Just got this bike any tips or pointers

D

Dantes special

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79 650 special 500 miles stored all its life I'm fully reviving it had it runing today after cleaning state and carbs anything I should pay attention to and how is finding parts going to need new rear turn signals and mirrors sadly some one started stealing parts off it
 

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lucky find and only 500 miles wow!... I hope you don't intend cutting it up .;)
Welcome to the forum ...perhaps you might like to start a restore/refurb thread to keep us all up with your progress...we love pics:)
 
Bobbing was my original intention. The bike was given to me as a gift but when it arrived I realized the miles that were on it and there is no way I could cut in to it the only thing to do would be a full restore I will keep you guys posted its pretty ruff right now upstate New York isn't kind on anything
 
once cut theres no going back :D if that bike is as original as it sounds its going to be a valuable investment if you keep it that way
Bobbers are soooooooo old hat now .....how about a cool street tracker or cafe
street-tracker-limey-bikes.jpg
 
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There should be sufficient slack in the wires to solder on new spade connectors . You could replace the fuse box but if you are keeping it original I'd stick with the original fuse box and do a conservation repair
 
kshansen said:
Where abouts in Upstate was this one stored?

There must be a story, maybe sad, about why it was parked with only 500 miles on it. That would be a good one to learn and keep along with the bike.
Click to expand...

thats a very good point kshansen.... if it were my bike I'd want to research the heck out of it . i always feel a strong historic affinity to my bikes scooters and cars.
The research and whatever is dug up would make some interesting reading .
 
Dantes special said:
I have had a big problem with the fuse brackets under the seat would it be safe to just delete and straight wire the tabs are shot
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NO - I strongly urge you to not remove the fuses. They are your protection from a fire if something shorts out.

What many folks have done is switch the old glass capsule fuses to modern blade style types which are more reliable, less fragile and far easier to find in auto parts stores. In fact, you can actually buy an entirely new fuse box which incorporates blade style fuses and simply replace the stock unit with something that looks pretty much the same but is much safer and more reliable - all for not much money.
51%2BunWYcoLL._SL1000_.jpg

I just found this one on Amazon for $20 bucks Canadian (or around $2.45 USD at the current rate of exchange ;)).

Pete
 
DogBunny recently mentioned that 1/4" spade crimps will plug right onto these modern blade fuses. I plan to investigate gutting the original fuse box, adding the spade terminals to all the wires, plugging in new blade fuses individually, and fitting it all in the original fuse box. It would look unchanged from the outside and save the trouble of having to mount up a new fuse box.
 
Dantes special said:
79 650 special 500 miles stored all its life I'm fully reviving it had it runing today after cleaning state and carbs anything I should pay attention to and how is finding parts going to need new rear turn signals and mirrors sadly some one started stealing parts off it
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Hi Dantes and welcome,
at 40 years old the tires and brake lines will be shot so replace them with new.
Consider wire braid reinforced brake lines instead of the stock fabric ones but you pick the tire brand, eh?
The list's classifieds would be my first place to look for replacement parts.
Consider replacing the over-large stock front brake lever with one with a 1/2" or an 11mm piston to get a better brake feel.
I'd replace the stock glass-tube fuseblock with one that used mini-blade fuses.
You may want to replace the stock buckhorn 'bars with a straighter lower 'bar but there's those that love the ugly things.
 
Alright so I got some updates got it running rode it around a little bit it's got a ruff idle kinda poppy all low end rpms vary responsive throttle tho. I have the breathers fully removed and I have what looks to me fumes coming out of the hoses that would connect to the breathers could the absence of the airbox play a role here
 

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Dantes special said:
I have had a big problem with the fuse brackets under the seat would it be safe to just delete and straight wire the tabs are shot
Click to expand...

I wanted to keep the stock fuse box (low profile fit under the Counterbalance Cycles seat nicely) and mine had the broken fuse tabs as well, so I made a 3/8" spade crimp connector into a fuse holder. Just took a few minutes with a pair of pliers and a dental pick.
 
You said you cleaned the carbs? How come they're still all crusted up? I don't think you got the idle circuit totally clean. That's why the low RPM running is bad. Sometimes it takes several cleaning attempts to really get the carbs clean.
 
Dantes special said:
I have had a big problem with the fuse brackets under the seat would it be safe to just delete and straight wire the tabs are shot
Click to expand...

No fuses are critical to stop smoke from escaping from the wiring...............or buy a fire extinguisher............fuses are cheaper

If you want to keep things original here is a fix
Post #26 Here is a repair to the original fuse box replacing the fuse holders...........
http://www.xs650.com/threads/vlads-restoration-project-w-pics.34595/page-2
 
Hey Upstate NY,
Good decision to keep it stock.
Peanut is right-on; bobbers seem to be a fading fad.

BTW, there are a bunch of us Upstaters on this site.
 

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