Search results

I put some " cocktail shaker" mufflers on and left intake stock for now. The bike runs fine it seems but the plugs are trying to tell me something. One is black with a sooty look and the other is gray/white! Pilot jets? They are the same now as for turns out from bottom. Would out of balance do...

For Sale is my 1981 XS. I don't know for sure the mileage but guessing around 20,000. I went through the carbs a few years ago and replaced the diaphragms with the JBM replacements with no issues. Replaced the rear shocks with 3M's 1 1/2" shorter ones to lower the bike a bit. Not gone through...

I found this idea here but I am here to tell you it works GREAT! SpecificallyRadio Shacks 5" "nippy cutter" is a small side cutter that has a flat bottom. You just fit them around the large end of the pin and squeeze. It snaps the pin out for a no brainier removal. You don't run the risk of...

the rubber jet plugs inside the carbs were soft like mush and one was like old chewing gum. are there replacements from someone or does anyone have a "hack" to replace them. I had the bike sitting for about 18 months and the gas turned to varnish and when I pulled the carbs out and removed the...

Is the right hand mirror mount left hand thread? Mine is stuck and before I get "tough" with it I want to make sure I am going in the right/left direction.

If you simply put new 11" rear shocks on your bike and don't do anything else I am thinking the kickstands may need modification/removal. I wouldn't mind taking off the main stand and just keeping it in the garage for maintenance stuff but the side stand looks like maybe it would still be okay...

Just a trick of the trade question. What is the best way to keep new/old grips on a new/old bar. Are there some glues that work best and can be released if you want to take the grips off and save them?

So I looked and saw one of the screws that is supposed to be holding the face on has come out and lies on th bottom of the tach now. It looks sealed. Is there a way to get in there?

I took the carbs off and flushed them out and put in new diaphragms. the good news is the bike runs the same. the bad news is the bike runs the same! When the engine is fully warm after about a 20 mile ride the idle goes up to about 3,000. when it was just started and choke was off it idles...

Is there a simple answer to torquing the head with the bike in the frame. I have an oil leak starting just below the head above the jugs. On one thread it was mentioned that the PO might have not torqued them properly and perhaps a torque now would work. I would be willing to do that if it...

I have cleaned the carbs and reassembled. When I manually raise the right slide and cover the top wide hole it slows down but no where near what the left slide slows down when I raise it and choke the top hole. the left slide is different than the right and I know it should slow down but can...

I am going to build my own new "single" seat. Going to go a low as I can without cutting the frame. you other guys are bold when you cut frames. I'm not there yet! What I need is the fork that is bolted to the underside of a stock seat to put on the bottom of my new seat to allow me to...

There are some fine threads on Carb setup etc. but I was on "Mike's XS" and they have a ''Dyno Tune Needle & Jet Kit for Mikuni BS34 CV ..." which is what is on my '81 Special II. Does anyone have experience with these? They sound like just the ticket with adjustable needle and number of...

Well, I was reading the Haynes manual on "Routine Maintenance" and it says that for every 2,000 miles you should "Remove the cylinder head and carefully scrape off all carbon deposits on the piston crowns and in the combustion chambers... If necessary, remove and regrind the valves". REALLY...

Nothing much just showing my bike now. It is a stocker and runs fine. My original plan was to get one like this as I need to build up skills as I go along. I didn't have the confidence to start with "basket" or "not running"...

I recently got a nice '81 Special II with "buckhorn" bars. I don't like them. what has been the consensus here? It's not like I want to do what everybody else has done but these bars are not working for me. My arms want the grips farther away so that they are straighter. I would think a...

I once owned a Norton 750 Commando with "isolastic" suspension. They mounted the engine with rubber mounts much like a car has and it was very successful. the whole bike would shake at idle but when you gave it any throttle it quieted right out. I haven't had my XS apart but any rubber mounts...

In trying to do the best for my '81 Special II I ordered the E-Z pull cable from 650 Central. the Gentleman was very nice but I have not pulled the case side off yet and the invoice paper says "Make sure push screw fully returns. Added spring preload will be required" Has anyone put one of...

So the clutch adjusting nut is too tight to just back off and adjust. I am thinking I will need to pull the side off so I can hold whatever is in there and break the nut loose. when i try to move it it springs and I can't get any torque on the nut. I sprayed a little Kroil on it and needed to...

Today was my first ride on my '81 Special II. Bought it a week ago. The clutch doesn't seem to pull in enough and makes finding neutral difficult. The clutch seems slightly engaged when lever is fully in and bike "creeps" just a little. Adjuster is all the way out with minimal threads...