Jake650
XS650 Addict
Well it's been awhile so I thought I would give ya all an update. The bike is completely disassembled and I'll be getting it to my buddy for powder coating. For the most part disassembly was uneventful. The biggest problem I had was getting the front hub off the axle. Seeing as those are had to come by, caution was the focus. The backing plate was frozen to the axle and after three days of Krol oil and occasional heating it would still just not budge. I believe it was after that third beer I decided the only way it was going to come apart was to cut down the right side of the axle, remove the drum and work with just the backing plate and axle.
Have to let you ya all know this was undertaken only because I have an extra front axle. Well I got it cut down so the drum would slip off and was able to press the axle out supporting the backing plate at the bearing area. I'll be heading up to my buddys shop tomorrow to clean and blast both front and rear hubs for through inspection and prep for polishing.
The forks had me going for awhile but putting them in the lathe using the lowest gear as a brake the outer tube nut finally yielded without the use of heat or leverage. Have to say I was smiling ear to ear over that one.
Naturally the disassembly process resulted in finding a number of parts that will hopefully be able to be replaced. I'll be posting a want add in the near future hoping to trade off some early XS parts for them. One question I do need some assistance on is the inner fork tubes. The ones I have a pretty heavily pitted up by the lower triple tree clamp. I cleaned them up with a soft brass wire brush and Simichrome polish, whereas they are better it is something I would like to replace. So the question is does anyone know of a source for new inner fork tubes? If there is no source for new ones is rechroming possible? If rechroming is possible would the pits need to be ground out?
Lastly the front motor mounts came out good. Well at least the second set did. I bored the lightening hole off location so with enough material for another set I made them over.
As I begin cleaning up parts Ill post some pics of how that goes.
Have to let you ya all know this was undertaken only because I have an extra front axle. Well I got it cut down so the drum would slip off and was able to press the axle out supporting the backing plate at the bearing area. I'll be heading up to my buddys shop tomorrow to clean and blast both front and rear hubs for through inspection and prep for polishing.
The forks had me going for awhile but putting them in the lathe using the lowest gear as a brake the outer tube nut finally yielded without the use of heat or leverage. Have to say I was smiling ear to ear over that one.
Naturally the disassembly process resulted in finding a number of parts that will hopefully be able to be replaced. I'll be posting a want add in the near future hoping to trade off some early XS parts for them. One question I do need some assistance on is the inner fork tubes. The ones I have a pretty heavily pitted up by the lower triple tree clamp. I cleaned them up with a soft brass wire brush and Simichrome polish, whereas they are better it is something I would like to replace. So the question is does anyone know of a source for new inner fork tubes? If there is no source for new ones is rechroming possible? If rechroming is possible would the pits need to be ground out?
Lastly the front motor mounts came out good. Well at least the second set did. I bored the lightening hole off location so with enough material for another set I made them over.
As I begin cleaning up parts Ill post some pics of how that goes.