What have you done to your XS today?

Fawksey said:
Not as cheap or as easy to get hold of here in the UK as in the US. Non on eBay. Ordered them from Yambits.
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Those charging numbers sound OK Fawksey - and as for buying el-cheapo brushes, I think that is a mistake anyway.

You are further ahead and much LESS likely to be stranded somewhere with a dead bike by spending a few more quid and buying these small but critical parts from a reputable vendor such as YamBits. Cheap brushes will likely wear out more rapidly and may not even fit in the first place.
 
Just got back from a 15 mile trip round the block (single track road a lot of it) the battery is reading 12.25v when switched off so I guess the alternator is giving it a charge and obviously the new battery is taking it
F.
 
MaxPete said:
Those charging numbers sound OK Fawksey - and as for buying el-cheapo brushes, I think that is a mistake anyway.

You are further ahead and much LESS likely to be stranded somewhere with a dead bike by spending a few more quid and buying these small but critical parts from a reputable vendor such as YamBits. Cheap brushes will likely wear out more rapidly and may not even fit in the first place.
Click to expand...

I purchased NOS Yamaha brushes off Ebay. Not very expensive.
 
fishandchips said:
Cafetools, the lights might be better in the corners where the walls meet the roof, if you still have time to change things and diffusers will help the glare. Looks like just the right size for working on a bike though, if space does get an issue put workbenches and cabinets on casters. You have more space than me :D, I am in 8 x 14 and it gets a bit tight.
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That would put the lights at head height? It seems like that would be more blinding amirite?
 
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Well? YamaHa.Ha.Ha threw me a couple of curve balls. When putting my stock exhaust together I found no easy way to install the exhaust joint into the coupler. It separated. Then.... My passenger peg bolt was too short to get through the muffler. After work went by Florida Fastener and got a 12X60mm bolt and washers and locking nuts as per YamaHa parts fiche. Got home, tried to bolt it up, and the bolt wouldn’t fit through the muffler. I thought “ what the hell! “ Oops. There’s a nut welded on the back of the muffler bracket. And guess what? My bolt has different threads. So I bought some used ones. Still haven’t figured out that packing thing.
 
Correct. I've been lurking for a while so I already know you guys know your stuff.

Still assessing whether it's smarter to clean out the Gas tank or just replace it. They seem real cheap on eBay

Thanks for the thread link guys I'm gonna give it a hard read.

Background: the bike has had two owners from new, the original purchaser in 1977, and the guy I bought it from who picked it up about a year ago but didn't have time to work on it. I chose the xs650 as the ideal bike to finally learn motorcycle mechanics for real and stop screwing around. I'm a motorcycle rider exclusively by this will be my second bike, so for now it's more for wrenching. My main bike is a CB1100 which I love like a soulmate.
 
Gator xs2 said:
View attachment 148333 View attachment 148335 View attachment 148336 View attachment 148337 View attachment 148338 View attachment 148333 Well? YamaHa.Ha.Ha threw me a couple of curve balls. When putting my stock exhaust together I found no easy way to install the exhaust joint into the coupler. It separated. Then.... My passenger peg bolt was too short to get through the muffler. After work went by Florida Fastener and got a 12X60mm bolt and washers and locking nuts as per YamaHa parts fiche. Got home, tried to bolt it up, and the bolt wouldn’t fit through the muffler. I thought “ what the hell! “ Oops. There’s a nut welded on the back of the muffler bracket. And guess what? My bolt has different threads. So I bought some used ones. Still haven’t figured out that packing thing.
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Gator where are those welded into your frame?
upload_2019-8-27_20-5-24.png

Neither of my frames have any welded nuts in the frame.
 
MISTERPROFESSIONALITY said:
Background: the bike has had two owners from new, the original purchaser in 1977, and the guy I bought it from who picked it up about a year ago but didn't have time to work on it. I chose the xs650 as the ideal bike to finally learn motorcycle mechanics for real and stop screwing around.
Click to expand...
:thumbsdown:
Sounds like you found a great year and a clean example of an XS vintage classic to learn fully 70’s era mechanics !
Nice start .. enjoy it, it will consume plenty of time and give back much gratification !
 
MISTERPROFESSIONALITY said:
View attachment 148339 What did I do to my xs650 today? Purchased it! I'm in the club now.

Next: clean the rust out of the gas tank, clean the carbs, clean the chain and sprockets, check the petcock, and see where we stand from there.
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Mr. Pro,
Welcome to the madhouse! Looks like you have the basis for a nice rider there. If you want to expand your mechanical abilities, you’ve picked a great bike to get started with. If I may suggest, if you start a build thread in the garage section, it will be a place where you can keep all of your information , progress and questions and photos all together in one spot so the guys can answer any questions you come up with along the way. It makes it easier for us to track your progress. Enjoy your bike , and we’ll see you around!
Bob
 
Gator xs2 said:
View attachment 148333 View attachment 148335 View attachment 148336 View attachment 148337 View attachment 148338 View attachment 148333 Well? YamaHa.Ha.Ha threw me a couple of curve balls. When putting my stock exhaust together I found no easy way to install the exhaust joint into the coupler. It separated. Then.... My passenger peg bolt was too short to get through the muffler. After work went by Florida Fastener and got a 12X60mm bolt and washers and locking nuts as per YamaHa parts fiche. Got home, tried to bolt it up, and the bolt wouldn’t fit through the muffler. I thought “ what the hell! “ Oops. There’s a nut welded on the back of the muffler bracket. And guess what? My bolt has different threads. So I bought some used ones. Still haven’t figured out that packing thing.
Click to expand...

Getting closer there Gator! That packing ( #6 in the diagram ) gets wrapped around the header pipe and goes inside that crown nut, to seal up any exhaust gasses that might leak by. Are you still having trouble figuring out the mounting? Looks like you’ve got her buttoned up. You know me, I might have a couple of photos if you need em.
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Machine said:
:thumbsdown:
Sounds like you found a great year and a clean example of an XS vintage classic to learn fully 70’s era mechanics !
Nice start .. enjoy it, it will consume plenty of time and give back much gratification !
Click to expand...

Lol! I should post some more pics tomorrow. I would not call it a very clean example. I'm gonna have to sand that tank down to bare metal in order to clean it up. Theres rust in a few other spots as well. If I can get it idling strong it'll be time to start disassembling and cleaning individual parts. Then one day it may qualify as clean.
 

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