Luthor's Build

SolidLex

XS650 Addict
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Location
Virginia
Earlier this year I acquired an XS650 for $700. It was in horrible condition, and probably was sitting outside in the woods somewhere for many decades. I was completely fine with that, since I wanted a challenge to completely restore the engine, customize the frame, etc. I'll try to post as many pictures as possible of the process. Thanks for taking the time to look. Here it goes...
 
As you can see, unfortunately I don't own a garage, but I'm not married. That said, I have a nice space in which I have a workbench where I lay the parts and work on them one by one. This is how I got the bike.
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And here's the engine. I spend quite some time scraping caked dirt, spider nests, spiderwebs and all other kinds of shit off this engine before I even started taking it apart.
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Guess they off to the powder coaters?!:D

Nothing like a challenge! Looks like you got your work cut out for you!

Good luck and keep us posted!:thumbsup:
 
Somewhere along the road I changed my mind about the frame after I saw a pic online... I'll post it eventually of what the final goal will be like, with a twist of course. Some of these pictures are just damn scary of what years of neglect do to an engine.

Guess they off to the powder coaters?!:D

Nothing like a challenge! Looks like you got your work cut out for you!

Good luck and keep us posted!:thumbsup:
 
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Had to work on something else while I did the research on the way to split the engine cases. The spokes and rims were beyond saving so I took a set of bolt cutters and kept the hubs.
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Finally split.
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More parts to sort, restore, or just hands down replace.
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Off to Hugh's Hand Built!
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If you're not bleeding, you're not trying...
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Mother fucker!!!
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So I got a portable media blaster from HF to start working on some parts, but I was spending too much $ on media since it couldn't be recycled.
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But I was motivated by the results I was getting.
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Definitely needs to be replaced.
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Still some room for improvement.
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I was initially thinking of going with Monstercraftsman brat style, but I changed my mind after seeing a pic online of a VooDoo Vintage frame and I took the neck tube off the frame and discarded the rest.
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Wow nice and clean! I was so pleased when I got mine back from the blasters!

Just WASH ans WASH and WASH that engine with hot soapy water, then get some compressed air or a steam cleaner and go into ALL the holes, and then WASH again!

That shit goes everywhere. I got about a tablespoon full of sand out of mine after it looked clean!

I washed with soapy water, then rinsed with hot water, then repeated it three times, then steam cleaned the holes, and then hot water and soap again followed by hot water. get the engine dry as soon as you can, and then add a light coat of oil over all the bits that start to flash rust a bit(it rubs off as soon as you add the oil)
 
Remember the pistons?
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The workbench was the best $80 I ever spent.
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I wasn't happy with the stance on the TC Bros engine stand so I got on eBay and found a guy selling a stand he made, along with an engine case, for $80!!!
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Damn good find.
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Took the original engine cases to get bead blasted, after I paid someone to remove that broken stud. They did an ok job, but the media they used was too aggressive and pitted the aluminum. Damn it.
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Here they are side by side.
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I pretty much decided to get a blasting cabinet from HF, the small one, and ran an air hose around my apartment all the way to the balcony. I'm single for a reason. Hehehe
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I was not pleased with the company that blasted the cases, and decided to blast the ones I got off eBay inside the blasting cabinet I got from HF. To be honest, it was VERY time consuming, but I was happy with the finish I was getting on some of the parts. I want it to be clean, but I don't want it to be THAT clean. The final finish on the frame and some parts will compliment the finish on the cases and parts that will not be powder coated. Here are the cylinders powder coated in flat black.
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Here's a better look at how the cases ended up after being blasted by that company.
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No sir. I don't like it.
 
So I went to work on the other cases and well, you get the idea.
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Cases done. I love the reaction on people's faces when they come visit and see this.
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Now to follow "Airwolfie" engine build.
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I REALLY like the flat black accents. Do you?
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Goodies!
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I had the carbs that came with the bike inside a bin with a bunch of other parts that I'm not sure if I'll use or not. They'll probably end up on eBay after being restored so I can get some $ back for more parts. Being poor sucks. LOL
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After doing some research, there was just no point in restoring these.
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But I got lucky and found a good set of carbs on eBay, and everything I wanted to do to them was already done. Here they are:
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Cases put together!
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Getting there...
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And yes I know the cylinders are backwards. I was just trying to see how the contrast of powder coated parts goes with the aluminum finish. It's Sunday and there's no point in ordering parts, so a good cup of coffee will be a good finish to posting all these pictures. The reason why the cylinders are not in, is because my dumbass only got TWO piston pin clips... Ugh.
 
Awesome, awesome, awesome!!! Looking really nice man!! I love how your engine build goes almost exactly in the order I did mine!!:D

I think you are the first one to build off my thread!(well, publically!) Looking great! It put a smile on my face!:thumbsup:
 
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