slow speedo, pulsating brakes, mush suspension

[rockyr74]

I just got a 80 XS Special on the road that has been down since 85. PO kept dreaming about "putting her back together" - came to his senses after 15 years in his garage and sold it to me.

Straightend the crash parts, carb douche, oil change, brake hydraulic rebild, new battery. Runs very well now.

BUT
1) The speedo takes a while to show actual speed (usually low) and sometimes doesn't go back to zero - any tips?
2) The front brakes pulse when applied - rotors dont look unusally rusted - I am tempted to just take brakekleen and fine emery to the rotor surface and rub in a crosshatch pattern - any tips?
3) The damping in the suspension seems to be gone. Very bouncy - Fork rebuild? - replacement shock tips - Is this common - was very bummed as that air fork and variable damping looked cool.

Any advice is welcome.

BTW, the Dunlop K181s were as hard as plastic - replaced with Elite II bought cheap from TireExpress.

[Wayne]

The only prob I have had with speedo is the connections from the back coming loose. You might check that. If not that there are losts of them for sale around e-bay and even here in the group.

Have you totally rebuilt the brake master cylinder? If not you should. There is good info about this and more about breaks in the Tech Tips area of this website.
Also you might want to try and get some stainless steel break lines, they make a world of difference. Again check the Tech Tips/Modifications area for more info.

Front forks are a pain but you may need to replace the seals since the bike sat for so long. Also you can get a set of progressive springs from Progressive Suspension for a good price. Believe me progressive springs are much better that the air fork thing. My 81H is a full tourer and the air was crap, the springs are so good that I really dont even need the air. Altough when fully loaded I do put some in.

Anyway, hope this helps.

[Mike Hart]

Re: slow speedo, pulsating brakes, mush suspension

Originally posted by rockyr74
1) The speedo takes a while to show actual speed (usually low) and sometimes doesn't go back to zero - any tips?
2) The front brakes pulse when applied - rotors dont look unusally rusted - I am tempted to just take brakekleen and fine emery to the rotor surface and rub in a crosshatch pattern - any tips?
3) The damping in the suspension seems to be gone. Very bouncy - Fork rebuild? - replacement shock tips - Is this common - was very bummed as that air fork and variable damping looked cool.

Hi......Rocky?

2. Sure sounds like they're warped. Sure, try the brakekleen.
Can you spin the front wheel and check the run-out on the rotors? Those babies are hard, and hard to have turned.

3. Did you replace fork fluid? Many use Progressive springs.
As for rear, others have used JCWhitney, Progressive, Harley shocks.

Someone knows about lubing speedo, but not me
Have you inspected the speedo drive gear in the LH fork?

Good luck, sounds like you're most of the way there.

[Wayne]

Re: Re: slow speedo, pulsating brakes, mush suspension

3. Did you replace fork fluid? Many use Progressive springs.
As for rear, others have used JCWhitney, Progressive, Harley shocks.

I will say this, dont waste your money on the JCWhipme shocks. I bought some for my XS and im just waiting for the money to get New Progressives. Of course Im a big guy (6'3" 340lbs.) so I need heavy duty.
Just my opinion.

[Mike Hart]

Progressive shocks

Originally posted by Wayne


I will say this, dont waste your money on the JCWhipme shocks. I bought some for my XS and im just waiting for the money to get New Progressives. Of course Im a big guy (6'3" 340lbs.) so I need heavy duty.
Just my opinion.

Hi Wayne

I have Progressive shocks on my XJ. You can order whichever spring with them,
and I got the heavy duty. They should be great for you. I weigh 240, and have to
put 75lbs of stuff on back before it starts feeling right with no preload.

[Jdwags]

Speedo

I have in my archives the name of a guy that rebuilds speedo's in Oregon,

Don't know him just remember the post from the old list..

That is always a route, if you wannt keep the "original mileage"..

[CA.XSer]

Re: slow speedo, pulsating brakes, mush suspension

1) The speedo takes a while to show actual speed (usually low) and sometimes doesn't go back to zero - any tips?

I bought a speedo off ebay that was acting like yours. After using for awhile, I can't say for how long, it started too work just fine. A tech at work told me there are small bearings in the speedo and the grease was probably stiff. So I would use it for awhile longer before replacing.

[skids]

You have the right idea to solve the pulsating brakes. Hopefully it is, like you suspect, a difference in the frictional surface around the rotor rather than warped rotor(s).

[TopCatGr58]

As another said, check the runout of the rotors for warpage, since it was in a wreck you say, they might have gotten bent?

If they aren't bent, then sanding them down shouldn't hurt at all. Mine we badly rusted from outside exposure for 9 years of sitting. I took a wire brush on a drill and just went at it on both sides(Off wheel in a vise) and removed the rust down to bear metal. They work fine!!

T.C.

[Dragonrider]

On the speedo, I agree with the post above. Use it a while. I have had the exact same situation.

On the front forks, Change the oil. May be low/missing, contaminated with water (likely). USe the amount and weight called for in the manual.

Back shocks? Try playing with the variable dampening adjustements. If no difference, gotta buy some more.

[uc-logic]

Had a similar problem with the forks on a 79E which had been standing for while. Removed the drain screws on left fork OK but got a shock when removing the right one. The oil was under a lot of pressure and shot out a jet of over two metres, good job I was to one side!!!! I do not know why this was, they are not air assisted forks, anyway I refilled with the correct fluid and they are fine.