75B Refresh

[DoubleE]

This XS650B has been slumbering for some 22 years. To wake her up, I’ve relied on a number of resources.

• The Yamaha Service manual. Various manuals can be found via http://www.xs650.com/threads/manuals.41/ As well as 650Skull’s comprehensive post at http://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650-...workshop-manuals-and-other-information.30569/
• The XS650B manual can also be downloaded at: https://thexscafedotcom.wordpress.com/2011/04/20/xs650-xs650b-manual/
• Yamaha Parts list. This was downloaded via biker.net website. This site is currently down, but may be revitalized. (PM me if you need a copy for a XS650B.)
• Clymer Manual Yamaha 650cc Twins
• Chilton’s Yamaha 650 Repair and Tune-up Guide
• Last, but most importantly, http://www.xs650.com forum itself. This is truly my real Service Manual. The knowledge here is encyclopedic. Thanks to all who contribute. I have employed extensive use of the Tech section and the Search function. With about 50,000 discussions and just under 1/2 million messages, there is a lot of information on this site.

I call this a Refresh because I am waking the bike up and doing a few upgrades. This is not a build, or chop, or total restore. There are great threads here for all of those. For example, recently, a comprehensive restoration thread of a 76 by Mailman can be found at: http://www.xs650.com/threads/my-60th-birthday-present.47639/ . I have also followed Daniel Black’s refurbishing of a 77 at: http://www.xs650.com/threads/stella-1977d-survivor-back-on-the-road.47329/ .

Besides the usual battery, tires, cam chain tensioning, timing, carb clean and sync, etc., I want to do a few modifications. I am primarily interested in safety and reliability over performance and speed. I used this thread to see what modifications members thought were most important: http://www.xs650.com/threads/top-3-mods-for-reliability.5938/

Some mods I’ve chosen are:

• Tapered fork bearings
• Milton fork mod (tentative- I’ll first try 7oz oil per fork)
• Upgrade Swing arm bushing
• Automotive fuses
• Upgrade to solid state regulator and rectifier
• Add a voltmeter
• SS brake line

There will be other upgrades along the way- and obstacles as well. I am looking forward to the forum’s insight and guidance.
ee

 

[MaxPete]

Beautiful DoubleE - I had one just like it in the mid-late 1970s and it was a great ride! I do love my red '76C "Lucille", but I have to admit a weakness for the classy black and gold tank of the '75 plus those funky assymetric mufflers.

More pictures please!

Have fun, be safe and keep on keepin' on.

Pete

 

[Mailman]

I just signed on to follow this story. Good luck with your refresh DoubleE. I think you're going to have a lot of fun along the way, and you've got a nice looking bike to begin with.
I also think you've chosen some good things to knock off, on your to do list. ( They won't be the last! Haha)

 

[DoubleE]

Thanks Pete, you could always dress Lucille in black and gold. BTW, looking forward to the cafe build.

 

[MaxPete]

Me too - danged work keeps intruding.

....speaking of which.....duty calls.

 

[DoubleE]

Thanks Bob, your thorough resto is certainly an inspiration.

 

[DanielBlack]

This is great, DoubleE. From the first post, I look forward to an exhaustively detailed thread. A highly valuable one at that.

Good luck, and watch for mission creep!

 

[DoubleE]

Thanks Daniel, I am not sure how exhaustive it will be, but with 1/2 million post on the site, I hope I can leave a few bread crumbs for others to follow. And I fully expect Mission Creep.

 

[angus67]

7oz in the forks is prolly the easiest and cheapest. Make sure the old oil is all out before the new goes in. Consider 15wt if your a man of a larger carriage

 

[MaxPete]

7oz in the forks is prolly the easiest and cheapest. Make sure the old oil is all out before the new goes in. Consider 15wt if your a man of a larger carriage

What a graceful way of putting it Angus. Generously upholstered, substantial girth, ....

 

[Mailman]

7oz in the forks is prolly the easiest and cheapest. Make sure the old oil is all out before the new goes in. Consider 15wt if your a man of a larger carriage

I agree, that's what I did , with no further mods and am happy with the results. Fresh oil, slight increase in volume , as Angus said and I think they work just fine. There is probably old black cruddy oil in there now.

 

[DoubleE]

Consider 15wt

Angus, thanks for the heads-up. I am no longer described as skinny.

 

[MaxPete]

....road hugging weight....

 

[5twins]

The Minton fork mods were originally done to the later 35mm forks but I don't see why they couldn't benefit the earlier forks as well. I suppose it would depend on the number and size of the oil holes you find on the damper rods. I've never been into an early set so I can't say what they are. But, if you get into yours and can report those numbers to us, we can take it from there. For comparison sake, here's what the later damper rods have. There is one small hole near the top and 4 larger ones near the bottom .....

 

[DoubleE]

Thanks for the chart 5T. I'll keep this reference in mind. Currently I am leaning towards using the 7oz formula with the 15 wt. oil. When I tackle the front end, I can certainly report back the current sizes in the forks.

 

[azman857]

EE, Good choices for the upgrades, may I suggest the elephant feet mod. Stops the pitting of the valve tops. Spreads the push of the rocker arm over all of the top of the stem. Allows the adjustment to hold longer. Looks like you have a solid base to start with. Happy building!