Recent content by hobbes28

Finally, after reading everything on this whole forum at least twice, rebuilding and giving a good cleaning to the carburetors, changing the whole ignition system, taking apart the carbs again to clean them the right way and finding out that my neighbor has a timing light that works much better...

If the insert kit you ordered has inserts that are too long, just snip it down one thread at a time until it's the right length. Snip from the end opposite the tang. Food for thought about the original hole: 3mm of thread is 4 threads which is plenty to hold it all together. Just something to...

Sorry, the wife reminded me it was $79 but yes, worth every penny.

Course Medium or Fine is based on the pitch (.7mm in this case). .7 is a course thread but some places call it fine because it's small. Either way, if you got the M4x.7 helicoil kit, you'll have the right one. The kit at O'Reilly Auto is the right one and a pretty good price. We usually pay...

That wasn't harsh at all. That's what I have been doing, getting back to the basics. The suburban was very forgiving and permitted me to make adjustments to my timing without having to get a timing light nor did it have as many components that made so much of a difference to how it runs. I...

Yes, the contacts should open to let the spark across. The gap should only be there when it's firing on either cylinder. (at least that's how I understand it). Keep in mind, I only know what I've learned these last couple weeks and it may not be enough to explain what I'm trying to say...

There is supposed to be no gap most of the way around and it is supposed to open up when firing. The gap at the high point should only be the distance specified in your manual, somewhere between .010"-.014". There is plenty of information about setting the points online and in the repair...

Those are the ones I got. I wondered what the difference was and just took a guess. I won't plan on being that lucky again. My coils are putting out about 3kv average with some spikes over 7kv but pretty sporadically. I just started ordering all new everything because the lag time for...

Whew! I meant to write coils, I think? Whew! Plug caps if those are the rubber things that go over the top of the plug. (terminology isn't my strong suit) Whew! Yes, those are the ones, Whew! I figured I would have to buck up and buy the timing light this time. On the rotor for my suburban, I...

I am working on my 77 xs650, trying to get it running and have come to the point where I have ordered the next round of parts and thought I would make sure that I am not barking up the wrong tree. First I'll give you guys the information on where I am and see if I am making the right...

As most of us do when we're trying to finish up, I was rushing when tightening on my clutch side cover and found out it was not seated correctly. I found out when a crack appeared right under the opening for the kick start that extends about two inches horizontally on the case. My question is...

Here is my 77 after powder on the tank and side panels. Getting a lot of the parts on Saturday to get it running down the road. So excited!

I saw that listing on Craigslist for that XS just the other day. I am on the other side of Dallas from you and looking at the same style. I have found that there are a few shops that don't charge a lot for frame modifications that you will need to make that happen. I haven't called any...

Hello all, I have been lurking on here for some time now and guess it's time to start the questions. I am restoring a '77 xs650 that is in pretty good shape as it is. I guess most of the restorations (for now) are just replacing the consumables and regular maintenance parts. I am a...

We'll give this a try. I hate to write anything that feels like a "pity me" story as I am happy with everything that I have and all of the experiences I go through, have gone through and will go through. I am sure that there are many more people entering this contest who are more deserving and...