These bikes... at least mine... don't much mind the stand bein' left down. They just kinda shrug it off and press on.
Sidestand Blues...
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Memory Lane
- Thread starter Shelby
- Start date
These bikes... at least mine... don't much mind the stand bein' left down. They just kinda shrug it off and press on.
Sidestand Blues...
Shelby
XS650 Addict
Honestly don't remember on my original '82 and '83 XS 650s by now. I know the one on my VStar 250 reminds me it's there very effectively.These bikes... at least mine... don't much mind the stand bein' left down. They just kinda shrug it off and press on.
Sidestand Blues...
Shelby
XS650 Addict
AND then I remembered -- Impact Wrench. /DUH
Exhaust is now in the living room.
Exhaust is now in the living room.
Shelby
XS650 Addict
New neutral safety switch and repaired side stand now in place. Spring was a right bastard. Read all the posts I could find about how to stretch the sucker and add spare change spacers. Problem was getting them IN the spring. Watched the spring pull the bathroom door shut and had a flash. Made a fulcrum out of a spare hinge and a barn door latch, Spring slipped on perfectly. Getting the nickles OUT was a tad more of an issue, but that's done now as well.
Damn those goofy XS side stands. 
Shelby
XS650 Addict
And now I have another problem. Posted this question over on another side stand thread as well. Discovered I left off the lock washer. Anyone got a good clear shot of the '83 version with the crimping lock washer installed?
I have one of these T-handled spring pullers. It makes removing and installing the sidestand spring pretty easy .....
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3951050671...MIt_juy8D-hAMVV1pHAR2gnQIAEAQYAyABEgIDz_D_BwE
https://www.ebay.com/itm/3951050671...MIt_juy8D-hAMVV1pHAR2gnQIAEAQYAyABEgIDz_D_BwE
Shelby
XS650 Addict
Yes! Against all odds, we haz title!
Can't remember whether I mentioned the title saga:
Garage owner was true to his word, and today the title came! Hit DMV -- with NO LINE -- just as the eclipse started. Now have a brand new WV title, registration, license plate, and Dairyland Insurance Certificate.
Next, attach fuel lines, add gas, and see if we can get her started. Not today, though. That event needs it's own special anniversary.
Unrelated: Rusty's named Rusty not becasue she was rusty, but becasue of the dried blood where I knoked my nose into her frame. Bill poked at it and said, "She's rusty."
Can't remember whether I mentioned the title saga:
- Resto garage near Carlisle PA sold Rusty about ten years ago -- a project bike the owner didn't get around to.
- The new owner also never got around to doing anything with her, and now he has Parkinsons Disease. So Rusty's been sitting in his shed in dry storage, tank and carbs drained, out of the weather, but nothing done to her for a decade.
- When we bought her, previous owner said he had a clear title, which is true, however it wasn't in his name. Just filled in on the back. He never took the title to DMV and registered her in his name. OR paid the taxes. Now he's not in good enough shape for a trip to DMV to clean up the mess.
- Found the resto garge on FB and contacted the owner. He agreed to get a duplicate title for her (I might have whined and wheedled a bit. And sent a certified check made out to PA DMV).
Garage owner was true to his word, and today the title came! Hit DMV -- with NO LINE -- just as the eclipse started. Now have a brand new WV title, registration, license plate, and Dairyland Insurance Certificate.
Next, attach fuel lines, add gas, and see if we can get her started. Not today, though. That event needs it's own special anniversary.
Unrelated: Rusty's named Rusty not becasue she was rusty, but becasue of the dried blood where I knoked my nose into her frame. Bill poked at it and said, "She's rusty."
Shelby
XS650 Addict
I keep looking at this, but I still hasn't ordered it, cause I don't think I'm strong enough to make it work. Likely end up have to get grandson to do it. Grandson wouldn't care -- 23 and fresh out the Marines -- but I hate failing. Plus I'd have to get him to stay still for 90 seconds.
Shelby
XS650 Addict
Turn signals are all working fine now. Everything working but the headlight and tail light, which should, in theory, work once the bike starts. Tank rinsed w/ alcohol and air dried couple days. Got MAYBE 1/8 tsp of trash when we rinsed out the tank. Reinstalled, fuel line connected. Vacuum line connected. Gas... poured out the petcock screws. Tank back off, Harbor Freight for a box of gas resistant O rings. Cause, yeah, titles back, ready for Rusty to RUN. Not waiting weeks for more parts. New battery. She's been on a maintenance charger. Tank back on. AGAIN. Starting to hate that fuel line. Anyway. She cranks. No sign of ignition, though. Not even a catch. Just dry cranking. Pulled plugs. Fouled. Cleaned, set the gap to .030. Threw her into prime, thinking she had no gas getting to the carbs. Yeah, no. Got distracted, next thing I know Bill's hollering GAS! We got gas everywhere! Yup. Flooded her. Gas ran out the air-box. So yeah. Gas is getting where it needs to be. Cleaned that up. Just putting the lever back off PRIME stopped the deluge. Will try
Holly shit! While I was typing Bill went out and turned the key and she started! Rusty's running, for the first time this century!! Woot! Old Lady Happy Dance!!
