What have you done to your XS today?

[Bob Wegman]

I decided to do the lead shot treatment to my XS handlebars, to hopefully dampen the vibration. I’m picking up the lead shot on Thursday. It’s sold locally in 25lb bags so I should have lots to do the XS and Moto Guzzi. I removed the bars and remembered that the po didn’t do me any favours with the way the bar end mirrors were installed. One side was ok with a conventional mount - an expanding insert in the bars. On the other side, a threaded aluminum slug had been hammered into the bar end. No way it pull out. I decided to drill it out until I was thin enough to pull out with my small slide hammer.
It drilled fairly easily (glad I had tge correct sized drill bit) leaving enough material at the end to allow me to get one hook of my puller engaged. Came out reluctantly but now I’m ready to fill ‘er up with lead. I’ve read some create a mixture of lead shot and material like silicone as a binder. I think I’m going to find some appropriately sized rubber plugs or forks and capture the lead in the bars that way.
Btw I bought this puller some 20 years ago and this was its first use. Worked like a charm! It’s nice having the right tools when working on a project - more fun that way.
I put a piece of 1/2” sched 40 pipe in the bar clamps to hold up the master cylinder. Drag bars maybe? lol.

View attachment 341773View attachment 341774View attachment 341775View attachment 341776View attachment 341777View attachment 341779

If your bars are original that plug may be original equipment. Yamaha installed them in the 650 handlebars. Not sure if all years had them.

 

[Ratranger]

Is that front end on a XS?

Yes, it's been in the bike for 6 or 7 years now. Granted it sat in a corner for about 5 years after breaking on a dyno. I'm doing fork seals and shaving the caliper mount off the right fork currently.

 

[Bjorn]

Let me know how that lead shot project turns out!

 

[Raymond]

Let me know how that lead shot project turns out!

Sure would! And I hope you record the weight of lead shot to fill the handlebar, that'd be intrestin.

 

[bosco659]

Sure would! And I hope you record the weight of lead shot to fill the handlebar, that'd be intrestin.

https://www.xs650.com/threads/handlebar-vibration-reduction-bar-end-weights.67652/

 

[jaybar6]

Vacuum port for carb balancing

of course, I get it now.

 

[Myuncles650]

If your bars are original that plug may be original equipment. Yamaha installed them in the 650 handlebars. Not sure if all years had them.

I just took the grips of my 74 and the ends are plugged.

 

[Its been a long time]

Too cold and miserable today for anything outside the house. I couldn't find my small wire brushes to finish off cleaning the gunk from carburettor float bowls so I ordered these for my Dremel. Great price for genuine soft wire rotary brushes. And USA made too.

 

[ShakerNorm]

Hello All, cleaning parts today. Maybe a dumb question but just don’t want to damage shaft. Can the lower steering head bearing race (on the shaft) be removed without a press?

Kind of depends on WHY you want to remove it - If you're just doing it for cleaning & repainting and want to re-use it, a press is best, and heat will definitely be your friend. But leaving it in place is probably just as easy, and doesn't risk damaging it.

If you're planning on replacing the bearings (Tapered bearings are the way to go!) - Heat and a chisel & hammer may do it. If it's REALLY stubborn - you can use a dremel and cut part way through it and use a chisel to break the rest of it. A little nick on the shaft or base of the triple tree won't destroy them.

I've done this on both my XS650 and my Bolt. MAJOR IMPROVEMENT!

 

[ShakerNorm]

Rain in December in on Vancouver Island? Say it ain't so!

Vancouver Island Rain Festival - Jan 1-Dec 31 every year.......

 

[Myuncles650]

Kind of depends on WHY you want to remove it - If you're just doing it for cleaning & repainting and want to re-use it, a press is best, and heat will definitely be your friend. But leaving it in place is probably just as easy, and doesn't risk damaging it.

If you're planning on replacing the bearings (Tapered bearings are the way to go!) - Heat and a chisel & hammer may do it. If it's REALLY stubborn - you can use a dremel and cut part way through it and use a chisel to break the rest of it. A little nick on the shaft or base of the triple tree won't destroy them.

I've done this on both my XS650 and my Bolt. MAJOR IMPROVEMENT!

Thanks for advice, yeah replacing bearings and powder coating. Upgrade from original balls is plan.

 

[ShakerNorm]

Sounds like a good plan - I've done some powdercoating and LOVE IT - MUCH better than regular paint!

 

[Myuncles650]

Sounds like a good plan - I've done some powdercoating and LOVE IT - MUCH better than regular paint!

 

[Myuncles650]

First bit of parts off to powder coating. Found a local guy whose work looks great. Bonus he couldn’t be a nicer person.
Weather (temperature) looks better this week so hope to fully clean frame and send soon as well. Might make it to chrome shop in next week or so, we’ll see.

 

[lakeview]

Frozen Water Fix? Nope
So this spare exhaust pipe has been sitting around, chrome in good shape, but a dent made by a prior owner was real obvious.
So with the temps going down well below freezing (-9C) overnight, I propped it up to look like a J and filled the curve with water and hope and let it freeze overnight.
Neither worked.
Glad I didn't make room in my wife's freezer in July to try it!

 

[Raymond]

View attachment 342051
Frozen Water Fix? Nope
So this spare exhaust pipe has been sitting around, chrome in good shape, but a dent made by a prior owner was real obvious.
So with the temps going down well below freezing (-9C) overnight, I propped it up to look like a J and filled the curve with water and hope and let it freeze overnight.
Neither worked.
Glad I didn't make room in my wife's freezer in July to try it!

Guessing here but did you try capping the ends? Freezing exerts a tremendous amount of force if you contain it. Maybe flat plates welded on the ends? But not welded so good the pipe splits right along like a pipe bomb as the water freezes.

 

[Raymond]

PS and probably best not to try out the welded ends method in yer wife's freezer . . .

 

[lakeview]

You're right, didn't cap the ends as it was a shot in the dark, bit of a lark.

 

[JOHNDADDY]

You're right, didn't cap the ends as it was a shot in the dark, bit of a lark.

I know the metal is a lot thicker than a gas tank but have to wonder if the inner tube trick would work?

 

[lakeview]

Inner tube is much more elastic than the steel tube, so no.
The recounting of my freezing attempt was more to advertise its futility with a bit of humor than a search for a real solution, cheers.