Well boys I have to confess, I am a bit of a "shelf junkie". I do throw stuff away....but not very often and it has to be REALLY wasted before I do.
Okay that's enough time wasted on my sickness......
back on topic.
It DIDN'T rain all day yesterday but I had to work late and was beat when I got home. This morning I had to go back into work to turn on some lights for the owner....then back home. I took the "low" road and pushed the bike out of the shop and around to the driveway. BUT.....here in NC you are either hauling/cutting/spliting fire wood OR cutting grass. Since it's been raining the past few days I'd let the grass go so I needed to at "least" get the front done before I tried the bike.
Now lets back up a bit....I got the bike and woke it up from a long sleep....you know...carbs, front brakes, fluids and filters, ect....and it started and ran. But I "think" what happened is that some of the junk around the valves finally came loose and lodged on the valve seats and I ended up with no compression at all....and the bike would not start.
Time to go into the top end and while I was at it update the ignition. So....new plugs, HT leads, coils, condensor, and points. Two bent valves replaced ( I think I bent them messing with the timing) and seats cleaned up. New valve stem seals, cam seals and o-rings. Deglazed cylinders and new rings. All new gaskets where needed.
Got the front yard mowed....gota finish the back yard right after I finish this. Pushed the bike out of the garage, turned both petcocks on, turned the key and kill switch on , choked it.....and gave it a kick. Nothing......kicked it again.....nothing...one more time and nothing. I've been around vintage bikes long enough to know....if all's right...it SHOULD start with one kick. Damnit..........
.......then I smelled it.....gas??????????????
Quick look under the bike and one of the carbs was over flowing....
. Turned both petcocks off and found something to tap (flame suit on) them with. Turned one on at a time to see which one it was....well, which ever one it was cleared and sealed itself because no more overflow. Key back on, kill switch on, both petcocks on and choke back on....to hell with the kick starter....I pushed the button and it came alive!!!!!!!!!!!! YEE HAW!!!!! (damn that's going to spoil me)
Took it out for a wee bit and back to the garage to check the timing with the light...had to adjust both sets of points but it's spot on now.
No leaks (so far, fingers crossed) No smoke, those cheapo rings ( made in Japan
) 5twins mentioned in another thread, bedded in right off the bat!!!!! sweet.
Now I'm letting it cool and as soon as I finish mowing the back yard then go for another short ride. Once it cools off again.....I'll do a re-torque.
I've said it before and I'll say it again....I am NO mechanic, never have been, never will be. I'm ALWAYS amazed when something I've worked on actually runs
. I figure if I can do it......pretty much anybody can.
Thanks for all the help.....it meant more than you'll ever know.
Gordon in NC
1975 XS650B it's a runner again
1975 XS650B pile-o-parts
and a few BSA unit singles