zievry
XS650 New Member
its like this, i keep having problems with the project, put way too much money into it, its not done and i finally just got a title after 3 years. i haven't even been able to work on it in two. so yea its a disaster project.
but i love the styling and the size of the bike. so now that i can start working on it again, back to the old problems lol.
i found a rolling chassis in a local boneyard and really liked it. so i bought it for the $100 and took it home. after researching my ass off because the sticker was ripped in half i finally figured out what the bike was. 74 xs650. liked the pics i saw and all, but i needed an engine. 6 months later i finally call a place i ran across on ebay. the guy i had to deal with was a fucking idiot. i hope that is not the usual there but i'd never do business with them again.
well the engine was frozen solid, after a month of soaking with wd-40 at a friends suggestion it wasn't any looser. so i tried coke and it came lose in 2 days, by now it was the middle of december months after i bought the engine.... #@$%# (the same friend cracked a piston before trying the coke)
turned out the top half was garbage, short of some very careful work to remove the locked open exhaust valve and all the clean up and such it wasn't worth it, not to mention the jugs. so i ran across a really good deal on shaftbay and got a top end with 1st overbore (was told it was stock) one of the spark plug holes had a steel insert the wrong size in it the tappet adjusters where all pitted, grrr. at least the cam and adjusters where good from the other head.
so i got rings and a gasket/seal set, 5th overdrive and a starter gear since i'd be using it a lot and picked up pamco ignition. the bs38's i got where very dirty but i think they cleaned up ok, but one of the sliders is sticky, imagine that. also the finned type oil filter kit and put the motor together. i found after all that time there was one bearing sicky, omg! why? well it was coke and i cleaned the hell outta it but it never spun as well as the others so i was kinda concerned, engine went together anyway.
no less than 4 candidates for rear wheels later sigh, i am wondering about just using a front wheel on the back i really want disk brakes. front end went to 35mm and dual calipers, 76 gauge pod. started with maxim 1100 wheels, but the front is the one that i've kept. right now i have a seca 750 rear but its got a huge drum >.< the wheel is the right size 18".
one thing i did get lucky on, it had an aftermarket dual bucket seat, this is defiantly not a standard seat with the conversion on it, the pan is different. i got a banshee rotor and honda something stator and matching rectifier, some one i know is going to fab up the adapter plate when he gets time.
its been very aggravating, but i like the bike, i like smaller bikes and this just has all the right style. it seems to hate be though. oh i remember picking up one of the mufflers and having a mountain of soot and almond shells fall out, lol. i kinda want 2 to 1 exhaust on it, well see.
i wanna also put on braided brake lines, hydraulic clutch, hopefully with the slave hidden inside the cover, mimic or get ahold of (pretty much impossible) xs1 style side covers, fab up a side stand and yes paint it, once its all mechanically and electrically finished. (if that ever happens, lol)
maybe i should stick to modding trucks i'm much better in that department.
but i love the styling and the size of the bike. so now that i can start working on it again, back to the old problems lol.
i found a rolling chassis in a local boneyard and really liked it. so i bought it for the $100 and took it home. after researching my ass off because the sticker was ripped in half i finally figured out what the bike was. 74 xs650. liked the pics i saw and all, but i needed an engine. 6 months later i finally call a place i ran across on ebay. the guy i had to deal with was a fucking idiot. i hope that is not the usual there but i'd never do business with them again.
well the engine was frozen solid, after a month of soaking with wd-40 at a friends suggestion it wasn't any looser. so i tried coke and it came lose in 2 days, by now it was the middle of december months after i bought the engine.... #@$%# (the same friend cracked a piston before trying the coke)
turned out the top half was garbage, short of some very careful work to remove the locked open exhaust valve and all the clean up and such it wasn't worth it, not to mention the jugs. so i ran across a really good deal on shaftbay and got a top end with 1st overbore (was told it was stock) one of the spark plug holes had a steel insert the wrong size in it the tappet adjusters where all pitted, grrr. at least the cam and adjusters where good from the other head.
so i got rings and a gasket/seal set, 5th overdrive and a starter gear since i'd be using it a lot and picked up pamco ignition. the bs38's i got where very dirty but i think they cleaned up ok, but one of the sliders is sticky, imagine that. also the finned type oil filter kit and put the motor together. i found after all that time there was one bearing sicky, omg! why? well it was coke and i cleaned the hell outta it but it never spun as well as the others so i was kinda concerned, engine went together anyway.
no less than 4 candidates for rear wheels later sigh, i am wondering about just using a front wheel on the back i really want disk brakes. front end went to 35mm and dual calipers, 76 gauge pod. started with maxim 1100 wheels, but the front is the one that i've kept. right now i have a seca 750 rear but its got a huge drum >.< the wheel is the right size 18".
one thing i did get lucky on, it had an aftermarket dual bucket seat, this is defiantly not a standard seat with the conversion on it, the pan is different. i got a banshee rotor and honda something stator and matching rectifier, some one i know is going to fab up the adapter plate when he gets time.
its been very aggravating, but i like the bike, i like smaller bikes and this just has all the right style. it seems to hate be though. oh i remember picking up one of the mufflers and having a mountain of soot and almond shells fall out, lol. i kinda want 2 to 1 exhaust on it, well see.
i wanna also put on braided brake lines, hydraulic clutch, hopefully with the slave hidden inside the cover, mimic or get ahold of (pretty much impossible) xs1 style side covers, fab up a side stand and yes paint it, once its all mechanically and electrically finished. (if that ever happens, lol)
maybe i should stick to modding trucks i'm much better in that department.
labour of love.
