So, today was a good day.

[TeeCat]

Today was the kind I'd like to have more of. The weather was pleasant for a bit, so I took the TX out for a little test run around my neighborhood and some nearby ones to see if I'm basically back to decent running with this new breathing apparatus. The bike fired right up, came off the choke quickly, idled well, shifted and ran well... there were really no problems that I could identify, except for my little chronic oil weep, which I'm hoping to live with for the season. I am so damned hopeful that I can get some enjoyable, non-diagnostic miles on the bike this season. It's been a long haul to get the bike where it is at the moment.

But the best part is that, as I was bringing the bike home before the impending rain, a neighbor whom i had never met before, down on the next court, flagged me down to complement me on the bike, and to tell me that he used to have a '77. He invited me to bring the bike down for a chat. He's riding a Harley bagger that's about 16 years old... beautiful bike. But he was pretty excited about my TX, so that was gratifying.

TC

 

[Skip]

Good for you TeeCat!!!
It is well documented over the years how much you have wrenched on this bike and I,personally always enjoy reading your posts,mainly on your persistance and willing to learn!
You should be very proud of your bike,but be prouder of yourself!!
Skip

 

[cmyoch]

TC,
I too stretched her legs a little bit today. The weather was nice in Illinois today so what was supposed to be a quick jaunt around town turned into a 3 hour ride through the countryside. Besides the aggravation of getting her started, she ran beautiful. A few more afternoons like today and I'll be turning 63,000 miles.

Glad to hear you made a new friend in your neighborhood. My next door neighbor came over a month ago and gave me an XS turn signal he found in a box of things in his basement. It was in mint condition. He said he knows he has the mate to it but hasn't found it yet. Turns out he had an 75 XS back in the day. He said it was the best bike he ever owned. I let him take mine for a quick ride and now he's hooked on finding another one.

 

[TeeCat]

Thanks, guys.

Skip, your post made me chuckle. It's good to know that you have been following along, but man, when things don't go well, it ain't pretty, is it?! I suppose that I am proud of how the bike has come along, and of myself to some extent, but without these folks here, I'd have been lost!

cmyotch, I enjoyed your post. Man, I'd love to get to the point where I can trust my bike enough to have a 3-hour jaunt... that must have been a great feeling! And 63K... wow!

It's interesting that your neighbor wants to get another XS. Mine said the same thing, though he loves his Harley. I invited him to join here... I hope he does. I still need to take my TX down there and go over it with him when we both have time.

Thanks, guys!

TC

 

[Skip]

TeeCat,
Thats the funny thing about these bikes.It's a love hate relationship at times,but you have to remember they are antiques and have a tendancy to be unreliable at times.
I can say I have my bike to the point where I take her on 6 hour one way trips yearly and don't take as much as a screwdriver with me.I don't even think about her letting me down,but I am kind of trusting like that.
I think that comes from knowing every nut and bolt in this machine and having it to the point where there is nothing more to do but ride.Which for me,a mechanical guy, is sad to the point of wanting something else to wrench on.
But you are right on the mark TeeCat, when you say about the help and support we all benifit from having awesome Guys and Gals on this board,Thank You to you all,"together we are better".

 

[kopcicle]

I can't so much as go looking for parts at the local yards without someone recognizing that it's for an XS . Then the conversation ensues and time goes out the window . In those moments I realize just how long I've been doing this . The last time I had found yet another head to modify to my needs and had it on the counter when the question of valve adjust came up . This led to dial indicator and degree wheel and improvements in low lift flow . Next thing I knew we were outside and I had an audience . Questions , questions . Two hours later I'd made several new acquaintances based just on my long association with the XS . This is nothing new . More than once I've taken the time to do a house call to adjust valves , sync carbs , adjust idle mixture , (I'm still amazed at how often I hear the question "how many turns out" . Are people so completely deaf and insensitive that they can't hear and feel rich and lean missfire ? ) . I can generally set timing in a parking lot with nothing more than a couple of screw drivers . All this is the price I pay for learning at the feet of old school masters of the trade over the last 40 years . Just hearing someone thank the membership in general makes my day . All the patient hours that people have spent with me over the decades are worth while for that thank you even if I had no hand in your process . I'll ask you and anyone that takes the time to read this to teach what you learn . The ultimate thank you I , and the people that taught me receive is to see our lessons taught to a new generation .

