Hope you guess my name ( new member, sort of )

[John Regular]

I wanted to do one of those new member threads like I have read but I have actually been a member since 2013, Ive just never really engaged. I posted one thread in 2013 asking about torque specs and realized that I could find answers to most of my queries if I just searched the threads. So I have been lurking ever since throughout the years. It's been a great asset. I got my first XS650 in 2007 and I chopped it. I won't say what year it was but I didn't know any better. I was going to school after returning from the Middle East and I needed a distraction from all the stresses of school and civilian life. It worked, even though the bike still doesn't. It's an ongoing project. I have learned a little bit thanks mostly to this forum and YouTube. I fall in and out of obsession/fixation with these bikes and just acquired another project that is in way better shape than the chopper and will need all the help I can get. I'm not a mechanic, don't really have fab skills, never painted, don't even have a proper garage but I can break bolts and buy shit online. It's an expensive hobby but I love it. I probably be asking a lot of questions about the build and might start a thread but need to work on writing/communication skills. I can ramble and go off on tangents so thanks for your patience Looking forward to meeting some of yous guys. I will try to post a pic. It's a 1980 special with a ton of parts. I call it a caftracbratskitcase.

 

[Downeaster]

Well, if you've been lurking here, you know there's a crap-ton of information and a bunch of the most helpful folks I've ever seen on the innerwebz.

Welcome!

 

[John Regular]

Well, if you've been lurking here, you know there's a crap-ton of information and a bunch of the most helpful folks I've ever seen on the innerwebz.

Welcome!

Oh I know it, I just read Jessees build thread and Adamc's. How you guys narrow down problems is pretty amazing to me. I can get things to work sometimes but like I mentioned I am no mechanic. I'm sure I am going to make a lot of rookie mistakes along the way

 

[Niels B]

the engine appear to be in a very good condition + was it redone or did you find it like this_

 

[JJames]

Welcome back John. XS is one of the best bikes to learn on, not to mention a dedicated forum that's like a thousand-page owners manual. Ramble on.

 

[MrBultaco]

I won't say what year it was but I didn't know any better.

That's okay...it's been done before and prolly will again...
BTW: Welcome back to the forum.

 

[John Regular]

the engine appear to be in a very good condition + was it redone or did you find it like this_

The PO ( damn that sounds derogatory ) said he works as a machinist and did a top end job with the jugs off, checked all tolerances, gapped the rings ( even gave me the ring gapping kit ), rebuilt the forks and swing arm, new wheel bearings, and a bunch of other stuff. Included with the bike were boxes of parts and expensive looking accessories, it took me a couple of days to even figure out what was what. I was pretty stoked.

 

[Kevin Werner]

Pics, lots of pics. Surprising what some folks detect looking at good pics.
Welcome.

 

[John Regular]

Pics, lots of pics. Surprising what some folks detect looking at good pics.
Welcome.

I will, I'm working on converting pics to jpeg from whatever format Iphone has them in then deciding if I should start a build thread or just do individual threads per SNAFU as they arise. Still don't know what direction it should go. I really wanted something that looks like a tracker but it's got the 16" wheel and fat tires, and they are brand new. I think I will try to just make it function with what I have first. In the mean time I mocked up this, what do you guys think?

 

[Kevin Werner]

Lot of trackers with 16" rears. Do what you want to do... No shame here.My son has a very cool 750 kitted Tracker w/16 rear.

 

[650Skull]

Hey John, welcome back.

Sounds like the PO done some good work.

For me I'd get the muffles I wanted, sort out the electrics, check the charging system and get the bike running. Can work on the style and change out the wheels anytime. With what the PO has done it should b a reliable bike.

 

[John Regular]

Lot of trackers with 16" rears. Do what you want to do... No shame here.My son has a very cool 750 kitted Tracker w/16 rear.View attachment 337698

Nice, thanks for the advice. Someone once told me it's only right that I should play the way I feel it, or maybe I heard it somewhere else, anyway I think I will stick with that style/stance. I like being a little more upright than tucked down

 

[John Regular]

Hey John, welcome back.

Sounds like the PO done some good work.

For me I'd get the muffles I wanted, sort out the electrics, check the charging system and get the bike running. Can work on the style and change out the wheels anytime. With what the PO has done it should b a reliable bike.

Working on the electrics now, PO installed an XScharge PMA and ignition with E advance, wired it up for RM stator mofset type. Included in my box of mystery parts was a little black box that resembled a motogadget, I found out it's a Cycletronic NWT X21 control module so it's similar to motgadget where you just run a wire to the components. They even made a diagram specific for my bike so we'll see how that pans out

 

[John Regular]

Ok so after reading more build posts and seeing the depth of some of the resto/mods and the degree of technical expertise involved and lengths gone to, I can't consider what I'm doing a build. It's pretty much built and I'm just picking out the curtains. So I'm not going to start a separate build page, instead I'll post all I do on this thread instead. I'll post more pictures to explain where I think the bikes progress is and what debacles that I have already ran into and what I plan to do next. Please feel free to suggest, advise, criticize or even correct my grammar ( not sure debacle was the right word but I'm not going to change it). So, if the PO did all the things he said He did then most of the hard parts are done. I'll start with the motor.
The motor is complete up to the header pipes
said he did a top end job, took jugs off and checked tolerances, gapped rings, replaced cam bearings, adjusted everything.
there are new gaskets at the case. I believe he replaced the oil pump, filter clutch pushrod and seal, bendix gear and clutch because I found all the old broke shit in the boxes of parts he gave me. The starter has been deleted. XsCharge PMA and ignition w/E advance, coil, and mofset reg/rec installed. Bs34 carbs rebuilt and rejetted for foam pod, DIY cloth plug wires but check these plugs out
View attachment 337937View attachment 337938View attachment 337939

The suspension has had the forks rebuilt w/ progressive springs, seals, roller bearing neck, bronze bushings on the swingarm. New 13.5" shocks, new wheel bearings and new tires, a 30 tooth rear sprocket. There's a new Nissin master cylinder on the front, and a new Nissan master cylider uninstalled on the back. The calipers look stock.

