The new life of a 72' XS II - Build thread

Update:
I just tested the paint durability.
First off, I didn’t cure the cover in the oven for an hour after the first hour at 30 degrees, I only used a heatgun for around 20 Min. Without measuring the temperature.

For the durability test, I used wd40, gasoline, engine oil and diesel. I took each Test and literally rubbed on the cover using a lot of pressure. Only the gasoline did any easily seen damage, as you can see.
Since I had to really rub it to remove the paint, and the paint hadn’t had a proper curing process, I’m thinking this paint might be good enough, once it’s cured in an oven.

Top right corner is WD40
The upper stripe is engine oil
Middle stripe under the logo is gasoline
The bottom stripe is diesel
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Very interesting - good tests. It would useful to see what an oven cure would do.

Pete
 
Update:
Today i prepared to paint the upper crank case, figured I wouldn’t be a big deal. I removed the threaded rods and any leftover grease and paint.
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It all went well until I noticed that the gear shaft needle bearing still sad snug in the case, so I tried to push it out, but the little fella is stuck...
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Might have to get someone else to do it as I don’t have the right tools, but I’ll give it another go Tuesday.
 
Update:
Today i prepared to paint the upper crank case, figured I wouldn’t be a big deal. I removed the threaded rods and any leftover grease and paint.
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It all went well until I noticed that the gear shaft needle bearing still sad snug in the case, so I tried to push it out, but the little fella is stuck...
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Might have to get someone else to do it as I don’t have the right tools, but I’ll give it another go Tuesday.

I ended up just dropping it off at the neighbor to my garage community and let him do the work, he told me to come back tomorrow so that I will.
I'll update you as soon as possible.
 
Update:
Lower engine case is done, I will test the resistance towards gasoline later. If the paint proves to be good enough I will leave it as is, if not I will paint it with motip clear lacquer heat resistant to 800 Celsius and gasoline resistant.

Like the first case I started out cleaning inside and out, removing oil, old seals, bearings and any dirt.
Step two was to tape all the areas of that I didn’t want to paint.
Step three was to of cause paint the case.
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Step four: wait an hour while I scrolled through Facebook
Step five: remove all tape
Step six: put the damn thing in the oven, and let it cure at 160 degrees for half an hour.
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I’m truly impressed with the results, it doesn’t look that much like paint, more like fresh raw aluminium.
 
Hope I'm not too late here. The litmus test for your paints would be a variety of carb cleaners, with their aggressive cocktails of acetones, ketones, methyl-ethyls, toluene, trichlor, ...etc. Used haphazardly, carb cleaner can go everywhere...
 
Hope I'm not too late here. The litmus test for your paints would be a variety of carb cleaners, with their aggressive cocktails of acetones, ketones, methyl-ethyls, toluene, trichlor, ...etc. Used haphazardly, carb cleaner can go everywhere...

I can't see why I would test the paint with carb cleaner, as the engine won't be exposed to carb cleaner when installed? I tested the paint after the curing process, and gasoline didn't really do anything to it, and since gasoline will be the strongest substance the bike might be exposed to, I choose to continue with this paint.
 
Okay stopping the paint comments, if the paint ends up not being durable enough I’ll just have to paint it again.

Update:
Sunday I brought the engine cases back to the garage

(Which is called Revival Garage, if anyone wants to see what we do, we got a Facebook page and instagram account.)

I made a cheap and easy engine mount for the upper case, as someone told me that it was easier to assemble the engine from the top.
I will make a new stand, once it’s time to assemble the rest of the engine.

Once I had made the engine stand, I couldn’t resist slowly beginning to assemble the engine, never thought it would be so much fun to assemble an engine. :bike:
A picture from when I just started.
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Before anyone states that the engine isn't entirely clean - the metal is discolored because of oxidation, but I will try to clean it further before I complete the assembly, despite the fact that I have already used countless hours cleaning it on the inside.
 
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Update:
I went to vapor blast my engine today...
as earlier mentioned the previous owner sandblasted the engine, which left a rough surface, apparently to rough for the vapor blaster to smoothen the surface. Instead, I borrowed the welder's glass blaster (I love how they are all called blaster something, makes it sound cooler than it is :boxing:) to clean the parts preparing to paint it instead.
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I'm currently looking into getting some aluminum colored powder coat, as my garage will soon receive our new powder coat oven :bike:.
If it turns out to be too complicated getting the color I want, I might just buy my way out getting a pro to do it, but I prefer to do the work myself.

As the plan has changed, and I can't leave the engine with a beautiful bare surface, I want to paint the engine block aluminum silver, the cylinders black and the cylinder head either the same aluminum silver or leave it as you can see now and spray some ACF50 on top.

I figured some of you might enjoy seeing the other xs 650 in the garage, mounted with usd forks and lots of other nifty bits. :bike:
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This is Silver Paint
 
"Countless hours" are two of the most familiar words for a vintage bike owner who works on his own.
Those who are unable to repeat that mantra buy modern bikes.

I initially bought the xs 400 because it was cheap(couldn't afford a 650 or any other bike), but I definitely began enjoying all the fixing and polishing it brought along.
I wouldn't have bought the 650 project if I didn't ;)
 
Update:
Sorry for not posting lately.
I’ve been moving into a new apartment, so a lot of time was used on the move and adjusting to the new environment.

I haven’t done much, just removing rust from old parts and ordering new to replace the ones too far away from rescue.
I’ve used a lot of time, trying to find parts in the buckets, mostly with luck, however I can’t find the “half” circlip for the outgoing gear axle bearing (nr 25 in my Haynes manual).
So I guess I’ll have to order again - I hate how often I have to order stuff and pay for postage each time, together with the postage for the circlip I’ll end up paying 30£ for a shitty piece half circle of metal...

Today I received a new piston kit, shift shaft, dowel pins, oil pipe base fitting, clutch hub-bearing, clutch pushrod ball, clutch pushrod bushing, cam needle bearing.
Lovely costly batch.

Here’s a few pictures.
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