Got a new bike! Got a new bike!

[prometheus578]

Last week two kids came into the shop... wanting to know how to get valves out. Since they didn't have the proper tool, I described the ol' deepwell socket and hammer method.
They came back again yesterday. "How do you free a stuck engine?"
Recalling Laxdad's post, I stated several methods.
"Oh, we can't do that, we have the engine out of the frame."
""I'd like to help you guys out.... just what kind of bike do you have?""
"Umm.. the old guy that gave it to us said it was an SX1100."
"" Do you mean an XS1100? ...the most powerful street machine next to Speed Racer's fabulous Mach 5! An XS1100?""
"Yeah, that's it... XS1100. He also said there was something Special about it."

Now, My Brothers and only friends... Your humble narrator immediately took a few steps backwards, lest these fine boys hear the gears spinning in my melon as I try to figure a scheme to part them from their undeserved windfall.

""And just where is this fine machine?""
"It's at home, but we have the engine in the back of our truck."
""Let's have a looksee, shall we?""

...shame that those two boys had to see a grown man cry. They had broken off several fins on the cylinder head in the process of removing it, the cam bearing surfaces were shot, and there was a snapped off spark plug in one of the holes. (Not just snapped off porcelan..., the threaded part of the plug was in the hole, but the hexhead part was gone! I have never seen that before)
The engine itself was no better. The timing plate on the crank was shattered, and the cylinders were so rusted honing was out of the question. Looking down the cam chain hole, I could see the whole crankcase filled with mud. (I pulled out the hankie and started crying again)
They had gotten the bike from an old farmer... was underwater when the river flooded 5 years ago, and had sat outside ever since.
Made them an offer. "Give the bike to me(someone who truly deserves it), and I'll give you an old Yama DT125 that I have taking up space in my yard... kicks over, has spark, and I have the title."
They dropped off the bike at work this afternoon. One engine, two wheels, a stripped bare frame, and 6 buckets/milk crates full of muddy parts. I cried until I laughed.
So... I'm now the proud owner of my first Special, a '79. I have now finally seen(after hearing you all bitch about it) just what a fuel line octopus looks like. (several descriptive military terms come to mind, but I shant print them here)
Shall inspect and inventory tomorrow. May rebuild... or part out.

[John]

Re: Got a new bike! Got a new bike!

Prometheus says: So... I'm now the proud owner of my first Special, a '79. I have now finally seen(after hearing you all bitch about it) just what a fuel line octopus looks like. (several descriptive military terms come to mind, but I shant print them here)


Would Cluster F*^k, or Hammerd F*^k be some of the military terms that would describe it?
Good luck with it...you're gonna need it.

[prometheus578]

Ahhh... how the military doth enrich one's vocabulary! Verily, the bike looks like a "goat screw"; and I can liken those lad's mechanical abilities to "two monkeys f*^king a football".
Just for "sh*ts and giggles", may try to chase down the title today.

[andreashweiss]

I have a frame with title 81xs1100. Your story was great I have gotton many old xs1100's that that you feel like just punching out the previous owner due to the disrespect they showed to this fine machine. I have some perfect donor engine parts for you its a 79(2h7) You should make a road trip we could meet half way . andreas

[skippy344]

You are truly blessed!

Her name is "Claire" and she says that she doesn't want to be a burden to anybody but.....

If you could find it in your heart (and wallet!) to bebuild her, she would be forever grateful. She longs to carry a worthy pilot along those beautiful roads of the northwest again. She longs to breathe in the sweet mountain air and pass any bike in her way. She assures me that she will not dissappoint you.

If you can't rebuild her, she understands. She also knows how finicky XS's can be and again, doesn't want to burden anybody.

Good luck with her.

greg

[Bud Manley]

Originally posted by prometheus578
Ahhh... how the military doth enrich one's vocabulary! Verily, the bike looks like a "goat screw"; and I can liken those lad's mechanical abilities to "two monkeys f*^king a football".
Just for "sh*ts and giggles", may try to chase down the title today.

Poetry. Pure poetry.

[prometheus578]

Her name is "Claire" and she says that she doesn't want to be a burden to anybody but.....

If you could find it in your heart (and wallet!) to bebuild her, she would be forever grateful. She longs to carry a worthy pilot along those beautiful roads of the northwest again. She longs to breathe in the sweet mountain air and pass any bike in her way. She assures me that she will not dissappoint you.

