lambkr01
XS650 Member
Hi all, I joined here a few weeks ago and have been lurking around so I thought it was time to introduce myself!
For the last few years I've been telling my dad that I want to fix up one of his old bikes... a 1979 xs650 Special. He bought it used in the early '90s and rode it for a few years before putting it up when he bought his first Harley. We're not too sure when it was last run, but we moved into the house they are currently at in 2000. He doesn't think it's been run since then, so we're looking roughly 13 years of sitting in the barn. It was running well when he put it in the barn, so I'm hoping to put some work into it and get it back on the road by the summer.
Last week I finally got it out of the barn at my parents house and got it on a trailer and into my garage now.
I've only done a little work so far. First, I made sure it wasn't seized up. Then I took the carbs off and gave them a good cleaning, took off the tank (there was some gas in it but it seems to be rust-free), and got a new battery. Not much so far, but it's a start.
This weekend I'm going to replace the fuel lines (they were all dried up and brittle so they mostly broke when removing the carbs and tank) and bleed the brake lines. After that I'll get the battery charged and see if I can get it to start. There's a lot cleaning up and polishing to do too, but my first goal is to get it running.
If I can figure out how to add pictures I'll do that soon.
You guys have been a big help so far with getting me steered in the right direction, so thanks for that! See you around!
-Kyle
For the last few years I've been telling my dad that I want to fix up one of his old bikes... a 1979 xs650 Special. He bought it used in the early '90s and rode it for a few years before putting it up when he bought his first Harley. We're not too sure when it was last run, but we moved into the house they are currently at in 2000. He doesn't think it's been run since then, so we're looking roughly 13 years of sitting in the barn. It was running well when he put it in the barn, so I'm hoping to put some work into it and get it back on the road by the summer.
Last week I finally got it out of the barn at my parents house and got it on a trailer and into my garage now.
I've only done a little work so far. First, I made sure it wasn't seized up. Then I took the carbs off and gave them a good cleaning, took off the tank (there was some gas in it but it seems to be rust-free), and got a new battery. Not much so far, but it's a start.
This weekend I'm going to replace the fuel lines (they were all dried up and brittle so they mostly broke when removing the carbs and tank) and bleed the brake lines. After that I'll get the battery charged and see if I can get it to start. There's a lot cleaning up and polishing to do too, but my first goal is to get it running.
If I can figure out how to add pictures I'll do that soon.
You guys have been a big help so far with getting me steered in the right direction, so thanks for that! See you around!
-Kyle