31 year old rubber not holding up so well...

[clcorbin]

Well, I just got my 79F back from my brother. Over the 20 years that I/we have owned this bike, it has gone back and forth between us as needs have changed. And it's my turn again!

Step one of getting this bike ready for the road again is a complete fluids/grease change along with sealing up all the assorted oil leaks (new gaskets and o-rings). That is all fairly simple and well underway.

The problem is a lot of the rubber dampers are just plain dead. Specifically, the bushing that attaches the rear brake arm to the swing arm is completely dead. While taking the bracket off, that bushing simply fell apart. I actually have NO clue what it SHOULD look like as all I have to go on is bits of hard rubber pieces.
Anyone know where I can get one of these bushings? Or have a good suggestion on how to make a usable replacement? I'm sure anything will work better than than what was there.

The other bit of rubber that REALLY needs attention is the foot rests. They were going down hill the last time my brother got the bike. Now, the rubber is starting to really fall off the metal foot rest. Do you have any ideas on where I can get good replacements, either factory or aftermarket?

Right now, I am in the process of stripping off all the parts that need TLK both so I can give it that TLC and also so it will lighten this beast up so I can flip it upside down and do the "normal" 1st/2nd gear repair work.

I guess after 29 years she deserves a bit of love!

[tarzan]

Welome to XS11

You can get those rubbers on ebay.There is also a guy named Andreas Weiss here that usually runs an ad in the classified section here.He is excellent to deal with.You can send him a pm and ask.Also bikebandit.com may sell them new.Or partsnmore.com.
Rick

[XSokieSPECIAL]

I don't understand the "rear brake arm to the swing arm bushing". But as for the foot pegs, I used 1" heater hose to redo mine.

Just cut off the old deteriorated rubber and cut a piece of 1" heater hose the proper length and shape, a little WD 40 and it'll slip right on.

Works great!

[clcorbin]

Tarzan,

Thanks for the info! I can see another couple hundred bucks will be spent on misc parts before this project is finished. On the bright side, she will be in better shape than ever when I am done..

Now if I can just figure out a quick and easy way to polish off the oxide/corrosion off all the aluminum parts on this beast. I tried the "Mother's Metal polish" + rag method and I can see THAT is a great way to develop muscles I have completely forgotten about, but not such a great way to actually clean up and polish up all those parts.

[clcorbin]

The "rear brake arm to the swing arm bushing" is a rubber bushing that sits on the stud on the inside of the right swing arm. There is a triangle shaped metal bracket that transfers the force on the rear brake disk to the swing arm. That little bushing keeps things from vibrating and helps dampen the shock of applying the rear brakes.

Thankfully, one of the links Tarzan listed has that bushing and it is only $5.

[tarzan]

Yea, unfortunately if the clear coat is gone, you might have to lightly sand then polish. I did hear you can spray muratic acid on aluminum and wipe off
the oxidization .I saw some billet wheels the neigbor did that way and they looked good.
Rick

[Ivan]

The pegs can be replaced. It takes a bit of work, but it can be done. I know the pegs on my 84 Venture woudl swap over and someone here on Channel 11 said they did it with Virago pegs as well. You have to grind the pin where the peg pivots and replace it with another pin. I think the Virago's used a snap ring, instead of riviting the pin in place. Keep an eye out on eBay, and see what comes up there. Andreas always has good parts too.

[bikerphil]

Now if I can just figure out a quick and easy way to polish off the oxide/corrosion off all the aluminum parts on this beast. I tried the "Mother's Metal polish" + rag method and I can see THAT is a great way to develop muscles I have completely forgotten about, but not such a great way to actually clean up and polish up all those parts.

Mothers polish and tin foil works well, not on chrome though. Old timers trick, Coca Cola and tin foil is good too. I did a whole bike that way once, lol.

[SFerinTEXAS]

For the torque bracket to swingarm I used a rubber grommet I had laying around here. Found one with the same OD groove and width to fit the bracket. then cut it to put it on the pin(cut side forward) and then push the bracket in the groove. when the axle shaft is installed it cant go anywhere. Can find one at any truck parts or old style auto parts that has a misc grommet assortment tray. Less than a buck, probable a lot less.

[Ivan]

Actually you want aluminum foil..

But yeah, it sounds kinda herkey, but it works surprisingly well. Especially at removing rust. And just about any liquid will do. Supposedly a mild acid like vinegar is best since acids will flow electricity, and it is an electrochemical reaction that removes the rust. The foil will corrode right there in your hand. It's kind of amazing really, and a lot less effort than using all those gimmicky chrome polishes. Follow with some Turtle wax chrome polish and it will look great.

[79XS11F]

I don't understand the "rear brake arm to the swing arm bushing". But as for the foot pegs, I used 1" heater hose to redo mine.

Just cut off the old deteriorated rubber and cut a piece of 1" heater hose the proper length and shape, a little WD 40 and it'll slip right on.

Works great!

The rear brake caliper torque plate that keeps the caliper form rolling forward when the rear brake is applied is suppose to have a rubber grommet in the slot that fits over the pin on the swing arm. It controls noise between the 2 parts. It can be ordered from bike bandit and sometimes found on e-Bay.

Rob

[Schming]

Hi clcorbin, As Ivan stated the Venture pegs will fit with a little work. These both are rear foot rests off of an '83 XVZ 1200 Venture;



In the second and third pic you can see that I remounted the Venture rear pegs to the Special chrome brackets for the front.

A veiw of the stock XS11G on the left and the Special on the right.

Pic 5 is the stock Special foot peg (no bling)
Pics 6&7 show the stock XS11G rear foot pegs on bottom and where I'm going to mount the Venture rear pegs so it's easier for SWMBO to reach them. There will be a bracket made joining the existing foot peg mounting hole to the chrome gaurd for the hard bag and a stop to keep them from rotating.


IMHO I think that the XVZ 12 or 1300 Venture with the Special chrome brackets for the front look the best unless You are blacked out. The stock Venture rear foot rests with their stock brackets aren't a direct replacement and take some work to even use them in the stock XS11 location. HTH

[andreashweiss]

WOW, pretty shiney bike, impressive, stunning, almost tempted to buy a digital camera to post some pictures of the xs1100's that end up in my shop after there road running days have come to an end, they never look like that, andreas

[Schming]

WOW, pretty shiney bike, impressive, stunning, almost tempted to buy a digital camera to post some pictures of the xs1100's that end up in my shop after there road running days have come to an end, they never look like that, andreas

Thank You Andreas, for the kind words, I really appreciate them I bought this bike with 11,833 mi. on the clock in '92, took it off the road with 20,377 mi. in '01 (too busy to ride, front MC leaking, no computer skills til '05)and it has always been garage kept which has made the task of "Bringin' Her Back" that much easier I hope to complete the resto and have her ready for Spring...this year

[clcorbin]

Looks like I will have to give the foil/acid method a try. The aluminum on this bike definitely needs some help. It spent way too much of it's life out in the New Mexico sun.