Now that's Poetry... pure poetry
Thanks, Skippy
Yes, I heard her plaintive pleadings yesterday. Rekeyed the locks, removed two stuck valves, and cradling her head gently in my arms, lowered it lovingly into the solvent tank for a nice, soothing soak.
"I got plans for you, Baby!", I tenderly whispered in her horn.
(well, that's the closest ear-like looking part, I 'spose)
Hard to be romantic with something so obviously cold and mechanical. (Hhmmm... sounds like why I divorced my wife!)

[skippy344]

Claire

Cold and mechanical, maybe.. fun to ride? YES!!!!

Funny thing about bikes, they never say "no!," they never get headaches, or attitudes. If you take care of them, they are always ready to ride.

On my previous post, you might want to replace the word "bebuild" with the word "rebuild." It has much more meaning that way. (I'm such a doofus!) I've also discovered that spellcheck doesn't work for left-handed people. I don't know why that is...

And yes, the military poetry was hilarious!

greg

[Pat Kelly]

My MNS has "attitude"........

[prometheus578]

Thanks, Skippy

You know...I though about what you wrote all day at work today... which is an odd thing for me, as I'm about as cold and heartless a creature as anyone would have the displeasure to meet. (after confronting my wife about her affair and then patching things up, I quietly waited 9 months just to have the pleasure of throwing her out of the house on our 17th wedding anniversary) That, my friend, is cold and heartless.

Claire... Claire... Oh, how that struck hard and deep to the depths of my blackened soul!
Claire... Claire... why that name and her pleading bare frame beckoned to me so?
I must have this woman... I must possess her and make her mine!
Went to the licensing bureau and ran a title search. Bike was last registered 10 years ago in Auburn, Wa., about 60 miles from here. How she ended up in some local farmers flooded pasture...?
Registered address is some apartment complex. The chances of the original owner still living there is quite remote. So, when my certified letter to him gets returned to me unopened, I get a temporary registration, and three years later she's legally, and tenderly mine.
Nothing scheduled to come in at work tomorrow, so shall attempt to free the cylinder from the rusty pistons and split the case for a quick looksee. (50,000 miles)
She's gotta run, as she's already got a name.

[Bud Manley]

Make sure you keep track of billable hours just in case the "owner" does exist and decides he wants his bike back.

[prometheus578]

Thanks Bud,
Yes, that I know. Just 'cause I get my parts at cost and the labor's free, doesn't mean that I won't write up a bill for full price and $75 per hour shop rate.

[skippy344]

You're Welcome!

We TeXSives thank you for rescuing one of our own. As you need parts, please post what you need. We have plenty to donate to Claire.

Open your heart to her; she can wick away all the cold and darkenss you may be feeling. She will restore your spirit. Spirit in whatever you believe. Even if its just the spirit that you get while tooling up the road at 85MPH lost in your thoughts and the turns in front of you.

While I ride "Scorpion" to work every day, I definitely get a recharge of something when I take her out for pleasure and on our rallys. I can't explain it, but I can surely feel it! It fills my soul, man!

Also, if you can, please take progress pictures. Even if you don't want to share with us, once she is 100%; looking back on those pictures will give you such a sense of accomplishment. Its a real rush!

greg

[prometheus578]

She not stuck up!

"Claire... Baby... loosen up, will ya?"
Spent the better part of yesteday trying to remove the cylinder. We all know that the base gasket has a tendancy to bond the cylinder to the upper case half, but having piston rings rust-welded to the cylinder walls further complicates matters.
No amount of PB Blaster, Marvelous oil, nor anything for that matter could get the pistons to budge. Trying to get the pistons to move using a piece of 2x4 and a mallet only succeeded in caving in the top of piston #4, though piston #1 seems to have broken free of it's bond as it "thuds" a different tone when struck. The idea was to break the all the pistons free... or, by pounding #1 and #4 down... have #2 and #3, rusted in their bores, move upward taking the cylinder with it. I've already written off the pistons, etc, just need them offa the case. I have two spare engines at home, so replacement pistons and such is no big deal.
Project for today(provided no pesky customers show up) is to split the case, remove the rod caps and crank, and try to hammer the "piston/cylinder pairbond" loose from the backside.
Tranny gears look beautiful and function fine... carbs, except for mold and white powdery aluminum, were clear and unplugged.
Inventory: Missing bolt that holds on the alternator rotor, seat(which I have a spare) and side covers which I'll scrounge later once I make an estimate of total cost. Kids must have cut the cam chain as it's AWOL, too.

[edgo]

I can pick up a bike that supposedly has a good engine, no carbs, and rusty forks. It's $250.00. Should I get it?

Ed