New Bikes, New Problems

[Toolmaker Tim]

Hi guys, its been a while. Have been working too many hours and days I guess. If things go right Saturday I will have a F model and a parts SG. Guy wants ice fishing gear for trade, and seeing as how I don't do that anymore..... He says the tranny was popping out of 2nd and now it won't go at all. I'm taking that to mean that when you shift into 1st there is no forward motion. The parts bike comes with a complete running motor. It also sounds like he has an original exhaust for both, but I won't know until Saturday afternoon. My question is not if I can fix the tranny, but if I can just do a dremal fix or will I need to replace all of the tranny. If all goes well I should have a winter project!

[petejw]

Hi Tim,
It'll depend on how bad the wear is, and how the po
treated the bike while it was having problems,
unfortunately you wont know untill you pull it
apart.
congrats on the bikes.

[Toolmaker Tim]

The Deal Lingers

Didn't get the deal done today, but it isn't done yet. Found out the PO cut the frame extentions off right in front of where the rear turn signals attach, but he kept them so they could be welded back on. This is on the F model, not the special which is a parts bike. Fortunately he didn't cut anything structurally important. Have any of my fellow XSer's come across anything like this? I really want a standard model. I figure if I put a core inside the frame tubing, get everything lined up right, and MIG weld it it should be ok. I would need to remove the electronics so they don't get fried by the energy field coming off the welder. I guess if I go that far I should strip the frame and repaint it.We are pretty close on making a deal here, so we shall see what there is to see.

[TomRodgers]

Good times!! Hey Tim...hows it going? Looks like a good winter project...

Mine is to strip the rest of the parts off of Frankenbike: Clean, paint frame...clean/paint engine....swap parts from 'Sunshine to new frame....and have my 'new' bike ready by riding season next spring.....

I also want to finish 'Ghost so i can rename it from primer gray to some new color!!!!

[Toolmaker Tim]

Done Deal

Seller and I came to an agreement, an older ice shanty, two ice augers, a couple ice rods and $250. I am getting a 79F and a 80sg parts bike with a supposably running motor. The 79F runs, but when it goes in gear the bike won't go. I an guessing a tranny or a clutch issue. PO said his PO had replaced the clutch pads, so I am guessing a misassembled clutch. If it's the tranny I'll learn about that. The hard part is going to be the left side cover, it ain't there (no surprise). I am about ready to try and make a fiberglass mold (form) and try to hand lay fiberglass cloth and resin. I figure a metal tab could be made for the lock piece. I think I have too many projects going.

Its always good time when I see your avatar Tom!

[kwats]

Bought parts from the same young man

Tim
My name is Ken Watson. I bought the touring parts from that same young man you acquired the bikes from. I thought about buying the bikes also, but have a barn full already. Good luck with your restore job, I just recently bought a barn job, a '79 special with 5600 miles that had rodents climbing all over it for 35+ years. It's all cleaned up, soda blasted, and waiting on carb kits and paint. I should have a decent bagger in the spring.

ken
niles, mi

[Toolmaker Tim]

Hi Ken. What sort of shape were the touring parts in? Glad to see there is another XSive in the neighborhood. I thought there was only Tom Rogers and I around these parts. I have a hunch I know what is wrong with the standard model, but I won't be sure till i get a wrench on it. My general thoughts make me think it is a clutch problem. We will see this Saturday. I got a feeling SWMBO is going to be less than happy with your's truely though. When I was originally looking for a bike I wanted a standard, but I settled for a SF frankinbike. Now that I have learned a few useful things and hopefully I will be able to get it up and running soon.

