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From one of your pics it looks as though the tank is riding against the frame. Are you missing the tank rubbers under the front of the tank?
Looks like the po traded out the handlebars too.
RIP Whiskers (Shop Boss) 25+yrs
"It doesn't hurt until you find out no one is looking"
I didn't have the tank rubbers in for the picture but I do have them. The damage the tank did to the reflector mounts looks like they took a grinder to it so it would fit.
Is there a way to may the standard tank fit right without destroying the reflector mounts if I replace them? Or should I just grind the mounts off if I use this tank?
When I put a Standard tank on my Special, I didn't encounter that problem cuz it was an early Special which has the reflectors on the sides of the 'fork brace' (with the Yamaha name on it) below the headlight and not on the down tube like the late Special has. Grinding it off will, of course, be the end of that mount once and for all ... but that is the only way I can think of.
Also, I don't think we've mentioned that if you want the low fuel light on the dash to work, you'll need to swap the Std tank sender for one from a Spcl. too. FYI, I had the tank swap all done and running and then swapped it all back cuz I just couldn't get used to the uneven seat/tank match up. lol. Too much time on my hands and too many 11s, I guess.
79F Stone stocker and former daily driver, sold May '10 now converting for N.O. to cafe style 79SF eventually dismantled for parts 79F Bought almost new in 80, sold for a house 79F The Ernie bike sold to a Navy dude summer 08 79SF Squared-off Special, Vetter/Bates tour pkg., Mikes XS coils, G rear fender and tail light. Sold June 09
I read up on all the carb related post here and saw that the main jets in the carb's should be 120 and 115 on (I think) the outside carb's. Mine had 120's in all of them. Is that going to be a problem?
Not a problem at all. The OEM setup had the internal carbs set to run their cylinders a little lean so as to not have them run as hot as the outside cylinders (air flow issues). Generally speaking, we all tend to make them teh same all the way across, for simplicity's sake. No visible effect on performance has been reported AFAIK.
Glad you got the ID on you bike figured out. It seems common for people to erroneously sell these bikes as "Midnight Specials" to get more money for them. You've definitely got an '80 Special (SG) with a standard tank. If you're comfortable making your own seat cover, have at it. Otherwise, the covers aere available from several locations, and they just go right over the top of the existing foam, usually with a thin layer of foam on the inside of the cover to smooth out any imperfections.
1980 XS850SG - Sold
1981 XS1100LH Midnight Special (Sold) - purchased 9/29/08
Fully Vetterized and Dynojet Kit added, Heated Grips, Truck-Lite LED headlight, Accel Coils, Irridium plugs, TKAT Fork Brace, XS850LH Final Drive & Black SS Brake lines from Chacal.
Here's my web page devoted to my bike! XS/XJ User's Manuals there, and the XJ1100 Service Manual and both XS1100 Service manuals (free download!).
Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot - You're right.
-H. Ford
Thanks Ford,
I really appreciate the help you all have given me on this project. I didn't want to restore this bike with any unknown issues or misguided intentions. I know these bikes are well sought after if they are done properly. That's my intentions.
I'll look at the options with the seat cover when I get the bike running properly. Thanks for the heads up.
I'm glad to know the jets won't be an issue either.
79F Stone stocker and former daily driver, sold May '10 now converting for N.O. to cafe style 79SF eventually dismantled for parts 79F Bought almost new in 80, sold for a house 79F The Ernie bike sold to a Navy dude summer 08 79SF Squared-off Special, Vetter/Bates tour pkg., Mikes XS coils, G rear fender and tail light. Sold June 09
79F Stone stocker and former daily driver, sold May '10 now converting for N.O. to cafe style 79SF eventually dismantled for parts 79F Bought almost new in 80, sold for a house 79F The Ernie bike sold to a Navy dude summer 08 79SF Squared-off Special, Vetter/Bates tour pkg., Mikes XS coils, G rear fender and tail light. Sold June 09
I think it is the opposite, Bug. Inner cyls were set richer to run cooler. Leaner is hotter.
Having said that though ... 120s all across should be fine.
Sorry 'bout that... Lean, rich, I get it all confused in my head.
1980 XS850SG - Sold
1981 XS1100LH Midnight Special (Sold) - purchased 9/29/08
Fully Vetterized and Dynojet Kit added, Heated Grips, Truck-Lite LED headlight, Accel Coils, Irridium plugs, TKAT Fork Brace, XS850LH Final Drive & Black SS Brake lines from Chacal.
Here's my web page devoted to my bike! XS/XJ User's Manuals there, and the XJ1100 Service Manual and both XS1100 Service manuals (free download!).
Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot - You're right.
-H. Ford
Had 120 mains on the Standards as these carbs had a different size needle than the same year Specials.......just an FYI.
81H Venturer1100 "The Bentley" (on steroids) 97 Yamaha YZ250(age reducer) 92 Honda ST1100 "Twisty"(touring rocket) Age is relative to the number of seconds counted 'airing' out an 85ft. table-top.
My bad.........81 Standards had 110 mains as the metering rods were a different size than on the 81 Specials.
81H Venturer1100 "The Bentley" (on steroids) 97 Yamaha YZ250(age reducer) 92 Honda ST1100 "Twisty"(touring rocket) Age is relative to the number of seconds counted 'airing' out an 85ft. table-top.
Hi LRCXed,
if you are ever going to be more than 90 miles from a gas station you will need a Standard gas tank. The reflector tags themselves will clear the tank so leave them, just remove the reflectors and carefully save them in case you decide to let aesthetics over-rule practicality and fit a Special tank. Put amber reflector tape on the frame downtubes to keep the safety inspectors happy.
The search function will find the details of how (and why) to fit the Special's thermistor fuel sender into the Standard tank and how to crop off 5/8" from the front of the Special's seat pan so it will still fit.
BTW, if you don't have a key for the Standard tank's gas cap you are deep in the soft & brown. The Special's raised fuel cap can be "sprung" quite easily by pressing down on it and poking a thin screwdriver in from the front to push the latch open. OTOH the Standard's elegant flush-mounted gas cap can't be got at like that. You will have to drill the lock.
Fred Hill, S'toon
XS11SG with Spirit of America sidecar
"The Flying Pumpkin"
Unfortunately I don't have a key for the tank lock. I was hoping the #'s stamped on the top of the lock would be the key code. I have had a few locks keyed that way. Are these #'s the key code?
I think keeping this tank on is a good idea. I'll take the reflectors off as you mentioned. What kind of MPG do these bikes average?
"What they do have is an implacable, unrelenting presence and movement that bespeaks massive power lurking behind paint and chrome. They don't wail like a screeching ninja, the don't rumble like a harley. They just growl like a spactic, stressed out badger waiting to rip your face off and eat your soul." Trainzz~RIP~
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