a DIY beater wake up drill

While looking for a rear wheel this POS followed home ( then I ended up using a different rear wheel) so WTH thought I'd see if she'll run and document the fun.
I'v been doing this for a while so have a few COB (cheap old b...) shop ideas look for tips idea how to's and a few how not to's

feel free to crap all over this thread, it's just for fun.

Looks like it could be not too far from running. Looks like you're well set up for the task. Guess I would get a title first, and if not possible, would start parting it out.

A big time and MONEY savers is paying attention to what the PO has done (and not done), he has left clues everywhere!
What has been removed replaced repaired or wrecked?
This bike had a BOTTLE BRUSH! in stead of a taqch drive gear. I t still had a little oil in the crank,
(dirty) it didn't stink like old gas. The air filters were still on the bike and in good shape the carb throttles and slides moved freely. The fuse box had been repaired. the tires dated code is 2006 and they are as new so that's probably the last time it was loved. The spark plugs were the wrong number (resister plugs, duh) one plug cap was reading infinity instead of 5K ohms. So we have some clues why it was abandoned. It's kicks over freely with reasonable compression. I can hear the cam chain clicking so it's never been adjusted, LOL.

Passenger peg loop mounts and welded on grab handle by seat indicate a Standard frame? Looks like someone "made" their own Special.

Good eye!
Changes the game for standard enthusiasts.

heritage is "interesting" for sure!




This pic is from a special

75 was a good year!

and this number too!

Not sure what that 2nd number is. Steering neck number indicates a '76 frame, clevis sidestand mount would point to that too. Engine number? I think I see a type D cam chain adjuster on there (no lock nut). Those were used from '76-'78. Linked BS38s could be from '76 through '79.

Looking at those pictures made me think someone was out in the garage taking pictures of my 1978 project. Tank is same color and has the paint worn off by the seat just like mine. Pipes have about the same amount of "patina" AKA RUST and dents!

Noticed the choke lever is missing off the carb.

And the miles, if there are correct, how can a bike get that nasty looking and not have 8,000 miles on it?

I mean my wife bought a Vespa scooter in the fall of 2013 and it now has over 20,000 miles on it and looks as nice as the day she picked it out in the show room! She had never even rode a motorcycle on the road before buying it and had to take the class to get her licence. Plus we live in a part of the country where you loose close to six months a year from riding time due to cold and snow!

Your frame no matches a 76C. The other no looks to be an attempt to re-stamp the frame and it would be in the wrong place for an XS650 any ways...........the engine no will probably Tell you if the Special engine was also transferred into the 76 frame...............One possibility is a Special wasn't titled so a titled frame was purchased and the Special parts were swapped over, (pure Speculation).

All of the other parts are from a 78SE/79SF. The Special frame 78-79 and the Standard frame from 74-79 are identical with one difference. That is the placement of the top of the rear Shock as the pics you posted............ 80 -83 Special frames had a different Air-box set up so the brackets are different other than that and the shock angle the frame itself is identical to a s74-79 standard.

If the tank has 2 petcocks it is a 78-79, In 80 the changed to a single petcock

Tack drive also runs the oil pump..........if a brush was installed in place of the tack/oil pump drive i would be looking for a burn't cam and rockers.

Oil level on the dip stick looks about right.........should be 1/2 way between the marks


This 75 Frame that was converted to Mag weel with a disk brake set up. he bracket at the base of the rear peg loop is for standard rear brake switch. On yours it has been moved to the Special position just in front of the rear MC. Lower MC brackets have been added, (lower yellow circle) and the reservoir bracket can be seen in the top yellow circle, left rear...........The bracket with the slot shouldn't be in the circle as it is the lower frame side-cover bracket.

Thanks for the help. numbers were scrubbed or were never on the motor.

But with 5twins expert cam tensioner ID and it having 78-79 carbs, twin petcock tank, looks like a 78 special was a heavy "donor" onto a 76 frame. This thing must have quite an interesting history.
That "second" stamped number may be an Illinois rebuilt VIN/title #

Cam etc looks good inside, I'm guessing someone had robbed this Peter's tach drive to pay Paul..
650skull; I think the oil pump drives the tach not visa versa.
Sump filter, NOT TORN!, replaced with a repaired sump screen.
Side cover removed, gaskets, pump, a tach drive, all cleaned, ready to reassemble. Pump was quite good.
cam chain tension set. I have a rebuilt set of carbs ready to install.




And probably the death knell;(SECOND??) RH dump, brake lever hit and slightly caved the cover, notice rub marks where clutch basket was hitting cover.
Bumped it back out. super glued the cracks, good enough to see how it runs.

Not enough good pics of the carbs to positively I.D. them as either '76-'77 or '78-'79. Would need to see the bottom of the float bowls and the intake bells.

valves set, all new valve cover o-rings.
fresh oil rotella 15-40
Advance rod pulled polished lubed reinstalled.
It's got spark timed fairly close checked with a strobe
filed cleaned points, dried spark plugs.
Crossed plug wires just to be sure, but wouldn't even cough on starter fluid.
compression 135 both sides with the electric start. throttle propped open.

Advance cover had been hit hard enough the weights were hitting it! banged it out to clear.

Well that's all for today.

Been huffing ether and carb cleaner, attempting a start off and on when I walk by it, but nada zero zilch. Needed it off the lift today but gave it one more try. Set the points with a light bulb They were WAY off, one side 15 advanced the other 20 retarded, LOL Then vroom, vroom! it fired on ether. Put a test tank on the carbs and it's running on the carbs, no work on them, didn't even open the float bowl drains, it really wants to live! Idles, revs, normal 650 motor sounds, no smoke after the first few seconds. It's off to the side for now.
5T they are 78-79 carbs, have the 4 port intake bells.

Good carb set, pretty much my favorite BS38 set. Run a bit smoother in the low and midrange RPMs, probably because of the more precise metering of the spring-loaded slide needle.

And mutt the bike has gone on to it's new "forever" home. Welcome to the site Brad!