~kop

 

[TeeCat]

Skip, I envy you your mechanical ability, and where you are with your bike, though at the same time I celebrate your success because I really value successes... even small ones. I'm getting to the point with my bike where I'm becoming less afraid of her, but I'm still put off by those curves she throws me occasionally. Any machine can do that, I know, but I want her to stop that. After all, I did rescue her from a huge electric shelf in a used bike emporium, where she just sat gathering dust. Little appreciation here, girlie!

kop, welcome to the forum and to this thread. Wish you'd been around to dry my tears and get me back on the right track a bit earlier! At the very least, you'd be entertained.

Are people so completely deaf and insensitive that they can't hear and feel rich and lean missfire ? ) . I can generally set timing in a parking lot with nothing more than a couple of screw drivers .

I found this interesting in the context of motorcycles, because I am find them to be a lot like kids/young adults. I run a little web forum for young people who have faced challenges of various sorts... everything from self-harm to abuse to protecting little siblings from the fallout of a divorce. And over the years I have been doing this avocationally, I have learned hat there often is no set formula; often the best "setting" or solution or approach is intuitive. I "hear" then in a way that does not involve my ears, or a manual.

This bike is the same way. And the trust and confidence that is built and required, respectively, on the part of both parties takes a long time to build. I have never, however, had the fleeting urge to kick any of my young people over in the driveway, not that I could, because I have never actually met any of them. And like you, kop, I unabashedly bask in seeing one of my Young Ones learn that something I have told them, particularly something good about themselves, is true. So, I thank you in advance for your input, because I'll be wanting it. I'll never hesitate to thank you for it, however.

TC

 

[TeeCat]

Well, today was another quite good day. I finished up some touch up on the top of the engine case, and put my Shock Sox on as an interim fix for long-missing seal dust covers, and took the bike out for about an hour, venturing a little beyond the immediate neighborhoods to the secondary roads and highways that I had been dialing in on up until the winter set in.

I can bring the bike off the choke VERY quickly by giving her some throttle, and then going in about a turn or so on the idle speed screw. Then I back off as soon as the bike gets warm. I find that I still have to fiddle with it as I ride, though... just within a turn or so. The idle doesn't "hunt" in the traditional sense, but it seems to vary a bit within a span of minutes; periodically I seem to have to adjust it. I think it was a little high today. It was hotter out than it was on the last little ride, when there was NO off-idle issue, but today the bike seemed to be ever so slightly fussy until the rpm came up just enough to pull us forward in first... then it was fine. I recall someone - might have been griz - telling me that there is just a certain amount of fussiness that one can't always tune out of a carbed bike, so I still think I'm on the right track. The bike has been starting right up cold and hot, pulling well through the range... she's just a touch moody about idling. Guess it's up to me to just learn what she wants and when. What's that remind you of?

Anyway, the bike seems to be cooperating a lot more now, so I have been seeing to some cosmetic bits, such as a new shifter, new kicker, a pair of road bike Shock Socks (beats no dust covers at all), refining the appearance of the shroud prosthetic where the right carb used to be, and I painted the rear brake stabilizer and actuator with Rustoleum Aluminum. Nice and clean now. (Pics in this order, plus a cockpit shot.)

I plan to go out again tomorrow a little bit and build more confidence gradually. I still have to re-check my timing chain and timing, but could not today because I had some tacky paint on the top of the engine case that I didn't want to disturb.

TC

 

[Skip]

TeeCat,
Glad to her you had another good day!Remember to try to enjoy the ride!
You got her looking great!
Like most of us guys here,you will figure out what she wants and when she wants it,sooner or later!

 

[TeeCat]

Thanks, Skip... I think we're getting there. She's a far cry from the smelly, fuel- and oil-leaking, forlorn, neglected paperweight that she was when I brought her home stone dead in the back of a pickup. To be frank, I had no idea what I was getting into. But on days like today, I don't regret it.

