What have you done to your XS today?

[Dunc]

Got a bit more done on my mates bike today.

Still a few things to do. I wanted to fire it up this weekend so I got it to a stage where I could give it a go. Used the starter & discovered the gear is a bit ordinary, kicked it a bit but no go. There's always something that needs investigating to sort it out, there was spark, fuel, compression & even though the starter gear wasn't too good I was determined to get it going. No luck, just the odd backfire. Checked everything I could think of & then looked at the instructions from VAPE & all looked OK until I pulled off the flywheel & ignition backing plate. The wiring for the pickups was plugged in arse about! Opposite to their instruction sheet. Swapped the wiring, put it back together hit the starter & It's a runner. What a bunch of clowns! Wasted 1/2 a day sorting it out, but it sounds good.

 

[lakeview]

Gravity Bleeding Not an Option
Getting the air out of the system gets as messy as applying anti-seize eh?
Got it done on the second try. Feel pretty pumped, so now I'll try to figure out no spark.

 

[Pat D]

Yes. The trick is an open end wrench and hold your mouth just right. I think one of them you can get a box wrench on.

In my stash I found a really odd offset box end that works perfectly. Not metric, I "think" it's like 19/32.

 

[Wagner73]

Delkevic SS 2 into 1 - Okay I must admit that this was not my first choice of exhaust direction. My first choice was an NOS Mac 2 into 2 that I found on EB. However, there was no way it was going to work, even though it was supposedly the fitment for my 78E. The right side pipe would either interfere with the swingarm/axle/lower shock mount, or if rotated such that it had a bit of clearance there, was hard up against the bottom of the brake pedal. All I can imagine is that either qc on this unit was off, or it was for a Special and not a standard. Never considered Mac in the upper echelon of exhaust system quality it any case, and it has been floating around for years...who knows.

So that said, I had purchased this Delkevic system so I went for Plan B. I had heard from some others on here (@Its been a long time and others) that it was generally a good system.

Well, I haven't heard it run yet, but installing it was easy, it's very well made including all the details, 100% SS, etc. I opted for the reverse cone version, as the collector seems a little shorter.

Overall pic attached, as well as details of the flanges (8 mm thick), the collector mounting boss & SS SHCS's (two bolts, I guess they know these bikes vibrate some ), as well as the collector clamp, hanger bracket, and nicely done centerstand stop. We'll see how it works at some point...

 

[Adamc]

Delkevic SS 2 into 1 - Okay I must admit that this was not my first choice of exhaust direction. My first choice was an NOS Mac 2 into 2 that I found on EB. However, there was no way it was going to work, even though it was supposedly the fitment for my 78E. The right side pipe would either interfere with the swingarm/axle/lower shock mount, or if rotated such that it had a bit of clearance there, was hard up against the bottom of the brake pedal. All I can imagine is that either qc on this unit was off, or it was for a Special and not a standard. Never considered Mac in the upper echelon of exhaust system quality it any case, and it has been floating around for years...who knows.

So that said, I had purchased this Delkevic system so I went for Plan B. I had heard from some others on here (@Its been a long time and others) that it was generally a good system.

Well, I haven't heard it run yet, but installing it was easy, it's very well made including all the details, 100% SS, etc. I opted for the reverse cone version, as the collector seems a little shorter.

Overall pic attached, as well as details of the flanges (8 mm thick), the collector mounting boss & SS SHCS's (two bolts, I guess they know these bikes vibrate some ), as well as the collector clamp, hanger bracket, and nicely done centerstand stop. We'll see how it works at some point...

Looks like neat clean set of tubes.

 

[Wagner73]

If I'm 100% honest, I wish they were a little more "works-esque" or modern per se. As it is, they are nice period-styled pieces.

 

[siscoken]

Installed master cylinder kit .... heads up to anyone doing this if the pin hole forward of large hole is blocked, brakes will not bleed.... don't ask how I know.
Brakes feel good!
Edit oh ya also in last pic oury grips.

 

[Its been a long time]

Top yoke removed for refurbishing. I wasn't intending on doing stuff like this but the smart paint on the tank shows how tatty this looks now.

 

[Signal]

Top yoke removed for refurbishing. I wasn't intending on doing stuff like this but the smart paint on the tank shows how tatty this looks now.

And that's how it starts.

 

[Its been a long time]

And that's how it starts.

Yes. I'm fully aware of where that path leads

 

[Its been a long time]

That's looking much better.

 

[willis]

Decided to clean an old grungy set of carbs tonight. They’ve been in storage for several years and I got a wild hair tonight. They came off my ‘77 that came from a 30year slumber in a barn, so I believed them to be the correct 77-78 carbs.

After 1st 20 minute soak ultrasonic with heat about 85-90’.


Hit them with a toothbrush and brass brush to clean them up a bit more before I finished disassembling them and throwing them back in for another 20 minute soak with fresh solution.


I’m missing a few parts but I’ve got some extras. Need to see if I have new jets and needles that fit this year model in my kit.
I’m not sure what I’m doing with these yet but they cleaned up very nice.

 

[Peepz]

I am going to attempt to custom paint the tank myself. First thing is first though, electrolysis time! Does anyone have a line on that black hose that covers the weld seem on the front the special tanks?

 

[Its been a long time]

Curious how those bars will look on the bike!

Here you are. Not finished, but close enough -

 

[Adamc]

PIPES & STUFF xs650 specialist based in West Wales UK.
This guy is super helpful and extreemely knowledgeable from my personal experiance.
He makes his own full ignition systems and custom exaughts for our venerable bikes.
If you are UK based and in difficulty he can help with no obligation to buy his kit; nuff said.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1514640892919779

 

[gggGary]

correct 77-78 carbs

hope I don't sound too pedantic but those appear to be 76-77 carbs

new jets and needles that fit this year model

It matters cuz the jets changed quite a bit from 76-77 to 78-79.


Looks like a good start on a set of runners!

 

[willis]

Yep, I saw I missed-spoke on that. I went through my parts bin and found the correct needles and jets. It’s weird that the mains are so much smaller on the 76-77 model than the others. I’ll go through these one more time with a good soak because I did not blow the passages out with compressed air last night since the wife was in bed already. I think the only thing I need to button these up is a new set of bowl gaskets. Is it weird that I actually am starting to enjoy carb work? It’s definitely a good way to get to know your bike better.

 

[GLJ]

Decided to clean an old grungy set of carbs tonight. They’ve been in storage for several years and I got a wild hair tonight. They came off my ‘77 that came from a 30year slumber in a barn, so I believed them to be the correct 77-78 carbs. View attachment 360212View attachment 360213View attachment 360214View attachment 360215View attachment 360216

After 1st 20 minute soak ultrasonic with heat about 85-90’.
View attachment 360217View attachment 360218View attachment 360219

Hit them with a toothbrush and brass brush to clean them up a bit more before I finished disassembling them and throwing them back in for another 20 minute soak with fresh solution.
View attachment 360220View attachment 360221View attachment 360222View attachment 360223

I’m missing a few parts but I’ve got some extras. Need to see if I have new jets and needles that fit this year model in my kit.
I’m not sure what I’m doing with these yet but they cleaned up very nice.

What are you using for a solution?
They look pretty good!

 

[willis]

I use a solution from Sharpertek. It’s a bit pricy but works very well. I use a solution of 8oz/gal.

https://www.sharpertek.com/12decacl.html

 

[Its been a long time]

Fitted a new shorter brake line. Previous one was measured incorrectly and too long. This one works much better, continuous rise from caliper to master cylinder. Should bleed easily. Apologies about the swirly stuff on the picture, don't know what's caused that.