Vanity, all is Vanity! Looking to convert '78 Special mags to spoked wheels.

[jurgenkoppen]

Hi everyone, so here I am with my '78 mag-wheeled Special being my only toy/tool now, and I just got her running just so. Now I am hoping to put a spoke wheel on it.
I know that the '81 Heritage Special has those, and I hope to swap the relevant parts.
The front wheel should be easy, but the rear wheel has a disc brake on mine and a drum brake on the Heritage Special. So, if I acquire the heritage rear wheel, then would I need to buy a heritage swing arm as well? And would the swing arm fit on my 78, with a straight switch-over? And then the brake, being a hydraulic brake right now. Will the brake from the '81 fit into the same location as my current pedal, and can I make its linkage work that way?

Any tips would be appreciated, and parts, if anyone has them.

 

[650Skull]

Hi everyone, so here I am with my '78 mag-wheeled Special being my only toy/tool now, and I just got her running just so. Now I am hoping to put a spoke wheel on it.
I know that the '81 Heritage Special has those, and I hope to swap the relevant parts.
The front wheel should be easy, but the rear wheel has a disc brake on mine and a drum brake on the Heritage Special. So, if I acquire the heritage rear wheel, then would I need to buy a heritage swing arm as well? And would the swing arm fit on my 78, with a straight switch-over? And then the brake, being a hydraulic brake right now. Will the brake from the '81 fit into the same location as my current pedal, and can I make its linkage work that way?

Any tips would be appreciated, and parts, if anyone has them.

Here is a complete break down of what is needed or changed. The bottom 2 diagrams are what is needed to get for a disk to drum conversion. Colour coded the different parts that can b bought or need to source from eBay, or ask on here in the classifieds, or facebook.

https://www.xs650.com/threads/rear-brake-conversion-drum-to-disk-or-disk-to-drum.51944/

 

[jurgenkoppen]

Here is a complete break down of what is needed or changed. The bottom 2 diagrams are what is needed to get for a disk to drum conversion. Colour coded the different parts that can b bought or need to source from eBay, or ask on here in the classifieds, or facebook.

https://www.xs650.com/threads/rear-brake-conversion-drum-to-disk-or-disk-to-drum.51944/

Thank you for the link. I appreciate the pointer. It appears to be pretty comprehensive. So now it is off to sourcing the stuff. It's crazy for me to do this, especially where I live, 3 km off the pavement. The mags would sure be easier to keep clean, and the drum brake is also questionable as an improvement, I suppose. I guess I just want something to tinker with..now that the bike's mechanical stuff is all dialled in.

 

[jurgenkoppen]

And as for the front wheel, would the Heritage wheel just fit, or do I need to change forks and brake components?

 

[jetmechmarty]

Heritage wheels (1982-83) are 64 spokes front and 48 spokes rear. They run in pairs. If you don’t want those, source Special II wheels. (1979-81) 1979 Special II has aluminum rims which are my favorite.

 

[Raymond]

Just found this thead. I think along similar lines and would love my 650SE to runs wire spokes but in the end gave up on the idea. It's possibly less feasible in the UK where there's far fewer of em around and a more restricted market place for parts and spares. But I'll follow long with interest - good luck!

 

[jetmechmarty]

Just found this thead. I think along similar lines and would love my 650SE to runs wire spokes but in the end gave up on the idea. It's possibly less feasible in the UK where there's far fewer of em around and a more restricted market place for parts and spares. But I'll follow long with interest - good luck!

My Heritage Special is running cast wheels because they’re just easier to live with. I switched in 2010 meaning to fix the OE wheels and put them back on. It just hasn’t happened…… yet.

 

[jurgenkoppen]

Heritage wheels (1982-83) are 64 spokes front and 48 spokes rear. They run in pairs. If you don’t want those, source Special II wheels. (1979-81) 1979 Special II has aluminum rims which are my favorite.

Wow, thank you, Marty, for pointing out the distinction. It would indeed be the 79 Special II I would prefer as well. And those wheels would fit into my 78 Special without much fuss, at kleast in front?

 

[John Regular]

Heritage wheels (1982-83) are 64 spokes front and 48 spokes rear. They run in pairs. If you don’t want those, source Special II wheels. (1979-81) 1979 Special II has aluminum rims which are my favorite.

My 81 S2 has steel wheels but my 77 has the aluminum ones. are those swap-able? I guess I'm already in the position to figure that one out for myself. Forget I asked but I will check. Later, sometime.

 

[jurgenkoppen]

My Heritage Special is running cast wheels because they’re just easier to live with. I switched in 2010 meaning to fix the OE wheels and put them back on. It just hasn’t happened…… yet.

