What have you done to your XS today?

This evening the cold and rain moved in. I got the box wood stove going, poured a whisky and got the blues!

tank 1.jpg


I hate to ruin the glossy blue but I gota scuff it up for the decals and so the final clear coat will stick. Using 800 wet or dry and Scotch Brite.
I bet I know a guy that has worn his finger nails off using Scotch Brite. Not gona mention any names but his initials are Jim! No, those ain't runs. It getting close to the primer! WOOF! But the decals cover that area. I ain't no painter but it ain't gona get done me getting soused looking at it. :wink2:
 
Got my head and priorities straight. Got my act together and got working on my motor. As of now the cylinder block with pistons are installed on the block. Talk about a wrestling match. More work with pics later. Goal is to be riding by Sat morning. We'll see....
More updates w/ pics in the SG's Top end Swapout thread.
 
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Oregon state title of the 79 Project went through the Washington state motor vehicles dept today , Yea !
Was a bit concerned as this XS changed hands twice in Oregon before I exported it to WA, a tougher state.
Please and thank you and $177 got it clear so the project is Mine !
Pulling the 7k mileage candy off the engine . Such nice valve tappet covers. The points plate,screws and advance unit are as nice as I’ve ever seen. Engine is “bone dry” whatever that means and the sump plate is clean with a green gasket showing. I’ll just bet there is a MikesXS filter in there...
Having fun pulling hardware off everything battery box related as it all doesn’t match. I’ll be using nice good quality hardware throughout. Swingarm is high on the list as well to remove and check. It’s all powder coated so maybe there are bronze bushings in there..
(upside down tappet cover ? no I didn’t do it lol)
 

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79 Special II engine servicing or checking perhaps is still going well.
Today is the day to get under the bike for the oil filter and sump strainer checking. No, not the most fun task but so important to do on a non running engine new to you with no history. I was told by the previous owner that it was all “Mikes XS” in there and having only experienced genuine Yamaha up until now, my curiosity could not be held back.
The side filter gasket tore, hmm. The filter itself look ok, I have a spare used Yamaha filter and will think about the preference there. The sump strainer plate came off quite easily but again, the green Athena gasket stuck up there on the engine underside and I don’t think it’s wise to reuse that. Drain copper gaskets were quite old too so I broke out my Genuine Yamaha stash.
Here are some pics.
It’s way more fun to raid my parts stash for things like gauge buckets, headlight bucket and chrome trim, turn signals. That’s where I’m trying to get to. Anyway, garage time has ended today. Fun Stuff :D
-RT
 

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View attachment 153675 79 Special II engine servicing or checking perhaps is still going well.
Today is the day to get under the bike for the oil filter and sump strainer checking. No, not the most fun task but so important to do on a non running engine new to you with no history. I was told by the previous owner that it was all “Mikes XS” in there and having only experienced genuine Yamaha up until now, my curiosity could not be held back.
The side filter gasket tore, hmm. The filter itself look ok, I have a spare used Yamaha filter and will think about the preference there. The sump strainer plate came off quite easily but again, the green Athena gasket stuck up there on the engine underside and I don’t think it’s wise to reuse that. Drain copper gaskets were quite old too so I broke out my Genuine Yamaha stash.
Here are some pics.
It’s way more fun to raid my parts stash for things like gauge buckets, headlight bucket and chrome trim, turn signals. That’s where I’m trying to get to. Anyway, garage time has ended today. Fun Stuff :D
-RT

Busy little beaver, ain't ya! Looking good!!! :)
 
Hmmm do you have the original coating on the aluminum? If so, how is that Mother's burning through it?
I went with "Heavy Metal" green, followed by blue.
Just curious is all, as I still have more to do. :whistle:
 
Soap and water with steel wool.
Then mother's Polish on a buffing wheel powered by my cordless drill.
I need better tools desperately,but that's not in the budget.
If you got that shine with those rudimentary polishing tools, you definitely earned this.....

Robin seal of aproval.jpg
 
Hmmm do you have the original coating on the aluminum? If so, how is that Mother's burning through it?
I went with "Heavy Metal" green, followed by blue.
Just curious is all, as I still have more to do. :whistle:

I removed the yellow peeling clear coat in 97 when I first got the bike.
 
Nice... It took 3x as long to remove that crap, than the actual polishing part. Cough Cough… I learned my lesson and wear a mask. No more black Shnoootties in the Scotties!


Lol
The only down side is it will need attention from time to time to keep the luster.
I'm attacking the rear next.

I'd also like to get rid of the ugly turn signal from and rear. Something that doesn't stick out so far.
 

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Lol
The only down side is it will need attention from time to time to keep the luster.
I'm attacking the rear next.

I'd also like to get rid of the ugly turn signal from and rear. Something that doesn't stick out so far.[/QUOT

I can't see from the photo what the signals/tail lights looks like!
 
One of my favorite games XSeology, Sifting through the debris, creating a theory about what the PO did (didn't do) to create such a fine mess. It can be a useful alert to other issues that may need looking into.
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I enjoyed gggGarys quote in another thread this morning so much I had to put it here too;)
This rear axle was the most difficult to remove of any for a loong time !
Yes, components were powder coated I see when the tire was installed 4+ years ago. New then Mikes XS hardware such as the brake arm shoulder bolt and sprocket bolts, new chain / sprocket etc are fun to find but under this bike I’ve found components such as the center stand, side stand, and now here, the rear axle just all way too dry! No grease ...
This is why even finding a low mileage, “good” bike a guy has to retrace ALL the places where previous owners were. Along with all the usual required servicing.
All good now. Axle out. No bloody fingers. Swingarm next..
-R
 

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