New guy, first bike.

[natemoen]

Superglue and backing soda. It would take a bit of superglue, but it is quite permanent!

[cywelchjr]

Superglue and backing soda. It would take a bit of superglue, but it is quite permanent!

+1, the superglue and baking soda works really well and shapes as well as the original material and is just as strong, and can be painted and looks like original if done right. I don't think it would take all that much either, it builds up a LOT faster than you think it will actually. I built up a pretty big chunk of the latch on my left side cover that way and it built up further than I thought fast, I had to file and sand it back down to fit. It has lasted over two years now, close to 25,000 miles of riding, and on some pretty rough roads given the lack of road maint they perform around here (for the tax rates you pay you would think they would do better, but frankly they tend to be better BEFORE they try to fix them than after ).

[cywelchjr]

Superglue and backing soda. It would take a bit of superglue, but it is quite permanent!

Got to get me some of that stuff, it might help me with backing my bike out of the garage . Might get me out riding more, which is something I really need to be doing, cause the way it's going my next oil change is going to be based on time rather than miles .

[Tat2demon]

Got the Petcocks rebuilt around 4 this morning. Kits are from Georgefix on Ebay. Was a very easy process but took a few hours, mostly due to all the cleaning.

I used Weimanns Metal Polish from Walmart for the polishing. I was very surprised at the shine I got out of the old dirty parts.

It was very nice to walk into the garage this evening and not be overwhelmed by gas fumes.

[Special Ed]

Hey, welcom to the site newbie:

But holy sh!t, a first bike? Please do yourself and all of us a favor and take a motorcycle safety course. I had been riding for 40 years when I took one in order to get certified to be an instructor, I learned a lot even after all of those years riding. I can't help but shake my head in disbelief at women buying a Harley "Skirtster," being sold that a "little" 55 inch bike is a beginners bike. But, be that as it may, welcome my XSive brother, and keep the rubber side down!
Special Ed

[Tat2demon]

Let me rephrase, first bike that I've owned. I've had lots of riding experience over the years, just never one in my name.

It is good though to see all the concern in the community for new riders.

[mharrington]

That chrome air cleaner looks like a Henry Abe unit? I believe thos are somewhat valuable.

[Tat2demon]

Thought Id give a bit of an update.

I got a standard seat from Jcruze a while back. It doesnt feel the best on my bad back but looks a lot better than the touring seat. I plan on carving it up this winter and having it recovered.

Found a left side cover on eBay. Spray painted it black for now. Will stay that way till the new paint job.

I had a mystery oil leak that I couldnt pin down. Around the same time I found a black cover or plug on the ground that I could never figure out where it came from. I ordered an ACCT from a 2001 Raptor. When I finally got around to installing it I realized that the cap on the original CCT had come off (the found one) and oil was seeping past the piston, down the front of the motor and getting blown back near the kickstand when I rode. Popped in the ACCT and the oil leak is taken care of.

The stcock carbs and airbox from Diverray have been cleaned, rebuilt and installed. I still have a little tuning to do but theyre close enough for now. Im waiting until this heat wave has passed before I spend more time in the garage to pull them off again. I also had to replace the throttle cable to fit the stock carbs.

A new set of Shinkos will be showing up tomorrow. After pricing tires at a few shops around town Ive decided to do it myself. I have a lot of experience changing truck tires with sticks so this shouldnt be much different. They cost $106 for the pair. The cheapest I could find a full set installed and balanced for in town was about $280.

[mikubuilder]

wow, where are you getting your tires from, I need a cheap set too

[Tat2demon]

http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/

Free shipping over $100. Front and rear Shinko 712s comes to $106.

[GLoweVA]

I get my Shinkos from Bike bandit. Just about the same prices too. (Maybe differ by a buck or 2)

[jcchappy]

carbs

Your carbs look like suzuki/kawasaki mikuni manual round slides. good pretty desirable carbs to someone that needs them. That air cleaner, I dont know what it is but is nice looking.

[Tat2demon]

Well if I can figure out exactly what they are and what they go to Ill be selling them. Need to try to get some money back.

[Tat2demon]

I think mharrington is right. Pretty sure it is a Henry Abe air cleaner but this one is fairly beat up. Will probably end up in the trash.

[Tat2demon]

Spent last night and a bit today getting the new tires put on. Was a pain but got the learning part out of the way. Should go a lot better next time.

Diskman01 stopped by as I was putting it all together and we took it out for a test drive. They feel so much different than the old ones. My old rear was so worn it could stand by itself. Its going to take a few days to get use to it.