oil on front brakes and no front damping

[mason79]

i took the bike out tonight for the first time on the freeway,one broad power band,

i was a little sqerluy the first 20 miles but the last was great, man the bike is fast, low middle and top so complete,

i don't have another bike to compare what the sounds are, if they suppose to be there, oh well.

i should not have drip motor oil down the speedo cable, i thought i cleaned it up but some got on the new brake pads, and let me tell ya,

weak or no brakes on something this fast is suicidal

1) does anyone think i can salvage those pads?

2) the forks ( i have air caps at 7 pounds or so) seem to have no rebound damping, is this normal for the 79 standard? of course the air hides the compression damping, it seems a little pogo-ish,

i'll change it, but should i go 15 weight, or did the original 10 wt thin out and maybe i should go with 10wt again, i sure hate to say it but i weight 135lb

matter of fact the whole front end is disappointing, btw i have a fork brace

[webbcraft2150]

No front brakes would be a scary deal. You might be able to save them. Remove the pads and clean them with brake cleaner or laquer thinner. Brake cleaner works best cause it leave no residue. Once they dry, take a file or hand grinder and CAREFULLY remove just the top layer of pad. Then using a 180 grit paper, lay it on a flat surface and "smooth" out the pads. Use the brake cleaner and some emery cloth on the rotors, you need to break the glaze on them. With the importance of having good brakes on a rig that reaches warp speed in a heartbeat, this procedure should only be used till you get new pads, they are not as expensive as a ambulance (or hearse) ride. As for your forks, your best bet is disassemble, clean and reassemble with new fork seals. Read the tech tips, its not a hard job and the results are well worth it. As for fork oil, I run 15w. Fork air is set at 15-20lbs, but I run with a full fairing and enjoy sub-light speeds

[mason79]

your best bet is disassemble, clean and reassemble with new fork seals. Read the tech tips, its not a hard job and the results are well worth it.

i did the fronts on many a bikes and would hate to tear this one down, but then again it is my best bike ever...

the seals aren't leaking, you think i should "go all the way"? maybe pour some engine flush instead? just kinding

then i'll check the bearings in the steering head...

i like progressive springs in the pass, in a shoot out with stockers and aircaps who wins? since i'm in there?

i don't think i'm ever goin to fair the bike with anything heavy,matter of fact selling the fairing on ebay now...

[mro]

Stopping challenged

Don't beleave I'd mess w/oiled pads

735 pounds needes to stop, WHEN it needs to stop.
(600 pound bike & Slim dude on seat)

Don't get "doOvers" if you don't slow/stop the first time



mro

btw
You sure could give TC and bandit are decent 1/4 mile run
They both weigh in around 250

[webbcraft2150]

Read the tech tips on forks. They are the easiest I have ever had to work on. The allen head bolt in the bottom can be a battle, but the tech tips will guide you thru it without having to buy any special tools. While you have the forks apart, its real easy to polish the downtubes. You have to think about it, they most likely have never been worked on since leaving the land of the rising sun.

[xs650mike]

Got the opposite, front end is great, rear dampers suck. PO had the front forks done over with new springs. I'm running 2 lbs. air. Nice. Rear shocks are originals and shot at over 51k miles.

[mason79]

Read the tech tips on forks. They are the easiest I have ever had to work on

i'll look and can't find r and r for forks in modify, repair and maintain...
but i thought they were all the same, long reach homemade tool yada...

progressives or leave it with a good cleaning?

While you have the forks apart, its real easy to polish the downtubes

howed you know my 48,000 mile ride needed fork polishing, you must have telepathy

[DiverRay]

mason79,
I just put new springs in my '79 standard. I bought the progressive fork springs, and they are great. I am using synthetic ATF for fork oil, and it seems to work well for me. the rebound is in control, and the ride isn't too harsh. I am a little bigger than you, at 225 lbs.!
To replace springs, etc. I just raised the front end, pulled the drain screws one at a time, and pulled the fork cap off that tube. Once the old oil was out, I sprayed a little brake cleaner down the tube, and let it run out. I then went on to the other tube, leaving the first open to air out. I then put the new springs in, put about 10 ounces of oil in each tube. I then took a 24" long steel rod, and measured how far down the oil was. I added until it was 16" down from the top of the tube. This was after working the front end up and down a few times to get the oil into all the passages.
I then reinstalled the caps on the forks, and went for a test ride. Forks work great, and after 1.5K miles, don't leak.(I do ride a lot)
Real easy, and the progressive fork springs were $61 delivered!
Ray

[mason79]

Got the opposite, front end is great, rear dampers suck. PO had the front forks done over with new springs. I'm running 2 lbs. air. Nice. Rear shocks are originals and shot at over 51k miles.

c'mon 4 bolts on the center stand, i'll swap? deal or no deal?

[mason79]

I added until it was 16" down from the top of the tube.

i may go with your; not taking it all apart method, and spray carb cleaner, i like the dip stick idea, those cooking beakers inhale...

may i ask where you got those springs?

[GNEPIG]

.. i have the progressive fork springs, run 0 psi in the forks and have the 10w fork oil set at the factory specs. i also have the 1/2 inch over progressive shocks with the heavy springs on the rear. in 2003 i printed off of this site instructions on how to make your XS11 handle great, and it worked!
.. oh yeah, 79 special, i'm 5'11" and weigh 210 lbs
good tires were a plus also

[DiverRay]

mason79,
Here is a link for the site.
http://www.mawonline.com/#Product%20Index
The rear shocks are priced rite as well, but I've replaced mine about 6 months ago.
Ray

[mason79]

Originally posted by DiverRay
mason79,
Here is a link for the site.
http://www.mawonline.com/#Product%20Index
The rear shocks are priced rite as well, but I've replaced mine about 6 months ago.
Ray

thanks i have s and w's in the back from po, but i don't know what 49k miles do to bike shocks, especially since he was full dress and had a trailer hitch, ouch! seems performaing well though

[xs650mike]

Tell ya what I'm gonna do, I'll trade my bitchin' stock rears for those crummy S&Ws.

Hey, I used to have a 750 Seca and 2 Visions, great bikes!

[mason79]

Originally posted by xs650mike
Tell ya what I'm gonna do, I'll trade my bitchin' stock rears for those crummy S&Ws.

Hey, I used to have a 750 Seca and 2 Visions, great bikes!

all my previous yammies had thier own personallities, this one is big and bold, almost like a big block ford