Just picked up an SF... Gonna be some work

[Macamon]

I just drove up north to pick up an SF I found on the internet. The guy that had it did a bit of customizing so I have a bit of uncustomizing to do . She needs an octopus system, need to change the shocks back, gotta go through the carbs, check the charging system... ad infinitum.
The upside is this bike is really clean and doesn't require any makeup. I think with the extra parts that I have around, a few from MikesXS and a few from ebay I may just have a bike that could compare to my old baby.

I'll post piXS of my two XSive bikes soon : Þ

[11Rider]

I just drove up north to pick up an SF I found on the internet. The guy that had it did a bit of customizing so I have a bit of uncustomizing to do . She needs an octopus system, need to change the shocks back, gotta go through the carbs, check the charging system... ad infinitum.
The upside is this bike is really clean and doesn't require any makeup. I think with the extra parts that I have around, a few from MikesXS and a few from ebay I may just have a bike that could compare to my old baby.

I'll post piXS of my two XSive bikes soon : Þ

And we'll be waiting!

[fredintoon]

- - - She needs an octopus system - - -

Hi Mac,
no she don't. A fuel supply system that uses 9 hoses where 2 will do has to be a disaster waiting to happen.

[CatatonicBug]

Hi Mac,
no she don't. A fuel supply system that uses 9 hoses where 2 will do has to be a disaster waiting to happen.

Not necessarily. If he's looking to do a true restoration, you need all the parts, and that's one of them. I actually LIKE the octy. Never seen a reason to pull it out. They are easy to repair if they go bad, and adds a safety device.

[Macamon]

Not necessarily. If he's looking to do a true restoration, you need all the parts, and that's one of them. I actually LIKE the octy. Never seen a reason to pull it out. They are easy to repair if they go bad, and adds a safety device.

Basically... I just want my baby back!
As for your statment that they are easy to fix... Do you know where I can get just the diaphram plunger without the housing? I'm sure it's about 1/5 to 1/3 the cost of the entire unit (over $90) I've checked a few web sites, I didn't find anything on Mikes XS He seems to cater to the 650's.

As for my SF, I will try to get the fuel system ironed out enough to ride 'er. She's got ugly pods, these two-into-one pipes that are LOUD and it might be fun to ride until I can get my hands on a set of stock pipes/rejet the carbs/replace the factory original airbox to make 'er look normal :Þ This one I'll open up myself and have a friend show me how to go through the carbs and set shim/bucket valves. My days of depending on undependable sloppy mechanics will soon be over, untill then...

...I took my SG back to the shop to give the guy a chance to make things right (he better, he charged me almost half of bluebook to do this work). I also dropped my factory manual for reference; He could have found the wrong valve specs and incorrectly set the valves. Also I gave him this web site to gleen information from, hopefully he will at least troll.

I originally thought I would get my SF running and recover my costs by selling the SG... My girlfriend doesn't like that idea; says I should keep both! I think I'm gonna keep her (the girlfriend) I'm still thinking about the SG

[DiverRay]

If you do want the octy, send me a PM. I have a "spare" floating around.
I know what you are saying about the GF as well. When my old "daily ride" locked the transmission two years ago, after less than a month mine told me to get another bike! Said she couldn't live with me!

[DGXSER]

As to the Octy, I have a couple "spares" floating here as well. TH eonly thing they ever did for me was make a mess everytime I want to do any work on the fuel system.

If you want the diaphram, you can get a petcock rebuild kit from Georgefix on ebay. He includes the petcock parts, the gaskets to seal the petcocks to the tank, and the diaphram for the octy.

And if you need an airbox for a 78-79 model, I have one with the copper nipples to attach the vent hoses to.

[Macamon]

That's exactly why I want the diaphram only. I have the casing for the octy. I have been looking at some on ebay but I don't want the problem I just had with my SG, where after a couple months the diaphram tore and gas began to pour out of the weep hole. Unless you guys are offering a freebie, I would rather spend the money on a new diaphram or the entire unit new so I avoid future problems.
As to the airbox, I appreciate your offer. I was lucky enough to get this bike nearly complete. The only major casualties are: I have no stock pipes, I have shoulder-high handlebars (YEEEeeech!) There are lowered shocks on it but I have the originals in a box and they are very clean... and are destined to be put on.
She even came with a TopKat fork brace... You know... Duhh!!! I could harvest those pictures from my email.

Dean, the guy I got it from was really fair, all needful things considered I think we came to a fair agreement for both of us. I know he's going to miss this bike because I would.

[natemoen]

Wow! She really does look pretty nice!!

[CatatonicBug]

I actually have a spare diaphragm if you need it. They come as part of the petcock rebuild kit for the Specials. Another member sent it to me for just this kind of occasion, so I could pass it along to someone who needed it. PM me your address, and it's yours.

[Macamon]

Bug, Thanks for the diaphram! It's exactly what I needed since I already had the old frame from the failed system out of my '80.

Okay, I put a vacuum pump on the brass nipple and blow through No. 4 while plugging No.3, the way the valve is built it should completely block any air flow to 1,2 when the vacuum is relieved, but there is only a restriction of perhaps 80%, this would permit fuel to leak through the valve to the carbs. Any feedback on why this might be? the o-ring appears to be seating, do I need a stronger spring?

[SFerinTEXAS]

Are you blowing by mouth or with air pressure? Remember these are gravity fed and not meant to operate under any real pressure feed. I do my test with gravity fed fuel.That also test the diaphragm. If it has a leak then fuel will pass thru it and leak out of the vac side, with out any vac applied. There is a weep hole slot in the unit on the back side of the diaphragm around the edge where it separates. On the bike that shows up as a leak running down the mounting bracket.

You may be over thinking this, keep it simple.

[SFerinTEXAS]

Also just suck (yeah I said suck) on the vac port by mouth , only takes a sec or 2 to test this action. A 30lb vac from a pump could rupture the diaphragm un- necessarily.

[Macamon]

Not to worry, I'm not dumb enough to crank it up, just enough to open the valve

[Macamon]

Thanks to Marshall the octy is rebuilt. Diaphram from a standard to rebuild the octy... That's sticky worthy information there. I'm waiting on the Tygon hose and some clips right now, I'll rebuild my petcocks and fire it up!!!
Can't wait.
As for the carbs and valve adjustment, I'm not going back to that mechanic again, I'll have a friend help me do it myself...

*ADD moment* What is a PO?