2 questions...

[freak_leg]

Hey guys, can't say enough how helpful this forum has been for me (30 year old bikes force you to learn)

Anyway my 2 questions...

Question 1;
As i understand it the chain tensioner in the front of the engine is supposed to be able to be pushed in. Well the rubber on mine is rock hard.
Does anyone know of anything i can use on it to restore the rubber? The spring, slide and plastic pad on the inside are still good. If i can't restore the rubber will it still work since the spring will still put tension on the chain?

Question 2;
As we all know the hardest part to find for these bikes is the side covers, unless you have an arm and a leg to pay for them (damn you supply and demand) has any one made or know how to make something to replace the stock side covers?

The bike is finally starting to look as good as it can before the full tear down and paint. I just can't get a decent side cover

Thanks again guys
Tony

[trbig]

Not quite understanding question #1. If you are simply meaning the rubber stopper on the end of the outside of the adjuster, it is simply a plastic/rubber coated metal stopper to plug the hole from the machining process when the adjuster was made. You shouldn't be able to push this in.

Someone else can chime in on #2, but you may be SOL.

Tod

[crazy steve]

Question 2;
As we all know the hardest part to find for these bikes is the side covers, unless you have an arm and a leg to pay for them (damn you supply and demand) has any one made or know how to make something to replace the stock side covers?

Thanks again guys
Tony

When the price gets up to both legs and an arm, and your firstborn, then somebody will start reproducing them.....

I've seen a few made out of sheetmetal, diamond-plate al, and what have you, but they tend to look homemade.

'78E original owner

[lakecountrydave]

Looks like you need a manual to help you adjust your cam chain tensioner. CatatonicBug has kindly posted the Clymers manual as a download here:

http://www.ringler.us/xs1100/YamXS1100Manfull.pdf

[CatatonicBug]

Both manuals, and a few other things too, if you like to read!

I've seen at least one person make side covers out of leather triangles, snapped to the frame. They pop up now and then, when someone is parting out a perfectly good bike. But, yeah, they can get pricey.

[79XS11F]

I think your talking about the rubber end on the tensioner that goes inside the engine . It's fused to the end of the spring loaded rod. If that is the one your talking about I would not worry about it. I have a NOS one here and the rubber on it is pretty hard right out of the package. As long as it is not coming apart it's good to go.
Rob

[DGXSER]

Question #1, sounds like the others have you covered on that one.

Question #2, it would be VERY helpful if you put the year and model of bike you have in your signature, or even fill it in in your profile. Depending on what year and model it will effect availability.

[oseaghdha]

I don't think it would be all that difficult to make up fiberglass covers if you have a decent set for a pattern.

Maybe a bidniz opportunity.........

[b.walker5]

Do you still have the original cover, or is it gone completley?. If you still have it and the broken leg (it is the left one your talking about, right?) they can be re-attached. This is mine.







If they're gone all together then you're in a jam. I was playing around with carbon fibre a while ago but wasnt very successful and didnt really have the time to perfect it. Someone else here was doing something as well but I cant remember who. Try a search for Side Covers in the threads.

[fredintoon]

- - - the hardest part to find for these bikes is the side covers, unless you have an arm and a leg to pay for them (damn you supply and demand) has any one made or know how to make something to replace the stock side covers?

The bike is finally starting to look as good as it can before the full tear down and paint. I just can't get a decent side cover - - -

Hi Tony,
is it that your side covers are all beaten up or are they entirely missing?
Side covers are model-specific but the "wrong" ones can be made to work with some ingenuity and a Dremel tool.

[cywelchjr]

Personally I'm still trying to fix the latch part on mine (the only thing wrong with it). Tried JB-Stick last night, but it didn't adhere well. So I'm back to the drawing board to try and find the right material. It's just the actual latch part that's broken off on mine, so I just need to build that back up. I may see if I can find some ABS and some ABS glue and see if I can build it up and then file it back to where it needs to be.

[CatatonicBug]

I was reading around here last night about someone using thin super glue and mixing in baking soda to make a paste. Then they just molded it to the shape they needed, and could sand and paint it.

[latexeses]

I've done this to support some engineering projects. The superglue will set almost as fast as you hit it with the soda. If you sort of feed the soda onto the glue you can build it up like a sand castle. If you can lay your hands on some ceramic powder and use it in place of the place of the soda, it will be really tough. Sets up pretty darn hard.

Rodger

[jmnjrpa]

you can't mold it

It sets FAST! Just put the soda where you want and use the real thin stuff. A little wire mesh and you have a better than new part.

[jmnjrpa]

Btw

Be sure to have adaquate ventilation.