Tomorrow, I plan to take another little ride, but I also have to re-coat the engine case top with a bit more hi-temp krinkle. It won't be perfect, but I'm trying to even up some PO hamfistedness. Also, my kill switch is original, with embossed red letters for "OFF" and "RUN", but the switch for the lights, horn, and signals is a new replacement, and it has silver embossed letters. So tomorrow I'll leave "RUN" red and change "OFF" to silver. Little stupid sh*t like that keeps me up nights...

TC

 

[XSLeo]

I think I told you a year or so ago that you needed to ride it to gain confidence in the bike and your maintainance and mods.
Anyway glad to here you are getting some enjoyable riding time in.
Take it out to 50 miles from home, then try 75. The longer rides will build confidence quicker.
Pretty soon you'll be riding it to Americade, Laconia bike Week. Myrtle Beach, Daytona, Sturgis.
Leo

 

[TeeCat]

Hi, Leo.

Well, that was the plan when you and I talked about it - to gradually increase my range - and it still is. Since we spoke, however, I have encountered (and overcome, I hope!) a couple of hiccups.

Now that I have had a couple of quite stable little local spins in the past couple of weeks, I want to try to get her out in some nearby semi-rural areas for a little jaunt or two, of the sort that you describe. All I need now is the time and the weather to work with me on the same day.

TC

 

[TeeCat]

Well, I came home from work today, went for a little run and, because it was such a pretty afternoon and my wife was out, I decided to take the TX for a little local spin. I had not even fired her up for about 3 weeks, and we have some rain on the way, so I seized the moment.

We went out for about 21 miles around the neighborhood, and some secondary roads and highways around here... my normal testing ground... but this time, I just tried to make it "a ride". She performed really well. I'm very happy with the state of tune, jetting, adjustments and such. We got up to about 65, and she's great at speed, pulls hard on all grades, doesn't pop or backfire on decel - just rumbles - and the shifting and clutch seemed really fine less some slight pull, and I have to learn to shift firmly, as she popped out of 3rd once... my fault. There's a little top end whine, but I'm trying not to worry about it. I'm trying to worry less about a lot of things on the bike. But, it was a good afternoon. I think I may try to take her to work sometime next week. I want it to be time!

One thing: she sat for about 3 weeks, and I had run the bowl dry last time I shut her off. She took a few more kicks than I'm used to to fire up today, but maybe I just had not primed her enough. Think that's pretty normal, guys? Once she started, she was fine.

I hope I'm getting there. Sure was a fun 21 miles.

TC

 

[XSLeo]

After three weeks, I would turn the gas on, wait a couple mintues to be sure the float bowls are full. Then two or three prime kicks with the enrichener on, then turn on the key and it should start on the next kick, maybe two.
The float bowls fill quickly the first 1/2 to 2/3 then I think the float starts to shut the fuel flow down so the last part takes a bit more than the first part. This theory seems to fit with my experence. I have found that if I turn on the gas and try starting it can take awhile, if I wait for a bit longer starting is much quicker.
With the bowls less than full the enrichener doesn't have the fuel available so it is a bit lean, making starting harder.
The same with the idle circuits. Low level makes things a bit on the lean side.
On the top end whine, my first XS650 had a very noticable whine in the top end, I don't recall if I ever got it quiet. That was in the late 70's. I got it with a blown engine. A piston seizure broke the piston up and twisted up a rod. The bent rod hammered the cylinder pretty bad.
The Yamaha dealer fixed the worst spots by brazing thew in and boring it out to first over. Worked well. As he bored the other cylinder to match the sleeve spun in the cylinder. Being inexprerienced with bikes He talked me into a new set of jugs. If I had known better it would have gotten a 750 Kit. Any way after I got it all together and running it had a whine. I think it had something to do with the cam bearings. The whine didn't get worse so I just rode the wheels of it.
Leo

 

[TeeCat]

Leo, thank you, sir.

