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Got it off, managed to reach the screws by removing the front battery box fasteners & moving the box enough for a screwdriver to line up. Fiddly though!

Great thanks, one crosshead is very rusty so I'll spray them as a 1st step & have a go at it in next couple of days. On a different topic - do we really need that huge 14ah battery in our bikes? I'd like to save about 10 lbs of weight with a lithium. Any likely problems with charging etc if I...

Got my '80 Special 11 back from Rick at Smedspeed today. Mikuni TM32 carbs & replacement coils & electronic ignition fitted. I want to remove the old TCI box now, it is mounted under the battery box & plugs in behind lefthand side cover. Is there an easy way to get to the 2 screws securing the...

Phil, I've got the Mikunioz carbs on my ebay watchlist. There's a company called Allens Performance in the UK that do too them but decided to go with the local guy that took over Smedspeed a few years ago. Couldn't believe it when he set up so close to me. Bought his cartridge oil filter...

Decided to splurge on a set of TM32 carbs for my '80. The BS34's are giving me trouble again & (the bike let me down on the Piston Rally in Spain in September - for the second time in 4 years) and as I've has the bike for 18 years & intend to keep it till the end of my riding days I feel the...

Managed it, pretty fiddly job but got there. Thanks very much for the help - wouldn't have figured it by myself. Got other running issues to sort before I can test it but am hopeful.

Great, many thanks, I'll have another fiddle asap. I have to say though, I'm still not quite "getting" it. Fitted carbon brushes to a washing machine once but never a m/c!

My 1980 Special 2 has the same brushes as when I bought it 18 years ago so thought I'd fit new ones. When the replacements arrived from Yambits one came apart in my hands so Yambits sent me a second pair (they do excellent service). Now I come to fit them, 2 weeks later, I just can't figure out...

Couple of phone pics from my 60 mile rumble around rural East Devon last week. Bike running great & looking lovely if I say so myself.

Actually, that was a dumb thing to say - forgot I have a pal with a '72 XS2! Lives in Newton Abbot & I'm in Exmouth.

Welcome to XS650 ownership David. Had my '80 Special 2 for 15 yrs. I'm also in Devon, UK, Daniel, I never see another XS though!

Thanks for the heads up on the disc - just got one, went out today for 92 miler to run it in! Perfect fit & looks good. Saves 2 lbs in weight. It was the last one that Chinesepartsonline had in stock, £40 incl delivery with a bit of discount as it was very slightly shop-soiled.

well, I've removed a few bits off the bike but at 145 lbs I've saved a fair amount on the pilot compared to many!

Managed to loosen the clutch adjuster without too much trouble. 1st time it's been touched in my 14 years of ownership! Re weight reduction - as a cyclist I'm into removing any non-essential bulk from my machines but got the 530 chain set on now (looks good in gold) & will struggle to wear it...

Finally got the r/h cover off today with help from a competant friend. The top spring was indeed broken so ordered one + a gasket from Yambits. Looked in my assorted springs tin & found an identical looking one (13 coils). Fitted it & seems to work perfectly but will wait for the new one before...

Yep, that's the one we did. Based in Potes with hq in Santander. There was one nice looking roadster - with charging probs + my Special.

Many thanks for quick response Gary, found an old thread that sounds exactly the same prob. Having a few probs with the old girl recently - due to sudden increase in use I think (500 miles on Piston Rally in Spain in Sept). Something else that happened, that I just found a thread for, is that a...

Well, I might as well resurrect this thread too. Same prob just occurred, out of the blue, on my '80. I guess a 38 year old spring is entitled to break after all this time. Hope that's all it is anyway!

I took my 1980 out today, it was ok last week but suddenly, with no warning, I seem to have lost 4th gear when I try to change up - just get false neutral, toe the lever up again & I get 5th, prod it back down & 4th is there but only on downshift. Occasional jumps out of gear elsewhere in the...

yep, that's the one - we were just there Mon to Weds, staying in Potes. Here's another pic parked in amongst my riding pals at a lunch stop. Bike is really sick now - had to have it taken away in my mechanic's van yesterday. Possibly electrical, dunno but no go. #