I first found this forum around the first of July after watching a you tube of a XS650 build by OldBiker. I learned parts were available for the XS and with the information and expertise on this forum I was fired up!
So happened I dug out a 77 XS650 I had stashed in the back of the barn behind a 71 Chevelle over 30 years ago.
I wish to thank, especially, and in no special order, the efforts of Jim, XSLeo, 5Twins, Peanut, 650Skull, Mailman, 2Many, MaxPete, & gggGary in providing the info I needed to restore this bike. I built the bike in doors so I haven't started it yet but I have no doubt it will perform. (After many hundreds of hours and a few thousand dollars it had better...I do have whiskey) The only thing I don't have is the little rubber cover that goes over the front caliper bleeder. Who knows where it went? I can't say you didn't tell me to Squeeze the Spring on the Starter Bendix and check it with a scale. That was a do-over. ( Turned fine with the plugs out. Lucky I checked it with the plugs in! ) Way back there some place 5Twins answered a question like " Well, yeah you can get oil up to the top end IF your prepared to kick a while." (on a new build) I think he ment one could retire again on that job. I never did see oil up at the tappets even running the starter with the plugs out. ( I didn't do that much. Didn't want to run the starter any more that I had to) By the time I had caught my breath from kicking the oil probably had run back down in the bottom and I ain't no spring chicken. I also didn't put the pump up dry but...She will work. Before I roll it out in the heat, to start it and do all the post start checks, I want to replace the carb bowl screws with allen head. Hind sight IS 20-20. The bike is kinda like my ole lady. She don't look too bad from a distance but a little closer and some parts of her does!
Ya'll got some good looking bikes and I hate to put this one up there but I'll try to get a pix of it up soon if that's ok?
I do have one question. Point plate rotation; is CW rotation advance and CCW rotation retard? That timing chain was TIGHT and I was just able to get it static timed at full CCW.
Thanks again for all the great info and sorry for the long post.
Thu
So happened I dug out a 77 XS650 I had stashed in the back of the barn behind a 71 Chevelle over 30 years ago.
I wish to thank, especially, and in no special order, the efforts of Jim, XSLeo, 5Twins, Peanut, 650Skull, Mailman, 2Many, MaxPete, & gggGary in providing the info I needed to restore this bike. I built the bike in doors so I haven't started it yet but I have no doubt it will perform. (After many hundreds of hours and a few thousand dollars it had better...I do have whiskey) The only thing I don't have is the little rubber cover that goes over the front caliper bleeder. Who knows where it went? I can't say you didn't tell me to Squeeze the Spring on the Starter Bendix and check it with a scale. That was a do-over. ( Turned fine with the plugs out. Lucky I checked it with the plugs in! ) Way back there some place 5Twins answered a question like " Well, yeah you can get oil up to the top end IF your prepared to kick a while." (on a new build) I think he ment one could retire again on that job. I never did see oil up at the tappets even running the starter with the plugs out. ( I didn't do that much. Didn't want to run the starter any more that I had to) By the time I had caught my breath from kicking the oil probably had run back down in the bottom and I ain't no spring chicken. I also didn't put the pump up dry but...She will work. Before I roll it out in the heat, to start it and do all the post start checks, I want to replace the carb bowl screws with allen head. Hind sight IS 20-20. The bike is kinda like my ole lady. She don't look too bad from a distance but a little closer and some parts of her does!
Ya'll got some good looking bikes and I hate to put this one up there but I'll try to get a pix of it up soon if that's ok?
I do have one question. Point plate rotation; is CW rotation advance and CCW rotation retard? That timing chain was TIGHT and I was just able to get it static timed at full CCW.
Thanks again for all the great info and sorry for the long post.
Thu