Project Canuck- 84 XS650 Project Build

[canuck1969]

Ran her one last time before tear down to run some SeaFoam through her to do a preliminary cleaning of the combustion chamber. Always loved this stuff. Sprayed it through both carbs with the engine hot and shut it down once the smoke show started. Let it sit for 10 minutes or so and then let her scream a little to clear out the combustion chamber. Once the smoke stopped I let it cool for a few minutes and did a combustion check.

Using the same process as before, now get 160 PSI on both left and right side with WOT. It was previously 154/152. Not bad for about $2 worth of SeaFoam Spray.

 

[59Tebo]

Ran her one last time before tear down

Getting 160, both cylinders, and you're tearing it down, why? Ride it! For the summer, anyways. Yeah, you've got others to ride, but it's your new toy! Tear it down when winter comes. You know, the Great White North?! You'll have, what, 6 months?....

 

[canuck1969]

Getting 160, both cylinders, and you're tearing it down, why? Ride it! For the summer, anyways. Yeah, you've got others to ride, but it's your new toy! Tear it down when winter comes. You know, the Great White North?! You'll have, what, 6 months?....

Not the engine persae, the bike. Engine is all good. All cosmetic going forward and paint plus some carefully selected bling.

I know I should just be riding it but it needs a safety to put on the road and needs brakes, mirrors and a new tank. Old one is rusted to hell on the inside. Will be my present once the
Winter hibernation is over.

Sad part is I barely have time to ride the two that I have.

 

[canuck1969]

Tear down continues. Spending a few minutes each day to get away from life and work on her. Most of the wiring is stripped down and any lose bits are removed and cataloged on my shelf. Read for the engine to come out. Received my stand fronTCBros so it will have a home. Just need to find a method to get it out on my own. Picked up some straps and will rig something up. Once it is out the rest of the frame will be stripped and ready for powder coat. Was going to just touch it up but going all out now. What the hell. It’s only money.

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

... Just need to find a method to get it out on my own...

Some war stories in these:

http://www.xs650.com/threads/one-man-engine-install-is-it-possible.36585/

http://www.xs650.com/threads/methods-of-fitting-engine-to-the-frame-please.44450/

http://www.xs650.com/threads/do-you-think-this-would-work.52185/

 

[canuck1969]

Well wife, kids and the dog are gone of to a family reunion. I am riding up tomorrow so took advantage of no distractions and pulled the engine.

Strung a chain hoist from the rafters and slung a strap around the front and rear mounts. With the help of my jack underneath and the hoist up top I manage to wiggle it out no problem. Just had to tip the top to the right and out it came. May change it up a bit when I put it back in but was pretty uneventful. Left it hanging in the air and then just lowered my lift table and pulled the bike out. Had to hold the engine to one side to clear the bars but everything went smoothly. Lowered it back down on the table and on to the stand. They slid it from the stand to my rolling table and then rolled it to my bench and slid it over.

Taking a break for a few days. This was supposed to be a winter project so need to pace my self.

 

[MaxPete]

Very nice Canuck - looks like you’ve got yourself a ballgame!

Pete

 

[canuck1969]

Tried my hand at polishing the left side cover today. Not bad for first time. Still have to do some hand polishing but 90% of the way there.

Discovered my new favorite paint stripper. Found it at Canadian Tire. Stripped the clear coat off as fast as can be. No scrubbing at all. Just rinsed it off with water and wiped it with a rag. Then polished it up with a drill mounted aluminum polishing kit from Princess Auto. Came with all the buffing wheels and polishes from coarse to super fine. Did a pretty good job with little effort. Just need to pull the right one off once I get the oil drained and will continue with the polishing.

Before....

Stripper.....

After Stripping....

After Mechanical Polishing.....

 

[MaxPete]

Dang - that looks superb!

 

[canuck1969]

Incase anyone that has been following this thread happens to have one lying around........

http://www.xs650.com/threads/left-side-air-box-cover-for-1984-xs650.52803/

 

[59Tebo]

MORE Engine Porn!!!

 

[kshansen]

Incase anyone that has been following this thread happens to have one lying around........

http://www.xs650.com/threads/left-side-air-box-cover-for-1984-xs650.52803/

Are you referring to the parts marked 13 or 24 in the picture below?

If so send me a private message with a ship to address. Actual shipping cost from US would be fine!

 

[canuck1969]

Are you referring to the parts marked 13 or 24 in the picture below?

View attachment 124282

If so send me a private message with a ship to address. Actual shipping cost from US would be fine!

PM Sent

 

[canuck1969]

Finished stripping the frame getting it ready for powder coating. Ground off any brackets that I won’t be using. Found a great local place to have it done. Now just need to figure out what colors scheme other than black. Frame will be gloss black but may add some color to some of the components. Thinking gold but will mock something up on the computer and see what it looks like first.

Ordered some new seals and gaskets for the engine so more engine porn on its way soon. Still not sure what I will do cosmetically to the engine. Need to see the frame and rest of the bike first.

 

[MaxPete]

 

[canuck1969]

Well I ordered some supplies yesterday to start buttening up the engine (starter oil seal, bottom end copper washers and other new gaskets. Order them from XS650Direct which is the Canadian affiliate of MikesXS. Thinking that I would have some down time waiting for them I opened my front door this morning and there they were.

Can’t say enough good things about them at this point. Second large order I have had with them and very quick to deliver. Not used to that with bike parts from any brand of bike.

That being said popped in the oil seal today and replaced the leaking copper washers for the crankcase rods on the bottom. Started cleaning it up. Also discovered S100 Engine Brightener. Turns the dull weathered black engine into showroom condition. They say it will last a couple of years even with the engine heat but let’s see.

Need to continue with the frame getting it ready. My own worse nightmare. Need to concentrate on one thing at a time but keep getting distracted by shiny things.

 

[Mailman]

I’ve read nothing but good reviews for that S100. Its good to hear you got good results with it. It sure looks nice!

 

[canuck1969]

I’ve read nothing but good reviews for that S100. Its good to hear you got good results with it. It sure looks nice!

I don’t get impressed two often but have to say it is pretty good stuff. Don’t confuse this with the S100 cleaner that they also sell. This one is specifically designed for black engines. I was getting ready to replaint or strip the crankcase but this stuff saved me a lot of time and aggrevation. Also works on black hoses and cables.

 

[MaxPete]

Looks very nice!

 

[canuck1969]

Mind made up for me today.

Have been going back and forth on what to do with the heads and fins on the engine. Tried stripper on a test part of the engine today and it will not even touch it. Went on clear and came off clear. Not sure what this stuff it on the engine but short of an entire tear down to get it properly blasted it is all staying on. I am suspecting it is powdercoated as it takes effort to scratch it with a dental pick. May toy with touching it up once it is on the bike so it can properly bake but what ever is on it already it probably stronger than anything I can put on it. It is not bad, just a couple of faint places on the valve head and around the plugs. Hottest part of the engine so I can see why. .

At this point not worth tearing down a perfectly running engine for a little paint. Will just brighten up the shiny bits to distract the eye and move on.