So, JetMM, can you fill in the blanks for me on wirewheels and their difficulties for you to live with? I vaguely know that the spokes need to be tweaked every so often, but I am pretty foggy on that aspect so far. I might as well know what I'm getting myself into to achieve all this beauty I aspire to. I heard that beauty requires some suffering (no firsthand experience there, for this common mutt), so I have no specifics on those wirewheel issues so far...

 

[jetmechmarty]

My 81 S2 has steel wheels but my 77 has the aluminum ones. are those swap-able? I guess I'm already in the position to figure that one out for myself. Forget I asked but I will check. Later, sometime.

The 77 has what are often referred to as dog piss rims. They are H channel. ‘70 S2 has one year one model only wheels. 19/16.
Yes, they interchange.

 

[jetmechmarty]

So, JetMM, can you fill in the blanks for me on wirewheels and their difficulties for you to live with? I vaguely know that the spokes need to be tweaked every so often, but I am pretty foggy on that aspect so far. I might as well know what I'm getting myself into to achieve all this beauty I aspire to. I heard that beauty requires some suffering (no firsthand experience there, for this common mutt), so I have no specifics on those wirewheel issues so far...

My steel rims got rusty where you can’t see, underneath the rim strip and tube. The wheels needed truing and the spokes were frozen.
If you’re changing tires yourself, you can care for the wheels. I wasn’t. Tire lube, bikes washing, riding in all weather all takes a toll. Cast wheels can suffer similar issues, but it isn’t near as bad.

 

[nj1639]

My 81 S2 has steel wheels but my 77 has the aluminum ones. are those swap-able? I guess I'm already in the position to figure that one out for myself. Forget I asked but I will check. Later, sometime.

The ‘77 rims are 19/18 with a thinner rear tire. You can throw them on the Specials that have drum rears all day long. Trying to fit a Special rear on to a Standard requires a Special chain guard and the brake stay too. They’re notched for the wider rear 16” tire.

 

[John Regular]

The 77 has what are often referred to as dog piss rims. They are H channel. ‘70 S2 has one year one model only wheels. 19/16.
Yes, they interchange.

Dog piss because they suck or because dog piss pools up inn the rim when they mark them. I could see it being the latter because my sister's little mutt pissed on my wheels all the time and leave a little puddle in the rim. I couldn't get him to stop no matter how many times I water boarded his little nose in it.

 

[John Regular]

The ‘77 rims are 19/18 with a thinner rear tire. You can throw them on the Specials that have drum rears all day long. Trying to fit a Special rear on to a Standard requires a Special chain guard and the brake stay too. They’re notched for the wider rear 16” tire.

That makes sense, I figured there was something with the tire being wider

 

[jetmechmarty]

Dog piss because they suck or because dog piss pools up inn the rim when they mark them.

They’re good wheels AFAIK. “Dog piss” because they act as a bowl.

 

[650Skull]

Hi everyone, so here I am with my '78 mag-wheeled Special being my only toy/tool now, and I just got her running just so. Now I am hoping to put a spoke wheel on it.
I know that the '81 Heritage Special has those, and I hope to swap the relevant parts.
The front wheel should be easy, but the rear wheel has a disc brake on mine and a drum brake on the Heritage Special. So, if I acquire the heritage rear wheel, then would I need to buy a heritage swing arm as well? And would the swing arm fit on my 78, with a straight switch-over? And then the brake, being a hydraulic brake right now. Will the brake from the '81 fit into the same location as my current pedal, and can I make its linkage work that way?

Any tips would be appreciated, and parts, if anyone has them

Go through the models to help you understand what people are saying.

Pics with a description of all the changes between the models.


https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...-other-information-including-xs750-850.30569/

 

[nj1639]

They’re good wheels AFAIK. “Dog piss” because they act as a bowl.

Piss catchers.

 

[jurgenkoppen]

Go through the models to help you understand what people are saying.

Pics with a description of all the changes between the models.


https://www.xs650.com/threads/xs650...-other-information-including-xs750-850.30569/

Thank you, 650Skull. I think I get most of it. I think my current tack is to shoot for the wire wheels for a 79 Special II (a.k.a. SP2), which I think I have a line on, if it goes through. Then I think I would like to source the adapter mentioned on this forum to turn the drum rear wheel into one that will allow my disc to be bolted on. That way, I can retain my disc brake setup in the rear. I am not sure where I saw the machine part to do this, but I did see it somewhere. The front SP2 wheel should just fit into my forks, if I got that right....I have a double disc barke setup there right now.

 

[jurgenkoppen]

Oh, I just found a conversion kit from drum to disc. Did anyone try this? This seems to be a better way to go than to have to switch over brake actuators, swing arms, etc...https://remmotorcycle.co/pages/assembly-kit-drum-to-disc-brake, and a more current pic of my 78 650 in its native environment.