[kwats]

The fairing and bags were intact but dirty. Not really beat up, but easily restorable. The Vetter tour pack has seen better days, but I don't expect to use it anyways.
When Brian told me about the bike problems, I suspected a clutch issue as well. I am definately a noob when it comes to XS11's, but the japanese 4 cylinder bikes seem to be very similar.
But, being retired, I have lots of time to play and learn, and a barn full of toys to play with. One thing that I found odd was the way luggage racks for XS11's were built, at least the 2 of them that I have. I fail to understand why they are so tall, it raises the tour pack about 6" above the taillight, and in turn the center of gravity as well. I sectioned one of them (removed 2") and now the tour pack is lower and looks better.
Now, onto the carbs and fairing mount....

[yamtom]

Welcome kwats!

Welcome Kwats,

It sounds like youre going to have a busy winter after all. Same here, Ive got a 79s to redo , it wont rev above four thousand as it sits, other wise it has the yammi fairing, and there are a set of bags available around here, so I want to do the basic stuff get the bags on , I am in Midland about three hours away methinks. Have fun.

[kwats]

Thanks YamTom.....

I appreciate the welcome. I have been around motorcycles since 1964 when I bought a Honda Super 90....been an idiot since then. Over the years I've owned American, Japanese, British, German, Italian, Spanish, and Czech motorcycles but for some reason I keep gravitating towards japanese bikes. I think it stems from me working for a Honda dealership back in the 60's.
Lately, I have been building old Honda SOHC customs and choppers for giggles, but remember a friend of mine from years ago having an XS11, and riding along side of me for many miles quite trouble free. When I found one with extremely low miles, I bought it with the intention of building a bagger.
So, I'm off to the races....I'll probably leave it on the lift until I'm done. I am excited about working on Mikuni's instead of Keihin carbs for a while. It seems all Japanese inline 4 cylinder share a common problem with carburetion, but I still favor Mikuni's.

Having fun....

[Toolmaker Tim]

Got Them Today

PO delivered the bikes today. I was pretty surprised. First thing I noticed was a Lockhart oil cooler on the F and a stock cooler on the parts bike. Inside of the standard tank is spotless. Both bikes have the 160mph speedo set on them. The parts bike is a 80 special I was told, I am not sure that's right. It has a standard fork on it. I am not sure of the differences between the standard fram and the special. Any help on the tell-tales would be appreciated. The running bike has a mess in the carbs. Vaccum advance is not hooked up, barb on carb #2 has a plug over the fitting. The fuel line hook ups are not correct, but that's not a big deal. Still, the bike starts. Two airboxes came with the box of parts, but there isn't one on the bike, He was riding it without the airbox. Got a oil drip I believe is coming from the shifter shaft, not a big deal. I THINK the exhaust is a MAC, at least the mufflers (which are black and turnouts) are. Brake resevoirs are trashed, all are grainy and yellow with white oxidation. Parts bike has slotted discs, standards are solid. Parts bike carbs are 80's and in pieces. I am nearly positive the clutch is the problem, that is the adjustment rod is turned in too far and the plates are not engaging. The running bike is pretty clean, of course I need a left side cover. Going to need tires of course. The shocks are aftermarkets. All in all I think I got a diamond in the rough! I was told the bike was originally blue with gold pin stripping, It is now a copper color, looks sort of nice.

[bikerphil]

I am not sure of the differences between the standard fram and the special. Any help on the tell-tales would be appreciated.

Look down where the rear brake pedal shaft mounting point is. If it is flush with the aluminum bracket, it is a Standard frame. If it sticks out about 1 inch from the bracket, it is a Special frame. How 'bout some pics?

[Toolmaker Tim]

Special Frame

The frame is a Special, the numbers on the motor and frame match. I may put my Jardines on the F model and find a pair of 4 in 2 headers for my SF. The oil leak has made a pretty good spot on the floor, so that will need attention soon. Lots of good parts on the donor bike. Looks like I will have a spare standard fork to mess with. The rear wheel on the donor bike is a 17". I will probably have a couple sets of spare brake discs to get ride of, maybe some other stuff. Going to need need some parts from TC (fuse box and sofca) to make things easier. Definitely at least one Venture CCT. This is going to be fun.