Sensible engine decision (now top end refresh)

Tsubaki makes a more durable cam chain than DID (thicker pins). The Tsubaki "peanut" cam chain offered by 650 Central is stronger than the OE DID. Michael got a batch of them cheap and is passing along the savings--$39 plus the ride. It's designated an "endless" chain, I don't know why. I bought one, and it's an open chain with a rivet master link, just like any other.
I like this option. Michael is closed until the 5th.
 
Please let us know how it goes. I haven't ordered from them yet but plan to. Every part I've checked so far is cheaper than Partzilla. I'm just wondering if they make up for that on shipping though, lol.
 
Please let us know how it goes. I haven't ordered from them yet but plan to. Every part I've checked so far is cheaper than Partzilla. I'm just wondering if they make up for that on shipping though, lol.
Partzilla shipping isn't expensive. It's slow and unreliable. They use a 3rd party shipper that sends you a UPS or FedEx tracking number. I don't mind paying less for the ride, but when I have to wait two weeks or more, it becomes unacceptable. Say what you will about MikesXS, but in my experience, they're on the ball about getting an order to you in a timely manner. I understand, shipping is expensive.
 
Yes it is, lol. They just charged me $40 to ship me two rims. They were both packed in the same box and I can't see it costing twice as much as only having one rim in there. They cleverly exclude many of their "big ticket" items from qualifying for free shipping (exhaust systems, rims). I placed a similar order (including a rim) from XS650Direct and it did qualify for free shipping. They don't have any exclusions on their free shipping policy as far as I know, and their prices are better than Mike's on most items too, sometimes substantially better. Unfortunately, they don't have as large an inventory as Mike's, but I'll be ordering anything I can from them from now on.
 
Re. the smoke, if it's smoking all the time, not just on startup or under engine braking, it's probably troublesome oil rings, not just valve stem seals. Oil rings can cause grief even if compression rings are good.
@grizld1 You called it. The oil rings are locked up tight! I hope the machine shop is closed for the holidays and not Covid.
 
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Tsubaki makes a more durable cam chain than DID (thicker pins). The Tsubaki "peanut" cam chain offered by 650 Central is stronger than the OE DID. Michael got a batch of them cheap and is passing along the savings--$39 plus the ride. It's designated an "endless" chain, I don't know why. I bought one, and it's an open chain with a rivet master link, just like any other.
I called MMM at 650 Central on Thursday or Friday afternoon. It's Monday and my chain arrived this morning via USPS Priority Mail. He doesn't mess around! He told me I will have to cut and rivet the chain. I haven't opened the box.
 
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when the engine goes back in, it’s going to be with a much nicer exhaust than it has now. This one cleaned up nicely.
 
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Now, it’s just a matter of putting it together without screwing it up. I sprayed it with VHT Black Pearl. I cleaned everything with foaming engine degreaser, followed by mineral spirits, and finally brake cleaner. I finished by baking at 200 in the kitchen while my wife was out.
 
Baked it in the kitchen oven? You've got more guts than I have, Marty. Unless Robin is out of the house for a long, long time, you'll suffer for that--HT paint stench tends to linger!
She's sensitive to stuff like that and she did not detect it. It had cured overnight first. She came home six hours after the deed was done. No smell.
 
Just to clear the air. If it was going to stink, she would not be happy. She knows what I was doing. I wouldn't say I got her blessing, but I wasn't being secretive. The VHT that I sprayed and cured overnight didn't smell enough for me to detect it until I opened the oven door, and then it wasn't much. It was undetectable to me within a few minutes. Cookies were baking in the same oven by evening.
 
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This chain breaker/riveting tool is garbage. It was cheap. I should know better. Don’t waste $20 or whatever it was on it.

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The metal is too soft to push a rivet out, and too soft for installation.

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I had to finish the job with a dolly and a 2 oz. ball peen hammer. I’m pretty unhappy.
 
I had to finish the job with a dolly and a 2 oz. ball peen hammer. I’m pretty unhappy.
Might not be pretty Marty, but it'll work. there's little to no force of any kind on the ends of those pins. All they gotta do is stop the plate from sliding off.
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Uh, Marty, the pin end isn't for riveting. That's what the dome on the big end of the driver is for.
I used the one with the dome end described as the driver. Nothing else came in the kit to mash the end. I should add that it came with zero paperwork or instructions.
My photo isn’t good, but the “driver” is more mashed than the rivet.
 
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