I am on my 3rd set of Shinko 777s on my Roadstar. There are a good tire for me and have never made me feel awkward in any riding condition or emergency.
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gggGary's latest XS project "madness"
- Thread starter gggGary
- Start date
Most madness things have been bit n pieces elsewhere. It's really not needed much work the last few years.. 
Recently a carb started pouring gas, I "found" the problem, was a some sort of debris stuck in the float valve. But a little bee was buzzing 'round my skull that there was more to it. Took it out for that "last long fall ride" and part way through she started dumping gas on the ground at stops. I kinda suspected something wasn't right to have let bug parts into the float valve, so this time drained the fuel out of the tank and sure enough the petcock stand pipe/screen was just laying in the bottom of the tank and a dead bug or two had got in the fuel system and starting messing with stuff.
That tank is VERY clean inside but had spent some time hanging in the rafters, mebby with no cap on it. Didn't hurt to go through the petcocks clean and fix a couple things. I'll have to order some o-rings cuz I used up all the #29 from the red metric o-ring box on other petcock installs. This tank had been on the 79 survivor when I bought it and just grabbed it for madness to get better range on a trip without doing an R&R.
Recently a carb started pouring gas, I "found" the problem, was a some sort of debris stuck in the float valve. But a little bee was buzzing 'round my skull that there was more to it. Took it out for that "last long fall ride" and part way through she started dumping gas on the ground at stops. I kinda suspected something wasn't right to have let bug parts into the float valve, so this time drained the fuel out of the tank and sure enough the petcock stand pipe/screen was just laying in the bottom of the tank and a dead bug or two had got in the fuel system and starting messing with stuff.
That tank is VERY clean inside but had spent some time hanging in the rafters, mebby with no cap on it. Didn't hurt to go through the petcocks clean and fix a couple things. I'll have to order some o-rings cuz I used up all the #29 from the red metric o-ring box on other petcock installs. This tank had been on the 79 survivor when I bought it and just grabbed it for madness to get better range on a trip without doing an R&R.
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Interesting...I had never thought about bugs getting into a fuel tank.
I'll bet they died with a smile on their faces though....
I'll bet they died with a smile on their faces though....
racerdave
^ Gone not forgotten ^
JB Weld fix’s everythingMost madness things have been bit n pieces elsewhere. It's really not needed much work the last few years..
Recently a carb started pouring gas, I "found" the problem, was a some sort of debris stuck in the float valve. But a little bee was buzzing 'round my skull that there was more to it. Took it out for that "last long fall ride" and part way through she started dumping gas on the ground at stops. I kinda suspected something wasn't right to have let bug parts into the float valve, so this time drained the fuel out of the tank and sure enough the petcock stand pipe/screen was just laying in the bottom of the tank and a dead bug or two had got in the fuel system and starting messing with stuff.
View attachment 201907
That tank is VERY clean inside but had spent some time hanging in the rafters, mebby with no cap on it. Didn't hurt to go through the petcocks clean and fix a couple things. I'll have to order some o-rings cuz I used up all the #29 from the red metric o-ring box on other petcock installs. This tank had been on the 79 survivor when I bought it and just grabbed it for madness to get better range on a trip without doing an R&R.
Sometimes the screen is a loose fit in the petcock, but this one is a tight fit, had to tap it into place. Suspect a PO had it apart and didn't get it seated well.
Funny thing is this tank has been on madness for several years with no issues.
It has a significant todo list while it's on the lift. (don't they all?)
I ended up replacing my vacuum petcocks with simple manual ones. My original petcock screen did the same thing, the new manual ones each have little separate screens.Sometimes the screen is a loose fit in the petcock, but this one is a tight fit, had to tap it into place. Suspect a PO had it apart and didn't get it seated well.
Funny thing is this tank has been on madness for several years with no issues.
It has a significant todo list while it's on the lift. (don't they all?)
That's why I added an additional filter down the line. But they went on pretty tight when I installed them.
These vacuum petcocks work perfectly, (when the standpipe/screen is in place) no drips, leaks for the last several years and I've had several other sets of vacuum petcocks working perfectly. I have used a bit of aluminum pop can as a shim to tighten the standpipe to petcock fit on other tanks.
