Thanks Pete, I don’t need one, I managed to save my original.
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Mailman’s XS2 a full on restoration
- Thread starter Mailman
- Start date
Thanks Pete, I don’t need one, I managed to save my original.
Pete, if your 81 cafe bike still has the sticker, I'd love some pics and dimensions. I figure that should be pretty close to my 80.
I'll try to got a photo Jim - but she's buried in my "extra" shed right now as I figured with my knee replacement surgery coming up in about 4 weeks, it will easily be spring before I can get to it.
Lemme see what I can do....
Pete
Lemme see what I can do....
Pete
I know I took all kinds of detailed reference photos of my sticker before trying to remove it.
Just in case I had to replace it.
Along with close ups from every angle.
Just in case I had to replace it.
Along with close ups from every angle.
No rush Pete..... at your convenience.
Hokey. Dokey - well, I managed to lever myself into the shed and I got two not very good photos of the ‘81 sticker. Sorry about that - it’s crammed full of welding equipment, XS650s, ST1300s and a CX500 plus gawd knows what Madam has jammed in there.
Anyhow, the sticker appears to be a fair bit longer than the earlier one on Mailman’s XS2 - the 12” mark on the scale in the photos is aligned with the bottom end of the sticker which is obscured by some wiring and a throttle cable. If I had to guess, I’d say that the dimensions are something like: 100 mm x 25-30 mm.
Now, keep in mind that my bike is a Canadian model and so it may very well have French as well as English on it and so it may be larger than a US sticker. I really couldn’t get a much better look at it than this - again, my apologies.
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Thinking ahead about getting my frame back, there are still some things I will need. The rubber inserts for my battery box being a couple. As I stated at the beginning of this project, ALL THE RUBBER WAS ROTTED on this bike. The thick rubber pad that the battery sat on was literally in crumbs.
These parts are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Especially the base pad.
I just purchased a NOS band on EBay.
And a used base pad from a wrecker on eBay. It looks to be in solid shape and when I get it, I’m gonna give it my patented rubber resto treatment!
I was prepared to cut pieces of foam to wedge in around the battery, but now I can have original parts.
These parts are becoming increasingly difficult to find. Especially the base pad.
I just purchased a NOS band on EBay.
And a used base pad from a wrecker on eBay. It looks to be in solid shape and when I get it, I’m gonna give it my patented rubber resto treatment!
I was prepared to cut pieces of foam to wedge in around the battery, but now I can have original parts.
Fascinating how all the rubber disintegrated.
Reminds me of a number of sci-fi films.
Reminds me of a number of sci-fi films.
Fascinating how all the rubber disintegrated.
Reminds me of a number of sci-fi films.
Yeah, different climates huh? Our hot dry weather is great for metal surfaces. My bike had almost no corrosion or rust. But rubber and vinyl and seat foam? Fugget about it!
I would trade you. My chrome rusted very badly. On a good note 75% of my rubber parts are in very good shape. Just a few of them.
Yes, your hot climate is tough on the rubber parts. I got a set of used carbs from down there and the butterfly shaft seals were hard as a rock, like plastic instead of rubber. In comparison, the original seals in my '78 carbs, which have spent their entire life up here in the cooler, wetter N.E., weren't bad at all. I replaced just the left one on each carb because it could be done without removing the butterfly plate, to see if it made any difference. It didn't so I never have replaced those original right side seals to this day.
PREPARING TO SET THE MOTOR
The frame is still at powder coating until around Christmas, so I have been spending a lot of time thinking about the logistics of the job. My single biggest worry is hurting my back, it’s not in great shape as it is. So I have taken inspiration from others here and decided some sort of hoist is in order. I think I researched every possible option and in the end I settled on this,
I’ve already ordered it and it’s on it’s way. Then I started thinking about how to hang it. I ran to the hardware store this morning and $15 later, I had a 1/2” x 6” eye bolt, two long metal straps, a piece of angle iron and a bag of bolts, nuts and washers.
The angle iron was 14 gauge, not as heavy as I would have liked, so I cut it in half and doubled it.
Then I bolted the angle iron to the side of a truss and used the two straps to create a triangulated bracing.
It feels super sturdy, I was hanging on it and it doesn’t flinch. I think I could hang my complete bike on it.
And this is all you see from below.
