of buddies to Jordan River, BC, from Victoria today - about 115 miles round trip. Heated vests were a must! Bike has 1113 miles on it now, since the new top end (May 2020), and is feeling better all of the time. Will do a separate rebuild thread with lots of pictures soon.
 

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Sunday, Anxious to feel how the double disked 79 front end feels, I poured in the brake fluid and started manually bleeding the whole system. Once the calipers did fill enough with the bubbles to start acting hopeful it became apparent that the banjo fitting at the original 79 master cylinder wasn't going to make it. Leak ! I could even hear it
:poo: tried a couple other used copper gaskets, No way. So back off it came for a fresh face on the sealing surface today.
Vertically aligned using an appropriate size pin in the thread minor. Carefully positioned and clamped. A 3/4" end mill at 900 rpm slow plunging only resulted in a reasonable finish.
Little fresh paint. Squished in better copper gaskets.
Letting all the components sit a day to get to know each other. Hope it all holds a good seal and pumps up nice next time. Hope to post how the front brakes feel !
-R
 

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Sunday, Anxious to feel how the double disked 79 front end feels, I poured in the brake fluid and started manually bleeding the whole system. Once the calipers did fill enough with the bubbles to start acting hopeful it became apparent that the banjo fitting at the original 79 master cylinder wasn't going to make it. Leak ! I could even hear it
:poo: tried a couple other used copper gaskets, No way. So back off it came for a fresh face on the sealing surface today.
Vertically aligned using an appropriate size pin in the thread minor. Carefully positioned and clamped. A 3/4" end mill at 900 rpm slow plunging only resulted in a reasonable finish.
Little fresh paint. Squished in better copper gaskets.
Letting all the components sit a day to get to know each other. Hope it all holds a good seal and pumps up nice next time. Hope to post how the front brakes feel !
-R

That’s a nice little machine shop you have in your garage! :D That ought to do it!
 
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