Using fresh OEM 4 hole rubber valves, smoothing, polishing metal sealing surfaces, and finding a perfect fit o-ring for the end of the vacuum operated plunger are all important. The length of the plunger and shape of the aluminum disk that the diaphragms push against is critical, a bit of careful massaging of the thin disk can reestablish "enough" effective length on them, the open/shut travel of that plunger is very short.
Using fresh OEM 4 hole rubber valves, smoothing, polishing metal sealing surfaces, and finding a perfect fit o-ring for the end of the vacuum operated plunger are all important. The length of the plunger and shape of the aluminum disk that the diaphragms push against is critical, a bit of careful massaging of the thin disk can reestablish "enough" effective length on them, the open/shut travel of that plunger is very short.
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After 3 years and 4700 miles the Shinko 777 Bias ply was a goner, like all my tires the middle was bald, plenty of edges yet.
Have to say 4700 miles out of a rear tire is pretty darned good. (1700 of that in the last week). probably 700 past the needs replacing stage, was doing regular checks this whole trip and was getting real leery of riding wet roads getting home...
Up next; Continental Conti Road Attack 3 130/80R-18 66V Radial Rear.
About time I have a radial on the rear to match the front. which went on just before heading down to the Ozarks rally.
Previous front was also a radial, I'm not a boy racer these daze but have had no issues with the mismatch.
One of the downfalls of customizing, tire choices for WM5 18 rims are VERY limited.
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Got the Conti Road Attack on.
Before; (when the last tire was new)
Got my money out of that one 4700 miles Shinko 777
While the wheel was off decided to made some chips.
sanded the well used rotor with a flap disk while spinning in the lathe
Started drilling, one 7/32 bit, 96 holes, no pilot drill, no sharpening needed. Very light chamfers, with a 5/16" bit in the battery drill.
Bit of paint, done and back together.
After;
Should mention that Shinko had 6) 1/4 oz weights this Conti needed ZERO weights.
Then had go ride horseys, a "test ride" later.
After 5000? miles the custom aluminum sprocket needs replacing also, will get ahold of Rebelgears Monday.
Before; (when the last tire was new)
Got my money out of that one 4700 miles Shinko 777
While the wheel was off decided to made some chips.
sanded the well used rotor with a flap disk while spinning in the lathe
Started drilling, one 7/32 bit, 96 holes, no pilot drill, no sharpening needed. Very light chamfers, with a 5/16" bit in the battery drill.
Bit of paint, done and back together.
After;
Should mention that Shinko had 6) 1/4 oz weights this Conti needed ZERO weights.
Then had go ride horseys, a "test ride" later.
After 5000? miles the custom aluminum sprocket needs replacing also, will get ahold of Rebelgears Monday.
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Brassneck
XS650 Guru
That came out great!
Looks great. I like the look of a drilled disc. The Center wear of your rear tires suggests Hooligan riding to me…. Lol. With my underpowered bike and granny like driving style, I hope to get decent wear out of my tires on the XS.
Although I’m nowhere near needing tires for the Ducati, I’ve been forewarned that the factory rear tire is only good for about 3K miles. Probably much less than I’d do in a season, but compared to a car, bike tires get eaten up too quickly.
Although I’m nowhere near needing tires for the Ducati, I’ve been forewarned that the factory rear tire is only good for about 3K miles. Probably much less than I’d do in a season, but compared to a car, bike tires get eaten up too quickly.
Well the poop that came with the bike
claims it's a Bob Bertaut built 750 motor. I see some fancy parts inside the valve covers.
When I got it it was running VM38s and megaphones on 1 3/4 pipes. it was a dog til 5K then I was lucky to shift before blowing through redline.
I kinda detuned it with smaller carbs and real mufflers but the motor's untouched.
Those VM38's are still around in the SOIR.
claims it's a Bob Bertaut built 750 motor. I see some fancy parts inside the valve covers.
When I got it it was running VM38s and megaphones on 1 3/4 pipes. it was a dog til 5K then I was lucky to shift before blowing through redline.
Those VM38's are still around in the SOIR.
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Hooligan.... 
I see what you mean about it dogging at the lower RPM’s, but boy it sure sounded good when it was wound up! 
I cringe every time I hear that flub taking off in first. 
Thanks for the reminder.
Thanks for the reminder.
Yep.
Man, that really sounds good when it "gets up on the pipe" as we used to call it in the two stroke world. 
