2 questions...

[freak_leg]

Thanks guys,

Sorry for the lack of detail on the bike. Its a 78 xs11 special (or it used to be) when i got it the only thing on it was a very beat up seat, tank, and fenders. But you get what you pay for. Yes the side covers are all together gone, never had them. If one day i do get a set I'll surely be making a fiberglass mold and will post on here as soon as i make a set.

As for the tensioner question it has been answered thanks!

Here is a link to a post with the pictures i have of the old girl

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?p=255251#post255251

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Freak,

I'm sure that bike is SPECIAL to you, but it's a 78E STANDARD, square headlights and gauges, axle on end of front forks, etc.!

The Specials didn't start till '79, Round headlight, gauges, leading axle forks, etc.! Looks good though! A search for Choppers, or bobbers will probably reveal photos...I remember posting some of a fellows chopper a few weeks ago with a "Springer....err....Girder style front forks, he had made his own sidecovers out of plate!

T.C.

[freak_leg]

Hey Freak,

I'm sure that bike is SPECIAL to you, but it's a 78E STANDARD, square headlights and gauges, axle on end of front forks, etc.!

The Specials didn't start till '79, Round headlight, gauges, leading axle forks, etc.! Looks good though! A search for Choppers, or bobbers will probably reveal photos...I remember posting some of a fellows chopper a few weeks ago with a "Springer....err....Girder style front forks, he had made his own sidecovers out of plate!

T.C.

You're probably right, I'm just going off the little bit of information i got when i got the bike after it had been molested half to death. I was told that it was the full dresser once upon a time. So the info I'm going on is kinda sketch. could be a 78 standard for all I know it could be a 79 special. I'm sure you guys know better than i do. All i know is its a blast to ride and I'm trying to bring it back into some kind of glory.

[CatatonicBug]

Be sure to have adaquate ventilation.

I wish I had heeded this advice...

I got a left sidecover, with the very tip of the latch broken off. So, I decided to try this technique. I first tried making a bit of a form around the part, then filling it with baking soda. I then dripped superglue into the pile. That didn't work. All I ended up with was a hard wad that pulled of the side cover with the form.

So, I dit it one drop at a time. I just dripped it onto the spot where the missing piece used to be, and dusted each drop with baking soda. I slowly built up the ball to something larger than the part I wanted to create. It worked rather well!

I let it dry for a few hours, just to be on the safe side, but for that whole time, all I could smell was superglue fumes in my nose! After it dried, I took a die grinder and a cut-off wheel to the outside edges to make it flat, then a grinding wheel for the finishing touches. It worked perfectly, and is solid as a rock! I now have a locking left side cover!

[Ken Talbot]

... all I could smell was superglue fumes in my nose! After it dried, I took a die grinder and a cut-off wheel to the outside edges to make it flat, then a grinding wheel for the finishing touches.

Man, that's gotta hurt!

[CatatonicBug]

Man, that's gotta hurt!

Yep, but now I look like Michael Jackson!

[cywelchjr]

So, I dit it one drop at a time. I just dripped it onto the spot where the missing piece used to be, and dusted each drop with baking soda. I slowly built up the ball to something larger than the part I wanted to create. It worked rather well!

I let it dry for a few hours, just to be on the safe side, but for that whole time, all I could smell was superglue fumes in my nose! After it dried, I took a die grinder and a cut-off wheel to the outside edges to make it flat, then a grinding wheel for the finishing touches. It worked perfectly, and is solid as a rock! I now have a locking left side cover!

I did the same thing Fri night and then ground it down sat morning. Worked great. Now I too have a locking side cover finally. I had previously tried to build it up with JBWeld, but that wouldn't hold to it. This has bonded quite well, and now after over a year, I can get rid of that hokey mini bungee cord that was holding it on when I got it.