What have you done to your XS today?

[mikeh36]

Those are purty. I've been trying for 25 years to get mine shiny like they are on my 79 but nothing. Never tried sanding them first like I've seen on the forum recently so that's what I'm going to try next. Going to test on a spare rear grab bar first though.

 

[sKiZo]

Rebuilt my fuse box ...

http://www.xs650.com/threads/check-those-fuse-boxes.46656/

 

[TwoManyXS1Bs]

Don't ask. It's just me being me...

 

[sKiZo]

Bonus points if you actually get it to shift the bike ... <G>

 

[uncle meat]

Got my front hoop and hub back from the powder coating shop today. Also ordered new bearings, seals and spokes for it.

UM

 

[Jaymichael]

Bit of tuning with the gas analyzer and balanced my carbs

 

[Michaelo]

Bit of tuning with the gas analyzer and balanced my carbs

Interesting, can you post up the results from the gas analysis Jaym....

 

[Jaymichael]

Been playing around to with my fuel ratio at idle. Currently set at 4% CO which translates to about 13:1 air to fuel. This would be still slightly on the rich side for what's considered normal for a air cooled engine, in the automotive world anyway. strangely when I set idle mixture using the dead cylinder method and then check the co it comes in about 5-6% co, or about 12:1. I've been curious to see how much further I can lean it out but I have decided this is going to be too lean, I started getting some lean back firing on decel today after setting it at 4% co. Seems around 5% is about perfect, for this bike anyway. Secondly using The gas sniffer ensures a perfect idle fuel mixture for both cylinders, every time I have checked the co after doing a dead cylinder method adjustment the mixtures are still a bit out from each other

 

[phil1rowe4]

Been enjoying the bike since repainting the tank and pu t it in another bike show. It was lucky enough to win best cafe racer.

 

[Michaelo]

Looking great Phil, wow, super impressed

 

[willis]

Finally carved some time out to finish buttoning up my top end rebuild. Rocker cover, advance unit & Pamco all installed. Cam chain and valves adjusted with new elephant foot mods. I just need to get some new allenhead bolts to put the upgraded single outlet breather on and its ready to go back in the frame. What a long drug out process I have made of this rebuilt. Life has just got busy for me with the family and its getting harder to find the time to work on this project.

 

[Growl]

Indexed throttle to assist with carb tuning, I reckon.

 

[zeroxs650]

Got it back from the shop and rode it a few miles, detailed the chrome today.

 

[Michaelo]

That's so clean zero.........since I still cannot ride, mine just had to be started.....warmed up, dropped in gear to turn the box. How fucking sad, 3 weeks of no riding, maybe next week, all it will take is enough strength to hold the weight at a stop if needed, most of the time your on the anchors anyway

 

[zeroxs650]

Thanks Michaelo, be patient and don't rush it, your time will come.

 

[weekendrider]

Changed her dress and added a backrest.

And cleaned some petcocks. I'm so glad I decided to open these.

 

[eddahenry]

Sporty tank was sitting to high

So I made a deep tunnel

So it can sit lower

 

[mikeh36]

Did some polishing today. Just got the grab bar done as I got interrupted part way through. It's not as nice as most of the polish jobs I've seen on here but I'm pretty sure it's never been polished. I've attached before and after shots even though the lighting is different. I started out with some wire wheel attachments for my drill to get the really bad crud off before wet sanding with 400 and 800 sandpaper then applying Mother's. I'm hoping to use the wire wheels on the engine covers to get through the clear coat but don't know if it'll work and don't want to mess them up.

 

[jetmechmarty]

[QUOTE="mikeh36, post: 469437, member: 5619"I started out with some wire wheel attachments for my drill to get the really bad crud off before wet sanding with 400 and 800 sandpaper then applying Mother's. I'm hoping to use the wire wheels on the engine covers to get through the clear coat but don't know if it'll work and don't want to mess them up.[/QUOTE]

Don't use steel wire wheels on aluminum. You'll set up corrosion. Tiny bits of steel get embedded in the aluminum alloy. That's bad. If you feel you have to use a wire rotary brush use one made of aluminum or brass. Don't use steel wool, either. Use aluminum wool.

Have you ever removed a steel bolt from an aluminum case and found it covered in white powder? Since you're working on an old bike, I'm sure you have. The powder is the aluminum turning into salts. The steel bolt is not rusted because the aluminum is anodic to the steel bolt. The aluminum is giving up electrons to the steel. Your science lesson for today.

 

[mikeh36]

Thank you Marty. Guess it's time to go shopping. I've tried polishing the side covers before but with the clear coat it never looks good. That's why I started with the grab handle. I've seen a lot on eBay if this one goes south.