got a xs400

[lee_dutcher]

starting to get really xsive....lol but i pick up a rough looking 78 xs400 but all is there. so i got it as is with a locked up front drum and missing keys. but came with title so i should be good. it turns over and has spark and good compression... get pick for you all later..

[lee_dutcher]

runs like crap but i got it running..... just needed a key

[lee_dutcher]

so i got kurby pretty much dimantled but i cant figure out this drum..... how the hell do u get it off? i tryed tapping with a dead blow hammer but nothing and prying with a flat head but it wont budge...hummmm

[cywelchjr]

If the shoes are stuck your going to have to figure out how to get them broke free cause they will hold it in place. If you take the external linkages off the brakes, you might be able to push them in through the plate allowing it to come off so you can get to the inside of the brake drum, but you just might be looking for a new wheel for it. I had the front shoes come apart on mine and the only reason it didn't jam was that the friction material also came loose from the shoes at the same time, but I did have a time getting it loose from the drum and then it took some work with sandpaper to clean it up. And the shoes are pretty hard to find for those these days, as they are NLA and pretty scarce.

[lee_dutcher]

well i sighned up on the xs400.com site and they i had to remove the whole wheel to even get into this thing...lol.... going to be fun i might just convert to disk brake but idk.....

[cywelchjr]

well i sighned up on the xs400.com site and they i had to remove the whole wheel to even get into this thing...lol.... going to be fun i might just convert to disk brake but idk.....

Yeah, you do need to take the wheel off to take the drum apart, at least if your talking about taking the wheel off the forks. But that's all you should have to do, but thinking back, I'm recalling that those shoes are fastened to that moving plate, so your going to need to get them to break loose from the drum before you can get that thing apart.

[lee_dutcher]

wow that was really easy!!!lol but i just used a dremal with a wore wheel and cleaned the snot out of the drum and it was as good as new. ok so next question... this a 78 and is a kick only bike apparnely..lol
here some pics of what i begain with and what im currently at...

what i started with

so far this is what i got basic cleaning and stuff






hears a registartion sticker from 1976 lol kinda cool i wasent born till 12 years after....

[lee_dutcher]

sorry i didnt get to ask the question... the steel reserve took over... but anywayz is there a way to wire the ignition to a toggle switch insted of twisting a key?

[bikerphil]

sorry i didnt get to ask the question... the steel reserve took over... but anywayz is there a way to wire the ignition to a toggle switch insted of twisting a key?

Yes, find the two wires at the key that complete the ignition circuit and hook your toggle switch to those.

[cywelchjr]

wow that was really easy!!!lol but i just used a dremal with a wore wheel and cleaned the snot out of the drum and it was as good as new. ok so next question... this a 78 and is a kick only bike apparnely..lol
here some pics of what i begain with and what im currently at...

what i started with

so far this is what i got basic cleaning and stuff






hears a registartion sticker from 1976 lol kinda cool i wasent born till 12 years after....

No, the bump right behind the jugs is the starter. It should have a wire coming down to it from above, as a 78 should be electric start unless someone removed the starter stuff, but factory they had electric start.

[lee_dutcher]

yea the starter is gone... so assuming ecerything else is too....hell there isnt even a start button..lol... oh well i like kicking it anyway