It Started Right Away!

[Radioguylogs]

After having my first and only XS11 for 1 1/2 years,...

...putzing my way through the basket case issues, and polishing and hand loving everything along the way,....

...eBaying to replace the non-functional and rusty parts...

I borrowed the gas tank from an older snowblower, and fashioned some petcocks out of C clamps to see if my project was ready to tune-up.

Amazingly, it started immediately:





Just a little tweak on the timing, and minor adjustments for carb sync, and it seems ready to go.

The only problem was that I decided to minimize the fuel supply and keep an extinguisher nearby. It went through the gas in just a few minutes. When I added more gas, one of the floats was stuck and gas (a lot) came out the air cleaner. I shut off the gas (thank goodness I had those clamps ready) and cranked it immediately to keep gas out the oil, and that freed the float. It was fine after that.

All I need is to paint the gas tank to be on my way!

I'll bore you with the project summary later.

[XJOK2PLAY]

Nice work, Mike!
Ya got a nice looking Special project.

Congrats!

[Winterhawk]

Good looking engine, wheels and what a great exhaust system.

[mikubuilder]

Great job Mike, yeah that sound of gas vortex when motor is running is quite amazing

[Prisoner6]

All I need is to paint the gas tank to be on my way!

I'll bore you with the project summary later.

Definitely some polishing going on there ...

Looking real good, Mike! What color will you be painting the tank and side covers?

And please, feel free to bore us with the details ... lots of details!

[MarkD]

Wow -- That thing is looking awesome! Well done.

[Radioguylogs]

Definitely some polishing going on there ...

Looking real good, Mike! What color will you be painting the tank and side covers?

And please, feel free to bore us with the details ... lots of details!

The color will be a dark metallic blue, but not as dark as Indigo Blue.

I was keeping the bike stock, but the black w/gold flecks looked too boring- it needs a touch of color.

I liked the idea of blue, or red, or copper. The blue has the most classy contrast with the gold emblems, so dark metallic blue it is.

Here the same paint on another tank, although not a good picture because the picture was actually taken to sell the handlebars:



Thanks to everyone for your kind remarks.

[Prisoner6]

The color will be a dark metallic blue, but not as dark as Indigo Blue.

I was keeping the bike stock, but the black w/gold flecks looked too boring- it needs a touch of color.

I liked the idea of blue, or red, or copper. The blue has the most classy contrast with the gold emblems, so dark metallic blue it is.

Thank you for that pic!

I was considering painting my SF, and dark metallic blue is one of the colors I was looking at ... also considering red, and even yellow.

Man, does that ever look classy ... where did you find the color?

[Radioguylogs]

I bought the paint on-line from TCP Global. The color is Nightwatch Blue Metallic - 2511.

http://www.tcpglobal.com/restorationshop/

I used acrylic lacquer because I am familiar with that type of paint and it is so forgiving and easy to work with. Even if you get it on a bit rough- it's easy to wet sand it and polish it.

Sometime soon I need to get the guts to play with urethane.

[Prisoner6]

Mike,

Thanks for the info and the link!

That color is definitely in the running if/when I get around to painting my SF.

Keep us updated on your bike ... can't wait to see it finished!!

[CaptonZap]

Sometime soon I need to get the guts to play with urethane.

If and when you do, take great pains to not breath any over spray. It will not be kind to your lungs.
Osha requires that any catalyzed paint be sprayed in a booth that captures the over spary, and the operater has an air supply supplied from outside the booth.
Normally I regard OSHA as a bunch of overpaid autocrats whose only objective is to justify their continued government position, but in this case, they have one. (a case )
CZ

[MaximPhil]

Very nice. And that is why Specials only go 100 miles between fuel stops but what a ride along the way
Nice Blue
Phil

[madmax-im]

Nice bike indeed Mike! Love that Blue as well...

[Radioguylogs]

If and when you do, take great pains to not breath any over spray. It will not be kind to your lungs.
Osha requires that any catalyzed paint be sprayed in a booth that captures the over spary, and the operater has an air supply supplied from outside the booth.
Normally I regard OSHA as a bunch of overpaid autocrats whose only objective is to justify their continued government position, but in this case, they have one. (a case )
CZ

CZ:

Thanks for looking out for us.

I had learned from a friend, and from reading about the dangerous overspray from catalyzed urethane paint, as I think it contains cyanoacrylate (superglue). Once it gets in your lungs, it is there to stay.

Since I don't have a mask with an air supply, my future plan was to use a good mask outside. I haven't done enough research yet.

[CaptonZap]

Since I don't have a mask with an air supply, my future plan was to use a good mask outside. I haven't done enough research yet.

LOL, be sure to pick a calm day.

CZ