What have you done to your XS today?

[highboy_coupe]

Had a chance to test my new clutch/springs, I am impressed! Commute on the motorway at 90mph (sat nav verified!) felt completely fine and I had no slipping at high revs in 5th (couldn't really nudge it past 75mph before the clutch change). Even when the clutch wasn't slipping before, the bike felt sluggish and slightly dulled, so if anyone is experiencing that then a clutch swap is a decent idea if you can get the plates cheap.
Gear changes are slick and positive, neutral is fine but not perfect. The EBC 15% over springs do not make the clutch pull any heavier.

My Chinese 2mm copper washers finally turned up so my cam chain is now quiet, although I still have a metallic whirring/clatter under some circumstances; high revs in the first 3 gears under load, and coasting in gear off the throttle from about 3k revs down. It is quiet 'till the oil warms up (15W/40 tractor oil).

Edit: forgot to mention -- One issue going 90mph and having a powerful front brake is that when hauling it to a stop from 90mph,I pull the clutch in and the idle drops below 1k and it stalls, bad times, kicking it in the middle of a motorway roundabout is no fun at all.
Gentle stopping and a bit of throttle stops this, is my hot idle too low? its around 1400 at idle.

 

[MaxPete]

Wow....90 mph is really belting along on an XS650. I found that anywhere above about 75 mph really pushes the fuel consumption up.

 

[highboy_coupe]

Wow....90 mph is really belting along on an XS650. I found that anywhere above about 75 mph really pushes the fuel consumption up.

I may have been a bit keen to test the new clutch!
The steering felt slightly wayward.. The tank maybe empty when I try to go home tonight!

 

[MaxPete]

I ran Lucille out of fuel 6 km from home on the motorway - and spent 20 minutes waiting for one of my many daughters to arrive with the lawnmower fuel jug.

Fun!

 

[DanielBlack]

Edit: forgot to mention -- One issue going 90mph and having a powerful front brake is that when hauling it to a stop from 90mph,I pull the clutch in and the idle drops below 1k and it stalls, bad times, kicking it in the middle of a motorway roundabout is no fun at all.
Gentle stopping and a bit of throttle stops this, is my hot idle too low? its around 1400 at idle.

I had this sort of problem, albeit at lower in-town speeds. Grabbing a bunch of brake going into tight R turns, she'd stall. To combat the situation, I'd try to keep my braking gentle, set idle up at 14-1500 and blip the throttle like you do.

A few things were done to solve it completely, but improvement was observed at each adjustment.

First was a careful setting of the floats. Mine were a bit twisted and set too low. Less fuel in the bowl, it sloshes forward when you brake hard. Where the pilot jet picks up its fuel source is in the back.

Compounding the issue for me, my clutch adjustment wasn't quite right. With the clutch lever fully pulled in there was still a touch of engagement. As the fuel sloshed forward starving the motor, the low road speed pulled the rpms even further down through the dragging clutch.

Last, but not least, I found that the R terminal on the ignition coil was very corroded.

Fuel starvation, dragging clutch, weak spark. Stall.

Now, with those things taken care of, my bike reliably stays running under hard braking with no wasted throttle blips or extra high idle. She's happy at the book spec 1200.

 

[timbeck]

Good job DB, it's nice when you finally get things sorted.
tim

 

[highboy_coupe]

First was a careful setting of the floats. Mine were a bit twisted and set too low. Less fuel in the bowl, it sloshes forward when you brake hard. Where the pilot jet picks up its fuel source is in the back.

Thanks DanielBlack, I did my float heights not long ago, so maybe I didn't get them quite right.. Also, I ended up chopping 1/2 " off my HT leads because there was some corrosion, maybe I need to take some more off.

If they get too short, does anyone turn the dual coil around and have the leads coming down the front of the engine? or is that a bad idea...

 

[lakeview]

Sold the '80 SG today. Took a couple weeks but I think the right person got it.

 

[highboy_coupe]

Here's a quick photo essay of me taking the head of the N36 needles in my CVK34 carbs (with the help of a teeny tiny spanner) and fitting them to some JJJ-46 PWK needles with the clips on the 3rd slot.











I had heard it described, but thought I'd do some photos myself, I used a 3.5mm drill bit for the heads.
Be sure to wiggle the plastic spring holders because they jam a bit on the clip.

 

[brianmac]

I just got the bike Sunday pulled off the caliper piston was corroded but the rest of the caliper is fine I put it back together put some clean brake fluid in the master cylinder used some quarter inch plywood pieces for brake pads which I don't have yet and sure enough everything is holding fluid and the lover is firm I'm thinking I might just get away with new piston and the caliper rebuild kit new New Pads and I guess I have to have Shims also I don't know it sure would be nice if I could just buy I whole caliper with pads and shims

 

[WT100]

@ WT100, Where are you at? Between 65 and Rogersville?

South of that off of W highway on Red Bridge road. Love that run, but first time on the old XS. Usually I run it on a GS but now I know the XS is WAY more fun on the dirt! Was one of my best day on the bike so far!

 

[MaxPete]

Sold the '80 SG today. Took a couple weeks but I think the right person got it.

Excellent news Lakeview - someone got a nice bike to ride!

Pete

 

[lakeview]

Won't be long now!
The 77 went outside the garage for its first start this year. Used a test tank and a powerbox and it fired up on the button quite readily, idled nicely. Have to get the front brake sorted, otherwise will add on the accessories (an ok red 76 tank, ok 75 sidecovers and a decent seat) to get it ready for its exposure on Kijiji.

 

[azman857]

Rode the SG the other day and lost charging. Got home OK. worked on it last night. Rotor OK! Stator OK. WHEW! Looking at wires and found a jumper wire on the brown wire came disconnected. Found a new larger spade connector and crimped it on. I was hoping the Fiat reg and rectifier were OK. Ran her up this morning and she is charging again!! YEAH! I was so happy, I gave her chain a cleaning and lube.

 

[MaxPete]

View attachment 124769 Won't be long now!
The 77 went outside the garage for its first start this year. Used a test tank and a powerbox and it fired up on the button quite readily, idled nicely. Have to get the front brake sorted, otherwise will add on the accessories (an ok red 76 tank, ok 75 sidecovers and a decent seat) to get it ready for its exposure on Kijiji.

Well done Lakeview - another nice old Standard for the road!

Azman - good going on that charging system. Quite the tussle you’ve been having with it there!

Pete

 

[azman857]

I know Pete. I've must have upset her and she is letting me know all about it. It's cooling down some, so maybe I'll ride her more now

 

[YamadudeXS650C]

Polished the tapper covers on the 75 in anticipation of the Groton Old Home Days bike show.

Hondas were featured this year. lots of sweet bikes showed up.

Including my ‘75, of course. No trophy this year.

 

[MaxPete]

Nice Dude!

I like that little white Honda - what a cutie!

Pete

 

[Jim]

Nice Dude!

I like that little white Honda - what a cutie!

Pete

Yeah... looks like a 160...?

 

[Mailman]

View attachment 124880

Polished the tapper covers on the 75 in anticipation of the Groton Old Home Days bike show. No trophy this year.

What?! For that fine calendar girl? You were robbed!