What have you done to your XS today?

Run it with a couple of valve covers off. If it makes some mess, you're good.
I used to think this was true but........... It's not. A parallel twin crankcase acts like a giant air pump as the pistons go up and down together. By opening big holes, the valve covers, each stroke will blow that crankcase air out the holes, bringing along all the oil on the cam chain with it. You WILL get a mess but it doesn't prove top end oil flow. The (easy) alternative is to crack loose one of the banjo bolts at the end of the oil line on the head, when you crank the motor oil should start leaking out in good volume, retighten and you're good to go.
 
Thanks Marty, I did try that after the rebuild because oil starvation was one of the causes of the wear on the piston skirts but I had oil everywhere. Also tried gggGary's idea and had plenty of oil leaking there so I don't think the white plug is from overheating, although if it is an air leak maybe it would run hotter ?
 
Thanks Marty, I did try that after the rebuild because oil starvation was one of the causes of the wear on the piston skirts but I had oil everywhere. Also tried gggGary's idea and had plenty of oil leaking there so I don't think the white plug is from overheating, although if it is an air leak maybe it would run hotter ?
reset your valves recently? A tight valve can create issues. What iggy are you running? if points; are BOTH sides timed correctly? If electronic try retarding the timing a bit.
Floats been checked with the sight tube method?
 
I have the valves set at 003 and 006 after reading
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tips here from 5twins and others. Maybe I should open up the intake back to 004. I have the boyer micro ignition set slightly retarded, was thinking of advancing it a touch but glad I checked the plugs.
 
If you've got color on the sides of the porcelain on that white plug then it's not too lean. The other one is too rich. It appears the white plug is colored all the way up the sides and that, actually, is a tad rich. The dark color ring on the side of the porcelain should only come up about 1/4 of the way from the bottom.
Smoke Ring.jpg
 
If you've got color on the sides of the porcelain on that white plug then it's not too lean. The other one is too rich. It appears the white plug is colored all the way up the sides and that, actually, is a tad rich. The dark color ring on the side of the porcelain should only come up about 1/4 of the way from the bottom.
View attachment 210893
:agree:
 
If you've got color on the sides of the porcelain on that white plug then it's not too lean. The other one is too rich. It appears the white plug is colored all the way up the sides and that, actually, is a tad rich. The dark color ring on the side of the porcelain should only come up about 1/4 of the way from the bottom.
View attachment 210893
Awesome, thanks 5twins, I will check the carbs to lean them out a touch. I have the needles on the middle notch and haven't checked the air screws for a while.
 
Todays job went well, new rods, bearings & true-up crank. Started at 10.30 am & finished at 4.00 pm. .0005" either end & took 5-6 ton to press the pins in so we didn't weld them. Took our time & kept the flywheels parallel as we pressed them together. Very happy how it turned out!
 

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Blue Tux Edition
This 76 I had built last year using red painted fenders and matching tank and side covers. It really didn't look right so I cleaned up a set of dark blue with a fine metallic tins I had and polished my second last set of chrome fenders and instant appeal.
Will probably put it up on Kijiji next week.
 
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Blue Tux Edition
This 76 I had built last year using red painted fenders and matching tank and side covers. It really didn't look right so I cleaned up a set of blue tins I had and polished my second last set of chrome fenders and instant appeal.
Will probably put it up on Kijiji next week.
Pics or you're just telling tales..............
 

View attachment 211074
Blue Tux Edition
This 76 I had built last year using red painted fenders and matching tank and side covers. It really didn't look right so I cleaned up a set of dark blue with a fine metallic tins I had and polished my second last set of chrome fenders and instant appeal.
Will probably put it up on Kijiji next week.

You know you’ve really got me liking the look of those Sportster mufflers on our bikes. I‘ve even been looking at them for sale on Craigslist. Are they really loud? Do you have any detail photos of how they connect to the head pipes?
 
You know you’ve really got me liking the look of those Sportster mufflers on our bikes. I‘ve even been looking at them for sale on Craigslist. Are they really loud? Do you have any detail photos of how they connect to the head pipes?
Same here. They've grown on me. I've been looking on Craigslist and haven't seen any pop up though.... Since the SG is needing muffies, thought I'd give 'em a try bein' as how everyone sez there's tons of 'em out there.... where are they?
 
Same here. They've grown on me. I've been looking on Craigslist and haven't seen any pop up though.... Since the SG is needing muffies, thought I'd give 'em a try bein' as how everyone sez there's tons of 'em out there.... where are they?

Maybe when it warms up and the locals come out of their winter caves, Craigslist will pick up.
 
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