reviving an old beast

[GARTHXS]

so just purchased a new project 79f , the paint is in good condition and the motor turns and seems to have compression , just kind of wondering where i should start , all the parts are there, and the PO was the first owner but he let it sit for 8 years in his garage and it looks like 2 years outside (damn) looks like some corrosion on the cases and chrome but not totally rusted out, pipes look like they could use a jet hot coating and the carbs are frozen as far as I can see. I would love to do a total resto but my funds are limited and i dont have a garage so a total teardown is not an option right now

[tarzan]

I'd pull the carbs and spray some starting fluid in the carbs just to see if it will start.If so ,I would rebuild them carbs and go from there.Might check for oil first I suppose.

[latexeses]

Ditto...
Be sure you start with a fresh battery. Fresh oil in the motor?.?...

[rpgoerlich]

Unless the Carbs and the Tank were drained for those 8 years, I'd clean them first.
Sounds like an in frame restoration to me!

[GARTHXS]

starting fluid

Its a little far gone from that stage, as I mentioned above the carbs are frozen , I guess I will pull them apart as far as I can without damaging them and look for some place to ultrasound them, btw the carb boots look really bad

[RUSH]

pull the tank, clean it, and check for leaks. put some inline fuel filters in the fuel line. pull the carbs and clean them bottom to top one at a time until you get familliar with them. put in new oil, oil filter, battery, fuel, and plugs.
Check that there is spark when you crank the motor. Prime the carbs and fire it up. Adjust the carbs as recommended elsewhere on this site and then check the brakes and bearings BEFORE YOU GO RIDING!!! The front brake master cylinder relief hole gets plugged over time. Clean them, flush them, and check them. Check that the middle and final gear have 90-110w oil in them. Check tires and tire pressure. Check all lights.

[GARTHXS]

all great ideas

dump all fluids first, the tanks does not appear to have any rust so im going to hopefully just clean out the varnish and rebuild the petcocks . but the tires are ten year new metz so it will be a while before i get to the riding and brake stage.

[DGXSER]

Maybe a bit basic but...

here is the link to the neglected XS list on the site...

http://www.xs11.com/faqs/16-what-to-...ed-xs1100.html

[GARTHXS]

ahh, just what i was looken for

I was looking for that post , thank dgxsr

[GARTHXS]

its here

So I finally got it home and I'm in the process of dumping the fluids and I can't seem to find the drain for the middle drive , I guess I have to find my manual. The carbs are totally rusted shut but I have been soaking the butterflys with wd40 to loosen them up. Next ill drain the tank. Any pointers on unfreezing petcocks?

[randy]

Middle Drive drain:

Put the bike on the centerstand. Look underneath, directly up from the centerstand, you'll see the drain bolt. Same size as the engine drain bolt. Rig something like a paper towel tube to route the fluid to a drain pan or it will be a mess!

[GARTHXS]

drain

Yeah just cracked my shop manual and confirmed where it is. No time to work on the bike today, my vaca is over and I have togo back to work @ 10am maybe tomorrow - I don't have to go in till 3

[Cobia]

Keep in mind that although a good product which I used to use extensively, WD40 is a moisture dispersant not great at looseninf frozen parts. Give PB Blaster a try, you'll be surprised at the results.
BTW - Advanced Auto has a killer carb cleaner which they call Carb Spray, made by Next Dimension. Beware of getting it on soft skin, burns like a mother f#@%er.
Good luck, I just redid a neglected 79F myself.

[GARTHXS]

kragen

Any body know if kragen carrys that pb blaster or possibly napa those the only auto stores in my neck o' the woods, or possibly walmart

[DGXSER]

Garth, I picked it up at wallyworld.