I also ordered a couple lifting straps, in case I want to use them to handle the frame.
GETTING CLOSER!!!
—Bob
The frame is still at powder coating until around Christmas, so I have been spending a lot of time thinking about the logistics of the job. My single biggest worry is hurting my back, it’s not in great shape as it is. So I have taken inspiration from others here and decided some sort of hoist is in order. I think I researched every possible option and in the end I settled on this,
I’ve already ordered it and it’s on it’s way. Then I started thinking about how to hang it. I ran to the hardware store this morning and $15 later, I had a 1/2” x 6” eye bolt, two long metal straps, a piece of angle iron and a bag of bolts, nuts and washers.
The angle iron was 14 gauge, not as heavy as I would have liked, so I cut it in half and doubled it.
Then I bolted the angle iron to the side of a truss and used the two straps to create a triangulated bracing.
It feels super sturdy, I was hanging on it and it doesn’t flinch. I think I could hang my complete bike on it.
And this is all you see from below.
I also ordered a couple lifting straps, in case I want to use them to handle the frame.
GETTING CLOSER!!!
—Bob
While that should work for your project I would be thinking about something I believe someone posted somewhere else on this forum.
https://www.agrisupply.com/galv-doo...MI-fav98Cl3wIVheDICh1mRwAHEAYYByABEgJG0_D_BwE
A section of that track bridging several trusses and the hanger for a door adapted to hold the chain fall would work real nice and give you some freedom of movement side to side. Just be sure to cap off the ends so the door hanger can't come out the end!
I'm putting this idea on my to-do list for when I am released from the hand surgery I had a few weeks back. Right now SWMBO gets upset if I so much as try to fry up a couple burgers using my "good hand"!
https://www.agrisupply.com/galv-doo...MI-fav98Cl3wIVheDICh1mRwAHEAYYByABEgJG0_D_BwE
A section of that track bridging several trusses and the hanger for a door adapted to hold the chain fall would work real nice and give you some freedom of movement side to side. Just be sure to cap off the ends so the door hanger can't come out the end!
I'm putting this idea on my to-do list for when I am released from the hand surgery I had a few weeks back. Right now SWMBO gets upset if I so much as try to fry up a couple burgers using my "good hand"!
A barn door roller with a 450lb capacity! Now that’s slick!
I got my used rubber battery tray the other day. It was solid, but stiff and dirty after being subjected to battery acid , rust and corrosion for decades.
So I gave it a little bath in the ultrasonic cleaner with simple green and water.
Followed by a hot soapy water scrub, dried it off and then put it in a zip lock bag and hosed it down with silicone spray and sealed it up for 48 hours.
I know not everyone agrees with this method but I sure get some nice results. It feels like brand new.
On another note, my Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner is developing cracks everywhere in the plastic housing. Still works though.
My other battery rubber part is hung up in holiday mail hell. Maybe it’ll arrive sometime this spring!
So I gave it a little bath in the ultrasonic cleaner with simple green and water.
Followed by a hot soapy water scrub, dried it off and then put it in a zip lock bag and hosed it down with silicone spray and sealed it up for 48 hours.
I know not everyone agrees with this method but I sure get some nice results. It feels like brand new.
On another note, my Harbor Freight ultrasonic cleaner is developing cracks everywhere in the plastic housing. Still works though.
My other battery rubber part is hung up in holiday mail hell. Maybe it’ll arrive sometime this spring!
Holy smokes Bob - that battery tray looks superb!
I think you may have hit upon the secret of eternal life for rubber parts.
As for the H-F U/S machine - if it gets bad enough, I'd just fibreglas over the whole thing and keep using it till it dies.
Pete
I think you may have hit upon the secret of eternal life for rubber parts.
As for the H-F U/S machine - if it gets bad enough, I'd just fibreglas over the whole thing and keep using it till it dies.
Pete
I believe that might've been me:
I put pieces of 2x4 spanning 4 trusses at right angles every 4 feet and bolted up through with 3/8ths threaded rod. I've lifted some stuff heavy enough to make me nervous and it's never moved.
Great technique and fun video, Bob !
You would make a great salesperson for silicone spray.
We could call you, "Silicone Bob".
Heck, with a little silicone spray, anything rubber could be reused !
Heck, with a little silicone spray, anything rubber could be reused !
Yeah....NOT!!!