I couldn't figure out how to mount it where the stock one mounts. It seemed like no matter where i could put it it would get smooshed by the swing arm and then I read the Welshman's tracker thread I believe it was and saw it mounted on the outside of the frame with rear sets. and then saw it again on that insane tracker thread

I think that's what the PO had planned, there were partial rear set pegs in the boxes of parts I got.
The only thing electrical done was the charging and ignition system. It came with this control module which I had to look up because these were the only markings on it.

I contacted the company (Cycletronic, has anyone worked with these?) and they provided me with this wiring diagram for kick only w/the components I have....
Which apparently I cannot upload. Anyway it's like a motogadget and seems pretty simple.. It came with micro button controls which are run internally through the bars. I have installed those and the bar end signals.

Right now the plan is to install the rest of the electrics and then do something with the rear frame. the loop was cut off to make a cafe racer but I want to add a street tracker type rail to the back and have been toying with the idea of mounting my original Speed Triple seat as it seems like it would fit. I'm also waiting on a tank that i ordered a month ago that I believe it will match up to better. It still needs fenders, license plate bracket, and some tabs here and there as every tab was ground off by PO. Oh! and the rear brake sorted.
"I know what I've done but tell me what did I miss?"

 

[5twins]

I'm pretty sure those are resistor plugs (BPR type). If you also have resistor spark plug caps, that's not good. You only want one instance of resistance in each plug line. That can be the plug, the cap, or the wire. More than one can make for too much resistance and may result in a weaker spark. That may be partly responsible for the dark plugs. But they may be from starting with the choke. That will blacken the plugs right up and it usually takes a good run down the road for a few miles to "burn" them clean again.

 

[Adamc]

I wanted to do one of those new member threads like I have read but I have actually been a member since 2013, Ive just never really engaged. I posted one thread in 2013 asking about torque specs and realized that I could find answers to most of my queries if I just searched the threads. So I have been lurking ever since throughout the years. It's been a great asset. I got my first XS650 in 2007 and I chopped it. I won't say what year it was but I didn't know any better. I was going to school after returning from the Middle East and I needed a distraction from all the stresses of school and civilian life. It worked, even though the bike still doesn't. It's an ongoing project. I have learned a little bit thanks mostly to this forum and YouTube. I fall in and out of obsession/fixation with these bikes and just acquired another project that is in way better shape than the chopper and will need all the help I can get. I'm not a mechanic, don't really have fab skills, never painted, don't even have a proper garage but I can break bolts and buy shit online. It's an expensive hobby but I love it. I probably be asking a lot of questions about the build and might start a thread but need to work on writing/communication skills. I can ramble and go off on tangents so thanks for your patience Looking forward to meeting some of yous guys. I will try to post a pic. It's a 1980 special with a ton of parts. I call it a caftracbratskitcase.
View attachment 337631

Welcome, and pleased you are now visible, no longer hiding in the shadows.
You bikes are great to start with; and like you I love to ‘meddle’ with stuff as I’m no mechanic. The guys here can and will get you through most things; just be accurate in your requests, act upon the advice, and oh yes pictures help a lot.
Watching with interest.
Ads.

 

[John Regular]

I'm pretty sure those are resistor plugs (BPR type). If you also have resistor spark plug caps, that's not good. You only want one instance of resistance in each plug line. That can be the plug, the cap, or the wire. More than one can make for too much resistance and may result in a weaker spark. That may be partly responsible for the dark plugs. But they may be from starting with the choke. That will blacken the plugs right up and it usually takes a good run down the road for a few miles to "burn" them clean again.

You are correct sir. The plugs are BPR7EIX 5ohm and the boots are also 5ohm, furthermore it looks like PO got them from Lowbrow and they are not intended for use with electronic ignitions. among the boxes of parts I found another diy wire kit. It doesn't appear to be resistive but doesn't have 90 degree boots either. I was concerned about the electrode, thought it had burned into a point, but that's how its supposed to look. I would post pics but something is going on with my phone or computer uploading right now. So... I'm going to try to fix that by turning it of, waiting a little while,,, and then turning it back on.

 

[John Regular]

Ok the old turn computer off then turn back on trick didn't work but I figured the problem out, sort of. Somehow my picture got put into this HEIC format that isn't compatible with whatever so I have to go through and convert a bunch back into jpegs. Don't know how I did it but I fixed it and that's how I usually fix vehicles. I go fuck with them and they start working so my family (sisters) think that I'm a good mechanic and constantly ask me to fix their cars.

 

[Its been a long time]

I suspect those Dyna plug wires/caps are resistance type.

 

[John Regular]

I suspect those Dyna plug wires/caps are resistance type.

I think you're right. Their site says the resistive graphite core wires are the ones you want for electronic ignitions these are conductive silicone core, if I understand right.