Second XS650, 1977 Standard

[FrankS]

Bought a second within a month of the first. But it's a Standard which I slightly prefer over a Special.
On day 2 I've already removed the sissy bar and the crash bars.
Still have to switch out those handlebars and find a spoked front wheel.
Not running yet but I love an easy project.
I'll very likely be asking for help on this one too!

 

[FrankS]

The seller, a slightly older fellow than me, said that he bought this 1977 Standard new in April of 1978. In the showroom he saw the new 1978 Special and I guess this stuck because some years later he installed the Special handlebar and front wheel on his bike because he wanted to change things up and liked the look.

 

[jetmechmarty]

he wanted to change things up and liked the look

I believe Specials outsold standards by seven to one in ‘78 and ‘79. Today, everyone wants a standard. Imagine that!

 

[5twins]

You're familiar with electrical problems from your other one, lol. To ward them off, one of the first things I do when I get one of these is go through all the wiring. I start at the tail light and work my way up into the headlight bucket, cleaning the wires and all connections, and repairing any rubbed bare wires I find (and I always seem to find a couple). These are 40+ year old bikes and they vibrate, so they really need this.

In fact, I've got the headlight bucket off my '78 at the moment. It hasn't been torn into like this since I first put it on the road back in '06, so it was due. I found one broken wire. My high beam indicator bulb had burned out, or so I thought. Turns out the ground wire broke inside the sleeve.

 

[FrankS]

Still not running, but looking better with normal handlebars and 2nd brake rotor removed. (There was no caliper there.)
Red bandage (tape) temporarily protecting the rip in the seat.




Do do list: electrical short issue (yes another), front brake master cylinder and caliper rebuild, carb installation, handlebar switches cleaned up, throttle cable and possible clutch cable, tires.

 

[FrankS]

When I removed the left side brake rotor, is there a cap that replaces what is no longer around the hub?

 

[MrBultaco]

Yup...#7. unavailable from Partzlilla tho.

 

[5twins]

There were actually 4 versions of this cover. Later models got a black plastic one, either a full cover or one that was "scalloped" out around the holes .....

Early models had a chrome steel one. If not all rusty, these look pretty nice .....

But by far, the nicest one was an alloy cover that was used only for a couple years, '73 and '74 I believe. They are hard to come by .....

Combine it with an early natural alloy speedo drive for some added "bling", lol.

 

[FrankS]

I see that it's really just a cosmetic piece.

 

[5twins]

Yes, just a cover for the unused holes. Something else you should be aware of is that axle clamp. It gets installed a certain way. There's a direction arrow stamped on the bottom and it should point forward. The front half of the clamp is thicker and gets tightened all the way until it touches the fork. The rear half is thinner and will have a space between it and the fork .....

There's another clamp of this type on the bike, the one that clamps the front MC to the handlebars .....

 

[FrankS]

Thank you 5twins! I was aware of the axle clamp orientation. It's the same on my vintage Honda CB's.

 

[FrankS]

Yesterday I cleaned up behind the clutch cover, the clutch mechanism, and got the clutch adjusted and working. I'm avoiding the electrical issue by fixing other issues that also require fixing. Brake caliper and master cylinder rebuild next! Or maybe rebuild the petcocks.

 

[jetmechmarty]

Yesterday I cleaned up behind the clutch cover, the clutch mechanism, and got the clutch adjusted and working. I'm avoiding the electrical issue by fixing other issues that also require fixing. Brake caliper and master cylinder rebuild next! Or maybe rebuild the petcocks.

You still need some practice with electrical. No time like the present.

 

[FrankS]

You still need some practice with electrical. No time like the present.

Oh, yes I do!

Petcocks are done. I had to drill off the heads of 2 of the 4 screws. The gas tank in in worse shape than I thought. Time for a vinegar bath and a bag full of small screws.

 

[member43148]

Do you have access to solvent ?
A vinegar bath can be an unpleasant surprise from flash rusting if not immediately addressed upon draining.

 

[jetmechmarty]

flash rusting

I don’t understand why using phosphoric acid gives me more time, but it does.

 

[Its been a long time]

I don’t understand why using phosphoric acid gives me more time, but it does.

I can't comment on what you're doing, but phosphoric acid is used as a passivation on steel after acid cleaning. Creates a nice blue/black passive layer on the cleaned steel. It will rust but more slowly than steel that's been cleaned and not passivated. (Acid cleaning as in hydrochloric acid.)

 

[FrankS]

Do you have access to solvent ?
A vinegar bath can be an unpleasant surprise from flash rusting if not immediately addressed upon draining.

I will splash around a half gallon of 2 cycle gas mix.

I don’t understand why using phosphoric acid gives me more time, but it does.

Where would one source phosphoric acid?

 

[Jim]

I will splash around a half gallon of 2 cycle gas mix.

Where would one source phosphoric acid?

Both of these contain phosphoric acid as the main ingredient. And both do an excellent job.
Ace Hardware, Home Depot... about any hardware store should carry 'em.

 

[FrankS]

Thanks, Jim. Will look for that.

Another issue. (There are several.) I would like to replace the original regulator and rectifier with a new combination replacement unit. (I do this with all my old bikes.) I'd love a plug and play replacement with compatible connectors to bike's wiring loom. Any recommendations for this?

I'm in Canada and sometimes and sometimes not (it seems random) get charged duty on parts from the US or overseas.)