What did you do to your bike today?

[DGXSER]

What do you mean you blew your engine, you spun a bearing or what?

I knwo it is very frustrating at the moment but drink a frosty one or two and then lets here the symptoms. May not be as bad as you think.

Even if it is, an engine for these is not as hard to find as you might think, and not as expensive as you might think.

[tcoop]

There's a hole in the front of the engine. I started a thred about it and will post pictures there. I already have another engine i just have to put it back togeather.

[Crazcnuk]

I sold all of mine, over the weekend. Even got rid of all the parts I hadlaying around!

[patk12345]

After pulling apart the taillight assembly, reading wiring diagrams, doing lots of testing with a couple of alligator clip and my volt meter trying to trace down a shorted wire, I realized the rear brake switch was stuck on. I sprayed a little white grease on it, exercised it a bit and boom!, the brake light suddenly wasn't lit all the time. Mechanical whiz kid!

[ManitoulinLad]

lubed all cables

Found out how to use the cable lube gizmo from u-tube. It worked awesome. Alot of dark rusty crap came out - it needed to be done. Did the clutch, speedo & throttle. When done the cables went for 1st quick ride - it was getting dark. Was idleing too high. Had throttle cable set differently in assembly - pulling it too much. Took it apart again - & set it up as roginal & idle was now fine. Lesson learned about that. So all is cool now & just waiting for the above zero weather for morning run to work. Great feeling - Dan

[3Phase]

Today I finished getting the engine in my '79 Special ready for a test-fire tomorrow to see if it will run. Finally!

Everything seems good so far and if the engine checks out I should have two XS11s up and running after I iron out a few minor technicalities.

[bikerphil]

Nice, it's sweet having an XSess running XS, especially a one of a kind 79 Special

[3Phase]

Thanks, Phil, it's going to take a while to make it purty again but it should run. I drained and changed all the fluids/filter and there were no metal bits in anything so that's a good sign.

After spending ten years in a bush with the salt air up in Lompoc, Ca, having a tree dropped on it did not help at all. After pulling it apart I found out I was overly optimistic and the fairing and the mounting bracket were both broken too, not just the windshield, so I need to rustle up a headlight and turn signals to be legal.

At some point in time the center stand broke or was torn off and disappeared. The mounting tabs cracked/tore the frame tube and the exhaust crossover tube was apparently ripped off by something, then chunks 'o wood were pounded into the jagged stubs to seal the holes to stop the humongous exhaust leak.

It looks like the mufflers were badly welded into some kind of aftermarket exhaust adapters at the headers and they were leaking, badly, but DiverRay has a shiny exhaust I'm going to buy to replace that whole mess. Thank you, DiverRay!

The electrical system is all there and it is all stock but that's about all I can say for it. I hooked up a battery and the Main fuse got hot but nothing actually worked. I couldn't even turn the key on the ignition switch and I discovered it was packed full of dead earwigs. The switch has been cleaned and debugged. After I replace the fuse box I get to figure out how the lamp failure sensor unit works before I will have tail and brake lights.

The front forks leaked and the upper tubes are toasted rust pits so new seals won't hold. Who needs air/oil in the forks anyway when the front brake calipers and the master cylinder are siezed?

The carburetors are intact! They're soaking in PB Blaster so I can finish taking them apart but the slide diaphragms, idle mixture screws, brass floats and the float posts are all intact! The float bowls were full of fine rust so the gas tank is going to need cleaning. Joy.

Oh, and it needs a seat. That keen back-rest-o-matic seat that came with the bike would have been nice if it could have been re-foamed and re-covered but the pan is cracked and rusted out. The mounting bolts were also removed at some point ... by ripping them out of the mounting holes with what looks like a claw hammer or something similar and then losing them.

Fortunately I have the XJ and '79F for parts.

[3Phase]

She Sang To Me

I think I'm in love again!


First Start XS1100SF


I soaked the cylinders with oil for a couple of weeks before firing off the engine so she smoked a little but she started on the first push of the starter button.

[subike]

I collected my clocks from the Automotive Instrument repair man today,
Man they look good, he took them apart, cleaned all the internals, repainted the needles polished the glass inside and out, lubed all the spindles and repaired the fuel gauge, $67 well spent. Now all I need to get done is the idiot light panel words. Like all clocks 30 years old, they have faded to the point of being undeadable. Any Ideas ?

I also collected my engine from my mechanic, I have not recieved the account yet for the top end work, but will be able to post what has been done to it when I do get the account.

Its now sitting in the corner of the garage awaiting the frame which I collect tomorrow.

[natemoen]

I wish there were people around here that would do that kind of work for that price! That would end up being a few hundred dollar job here

[je2wheeler]

What I did To my bike today

I installed a new Vista-Cruise I ordered from Sound Off Recreational. This new throttle friction lock is replacing a 38 year old Dorcy model I got from K-mart and started life on a '73 CB750K and served me well on six bikes but has now worn beyond adjustment or repair.

[stevestrom]

I put new headlight ears on. Now there is no chance of my fender hitting my headlight!

[gareth]

Fitted the venture tensioner. It leaked like crazy until I realized that there was a torn gasket stuck to the block that was letting oil seep out.
(2) Went through and cleaned the contacts on the kill switch and start button. Replaced the starter solenoid with one that I had laying around. This meant soldering a couple of spade connectors to the wires of the original solenoid. This has solved my "once in a while" no-start or turnover problem for good. Other carb tuning stuff left for next week. Not having to pull a screwdriver out occasionally to jump the solenoid contacts? Worth it.

[subike]

I went and paid my account today for the work I have had done to my 80 engine. This motor has done 378k miles by the previous and only other owner.
it was still running strong but had developed a constant oil leak from around the head somewhere.
Work done,
Complete strip of top end, acid bath clean and crack test,
Deck head and barrels, (head was warped .005')
Decarb head, valves, Lap in valves, replace valve stem seals,
Hone bores, reassemble top end using all new gaskests, replace cam end plugs, set valve clarences, thread clean exhaust stud and replace studs with new studs.
Supply new plugs, oilfilter,
Labour 12&1/2 hrs
$1525.00
Im happy, the Yamaha mechanic has got no doubt it will run well.
He is prepared to tune the bike for free once it is reassembles as he wants to hear it running.