No, she's not road worthy yet, she's running a tad rough (Shocker!), brakes need adjusting I'm sure, we got no tail or brake light, but that's just icing on the cake... there's nothing wrong with the ignition system! Tomorrow we'll check the charging system. Tonight I'm just gonna grin like a loon...
(Copied this off the page where I was typing when I heard her start and came back to the original thread, cause the story needs an ending. And likely an epilogue... )
Holly shit! While I was typing Bill went out and turned the key and she started! Rusty's running, for the first time this century!! Woot! Old Lady Happy Dance!!
No, she's not road worthy yet, she's running a tad rough (Shocker!), brakes need adjusting I'm sure, we got no tail or brake light, but that's just icing on the cake... there's nothing wrong with the ignition system! Tomorrow we'll check the charging system. Tonight I'm just gonna grin like a loon...
(Copied this off the page where I was typing when I heard her start and came back to the original thread, cause the story needs an ending. And likely an epilogue... )
On the later models, normally the tail light is wired right into the ignition switch and comes on with the key. The engine doesn't need to be running. What about the license plate lights. They're on the same circuit.
Congrats
Shelby
XS650 Addict
Congrats
Thanks guys! And yes, that's me! Exactly. Now I'm shopping for a luggage rack and eyeing the rest of that rather large dead cow with nefarious intent. After, of course, we get the tail light/ break light working and take her in for new tires and a state inspection. Oh, and get the exhaust welded. And replace the clutch cable (Got it, don't wanna put it on. Hate removing the case covers). And maybe the throttle cable, looks a bit shabby. Might as well do the tach cable, as well. Not any newer. And...
When my Dr gave me the "get more exercise" marching orders last December, I don't think a 42 year old motorcycle was what she had in mind. Then again, she does know me...
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Shelby
XS650 Addict
Oh! OK. Yes, the license plate light is working. I didn't realize they were on that circuit. And Bill says the taillights were all working, initially (I didn't remember). I just reinstalled the taillight and the turn indicators Sunday/Monday. I'll check the bulbs and the wiring again.
Shelby
XS650 Addict
Just saw this older post of mine. Made me groan cause I broke the friggin crimp washer somehow, even though I had it on right. Or almost right. Didn't get it fully seated, I guess, cause when I gave the ratchet that last tug, PING! Piece went flying. BTW, you don't even wanna try to find that tiny lil washer/plate/PITA. When I found a couple NOSs finally I bought em both.
Shelby
XS650 Addict
Hey guys, I just had a thought. What if she was getting plenty of gas, but no AIR? Cleaning up the gas spillage I pulled the air cleaners and hadn't put them back yet when Bill decided she should be dried out enough and went to try her again. Non OEM air filters, big heavy rubber-box KNs. Pretty oily, so I didn't do anything but wipe em off. Any chance they're in need of some percussive maintenance? Or a trip thru some gas? I mean, more gas?
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I’d recommend you install whichever air filters you intend to use long term. Clean.
Get it tuned to a trustworthy state to ride around your area. Ride it and return home several times. Diagnose symptoms with a little seat time. Tune it even better and do it again !
I once had a fresh to me running 79 (BS38’s) that wouldn’t quite tune right until I hit the local highway and run it hard wide open throttle and that alone seemed to clear the pilot jets or passages and then it tuned up quite nicely.
Get it tuned to a trustworthy state to ride around your area. Ride it and return home several times. Diagnose symptoms with a little seat time. Tune it even better and do it again !
I once had a fresh to me running 79 (BS38’s) that wouldn’t quite tune right until I hit the local highway and run it hard wide open throttle and that alone seemed to clear the pilot jets or passages and then it tuned up quite nicely.
Were it me, I'd just set 'em out on the driveway and let the gas evaporate.... reinstall, done.
Shelby
XS650 Addict
Now you mention it, I do remember that being a thing -- if I started the '82 just to keep her running over the winter, by spring she ran kinda crappy till I opened her up a for few. Had to burn out the crud.
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