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

so Daniel, when are you going to start selling all these fancy parts? Some folks here can't get enough Ti 🙃
I’m definitely open to looking into small runs of certain parts if there’s enough interest?

Chain tensioners are in the works too.

Daniel.
 
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I'm very sorry gentleman, no Titanium to titillate you with tonight.

I've just had these sent to me by my polishing guy, Gavin Sowter at GS Polishing https://www.gspolishing.co.uk/

I asked him to smooth out any casting flaws before blasting so we can get the best finish possible. I expect the lower crank casing to be finished by end of next week and then they'll both be off for Cerakote.

XS650CrankCase1.jpgXS650CrankCase2.jpgXS650CrankCase3.jpgXS650CrankCase4.jpg

Anyone eagle-eyed enough to spot what's missing?

Daniel.
 
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Anyone eagle-eyed enough to spot what's missing?

Where they drilled the oil passageways, were capped from the factory with some rather crappy epoxy. They are in the rocker boxes too.
They all pop off easily with the edge of a screwdriver, I replaced all of them with JB Weld.
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Okay then I'll concede as no one noticed. We've removed the oil capacity/oil change interval information lettering.

I thought it looked cleaner and it's obsolete anyway really as I'll be running the starter motor oil reservoir and sump plate oil filter conversion from Smedspeed.

We also removed all the little numbers that corresponded to the casing studs to further clean things up.

Daniel.
 
I got another two images from Alistair at A2P2 today, I've included them with the first two because I think they look so good as a set. Could I be the only person in the world with a digitally mapped XS650 frame?

He says he has another couple small tweaks to make and then it's going to be ready to be made into a former, which takes about a week, so fingers crossed it'll be ready by end of the month when I go on the fabrication course with Ian at ETTO Motorcycles.

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Daniel.
 
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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.

XS650CrankCase5.jpgXS650CrankCase6.jpgXS650CrankCase7.jpg

Daniel.
 
I'm thinking numerous baths in close to boiling point water using various nylon brushes and compressed air.
Not just "close to" boiling, get it good and boiling. That and the compressed air is what Lycoming calls for in their overhaul book if you blast the aluminum cases.
 
Not just "close to" boiling, get it good and boiling. That and the compressed air is what Lycoming calls for in their overhaul book if you blast the aluminum cases.
Jim, when you say Lycoming book, I'm assuming you are referring to aircraft engines? Also, would you just boil it in plain water or add something like Dawn dishwashing soap to remove any oil traces?
 
Jim, when you say Lycoming book, I'm assuming you are referring to aircraft engines? Also, would you just boil it in plain water or add something like Dawn dishwashing soap to remove any oil traces?
Correct. Lycoming has one of those CYA statements in their overhaul manual.
Something to the affect of you should never blast the cases.... but if you do (wink wink) be sure and clean them thoroughly with boiling water and compressed air.
The boiling water opens up the pores in the aluminum so any blast residue is released.
 
Also, would you just boil it in plain water or add something like Dawn dishwashing soap to remove any oil traces?
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.
 
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.
Thanks
 
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