TeeCat
One-Mik Wonder
Hi, guys -
Having had my '73 for nearly 4 years (this coming August), I think I'm finally getting to the point where I might be able to put a few fun miles on her this season, instead of just troubleshooting, dialing in, fixing, etc.. It's a good feeling. I have been painfully slow and deliberate about it, perhaps not always doing things the recommended way, admittedly, because of time and ability constraints, and so on... but I have the bike (bought as a non-runner) to the point where everything seems to work except the missing high-beam indicator light and the neutral light. Plus, in the process of fixing things, I often replaced/upgraded them. And she sports some pretty trick bits, like a single carb conversion. Not bad for a hack like me, I suppose.
Anyway, the one thing that continues to bother me consistently is a lingering oil seep that, as far as I can tell, is likely coming from between the case halves forward of, or around, the alternator. I have replaced the crank seal in situ, and the output shaft seal. Both of those replacements seem to have worked, and the clutch rod seal was dry at the time, as was the shift shaft seal.
But I still encounter weepage/seepage. It's not terrible, but it's enough to make a little mess of the left underside of the bike if I don't practice cleanliness regularly. I just about have my single carb conversion dialed in (I hope, after some minor air induction changes... still need to test), and the bike seems to run well, doesn't smoke, etc.. But I think that the reality of this oil seepage is, at some point, going to be at least a bottom end scenario at some point.
The upshot is that it might make practical sense, at that point, to refresh/rebuild this motor. The reality of my life, though, is that I will likely not have the ability or time to approach anything like that because it may never get completed. Dirty Harry said, "A man's got to know his limitations."
So, basically:
1. What is the general consensus among you on the need for a rebuild? When is when?
2. What does a rebuild of a running XS motor generally cost if an ethical pro or skilled amateur does it?
3. How much cost/labor can be saved by my pulling the motor myself, or is it wiser to just take the bike to the willing/qualified mech and approach it that way?
Thoughts and recommendations welcome. I'm going to evaluate further this season, weather permitting. Right now, MD is a swamp, so this is all hypothetical at the moment.
Thanks, all!
TC
Having had my '73 for nearly 4 years (this coming August), I think I'm finally getting to the point where I might be able to put a few fun miles on her this season, instead of just troubleshooting, dialing in, fixing, etc.. It's a good feeling. I have been painfully slow and deliberate about it, perhaps not always doing things the recommended way, admittedly, because of time and ability constraints, and so on... but I have the bike (bought as a non-runner) to the point where everything seems to work except the missing high-beam indicator light and the neutral light. Plus, in the process of fixing things, I often replaced/upgraded them. And she sports some pretty trick bits, like a single carb conversion. Not bad for a hack like me, I suppose.
Anyway, the one thing that continues to bother me consistently is a lingering oil seep that, as far as I can tell, is likely coming from between the case halves forward of, or around, the alternator. I have replaced the crank seal in situ, and the output shaft seal. Both of those replacements seem to have worked, and the clutch rod seal was dry at the time, as was the shift shaft seal.
But I still encounter weepage/seepage. It's not terrible, but it's enough to make a little mess of the left underside of the bike if I don't practice cleanliness regularly. I just about have my single carb conversion dialed in (I hope, after some minor air induction changes... still need to test), and the bike seems to run well, doesn't smoke, etc.. But I think that the reality of this oil seepage is, at some point, going to be at least a bottom end scenario at some point.
The upshot is that it might make practical sense, at that point, to refresh/rebuild this motor. The reality of my life, though, is that I will likely not have the ability or time to approach anything like that because it may never get completed. Dirty Harry said, "A man's got to know his limitations."
So, basically:
1. What is the general consensus among you on the need for a rebuild? When is when?
2. What does a rebuild of a running XS motor generally cost if an ethical pro or skilled amateur does it?
3. How much cost/labor can be saved by my pulling the motor myself, or is it wiser to just take the bike to the willing/qualified mech and approach it that way?
Thoughts and recommendations welcome. I'm going to evaluate further this season, weather permitting. Right now, MD is a swamp, so this is all hypothetical at the moment.
Thanks, all!
TC