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What have you done to your XS today?
- Thread starter I am Carbon
- Start date
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- Tags
- maintenance
Decided to retire the BS38 carbs off my 650D. They'll be packed away and kept with the bike. But having put a lot of effort into the (carbs and the) rest of the bike trying to foresee problems before they arise, I'm not going to depend on near 50 year old carbs. They're now as good as they can be, but they've earned retirement and will stay with the bike as part of it's story.
Bought a set of (what look like) decent condition ER5 carburettors and I'll be sorting those out as a little project over the next couple of months or so. Of course, the ER5 carbs are now 20 years old. But I know my way around them having had them on other bikes as standard equipment. One notable thing, the price of OEM Kawasaki spare parts for the carbs at Fowlers is insane. £11 for a float bowl O ring. The last one I bought not so long ago for a Keihin carb on a Harley was £3. And that was from a HD dealer who aren't known for selling stuff at low prices.
So I won't be buying any Kawasaki carburettor spares!
Bought a set of (what look like) decent condition ER5 carburettors and I'll be sorting those out as a little project over the next couple of months or so. Of course, the ER5 carbs are now 20 years old. But I know my way around them having had them on other bikes as standard equipment. One notable thing, the price of OEM Kawasaki spare parts for the carbs at Fowlers is insane. £11 for a float bowl O ring. The last one I bought not so long ago for a Keihin carb on a Harley was £3. And that was from a HD dealer who aren't known for selling stuff at low prices.
So I won't be buying any Kawasaki carburettor spares!
Fowlers prices have been a bit mad in recent times, I noticed.
'Kin Brexit.
Make Friends With Your Airboxes
The satisfaction of prying on the carbs and airboxes in under 10 minutes!
Practice, or more honestly, repetition, helps bigly.
I only have to whistle the right notes and the airboxes fly right off on their own, likewise getting them back on
First Gas of the New Build
I know, another blue one, but it's better. PO had started a complete recommissioning, but stopped just as the cam chain had to be reconnected and let it sit for over 5 years. I had advertised for abandoned xs projects this spring and he contacted me.
I bought it and finished it. New pistons etc. and clutch plates really spruce it up.
SoCalHanz
XS650 Member
Changed my oil and replaced both filters. spent most of the time getting the sump gasket scraped off. Then I went on a cruise for about 80 miles and got stung by a bee going 60. felt great
Handsome bike! I have the same Bountiful Blue tank for my 650D, however it is not mounted. Unfortunately, I don't have the matching side covers, so I'm running a black Special tank and black side covers. Winter project... to get it back to its original paint scheme!
Something reassuringly British there
Shades of Captain Seddon.
Lots of domestic stuff going on at the moment so not much time for XS650 stuff. The Kawasaki ER5 carbs I bought are on their way and I have ordered the spares I know I'll need to do the ER5 to XS650 jetting change.
A positive shout for NRP Carbs who are supplying everything I need and are in Manchester, so quite local. Their on line shop is rather neanderthal but if I message them from there, they respond the next day by email.
Link -
https://nrp-carbs.co.uk/
A positive shout for NRP Carbs who are supplying everything I need and are in Manchester, so quite local. Their on line shop is rather neanderthal but if I message them from there, they respond the next day by email.
Link -
https://nrp-carbs.co.uk/
I think I would like to see more of this build !
It's a bit difficult to photograph at the moment until I take it off the ramp
Its a stock length hardtail
I've updated the front brake and fitted a 1930s AJW foxhound petrol tank (but don't tell anyone) I'll be hung!
Boyer ignition,I fitted an lc alternator with help from this site on making the adapter plate
It's a 447 motor but with b34s late model? Carbs
I'm just playing around with micro indicators
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Bits have just been machined. Nicely finished, including spark eroddd throttle stop internally. They fit the standard XS650 throttle tube perfectly. One more part for my chop build done.Very cool! Looking forward to the final product
Attachments
Just got some more 3D printed parts for my chop build. I have a dummy oil tank that was originally some kind of heavy duty flask for the nuclear industry. It has a nice screw on end cap and a reduced diameter opening, I wanted something that would collapse to fit through the opening, then expand, lock out and be a carrier for my electrics tray. Ended up designing up a unit that could be 3D printed for ease I guess. Just got the parts back and assembled them today. Works a treat. The inside wall of the tank will have 2mm adhesive foam tape stuck to it and the splines on the 3 plastic bits will dig in to stop rotation. The tray slides in after installation and can be pulled out most of the way to facilitate wiring up the Axel Joost B-Box.
Attachments
Toro
XS650 Member
Gard darnnit. Did it again and at a bike meet no less.
Kick started the bike on the side stand while in gear. Did not start cause It fell over. No scratches cause friend's son was next to me.
This is only my 2nd kick start bite, first one being a honda SL70 when was a kid and I was able to kick start it while standing up.
Friend said I should be doing it while on center stand, my XS is painful to put on center stand but I guess I could.
All summer I took the bike from my garage to the ride and back again. Having to pull it out of the garage, I never would forget to put it in neutral cause I had to in order to back it out.
For now, I put a green wire tie on the key and the kick start rubber to remind my forgetful Ars to make sure i put it back in neutral.
Kick started the bike on the side stand while in gear. Did not start cause It fell over. No scratches cause friend's son was next to me.
This is only my 2nd kick start bite, first one being a honda SL70 when was a kid and I was able to kick start it while standing up.
Friend said I should be doing it while on center stand, my XS is painful to put on center stand but I guess I could.
All summer I took the bike from my garage to the ride and back again. Having to pull it out of the garage, I never would forget to put it in neutral cause I had to in order to back it out.
For now, I put a green wire tie on the key and the kick start rubber to remind my forgetful Ars to make sure i put it back in neutral.
