technical

Just changed out the throttle shaft seals on my BS34's tonight, it's amazing to finally hear the thing idle properly. I took a bunch of pics of the process (it's not as bad as you think it would be) and I might be able to work up a how-to if anyone so desires or I get bored. I didn't seem to...

Per recent thread about my daughter's car wreck I just sold a 77 and pulled out a 78 to get it running to sell. As always I pulled plugs and ran a compression test, Left 110 Not great but OK on a bike that hasn't run for a while. Right side 20 pounds, CRAP! I put it on TDC compression...

Bleeding your brakes is quite easy and very important. Air in the lines can cause brake fade and failure, which can result in severe injury. However, bleeding the braking system is not to be used as a "quick fix" for other problems. Proper understanding of the master cylinder and brake caliper...

Spurned on by another member, who challenged my way of thinking about asking questions, I decided to do a little research on the question asked. So here is a little information I found on the web about SS brake lines. Note: I did not write this, I just found it. Please feel free to add or...

Here's a start on an updated charging system guide. Let me know good bad different. Here is the curly's guide: I have some additions, changes, pictures below 1. First charge your battery to at least 12.5-12.7V. Is the battery Good? Will it hold voltage overnight or longer? Will it light a...

Sorry about the dark video, but you should be able to see what I'm doing. Did I get the gist of it? Btw, that's an 81, I've replaced the old valves with stainless steel ones from Mike's (everyone's sold out of the non stainless).

I have explained some of what happens several times. I thought maybe I should put it all together. I'll start with the early models, then explain the differences. When you turn the key on power flows from the battery positive through a 20 amp fuse to the key switch, the switch feeds this power...

I had seen a picture of this mod before, but I wanted to try it for myself... Been working SLOWLY on my latest XS650 Build. Knowing that I was putting in some high compression JE pistons, rephasing, heavily porting the head and installing Lectron carbs, I knew for a fact that the stock...

Ok guys, let's get started. First - Un-screw the phillips head on the out side of the rocker top. After thats out of the way, now you have to punch out the guides for the alignment rods to access the rocker pivot slug. For this, i used an 8mm socket. It was the perfect size...

This will cover the procedure for rebuilding the front brake master cylinder (m/c). All 3 types will be covered. There are 3 stock types of front brake master cylinders on the XS650. The original Round Cover: insert round assembled here The "Standard", which has no angle, straight body...

So after searching and doing some more searching and finding some threads here and there I thought putting it all in the same spot would hopefully help others looking for similar info. Before I forget here are some links to other threads: http://www.xs650.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5481...

Why does the little hole in the clutch pressure plate have to line up with the mark on the piece behind it? It looks all symmetrical to me. Did they balance it lined up with the mark at the factory?

I have a xs gas tank with a locked cap and no key No. on lock is 3185 is there somewhere to buy a key that fits.

I have taken some pics and given a descriptive write up on how i do this in my Albums. I can do a couple of these in an hour now. Click on each pic for a description on a step by step process http://www.xs650.com/threads/74-83-bezel-removal-70-73-bezel-removal-74-75-gauge-damper-repairs.52013/

Went junk picking yesterday and couldn't stop myself.... (sigh) So this frame looks cool, chome moly, weighs like 20 pounds. wondering if there is a swing arm that would bolt in or am I designing (modding) something to work? Any comment welcome.

This is my 1st XS650 build. Looking to get some opinions on this.......Made my own pipes from a mixture of 1.5" OD bends and stock XS pipes that I have laying around. The pipes are mocked up and at the head, there's still about 8" of that inner tubing still there. So it basicall goes from...

Hi all, Wondering why it's so hard to pull the clutch handle on my '80 Special. With the left cover off, it's really easy. The worm gear is in good shape, ball bearing is in there, and it looks to be correctly oriented. Brand new clutch cable from MikesXS, has been lubed. The pushrod in...

I've started my next build. I'm gonna try a brat style. My question is ,when I lower the rear,How do y'all lower your front forks ( short of moving them up in the trees ). Do you cut the springs, or change the springs ? I would love to hear how people do it.

Does anyone have a set of step by step instructions for timing points ignitions? My Clymer book isn't very intuitive for someone who has never timed a bike before. I did my best following the book, but it's not running right. May just need a small advancement or something simple, but I am...

- there are different types of cam chain tensioners...the early cam chains, XS1-TX, had 102 links, an 0.315in/8.0mm pitch, a 34T cam sprocket and were tensioned from the rear by a sprung wheel and guide...later models, TXA on, had 106 links, an 0.3061in/7.774mm pitch, a 36T sprocket and were...