What have you done to your XS today?

What's been done to the engine? Elec. or kick only? What carbs?
:laugh2:

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What's been done to the engine? Elec. or kick only? What carbs?
The motor is completely stock. The donor bike was showing 7900 mi. Electric start works great. Has new Shorai lithium battery and has the HHB CDI ignition with the correct Mofset regulator. The carbs are Mikuni VM34`s.
 
Replaced Dunlop K180A with a Shinko S267 130/80-19 “hard compound” on the rear of the tracker.

Re-shimmed swingarm (added 1mm outside) per https://www.xs650.com/threads/swing-arm-shim.60680/#post-713462 Thank Ya’ll.

This build always had a tendency to want to “dance” in 70+ sweepers and I had attributed it to the “dirt track” tires (maybe it is). Suspension adjustments and air pressure got it acceptable. I just learned to not do that speed while leaning. Anyway, I’m still trying to get it a little better…..
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I haven`t figured it all up yet but probably in reality around $3700 or less. eBay price $7K+:yikes:
God thats mad cheap money for such a beauty. In the UK you would need at least £7500 of the queens finest British pounds.
I would buy it in a heartbeat; but she who must (n't) be ignored would castrate me if I did.:devil:
 
I have had the bike for 9 months sorting various bits, jetting being the biggest issue. But a SS regulator, 8 plate clutch, MC and front brake line, front brake switch, horn and an underneath the seat fire (bolted down, no easy access) I realized I had never performed a critical check on a new too you (me) XS. Timing chain tensioner. I did the 5Twins check, while idling and it seems good with about a MM of pulsation. After a 50 mile ride today I wondered what my loud exhausts were hiding from me. A noisy cam chain is not an issue it seems. Then I emptied my garage, ran Mrs TeamWicked's Mustang through the car wash to get the yellow "dry chemical " fire extinguisher dust washed off and finally was able to sweep an empty garage.
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I have had the bike for 9 months sorting various bits, jetting being the biggest issue. But a SS regulator, 8 plate clutch, MC and front brake line, front brake switch, horn and an underneath the seat fire (bolted down, no easy access) I realized I had never performed a critical check on a new too you (me) XS. Timing chain tensioner. I did the 5Twins check, while idling and it seems good with about a MM of pulsation. After a 50 mile ride today I wondered what my loud exhausts were hiding from me. A noisy cam chain is not an issue it seems. Then I emptied my garage, ran Mrs TeamWicked's Mustang through the car wash to get the yellow "dry chemical " fire extinguisher dust washed off and finally was able to sweep an empty garage.View attachment 219766
My first Mustang was the same color, a '66 with a 200 cid six and A/T. Had it in the 10th grade, 74-75.
 
My first Mustang was the same color, a '66 with a 200 cid six and A/T. Had it in the 10th grade, 74-75.

My first car was a ‘67 Mustang with a 289 in it, copper metallic. Back in ‘73, I put a set of headers with glass packs, mag wheels and air shocks to hike up the back end, and a loud as hell 8 track stereo. Man I thought I was Joe Cool in that car! 😄
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My first Mustang was the same color, a '66 with a 200 cid six and A/T. Had it in the 10th grade, 74-75.

My first car was a ‘67 Mustang with a 289 in it, copper metallic. Back in ‘73, I put a set of headers with glass packs, mag wheels and air shocks to hike up the back end, and a loud as hell 8 track stereo. Man I thought I was Joe Cool in that car! 😄
View attachment 219811
My first car was a 65 GT convertible acquired in FtBliss from a Corporal who had graduated Radar school and was leaving. The car was a victim of many first time mechanics including myself. When I had it semi drivable I got a near perfect 65 Pontiac LeMans 4sp, 326 4bl and $250 for the Mustang.
 
My first car was a ‘67 Mustang with a 289 in it, copper metallic. Back in ‘73, I put a set of headers with glass packs, mag wheels and air shocks to hike up the back end, and a loud as hell 8 track stereo. Man I thought I was Joe Cool in that car! 😄
View attachment 219811
Unfortunately, mine was a "girls car". We wuz poor.
 
The plan was to reroute my clutch cable. Since the tank was off may as well retorque the head. Right cam cover was off and some oil leaking so a new cam seal was in order. Since the tank was empty I decide to replace the petcock gasket (round with 4 holes) and that’s where the trouble began.

I had an OEM replacement so I popped it in. Put everything back together and filled the tank back up …. big mistake. Should have checked for leaks first. Fuel was pouring out of the “repaired” petcock all over the engine, lift and garage floor. Got the siphon hose back out but it took forever to drain the tank. Removed the new gasket and couldn’t understand why it leaked. Measured the thickness and was .010” thinner. Put the old one back and no leaks.

Everything back together now and ready for a test ride tomorrow. Nothings ever easy. lol.
 
Installed a TCI engine in my XS650D, got it running with some fiddling (props to Jim and gggGary for advice on the initial ignition issues). Once running, found out that it has a severe oil leak on the right side of the head, plus a terminally-stretched cam chain :mad:. Back out she comes...
Well, the severe oil leak at the head turned out to be a rocker cover without an O-ring... fixed that, but turns out the sump plate leaks badly as well. Fixing those leaks is certainly not going to fix the stretched chain either! This engine came to me as part of a parts bike/parts lot buy, but was not in a frame. It appears to have come from a parts yard (telltale yellow marker pen markings), and had a badly damaged sump plate. I suspect that the sump plate mounting surface is damaged as well, but it was not evident to the naked eye. This explains the major sump leak, after having replaced the sump plate and gasket.

So, pulled another engine from one of the spare bikes... has decent and even compression on both cylinders. Checked and adjusted the cam chain tension, adjusted valve lash and cleaned the oil filter. Will bench test this one before mounting it in the chassis.
 
I've Done Loads!
Nip over to the Welsh Flat Tracker for an update.
 
Changed the oil. Went for a run along the coast to Whitley Bay past Spanish City* and back by a meandering route. Noticed some mist from the breather. Had a look on the forum. Decided the new (to me, pinched from the kitchen) measuring jug was the problem, so dropped the oil and filled it to the lower mark using the dipstick. I'd put 2500cc in. Its right there on the crankcases. But this is for a newly rebuilt dry engine.

Now I have to test it out, but it looks like rain and me and "her indoors" are going out for lunch.

*Oh girl it looks so pretty to me just like it always did
Like the Spanish City to me when we were kids


https://youtu.be/irhuT22ds-8?t=328
 
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