78E Standard Revival

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This XS650, the 78E Standard, which I bought over 5 years ago now has been patiently awaiting a reassembly of sorts. Some great new parts have been sourced over the years, as well as many of the original parts were stripped off to be used on previous bike projects. Notably the 79F which got the wheels, Dunlop tt100's, stock handlebars and many small items.
Well now I have the garage space situation improved to the point that there is just no more waiting.
This Nice XS650 "Stormy" just has to get up off the garage floor. Its nearly ready for the wheels and Dunlops that it will roll on.
The swingarm is fully greased up now on the original bushings. Steering stem is serviced too so its just a matter of putting it together from here.
Engine is Good :cool:
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Feel free to both ask and follow. -R
 

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Very good year but I'll admit I'm partial to it what with having owned and ridden one for more than a decade now, lol. I've been trying to make my recently acquired Special as nice but it ain't there yet, maybe never will be. Although the frame differences are minor, I'm thinking the two will never feel exactly the same.
 
5twins, Your helpfulness with tuning tips back in the day of this 78 and the next 78
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Helped me "take a liking" to this 78-79 era XS650 and thats just what I've stuck with ever since. The 78-79 era models are my personal favorite as its just easy to stick with what you know.
I'll clear more garage space and get the pieces laid out. Same drill, BS38'S and Uni Pods, Keepin it Stock mostly with added bling.
:cool:
 
:D Yup, Green still brings out the goofy in all of us I see.. lol.
My green side covers may doctor up to a respectable condition. Not sure yet. The Black set is Primo.. :umm:
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Tank is not perfect either so you guys may have to let me get by with a little rough.. oh wait, You guys do let me get by with a little rough already :lmao:
Well, my garage is finally really opened up (except for the unshown part) trying to get my big parts table on the back wall. Right where I parked the wheel less 78E.. dang.
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Lived for 56 years without ever using "liquid tape" now it is used occasionally for a variety of uses at home.
In this case, the 78E tank badges are plastic, brittle, and very rare. I've learned prior that just a dap of liquid tape around the screw holes does a couple things. It decreases the hole size slighty and at the same helps the steel screws stay put at a perhaps "looser tightness" (made that up)
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The 78E has gone green for reasons. Its just Nice, :D and the 78E Standard gauges have green faces, A 79 Special gauge set has black faces and the "black" tank & "black chrome" bars benefitted from the 78E black tank.
Still figuring how high to lift the bike for wheels !
 

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If you've never tried it, get some Rain Dance brand wax. It's a cleaner/wax. Rub hard while applying it and it will bring back slightly weathered finishes, and they will improve more each time you wax them. gggGary's tip of using Blue Magic also works well to renovate a weathered paint job, but I'd try the Rain Dance wax first, it may just be enough.
 
I have had good luck bringing up the shine on old paint jobs by using a fine polish with a small 6” random orbital buffer.
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Followed by any good paste wax, but the hot tip is that buffer. After waxing, with a big fluffy polishing pad on it, it’ll really bring up the shine. You can get inexpensive 6” buffers from Walmart, Home Depot and Harbor Freight.
 
I have had good luck bringing up the shine on old paint jobs by using a fine polish with a small 6” random orbital buffer.
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Followed by any good paste wax, but the hot tip is that buffer. After waxing, with a big fluffy polishing pad on it, it’ll really bring up the shine. You can get inexpensive 6” buffers from Walmart, Home Depot and Harbor Freight.
I've tried various polishes and waxes over the years and I always come back to Turtle Wax products. They've been doing it for more years than I've been alive. It's good stuff. :D
 
Thanks everybody. I will work on the finishes down the road.
This 78 will show a few blemishes, scratches, "patina" ..etc
Experienced, yes, sums it up well.
Should turn out to be my XS Flagship regardless. Stay tuned for more good parts to find their way on there
;)
 
What originally came on the bike isn't always the best. In the case of the '78 model, it had the poorly executed type D cam chain tensioner (no lock nut). That should be upgraded to a later E type. After a couple years of using the type D, Yamaha figured out that they did need a lock nut on there, so basically that's what a type E is - a type D with the lock nut added back on.

'78 was also the first year for that ridiculous auto-on headlight relay. Luckily, the headlight on-off switch is still there on the handlebars and it's a simple matter to get it working full time again (and eliminate the auto-on function) .....

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- - - '78 was also the first year for that ridiculous auto-on headlight relay. Luckily, the headlight on-off switch is still there on the handlebars and it's a simple matter to get it working full time again (and eliminate the auto-on function) .....

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Hi 5T
my Heritage Special don't even have a headlight switch, when the engine starts the headlight turns on.
Stays on if the engine stalls, too.
Gotta turn the key off then on again then as it don't like to E-start with the headlight on.
Dunno if I'm happy the headlight's function is automatic or annoyed that the law thinks I'm too stupid to turn it on myself.
 
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