All the Harley's breath a sigh of relief

[dpotter58]

Hi Duwayne,
That was Gary C, not me, with the 2stroke MOTORCYCLE Oil

Phil

Oh, Canadians, can't tell 'em apart

[DRedel]

I don't know how to put pictures on here but if I could you guys would throw up and I would get kicked off the fourm. I'm 25 now but back when I was 18 me and all of my friends had cheap early 80s jap bikes. I had a kz 750 twin and I thought I was hot ****. Well my buddy bought an xs 1100 midnight special from this guy who had the bike lock up going 70. It was an 81 midnight special all black with the gold trim. Well my buddy distroyed it. Cut the Frame to lower the seat flat blacked everything but on drag bars took the front fender off straight header pipes. The guy who sold it to him freaked. Well when he got it running that thing blew my 750 away. And I wanted it. I finally got him to sell it to me two years ago after it had been sitting for a while. I love it. I regret what he did to it and it's a bitch to own. But that motor when it's working right is wild. Im just trying to get it semi sorted out. The best part is now I'm dating the daughter of the guy who sold it to my friend and he still is so pissed whenever he sees it. Sorry guys I know how people here hate cutting these bikes up, I wish it were stock but it's not and I still can't help but love it.

[dpotter58]

save the pictures to somewhere like photobucket then grab the image and put it in your post easy peasy

[DRedel]

Haha this is not the place to be showing pictures of my bike.

[TopCatGr58]

Hey again Dredel,

YOU did not hack it up, you just inhereted it, so posting the photos of it will NOT upset the purists here, or at least they can not be angry at you, the PO yes, but not you. You are trying to get and keep it running, so we applaud your efforts in that respect.

Now, as to the cam chain, they can be replaced WITHOUT splitting the cases, and if there is a lot of slack in the chain, then it's more at risk for having the chain jump teeth and throw the valves out of timing, bending valves, and hosing the engine! Sounds like you have found a decent mechanic, but no telling how much $$ you're already into it having him work on it instead of yourself? The cam chains are not that expensive, and you use a peened type master link, pull the valve cover, pull the cams, then cut the chain having secured the ends first, then attach the new one to one end of the old one, all plugs out and cams out, you can safely rotate the crank to advance the chain around the crank shaft sprocket, once you get the new one around, position crank at TDC, reinstall cams and then chain, peen the master, of course you will have removed the Cam Chain Tensioner, now loosen the lock nut/bolt reinstall, allow the plunger to take up current slack, then perform the CCT tensioner process again, and you'll be good to go.

Others will suggest getting an AUTO CCT, but the mech should be able to tell you IF the OEM one is still in proper working order, vs. the locking bolt/nut being partially stripped!

T.C.

[cywelchjr]

Haha this is not the place to be showing pictures of my bike.

Sure it is, you didn't hack it, you're trying to save it after someone ELSE hacked it up, which is to be commended, so there is NOBODY on here that would have anything to complain about with you. As a matter of fact, with pictures it's possible that someone might have ideas how to at least partially restore some suspension to the bike?

[Geezer]

I've seen this dozens of times. Start with clean oil, take it out for a ride and go up and down freeway on/off ramps and run it WOT on the on-ramps in the first and second gears only until you hit read line. Then ride normally until you get to the next off ramp and repeat.

Run the piss out of it for about 100 miles then let it cool down. Change the oil and adjust the valves then the compression will be fine.

What you're dealing with is deposits on the rings and valves from gas dripping down from the carbs and finding it's way to the crankcase. That's why you have to do this on a fresh sump of oil...

Geezer

[fredintoon]

Like they all said, if it starts and runs go ride the effin' thing!

[DRedel]

Yeah that's what it's gonna be. I'm gonna do the mmo and then put fresh oil and just ride. I got a new bike yesterday so I can devote some time to working on the bike to get everything worked out. I'll put some pictures up soon.

[DRedel]

I was looking at the caliper today but it's the bracket for the caliper that grinding. It must be bent by I don't understand how it could be bent.

[Rasputin]

If you grab the rear caliper on a 81MNS you should be able to move it quite easliy from side to side. It will not move a lot but it does have play. I will get a pic of mine and post it so you can compare and see if all your washers etc are in the correct place.

[Rasputin]

Also note that the 81MNS uses the slanted pads on the rear. Tightening the small bolt and using the axle to pull it over is NOT recommended either.

[DRedel]

God damn mine looks nothing like that. Maybe I have the older style system in mine. The caliper sits on top of the backet and is compleatly surrounded.

[DRedel]

I bought rear break pads and they dident work now looking at your the pads I had were for that setup. Whould 1982 midnight special make sence. That or somewhere along the line someone put an older set up on it.

[Rasputin]

81 setup in the pic. Have you checked your vin to be sure of the year? 82 was XJ territory and no one has any info on a possible 82 XS.