“Garage built, shed built”... stable built!

The lower crankcase has had the same treatment as the upper. It's off for clear Cerakote next week and then once it's home the arduous task of thoroughly cleaning them both will begin.

Does anybody have any tips? I'm most concerned about blocked oil passageways and imbedded material leftover from blasting.

I'm thinking numerous baths in close to boiling point water using various nylon brushes and compressed air.

View attachment 216219View attachment 216220View attachment 216221

Daniel.
Daniel,

You may want to check with your Cerakote person; before such coating, parts must be thoroughly degreased, including de-gasing (especially for parts soaked in oil). Depending on the surface texture, some "Cerakoters" will also vapor blast the surface before coating. So, they should return to you already cleaned outside and in.
 
Daniel,

You may want to check with your Cerakote person; before such coating, parts must be thoroughly degreased, including de-gasing (especially for parts soaked in oil). Depending on the surface texture, some "Cerakoters" will also vapor blast the surface before coating. So, they should return to you already cleaned outside and in.
Hi @jpdevol

Thanks for the tips.

They’ve already been blasted and the Cerakote being used is the MC-5100 which is specifically designed for polished aluminium.
 
I paid Rick of Smedspeed a visit this morning and picked up a little parts cache.

XS650Parts1.jpg


Daniel.
 
Sorry, just noticed the second part of your questions. No, never use soap. They say any soap residue left can cause the oil to foam when the motor gets hot.
For removing oil traces I use a solvent... any petroleum based solvent. I'm partial to either Stoddard solvent or mineral spirits.... which are pretty much the same thing actually.

I think I'm going to go with something a little more environmentally friendly like a citrus based solvent. If it means I have to wash it 5 times as opposed to 3 then so be it.

Also thinking on chasing all threaded holes.

I've ordered some of these advertised as carburetor brushes, I figure these would be helpful in trying to clear out any potential blockages in oil passageways.

XS650Brush.jpg

Daniel.
 
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Is Smedspeed selling billet clutch baskets ? The last time I checked the website they were not listed.
Gary Hoos somewhere has a good how to on cleaning the front oil gallery.
You remove the aluminium plug and use a rifle cleaning rod through the gallery. Then replug the gallery.
I did it after cleaning some cases and was shocked at the amount of sludge, media that was in it.
 
Is Smedspeed selling billet clutch baskets ? The last time I checked the website they were not listed.
Gary Hoos somewhere has a good how to on cleaning the front oil gallery.
You remove the aluminium plug and use a rifle cleaning rod through the gallery. Then replug the gallery.
I did it after cleaning some cases and was shocked at the amount of sludge, media that was in it.

If there's enough interest Rick will have some made. He only had two, I'm not sure where they came from? One is in Kye's race bike and I have the other. He reluctantly let it go!

I feel I saw a write up by Gary on Facebook maybe? I think I'm going to attempt it too, seems a bit foolhardy not to.

Daniel.
 
Thanks I have an idea there were some billet baskets made in Holland the two you know of may have come from there.
Taking the plug out is not hard, I cant recall exactly how I did it. Something like drill and tap then warm the case and yank it out. To replace turn a plug from aluminium thats a press fit and glue it in for good measure.
Your bike is going to have some pretty trick parts in it. I am looking forward to seeing the finished product.
 
Is Smedspeed selling billet clutch baskets ? The last time I checked the website they were not listed.
Gary Hoos somewhere has a good how to on cleaning the front oil gallery.
You remove the aluminium plug and use a rifle cleaning rod through the gallery. Then replug the gallery.
I did it after cleaning some cases and was shocked at the amount of sludge, media that was in it.

Do you have anymore information for the oil cleaning? I've heard of this but never seen anyone do it. I assume you drill out the plug, then re-thread and loctite a threaded plug back?
 
So another reason I went a little 'MIA' from the forum for a while as well as starting my business we'd moved into our first home together.

I felt like sharing a few photos of the property.

ModelCottage.jpgModelCottageWorkshop2.jpg

If anyone's curious that's a Kiwi Vine growing over the roof of my workshop, I love how it helps to hide it away in the garden and it shields it from view from the road. It produces an abundance of fruit in late summer.

ModelCottageWorkshop.jpgModelCottageWorkshopDoor.jpg

The workshop was really run down when we moved in so I re-clad it in waney edge Douglas Fir, I then insulated and lined the interior walls with sterling board, before putting up new shelving, sockets, modular LED light strips and a uprated power supply to run the largest compressor before you move up to 3 phase.

Compressor.jpg

I'll take some more photos of the inside once I give it a much needed spring clean.

Daniel.
 
These arrived today, quite an exciting purchase (at least if you're as sad as I am) and involved quite the hunt considering they're for a 23 year old set of forks.

Ohlins 9.0 n/mm weight springs for my R6 forks, I had this spring rate recommended by Brooks Suspension based on total rider weight, admittedly they had limited data for an XS650.

Next step will be to work out what spring rate I have in the rear Ohlins in case they need different springs for an optimal setup.

OhlinsSprings1.jpgOhlinsSprings2.jpg

Daniel.
 
I'm more excited to share these with you than any Titanium thus far produced, and that is surely saying something!

YamahaXS650Former2.jpg

The former has been 3D printed! I really wasn't expecting this but I think we have to admit the results are impeccable and for it's intended purpose should be just the job!

The underside has been built to accommodate it to allow it be fixed to a flat surface.

YamahaXS650Former1.jpg

I leave Tuesday for three nights in Nottingham where I begin my journey in Aluminium fabrication.

Daniel.
 
That is very slick Daniel! Do you do your own 3D printing?

I've had many conversations with Ian of ETTO Motorcycles, especially after attempting to build my own former and I've very quickly come to the conclusion that if you're looking for true accuracy you have to step into the modern age.

The man hours involved in pursuing 100% accuracy without digital aid are insane!

He recommended a firm called A2P2, often involved in classic motorcar restoration, and after discovering them, this is where we find ourselves today.

Daniel.
 
Tomorrow is my last day of the three days I’d booked with Ian of ETTO Motorcycles and I have to say I could eagerly do the same again threefold.

It’s been a complete revelation to me and I’m in love with the techniques involved in manipulating a material to form the shapes in your minds eye, there’s undoubtedly something intrinsically therapeutic to the meticulous process required to produce respectable results!

I’ll post some photos in the next couple of days but for now please be satiated by a image of my vision, first time I’ve seen the two forms marry up (it’s worth noting that the tank is not in it’s final position).

D0308681-ADAD-4290-AF8A-BC6E14073658.jpeg

Secondly, my crank cases after Cerakote, this photo doesn’t do them justice, I think the finish is indiscernible form vapour blasted Alu, in broad daylight I’d wager good money that you couldn’t call it!

162CAAD9-F9AC-4702-A0BE-875E5BAC193E.jpeg

Daniel.
 
"Tins" look great together - real "cafe".

I love how the cases turned-out: perfection! I recall you planning to use clear MC-5100 (perhaps). The pic looks like a pigmented coating, possibly a titanium like H-170, beautiful !

What coating did you use?
 
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