And so it begins ... Another bike building project

[79XS11F]

More progress in spite of the BLASTED thing FALLING OFF the stand only a 1/2hour ago GRRRRRRR. Good thing the stand was at floor level... NO damage thank god GRRRRRRR. Being that the forks are interconnected by the air supply line I will have to open them up and confirm that they have equal amounts of oil in each leg GRRRRRRRRRR
Anyway I have so far managed to use SS hardware everywhere and have made some more progress. Brakes will be "brushed" look to match the engine.
More pics :-)

Even small stuff is SS hardware on this project


Handle bars are on


Should be able to seal up the light pod soon


Brushed brake callipers to match engine

[ossjughead]

Hey Jim,
Thanks but no thanks, there's still too much salt and sand on the roads and I have far too many hours and hard earned dollars into my Eleven to risk dumping it. But as soon as the roads are clear.....................

Paul

Roads where good and put on 200 km today was great hope we get all the rain they are calling for this week be even better next week
P.S. If nobody buys the 79 complete Paul i will have that bracket for you
will let you know

[kirmit77]

Help with my bike

Hi Rob. Im kinda new to the XS11 scene. I just pulled a 79 xs1100 special out from under a shed. It is a complete bike and i got it FREE! Im doing a complete restore on it and i was wondering about doing the engine. When you used the wire brush and the brass brush, did you put anything on it afterwards??? Also, what does the brass one look like?
Thanks in Advance!

[79XS11F]

Hi Rob. Im kinda new to the XS11 scene. I just pulled a 79 xs1100 special out from under a shed. It is a complete bike and i got it FREE! Im doing a complete restore on it and i was wondering about doing the engine. When you used the wire brush and the brass brush, did you put anything on it afterwards??? Also, what does the brass one look like?
Thanks in Advance!

First the engine was striped of the paint using aircraft coating remover. Once that was cleaned up the metal was buffed with wire wheels that attach to a standard drill. i had about 4 sizes in both Medium and fine stiffness. then I spent about 8 hours going at it with these wire wheels. After it was done I used about 3 cans of contact cleaner and lots of clean white cloths to really clean the metal. then it was buffed with custom English polish. There is not protective coating on it. I was going to high heat clear coat it but did not want to have to strip it and brush it again if that painting effort didn't work out.
If you opt to do this wear a face filter and gloves because alloy dust is created and you really don't need to be breathing that stuff. Also remember to remove the rubber dampers from between the fins and plug and opening to the engine. If you have access the same effect can be achieved by glass beading the whole thing.


HTH
Rob

[kirmit77]

Glass beading

Ok, so what i am getting at is when you clean it all up, you dont have to put anything on it but to protect it? The polish is just for a finish. Its not like metal and will rust i know that. Also, what would you do about a broken fin?

Austin

[79XS11F]

Ok, so what i am getting at is when you clean it all up, you dont have to put anything on it but to protect it? The polish is just for a finish. Its not like metal and will rust i know that. Also, what would you do about a broken fin?
Austin

There's not a lot you can do about a broken fin. Where is the broken fin located on the engine? o had a broken fin down real low on the front of my hop up engine so I just ground the other side to match but these fins are down real low and will not affect cooling.
Rob

[79XS11F]

I puttered around in the garage today but didn't get much done. My garage faces NORTH side and it's still too STINKING COLD out there. I did manage to rebuild the handlebar switches and strip the paint off the wheels. I'm still waiting for SS hardware but my tires did arrive on Friday. In the end this bike will be black, chrome and brushed alloy and Stainless steel...
Rob







.

[renegade_xs11g]

WOW, everything I see, YOU DO GOOD WORK!!!!!

SHARP

[79XS11F]

WOW, everything I see, YOU DO GOOD WORK!!!!!

SHARP

The only question now is ... Do I delay the entire job to wait for warm enough weather to clear coat the raw alloy parts. It's currently still too cold in this area for painting unless done inside.
Rob

[Ken Talbot]

Very sweet!

[79XS11F]

Thanks Ken ...
So... between having the door installers here on three different days, a surprise plumbing repair, Family visitors, rain and a generally sore low back I have not got much done this week but the project is still moving forward even if at a slower pace. Got the wheels stripped of paint and have started the cleaning, buffing and rebuilding of the balance of the brake parts. I will have to get out the dremel with small brushes to finish up at this point.

Wheel Stripping ... Gota LOVE that aircraft coating remover.





Clutch purch &Brake parts close to complete





.

[79XS11F]

Crap ... I was thinking I was done with the brakes and just realized I'm short the rear caliper ... Here's the rear caliper holder. It's really amazing how these parts can be cleaned up to look so good even if the castings themselves are rough...
Rob

[GARTHXS]

coating?

So now those brake parts are all shiney , clear, or black paint?

[DGXSER]

Wow, now I am really considering a project for next winter. I like the "brushed nickle" look. You have more patience than I ever hope to!!

[79XS11F]

So now those brake parts are all shiney , clear, or black paint?

The parts are all striped of their paint, put to a course wire wheel followed by a fine wire wheel. They will get high heat clear coated as they are before being installed.
Rob