Collecting spares - what are people putting away?

[Courtney]

I've been collecting spare parts over the past few years, and for the most part have most of the electrical switches, electrical wiring etc. I don't however have a stator and matching magnet. How robust are these? Should I pick one up as a precaution? Also, what other parts and pieces are people keeping a back up of for down the road?

[bikerphil]

Spare left rear wheel bearing, the extinct one.

[trbig]

???? My "Spares" stash looks more like an episode of Hoarders. BUT... I keep telling myself I'm still OK because I'm not as bad as Greg. (BA80)

It depends on how long you think you'll own the bike. If you're a lifer, you might slowly buy up the stuff required for a motor rebuild, or at least get the cam and crank bearings. As noted, I'd find an extra left rear bearing as well as an extra TCI. For the left rear bearing, it's handy to just have another rear wheel. Several times I've been about to go on a long trip and had a tire with a good thousand or two miles left in it. Some guys, like one here from San Antonio, like to go on several thousand mile trips with 500 miles left on their tire. You can mount a new tire on one of the rims, use it for your trip, then swap the other one back when you get back.

Anyway, there's many many things on these bikes that are still available, but we don't get much warning before they then become UNavailable. I'd concentrate on getting the stuff that isn't available first, then depending on space you have, keep going. Just keep an eye on that Tulsa guy and don't get more than him, or you may have a problem.

[crazy steve]

Besides the 'oh crap, it broke' replacement parts, think about accident repair parts. Spare wheels (F&R), timing/alternator covers, turn sigs, fuel tank, gauges, headlight parts, and hand controls. Add middle/final drives, brake rotors for 'repair' parts. A spare exhaust system would be nice too. It will also depend on how stock your bike is, and how close you'll want to keep it to stock. If you've got any aftermarket bits on the bike, don't always count on those being available in future.

It really depends on your level of paranoia....

[Courtney]

Besides the 'oh crap, it broke' replacement parts, think about accident repair parts. Spare wheels (F&R), timing/alternator covers, turn sigs, fuel tank, gauges, headlight parts, and hand controls. Add middle/final drives, brake rotors for 'repair' parts. A spare exhaust system would be nice too. It will also depend on how stock your bike is, and how close you'll want to keep it to stock. If you've got any aftermarket bits on the bike, don't always count on those being available in future.

It really depends on your level of paranoia....

Well I AM a lifer, I've owned XS's since the early 80's, and there were only 12 of us online together, Phil Stewart setting us up together in an email link. So early in fact, I think I had to type each guys address in one at a time. So I've collected spare gauges, handlebar switches, gas tank, XS750 rear diff (for the switchover for better mpg), every electrical component and cable. I don't have spare wheels, a brake disc, or stator and it's component parts. I also have a complete driveshaft assembly. I think a brake rotor will be next, then a rear wheel assembly.
Has anyone here had an alternator die on them? I'm wondering if it is a weak link in the electrical besides it's feeble output.

[fredintoon]

I've been collecting spare parts over the past few years, and for the most part have most of the electrical switches, electrical wiring etc. I don't however have a stator and matching magnet. How robust are these? Should I pick one up as a precaution? Also, what other parts and pieces are people keeping a back up of for down the road?

Hi Courtney,
I'm 75 years old so the rig will hopefully outlast the remains of my riding career without needing anything bar the odd oil change.
And a new battery.
Alas, last weekend's first step in de-winterizing battery charge has all leaked out again.

[crazy steve]

Has anyone here had an alternator die on them? I'm wondering if it is a weak link in the electrical besides it's feeble output.

There's been failures, but IMO it's not because of the design per se, but due to poor connections. If you make sure all the connections between the various charging system bits are excellent, it should be a dead-reliable item. Yamaha sized the wiring/connectors to where you need nearly 100% of the rated ampacity for the system to function right, so if any of the connections degrade, the regulator will try to compensate and you'll go beyond the 100% rating... and parts start failing. If there's a 'weak link', that's it.

[CatatonicBug]

My alternator went bad, due to age. It was actually the wires in the field coil. Two tiny copper wires just got brittle and broke. I tried repairing them, but that only lasted a few months.

[BA80]

???? My "Spares" stash looks more like an episode of Hoarders. BUT... I keep telling myself I'm still OK because I'm not as bad as Greg. (BA80)

It depends on how long you think you'll own the bike. If you're a lifer, you might slowly buy up the stuff required for a motor rebuild, or at least get the cam and crank bearings. As noted, I'd find an extra left rear bearing as well as an extra TCI. For the left rear bearing, it's handy to just have another rear wheel. Several times I've been about to go on a long trip and had a tire with a good thousand or two miles left in it. Some guys, like one here from San Antonio, like to go on several thousand mile trips with 500 miles left on their tire. You can mount a new tire on one of the rims, use it for your trip, then swap the other one back when you get back.

Anyway, there's many many things on these bikes that are still available, but we don't get much warning before they then become UNavailable. I'd concentrate on getting the stuff that isn't available first, then depending on space you have, keep going. Just keep an eye on that Tulsa guy and don't get more than him, or you may have a problem.

It was either bring 'em home or let them go to scrap. I just need to get them a little more organized. Besides, I needed an engine when they came available and I did get a good one out of the pile.Still going strong.

[crazy steve]

It was either bring 'em home or let them go to scrap..

Hey, I would have done the same thing.... How can you turn down free or cheap?

The organizing thing is another matter... When the pile gets big, fixing it so you can actually find what you have can get tough...

[GLoweVA]

For me it's mostly software type stuff. I bought 2 oil filters from the local store, (it take 2 days to get them here), then I found a deal on ebay for 3 for $15 with free shipping, so now I have 5 sitting on the shelf! (Spares)

Basically, anything that I can get cheap, I'll buy it for a rainy day. So far I don't have too much.