First Build! 81 XS Cafe

[Skipadelphia]

So ive been meaning to start a build thread for my 81 xs650 I bought last May, so here it is!!!

I bought the bike because I could use something to wrench on in my free time. So far shes given me ups and downs but with the help from you guys, I have made some progress!

 

[Skipadelphia]

So after ripping out the spinal cord of the bike (wiring harness) with no real automotive knowledge I realized that I may have acted prematurely. I went ahead and bought a manual and started to attempt the rewire. She may not have looked pretty, but I got her to start!!!

 

[Skipadelphia]

So now on to tank color, First I was thinking like a black and orange looking bike but after messing around with Hemi orange header paint, I did not like the finish much. So I decided to go with a raw steel look instead

 

[Skipadelphia]

Victory! or so I thought....

 

[Skipadelphia]

Carb issues!!

As I stated before I have little to no automotive knowledge. So I researched and utilized my shop manual and started to tinker.....

Tinkering became "hey lets take the whole bike apart and put it all back together.

Painted the frame with some appliance paint, bought a new gasket kit, and started dismantling.

 

[Skipadelphia]

Started to look like a bike again,

Rewired it right this time with the help of a friend.

got an old CB mounted box to mount under the seat for battery and electronics.

 

[vsop-dk]

Looking good, working out the same time is a good thing My engine seems heavier rofl.

Keep up the build thread, ill we watching.

 

[Skipadelphia]

haha thanks man!

 

[funky]

Hi Buddy That made me smile bought back memories of when i strpped my xs down started in jan should be finished real soon best of luck with your project looks real nice

 

[Skipadelphia]

So ive got her all back together and running down the road, just cannot figure out why she dies after about 5 miles of riding. Im thinking its the float. Ive measured it and reset it about 4 times now and it still seems to run out of gas. Maybe a vacuum leak? or a cloggy petcock on the gas tank. Still tinkering to figure it out!

 

[angus67]

when it starts to stutter, open the gas cap. vent may be blocked. Or ride around with a clean rag stuffed in the hole. Classic!

 

[ambulancedriver]

when it starts to stutter, open the gas cap. vent may be blocked. Or ride around with a clean rag stuffed in the hole. Classic!

I agree with the vent possibly being blocked. Did you ever clear out the gas tank? Micro trash in the fuel lines can mess with the float. Just my two cents.