Rookie Restoration - 1970 XS-1

Stunnedbanana

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Well I've had the bike for a year now and it ran pretty good the couple of times I had it out. There's a lot of oil leaking on the top of the cases and I'm fairly sure it's the base gaskets. This is why I decided to pull it apart and freshen everything up. I've haven't done this before so I'm going to take my time and try to do it right. I've been gathering parts and have most of the stock front end but no luck with a front fender yet. I'm happy to see that it has the electronic ignition.
 

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Welcome Stunnedbanana.

71 with a 73TX front end. Looks to be in quite good condition, (from what i can see in the pics).

Usually the leaks are from the head but on these guys that haven't been used for a while, a head torque can stop the oil leaks, just might work on the base gasket as well.

Whats your compression like??

you have been around for a while now and say you have been collecting parts for a rebuild. There are a lot of aftermarket suppliers for the hard to find 70XS1-73TX parts. If you have already done deap searches and found the info, post questions we may be able to help out

A lot of small changes happened on the XS1/XS1B mid production. Search for any threads by ToManyXS1Bs, (and his albums), a lot of ob-squire info on these early 70/71 models

 
Good Luck or should I say congratulations for chosing a rewarding hobby.
If it is not into pieces yet a good help is to keep parts together and mark it up in some ways
Separate plastic bags and a note inside or something like that ,, have all the bolts and washer pins and whatnot
in separate units.
A manual + A engine stand helps

The base leak perhaps is affected by the breather but it can leak of other reasons.
 
Well I've had the bike for a year now and it ran pretty good the couple of times I had it out. There's a lot of oil leaking on the top of the cases and I'm fairly sure it's the base gaskets. This is why I decided to pull it apart and freshen everything up. I've haven't done this before so I'm going to take my time and try to do it right. I've been gathering parts and have most of the stock front end but no luck with a front fender yet. I'm happy to see that it has the electronic ignition.

Congratulations for finding a good pretty nice, complete bike! You’ll find lots of good information here, be sure to check out the tech section. You will for sure want to read this article from the tech section,

https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650-top-end-buildup.52041/

Good luck with your build, you should consider keeping this post going and posting your progress and any questions you might have , right here.
 
Good Luck or should I say congratulations for chosing a rewarding hobby.
If it is not into pieces yet a good help is to keep parts together and mark it up in some ways
Separate plastic bags and a note inside or something like that ,, have all the bolts and washer pins and whatnot
in separate units.
A manual + A engine stand helps

The base leak perhaps is affected by the breather but it can leak of other reasons.
I’m taking tons of photos, making notes and doing the plastic bag thing. Got the engine stand too.
 
thats the charging system on the side of the crank. Has a PMA, not necessarily an upgrade. If it is from hoos racing it would b good but a MikesXS unit then caution is needed and checks done.

What type of ignition is it??
 
Aeehhh the setup with another bike in the background does not look as a rookie setup ---If I may say so
More like a professional shop .the high end lift on wheels Workbench + Metal on the floor.
Yep I have a couple of other bikes but I haven't done a restoration before. The checkerplate flooring is vinyl from Costco and a terrible mistake. Tires stain it and it has contracted so much in 8 years that there is a 1" gap in the seams where I used double face tape. Should have painted or used an epoxy finish. Far from a professional shop...more of a man cave in a 2 car garage.
 
Welcome from Victoria! Nice Bike! As Mailman suggested, that topend rebuild tech is invaluable. I used that a lot. If you need machine shop work I strongly recommend Mongoose Machine in Port Coquitlam. I gave them my head and barrels and sent them pistons, rings, and valves after they determined the oversize requirement based on the extensive scoring carnage it was in when I gave it to them. They set it all up and gave me back left and right side pistons, rings, and valves all set up for each of the four valve seats.
 
Welcome Stunnedbanana.

71 with a 73TX front end. Looks to be in quite good condition, (from what i can see in the pics).

Usually the leaks are from the head but on these guys that haven't been used for a while, a head torque can stop the oil leaks, just might work on the base gasket as well.

Whats your compression like??

you have been around for a while now and say you have been collecting parts for a rebuild. There are a lot of aftermarket suppliers for the hard to find 70XS1-73TX parts. If you have already done deap searches and found the info, post questions we may be able to help out

A lot of small changes happened on the XS1/XS1B mid production. Search for any threads by ToManyXS1Bs, (and his albums), a lot of ob-squire info on these early 70/71 models


I was wondering what year that front end was. I'll be selling or trading it. Compression is very good and doesn't smoke so the top end seems to be pretty good. I have to deal with the oil leak which I assumed was a base gasket issue. I have a full set of gaskets...seems a shame to pull the barrels off since the rings seem to be doing their job well.
Since I have the engine out I'm going to learn how to clean and polish it as well.
 

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Well if this was me I would consider the inspection of the engine breather

Somewhere in the back of my head is ringing --- clogged breather .Causes pressure inside cases ejecting oil

1645646277111.png



Then I would touch the cylinder head bolts see if they are tightened with torque wrench
They do come loose sometimes
There exists a re tightening sequence according to a service bulletin involving loosening one at a time
triple g Gary has it --and then re tightening it.

Should them be loose .. Re tightening + Waiting can be an option

Having said that I have rarely solved a leak via re tightening ( On Motorcycles ) . But having worn old bikes ones get used to a little leaks
It comes with the hobby and is nowhere close to what Harley owners or Brit Bike owners are prepared to accept
for some time.

The golden rule " Dont repair things if it aint broken "

And for some vintage bikes if you mess it up and afterwards straightening your back you are trying to find a part that is nowhere to be found.

If driving with a ( Small ) leak there is always a next year to do it .If the Re tightening don't work .

edit :: Anything known about how many Miles it has traveled
 
I have the bike completely disassembled and I’m going to do my best to learn how to do each step the right way. Before sandblasting the frame and other black painted parts, can the sticker on the steering head be properly replaced?
Search this forum. Search Google. He's an option I found in a few seconds.
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1156784639/yamaha-vin-id-chassis-plate-or-sticker?click_key=61a177b2af24ebb2fbdfedbaa6952d64907c5344:1156784639&click_sum=2d3b4f85&ref=shop_home_recs_1&crt=1

There are several options depending upon how spendy you want to get.
 
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