Parked for the winter - hope it goes by quickly!
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What have you done to your XS today?
- Thread starter I am Carbon
- Start date
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- Tags
- maintenance
Well, with the proper tool, it's not that difficult to get the fork caps back on .....
https://www.motionpro.com/product/08-0159
Anyone working on bikes should have one of these.
https://www.motionpro.com/product/08-0159
Anyone working on bikes should have one of these.
Yamaha Graveyard
XS650 Enthusiast
Rebuilding my front forks and needed a special tool to get the damper rods out on this antique. So I go to the internet to see what this unavailable tool looks like, then I go to my special tool/puller drawer in my tool box low and behold it's the same tool I bought in the 70's for a couple bolt's on my 911
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Yup, I can second that statement! When I put my XS650D forks together, I did the Minton mods, retained the stock progressive springs and added a 1" spacer. I was a two-man operation to put the fork caps back on; one pair of hands to compress the springs, the helper's hand to turn the cap (without cross-threading the buggers. These are the spacers I machined:
That's what makes the T-handle ideal for this - you can push down and turn at the same time. It's also just a great tool for working on the bike in general, and getting the 3/8" drive version turns your whole socket set into T-handles, lol.
Agreed! I share my shop space with my son; he supplies the T-handles in both 1/4" and 3/8" drive! I supply lots of other stuff!
The farmer
XS650 Enthusiast
Bob Wegman
XS650 Enthusiast
I spent a couple hours cleaning the cases of a disassembled spare XS650 engine. It has spent several winters running on the salty and dirty roads. It will get a freshen up before more duty in the "off season". Frame needs a good derusting too.
Sprayed the front guard as a test on Saturday. Looks good in the sun. Tank is next once I repair it. Will get it properly done when the rest of the bodywork arrives.
The farmer
XS650 Enthusiast
I got a new baby......Yes! I do autographs
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oldncnile
XS650 Enthusiast
Well after waiting 2 1/2 months for local shop to rake the neck, finally got frame back this week. Able to start mocking it up. I want to see how many things I bought are going to stay around and what is going to go bye-bye.
Almost forgot. If rear fender looks crooked, it's because no bolts are tight.
Almost forgot. If rear fender looks crooked, it's because no bolts are tight.
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Didn't do anything on my XS, but got enamored with the idea of making aluminum fenders for the XS Project. Hammered out this reduced-size proof-of-concept piece, using my freshly-fabbed planishing hammer. Got to develop a little more skill and technique, but seems very doable. The finish on the fender is not sanded or finished in any way, thats straight from the planisher. Anyone else doing any metal forming?
I almost got into that, being a car restorer, and contemplated buying/building an English wheel and/or planishing hammer. Went to a trade show and was talking to a rep there and I asked him if he could only have one of the two, which would he choose and his answer was the planishing hammer. He said he personally never uses the wheel and then showed me some pieces he made with a mallet and shot bag, finished with the planishing hammer. I think Your part looks awesome. I hope NashGT chimes in, he certainly has more knowledge than I do. I got so busy with just conventional body/metal work that I never found the time to learn how to do it, and now that I'm in my 60's, I ain't buying any more tools. I'm out of room!
In the retail shop today preparing for the Winter Sale.
Got bored with that, so I uncovered the Welsh Flat Tracker and fired her up!
YeeeeeHaaaa! On the button, first press. Quick spin up and down the road and put her to bed for the Winter (Again!)
Can't wait for the sunny Spring days.
Got bored with that, so I uncovered the Welsh Flat Tracker and fired her up!
YeeeeeHaaaa! On the button, first press. Quick spin up and down the road and put her to bed for the Winter (Again!)
Can't wait for the sunny Spring days.
Been tempted to do just that, a little earlier in the month, just for the sake of saying that I rode in December (in Montreal, not the south!). Weather was rideable (sunny, + 5 *C), but ran out of daylight at 4:30 pm before getting home from work
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cycleranger
Generally Ok.
Went to start the MCs up for their monthly run and darned if the 650 had a dead battery. I could have swore I just replaced it a year ago. Well, it turns out it was replaced in 2017. It's some kind of weird time/space flux capacitor warp that the calendar speeds up as you age.
I guess I'm buying a new battery. Oh, and the FJR battery is weak too. But that was the stocker and it lasted 7 years.
I guess I'm buying a new battery. Oh, and the FJR battery is weak too. But that was the stocker and it lasted 7 years.
I just learned NAPA batteries are Deka, made in PA if you’re interested. I just bought one. I’ve had very good service from Deka.
Hi @atom4488 the mild weather today after the freezing week before was too much temptation. Mind you 1000 meters up and down our service road hardly makes a ride. But a little is better than nowt; and my spirits were stirred.Been tempted to do just that, a little earlier in the month, just for the sake of saying that I rode in December (in Montreal, not the south!). Weather was rideable (sunny, + 5 *C), but ran out of daylight at 4:30 pm before getting home from work
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