Yeah, I didn't wait at all... I do recall having just run the bowl out, and then she sat for two or three weeks, so yesterday I just rolled her out to the curb to go. I usually do two cold kicks, and she'll generally fire on the first or second hot one. Yesterday took a few more, but I didn't wait at all. Your point about the choke not having the fuel charge available... you know, I never thought of that for a second! Bet you're right. She just spat a time or two, then fired up and was fine thereafter. I was worried about a low battery or something, but I don't think that was it... voltage gauge said she was charging. I could help myself by wiring my light to turn on manually instead of coming on with the key, but I HATE going into that bucket, though I have been in there a LOT cleaning up Previous Moron stuff, and sure as hell, I'd get somewhere and forget to turn it off.

I'm trying not to worry about the slight whine. I remember (XS)John saying that the sound can travel and deceive you, so I'm not even convinced of where it's originating. I just want to try to enjoy this bike now, for a change. Hell, last night, if you and Scabber had been down here, I'd have brought her down to Ellicott Mills. It was a perfect late spring evening, and she was so well behaved.

TC

 

[TeeCat]

Well, we had another successful little run about today. I suppose we were out for about an hour... maybe a little more. She fired right up on the first hot kick after sitting for about two weeks, the idle was stable, charging system seems happy, and she generally ran very well. I have been testing up to about 65 miles per hour. I rarely ride faster than that, or perhaps 70. But the bike seems to pull well under heavy throttle from acceleration, with no decel popping.

The only thing I was really aware of today is that I missed 3rd twice. When she's hot, I have to be firm and decisive about upshifting, I think. I just need to get used to that.

This was the maiden run with my oil dipstick temp gauge. Today was about 85F out, with fairly low humidity and filtered sun, and at op temp, her oil temp is consistently right around 115 to 118. Is that good by reasonable standards? And is oil temperature a valid (though not the only) indicator of overall engine health in an air cooled twin?

So, I might get her out a little bit tomorrow, weather- and wifey plans-dependent, but if this behavior continues, I'll be escorting the TX to the office picnic this coming Thursday. Might be time to step out a bit. I'm keeping an ear on the "whine", but trying not to stress out over it.

Also, some of you might be interested in the little (operative word: little) aesthetic bauble I made to kind of "match" the air cleaner shroud I had made earlier... same sheet aluminum. It's a "reflector plate" that's hand fitted to go right behind the head, on top of the case, and just give a diffuse reflection of the underside of the intake and carb assembly... sort of like the "dressed" underside of a hood you might find on a well turned out car at a show or something. It just sits there on a few pieces of 3M automotive trim adhesive... shouldn't hurt a thing. I think it's often the little understated bits of this sort that clean things up a bit on a bike, car, truck, etc.. Plus, my fabbing skills are really limited.

Anyway... few fresh snaps, taken today, after the little ride.

TC

 

[angus67]

i like that shinny piece
Oh, What on earth do you mean you have no fab skills?!?! Stop selling yourself short. you turned a oily, drippy rusty paperweight into a reliable beautifully machine! you figured out all your carb problems, sure we aimed you in directions, but it was all you, kid! You did it! Congratulations.

 

[1974jh5]

Sweet bike! TX's are the ones I remember from my teen years.

 

[tonyc]

TC you want that oil temp about 160 to burn off any condensate that you may in the crankcase. I am sure glad you are enjoying your rides. Tony C

 

[TeeCat]

angus, thank you so much for your kind words. That means a great deal coming from the likes of you... you own a "piece" of this bike being on the road, and I thank you. Incidentally, I'll tell you what... I do think I love this single carb setup! Apparently the bike likes it too!

Re: fab skills, I think I could possibly do a lot more if I knew how to weld and the like. At present, I just like to make small cosmetic and sometimes functional) bits out of workable material - like stainless, or aluminum - that I can manage with a band saw and hand tools. These latest two bits were made thusly. I love matte aluminum, as you may have gathered. It's handsome, understated, and requires little fussing over.

1974, thank you! I don't have any specific recollections of TXs because my folks would never let me near bikes! I suppose I'm glad I got hold of this one, though... at least when things are going well.

Tony... 160??!! Let me go out and make sure I didn't read the gauge wrong!

Edit: Tony, respectfully, how is that possible? I went out there and looked, and the gauge only goes to 140. She was running about 115 to 118 at op temp. It's an RR, and is supposed to be a pretty good quality instrument.

TC