1978 Yamaha XS650

Machine said:

Yamadude , I just happen to be looking into both types of 78 switches yesterday.
I'm wanting to re-key a "Special" switch to be the same as my "Standard" tank now

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Tell me if you need any parts.....

MaxPete said:

Welcome Tim - from Canada's sunny southern coast in Windsor, Ontario!

That's a great start on a fine bike - the XS650SE! I like the neat exhaust installation and with the help of the bunch of us on the forum, you should be in great shape for a fun ride very soon. As for the key - the ignition switch that Dude has seems to have a key but it won't match the seat/helmet or fuel tank lid locks on your bike. That is not a big problem though:

• just copy down the four small numbers on the seat/helmet/fuel tank lock key cylinder (they should be clearly visible);
• take the ignition key to a locksmith along with those numbers and,
• they should have a blank for the seat/helmet/fuel tank lock (it will be the same blank as the ignition key and they had plenty in stock) and they should be able to cut a key for the seat/helmet/tank lock from those four numbers.

At least, that is how it worked for me around here. I think it cost $10 for the first key and then $5 each for spares.

Looks like you've got yourself a ballgame there!

Pete

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Fradon Lock in downtown Syracuse will do all this work (theyve done it for me) and they have all the vintage key blanks.

closer look. Apologies, that 78 switch is apparently correct for a 78 Special. Its a good offer from Yamadude
-R

Yamahadude. I sent you a message

No Machine, that switch Yamadude has is not from a Special, it's from a Standard. The Special switch doesn't go in the dash, it's a stand alone unit and includes the fork lock. The length of the lock cylinder also differs .....



ElCamMan, if I understand you correctly, you have a partial switch now, just missing or needing a few replacement parts? You could renovate that then. If you bought a new assembly, there's no way the keys would match your other locks, and no way to make it so by re-keying. The '80 and older locks had two notch cuts, a medium and deep one. '81 and later, and the new aftermarket switches use a different key type with 3 notch cuts, light, medium, and deep. On the older locks, the notch depth varies by .75mm. On the later locks, it only changes by .5mm between the different cuts.

So, to have any chance of matching up to your existing other locks, you will need a '78-'80 switch assembly. But, there were about a half dozen different key styles used. Well, actually there were 3 mirror imaged pairs .....



As I mentioned, in about 1981 the key blanks changed from ones with 4 numbers to ones with a letter and 5 numbers .....



You will need one of the older assemblies using the 4 number type lock. Now, how can you tell what blank it needs and if it's the same as your existing locks? You can look up the 4 number code on this chart .....



As an example, the 3515 lock Yamadude has would use a Yamaha 1215 blank. Now you need to know which aftermarket blanks match up to the Yamaha ones. Here's a little chart I made up .....

Thanks for the added information. I am not to worried about matching keys. Bike needs seat lock and new gas tank lock. I am used to having vehicles with different keys for doors and ignition. Just have to label keys haha. Thanks for all the help everyone! I'm excited to work on this project.

Tim

Is that key info from 5T saved in the tech section?

lakeview said:

Is that key info from 5T saved in the tech section?

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Good question Lakeview. I think that we should save 5Twins himself in the tech section.

I did clip the post and turn it into a .pdf which is attached hereto.

Pete

..... and I didn't even tell the whole key story, lol. I should probably write a dedicated key post.

ElCamMan515 said:

Hello everyone,

Just purchased my 1st bike. A 1978 XS650 for $250. It needs a few things, but it complete from what I can tell. First It needs an ignition switch and keys, does anyone know where I can source one or does anyone have one for a 1978?

Glad to join the forum.

Tim

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Sorry to interrupt but how do I make a thread on this dang forum ?

Need a key? Go here and the guy/girl will make you one by the key code stamped on your lock.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Yamaha-Mot...250510?hash=item3fc9c7be8e:g:4r4AAOSwPv9bUTdP
This way it fits the Iggy and seat. ( Iggy and seat should have the same number if one has not already been changed out.

5twins said:

..... and I didn't even tell the whole key story, lol. I should probably write a dedicated key post.

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Yes !
You've got my vote.

5twins said:

..... and I didn't even tell the whole key story, lol. I should probably write a dedicated key post.

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Good grief man - why haven’t you already done that?

How DO you come to know all this stuff?

Anthony1993 said:

Sorry to interrupt but how do I make a thread on this dang forum ?

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Hi Anthony:

- just go right to the top of the page and hit “Forum”
- then depending on the topic (technical stuff = The Garage, funny stuff or just idle shooting the breeze = “The Lounge” etc.) select the correct Forum
- the “Post Thread” button will be in the upper right.

Pete

timbeck said:

Look at that , you are on your way now. You need to read gggGary's wake up procedure for your new find.
tim

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Did a search and found this: Starting an engine after a long lay up
This advise will come in handy for me too.

Welcome to the forum ElCamMan!

Welcome to the forum @ElCamMan515.

$250 for that little beaut? That's it. I'm moving to America. How difficult can it be to learn the language?

Thanks for the welcome.

I am pretty excited to start the build. It is my first bike so I am excited to learn.

Tim