Adopting another problem child

Spent the morning running an errand with the wife but got home around 3 and figured I would just do a little cleanup on the engine and get it ready to tear down. It was covered with all the usual grime in all the usual places. CFB41662-C432-4253-968B-F34EBCC16E28.jpeg7B4DA8B5-622B-4F54-AC42-A5A7111916A7.jpeg I actually got cleaner than any engine I’ve ever torn into. I thought it looked pretty good.D027394F-C388-4249-BA38-6B8D48DAEB58.jpeg You always find the places the PO was and things they did. Looks like they didn’t have the right socket lol1E826EDD-8911-49D2-B725-C68900E83EA0.jpeg
everyhing going in looked pristine. Cam bearings, chain, advance rod, everything appeared well oiled.16E0AC0E-2781-452E-B6AC-2C81D3F33821.jpeg80A1B08F-6570-42D9-8444-5CE15963B563.jpeg34A23E10-1691-4E23-968E-D50272E5776B.jpeg
Then I found the culprit. Left side! Why always the left side?DF4E9E5D-09D2-4F22-B116-0ECC80AF160A.jpeg Some light pressure on the crank nut and tapping on the piston with a wooden block she popped free. I’m hoping I can clean it up if not we’ll see what the machine shop says. Overall the inside was not too bad. Not having a speedo I can’t guess at the mileage on the engine but the chain had enough slack to allow it to move with the adjuster out.9E272D53-46E2-4428-BE22-52D95A6C41C9.jpegE572A488-5EE3-4078-A7B4-4B1A63E1D78C.jpeg87857079-AF59-43C8-9B2E-C84E4F69D364.jpeg5B2F96AC-3958-4613-8422-D315EB37EB11.jpeg
 
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If 75mm, 1st over (.25mm) should clean that up. Just depends on what ya want.
 
Still looking for a shop that will do my cylinder. The place I used to go closed down and the guy spends all his time riding now. I suppose the other option is to replace the jugs with a set that will clean up nice with a hone and keep my stock pistons. There are a lot available on eBay but it’s hard to make a judgement call from a pic.
 
I may have an option for you. Might have a decent set of liners. Let me see if I can pull them down from storage.
 
If interested I’ve got what I think is a decent set of liners that would work with a hone. I dont have the means to measure the bores though. I’ve got them heating up in the grille right now to pop out of the cylinder. If interested shoot me a PM.
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And they are out… I’ll let them cool overnight and give them a good cleaning to see what we have. The grille discolored them but I think that will scrub right off. First time I’ve tried removing them in a grille. Easy peasy Japaneasy!

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If ya'll help me find a good used Serv-Equip. or Precision Manufacturing (FL) boring bar, I'll set-up shop and do bore jobs. Either that, or we'll drop-ship it to Jim's house and(he can add to his repertoire ) I'll take royalties. lol.
 
Now that it looks like there may be a happy ending to this story down the road I don’t feel bad about picking up a few things for the girl.654BD6F5-A77A-49F5-923E-C60F5FE17830.jpeg Seat, center stand and turn signal brackets. The ones off the 500 are smaller although the turn signals are the same, seat pan was totally rotted and center stand looks like this.image.jpg
 
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........ Precision Manufacturing (FL) boring bar, I'll set-up shop and do bore jobs. Either that, or we'll drop-ship it to Jim's house and(he can add to his repertoire ) I'll take royalties. lol.
Don't laugh... almost scored one a year ago.....
 
I'm in - too many people having too much trouble getting decent service. Lost art, losing more everyday.
Problem is that’s counterintuitive to being retired. Puts you back on a schedule doing things for people that could care less about anything other than a need and want.
 
Indeed, you are right. I don't desire having customers, also don't want to wait 2-3 months for service (issue locally). But, it's preserving history - both the process and the bikes. Hence, the "cake and eat it too" idea of shipping it to Jim
 
I'm in - too many people having too much trouble getting decent service. Lost art, losing more everyday.

That’s no joke. I could not find a machine shop to bore my cylinders here where I live. Every place I called either did Harleys ONLY or only automotive.
 
I’m pretty sure I could get a small engine shop to take it if I really had to but if I can get by with a new sleeve, well that’s becoming a lost art also and it’s one I can do in my garage.
 
I have been doing a lot deeper comparison checking of part #’s between the ‘74 TX500 I picked up and this ‘75 XS650B.
I’m very happy to see practically everything on the bike excluding frame, tank, seat and fork lowers, exhaust and a few other items that actually separate the two bikes are seemingly interchangeable. Wiring harness and electrical relays and components look to be PNP. How cost effective is that!
 
Even if the long middle number matches, if the 1st 3 and last couple numbers or letters don't, it may not be the same part. Yes, many of the electrical parts will swap but I don't think the harness will. It is a good source for plugs and colored wires though. I'm pretty sure the front wheel hub is narrower but the rear wheel can be adapted with some added spacers. I'm running one on my '78 at the moment .....

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The benefit is the cush drive sprocket mount .....

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