DEAL !

motormike

XS650 Guru
Top Contributor
XS650.com Supporter
Messages
1,269
Reaction score
4,065
Points
263
Location
Mpls
XS Patato.jpg Xs Patato 2.jpg Xs Patato 3.jpg A local fella built this ..... has a " patato patato " engine.. off set crank. It's been sitting for 3..4 years. But I know the guy and have seen the bike run and it sounded pretty neat. Told him.. when he sells it... call me.
Clear title.... Tomorrow, lay my peepers on it... where's the ramp and tie downs... ?
 
The builder was a Yamaha mechanic at a local shop.....long since closed... the two smoker came in with a blown engine... the owner walked away.... so he built the " potato potato " engine. Hey... for less then a buck a CC.... I can't complain and comes with three boxed of Xs goodies. I'll toss some Marvel in the plug holes... let it do it's thing.. while I clean and service the fuel system.
Attended a swap meet today.... about a hour north...... only about 40 vendors... and of course a Harley luv fest..... but it was nice to get out and check out stuff-junk.... I scored two sets of old school gauntlet gloves for $11.oo...
 
I didn’t think for 1 second it was an intentional swap.

I figured maybe a frame and a engine floating around and well ... why not kinda situation.
 
Xs project 5.jpg Xs project 7.jpg Xs project 6.jpg Xs project 2.jpg Xs project 3.jpg Xs project 4.jpg I picked up the.. project.... I think the color is appropriate... " lemon yellow ". The bike was a 88' Fz 600 four cylinder. Not sure what yr the Xs lump.... Next week.. pull carbs.. tank.. clean. Owner removed rear brake and was just run'n the front disc.... since talk'n to God isn't on my long term game plan.. I'll work on rear stoppers.
Hopefully.. cross your pinkies... I'll get it running... and then devote time and $$$ for brakes..... maybe a qtr ..or half fare'n... the goofy headlights gotta go.... the boxs of bits.. most are head'd to the junk guy.
Once it's together.. running... etc etc.. I'll post it for sale on this forum and make a killing..... (meanwhile... in the real world...)
 
Xs project 14.jpg Xs project 15.jpg Xs project 10.jpg Xs project 12.jpg Progress.... I rode it ! ! .... no brakes.... took it up and down a county road.. no curves .. coast to a stop.. walk it around.. thankfully no Bambi's or farmer Bob on his tractor. Pulled good.. my buddy said the off set crank sound great.
Got it to my shop. Scored a no title frame from a buddy... brought out the saw saw. Bolted the lower frame sections.... as seen.. need to connect.. to the Fz frame.... do so in such a way that the frame sections are bolted. The fellow that's help'n me is a retired welder-fabricator ... he really enjoys do'n this stuff.... The 2-n-1 pipe that was on the bike.... first it was a bear to get it out the head... didn't seal well... had doubled up the exhaust gaskets...
I got a set of stock headers.... had to drill the flanges... early set with the smaller header holes.. cut off about 8 inches.... need the pipes in place to help position the front down tubes. Since I was a Midas muffler guy... I'm not concerned about the exhaust.. may go with a 2-n-1... that works..... or go with twice pipes.. I got a nice set of mufflers collecting dust..... I mounted the rear brakes..... the master is frozen.. the front master doesn't pump up... So I ordered replacements off the net. The carbs are off and get'n time in the vapor box.. and kits ordered..... Might add a small cafe' faring....
I don't think this will be a " keeper ".. just a project.. finish.... ride..enjoy... then sell it....
 
XS Alt cover.jpg Xs Alt 2.jpg besides the other project I have on this site.... this one prods along..... the PO made a hard plastic block to house the brushes ... the block extended out about a inch... the cover couldn't be used.. So I got a large PVC ( plastic ) union joint ... the idea was to cut.. trim and make a spacer.... discovered PVC doesn't machine cut well.... so. found a small section of aluminum sit'n around the shop.... Ta DA !
I got the brakes working... new masters... rear caliper needed a bench rebuilt... blew it apart... cleaned... seals good.... now off yo my weld'n guru... box the frame.
 
Xs Frame 3.jpg Xs Frame 4.jpg Xs Frame 2.jpg Progress on the" Yamacati " ( that's what my buds call it since it sounds like a Duk )..... engine is basically secured to the frame... not just a stressed member. We have tyo gusset the points.. pull off.. grind the edges.... bud's ask'd of I was go'n to get it power coated... No.. this is a low buck..I don't have any money ..project... hardware store primer.. rattle can gloss black.
Next... exhaust.... looks like I'll go with the stock muffler... that's this weeks project...
 
Xs project frame.jpg Xs project wrap.jpg XS h light 1.jpg XS h light 2.jpg Got the frame piece back from powder coat guy.... Went with bar stock and used chromed acorn nuts to install the piece ( not shown in photo ). It's a known old school fact that chromed acorn nuts make anything faster.
Tossed the PO's exhaust... and fab'd my own.... it'll be wrapped. The PO used one of those bicycle magnet on the wheel and small LED display for a speed 0.... I tossed it.... I'm work'n on install'n a stock Xs speed 0 in the headlight shell.. weld'd... there's just.. barely.. enough room to do this and still mount the shell....
I don't get to work on this as much as I'd like...besides the Motobecane I still help work on the %$#@"{>?&*)}{+":?>@#!%$ P-11 .... Grrrrrrrrr
 
I like the 120 Speedo. The 85 is ugly, the 140's. just dreaming. The 120's l;ook right. They don't seem to wobble as much as either of the others, seem more accurate too.
Leo
 
Yesterday I'm working on the bike... decided to just hang a headlight.. no gauges..... getting the front brake squared away... pipes wrapped..... a buddy walks in.. with two guys I've never seen.... they start ask'n questions about the " Yamacati ".... then.. is it for sale ? Yes..yes it is..... $1000.oo..... " can we pick it up saturday ? ".... I'll post if they show up.... cash... NO checks.
 
XS Yellow.jpg Xs knee.jpg I was a little.. little... tiny bit... sad to see it go.... but my knee was trilled I sold it ! ! .. The engine sits forward so I rotated the kick lever back and my knee still hit the frame. It was a fun ride.. had that great Ducati cadence .... :)
 
Back
Top