Just got mine working. Few issues though

[dimulec]

Hello all, nice to meet you! I was reading this forum for some time. Didn't know if my 78 XS11 was going to make it. Now it is alive so I had to register to resolve few minor issues. First of all, it was in a very bad shape when I got it (as a gift!). The problem areas were carburators and front forks. Carburators were not repairable (believe me, I have some experience in restoring carbs). But I did try anyway with no luck. Then I tried to find a set on ebay and was outbid 2 times. Finally got the carbs off ebay for a 79 kawasaki 1000 and respaced them for my XS11. Had to cut/weld 2 links, but now they work just fine. The forks were so rusty so there was no point in restoring them. So I got a clean set off ebay too. Sealed the gas tank with por15, replaced intake manifolds with new ones, removed the head, cleaned pistons... I just love the process. Thet it started. But only 3 cylinders were working. Compression test did not show anything wrong but when crancing without spark plugs I got a nice stream of oil coming fron #2 spark plug hole. So, I disassembled the top part again, removed the head and the cylinder block, replaced rings and valve steem seals and readjusted valve clearances. These procedure gave the effect I was hoping for - Idle is good, throtle response is good, power is good.

Now, I need to do some exterior work. So here are the questions - maybe someoneone can help.
1. Speedometer does not work - the old pickup is brocken. What is better - try to find new (used) pickup, which to the dade I was not able to find. Or try to fit an electronic speedometer. Then there are questions about the sensor type, place etc. Or maybe it is better to forget about it? 5000 rpm = 80 mph. What else should I need to know
2. I want to try to find/match the old paint (macho maroon). What should I do - take it to the shop for painting or try to match it myself?
3. How do I repair the cracked seat? Or is it better to take it to a professional? Then where to? I am in SoCal.
4. Vaccuum advance is very noisy. When the throttle is closed it clicks too much. Is it supposed to work like this?

I am probably going to need more help - I just don't remember now. Thank you for reading

BTW, who can tell what is wrong with this picture of 78 XS1100E? And I an not talking about a disassembled engine.

[Shuriken]

Nice work.

1. I'd just get another oem speedo from eBay. If you're going original paint, why not go original speedo?
2. Not sure about paint but I'm sure a search using macho maroon will turn up someone else's threads.... I'm sure someone has found a solution for this.... I'll go look....
3. eBay was also my friend for seats. Got a king/queen seat for my old 80g and then purchased a new seat cover for it and then had a shop tack it together. For my 79sf, I snagged a complete OEM seat in good shape.
4. Your vacuum advance is likely clattering because you connected it to one of the manifold ports on those Kawi carbs without a restrictor inside the hose. You need a small restrictor in the hose so that the vacuum advance doesn't go crazy. I put Kawi ZRX-1200 carbs on my 79sf and had to do that. I used a restrictor that I borrowed from a Morgan Carbtune Pro kit. Basically it's a small solid plastic fitting with a small hole drilled through the center. On my VMax, it's something else. Could probably order the small VMax part and use it. (BikeBandit part number: 41791-001 - http://www.bikebandit.com/houseofmot...x-1985/o/m8014

[dimulec]

Thank you very much ae7f for #4. I have never had any experience with vacuum advance on motorcycles before. I will order that nozzle.

[3Phase]

BTW, who can tell what is wrong with this picture of 78 XS1100E? And I an not talking about a disassembled engine.

Someone put a blower under the gas tank?



Nice work on the bike!

Regards,

Scott

[dimulec]

Originally posted by 3Phase


Someone put a blower under the gas tank?



Nice work on the bike!

Regards,

Scott

Well... Not really. I did not find forks for 78 XS1100 so I got very nice ans shiny ones from Midnight Special (see the leading axsle). So far I did not notice any bad behavior even though this modification made the front part 0.5" lower.

[blue giant]

The special forks are a dead give away!

[3Phase]

I saw the Special forks but I was thinking "wrong" as in "non-XS" and not "non-XS model E."

Got me! <chuckling>

Besides, I was hoping to get a blower thread going. I may have missed them but I've seen a bunch of injection and turbo threads and a few furtive mentions of nitrous; no love for blowers.


Regards,

Scott

[egsols]

BTW, who can tell what is wrong with this picture

Plastic bags don't make good corks? Horns make good cam chain holders?

[Shuriken]

Originally posted by dimulec
Thank you very much ae7f for #4. I have never had any experience with vacuum advance on motorcycles before. I will order that nozzle.

You're welcome. If it still clatters after that, you'll need to go to even a smaller restrictor.

[fredintoon]

Special fork legs &amp; speedo drive

Hi Dimulec,
IF that's your bike in the photo and IF those are the replacement forks you installed and IF you only put the Special fork legs into the existing Standard triple trees, be warned! Doing that reduces the front wheel's trail by ~50%. Works great for a sidecar tug but makes the steering way too light for a safe solo ride.
If it's the worm-drive speedo thingie on the front wheel that is broken, the one for the Special can be hard to find but the one off any XS bike with a 17mm front axle will work. It will need a different speedo cable.

[fredintoon]

seat &amp; paint

Hi Simulec,
the least painful way to fix the seat is to put on a ~$95 Travelcade Saddleskin.
If you have the gear (compressor, paintgun, facemask etc. etc.) You can repaint the tank yourself for ~$100 in materials.
Most recent quotes for a professional tank repaint I've seen have been in the $400/$600 range.
Rattle cans work too but a rattle can's single part paint ain't very gas proof.

[dimulec]

Re: Special fork legs &amp; speedo drive

Originally posted by fredintoon
Hi Dimulec,
IF that's your bike in the photo and IF those are the replacement forks you installed and IF you only put the Special fork legs into the existing Standard triple trees, be warned! Doing that reduces the front wheel's trail by ~50%. Works great for a sidecar tug but makes the steering way too light for a safe solo ride.
If it's the worm-drive speedo thingie on the front wheel that is broken, the one for the Special can be hard to find but the one off any XS bike with a 17mm front axle will work. It will need a different speedo cable.

Why so many IFs? It is my bike. And I tried it already on 405 at about 80mph and on streets with some turns - didn't see any bad behaviour. Or should I say I was not experiencing any bad behaviour until the back tube broke - it kinda hard to ride with a flat rear tire Now I am waiting for a weekend to take care of it.

But thank you for all your input - I will try to find a seat cover. 95 is ok considering that I got this bike for free.

I am not very much into painting, but I do have all the stuff - compressor, spray gun and a place to do the work. So I might try it as well.

[Bamper]

Found something else with teh picture. Your kick starter is gone

[Shuriken]

Re: Just got mine working. Few issues though

Originally posted by dimulec
BTW, who can tell what is wrong with this picture of 78 XS1100E? And I an not talking about a disassembled engine.

All of your pistons are rising and falling at the same time..... so you have a vertical-four engine? Man... that must produce some serious teeth-rattling vibration! And I thought my old XS650 was bad!



Just kidding. I know, I know... rotate the crank....

[dimulec]

Originally posted by Bamper
Found something else with teh picture. Your kick starter is gone

No, it is in a proper place, just not attached. I love it (in a good way). Even if the battery has no charge to crank the bike can be started. But I lost the rubber cap for the shaft end.