Back From the Brink II - The Degunking

[Orange4]

Fully degunked...

At least the front end is now degunked



Repainted the tree, cleaned and greased the head bearing, rebuilt the forks, cleaned and re greased the speedo gears, cleaned, repainted and rebuilt the calipers, and repainted the rotors. WHEW!

Before:



And, yeah, nice bonus, the brakes actually release.



I'm going to order a new set of spokes for the XS650 wheel as they are beyond cleaning.

Now I have to get a set of turn signals for the front. I'm going to use some old 60's Yamaha units I got at a garage sale years ago for now.

My reflector / headlight bolts should be arriving soon and I will be ready to ride.

The rear caliper needs repainting, which I will do later. For now, I just want to get her on the road.

[Prisoner6]

What a mess that was!

Nice work, Orange ... looks really good!

[ESJr1642]

Wow!

I really like the front wheel, how about a picture a little further back?

Ernie

[Orange4]

More degunking. I have been busy.

Refinished most of the handlebar controls and cleaned out the master cylinder.

Rebuild and repainted the rear calipers,

Degunked and polished the frame where I could get to it.

Polished the valve cover, stator cover, clutch linkage cover, oil filler, nuts and bolts.

Installed a set of mint rear frame mount turn signals and I have the front stalks ready to go.

I'm going to swap the seat, tank and side covers from the '79 because they have decent paint. Then I can get to work refinishing the original bits.

I want to get collector plates for it which will require a stock paint colour so one bike will be candy orange like I want and the other will probably be macho maroon with the gold pin striping. I wish there was a gallery on here of good pics of all the colours.

I have been fine tuning the idle jets and I am close. Will have to re-sync once that's done. I used an infra red thermometer to rough tune it. Hotter pipes are too lean and cool pipes are too rich. Then I used plug colour to gauge how close I'm getting and adjust by 1/4 turns.





I have to refinish the peg mounts. I'm undecided as to whether polish or

I still have to repair the kill switch, refinish the right control, install the polished valve cover and install a fuse panel (PO had removed it and just spliced all the wires)

I'm waiting till winter to remove and polish all of the remaining covers.

Pic request of front wheel...



And before pic:

[Orange4]

6 months of tinkering...



I still have to refinish the right handlebar control, paint the tank, panels and cowl and finish the rear wire wheel project. For now it's ready to ride.

I do have one major issue I have to deal with. The rear brake hits the exhaust and I can't get enough travel to be able to lock up the rear. Either I have to modify the lever or move the exhaust inboard of the peg mount brackets. I don't know if that's possible. It has the Jardine spaghetti pipes. Anyone manage to mount them inboard?

[jetmechmarty]

I believe your exhaust hangar belongs on the inboard side.

Pretty bike!

[Orange4]

Thanks!

That's how it came from the PO but the crossover tube has been dented so it does not slide together any farther. That can be fixed though. I will probably get to that soon. It kind of drives me nuts.

I could either:
A) weld a new set of pipes in there (Most work)
B) Cut some off of the inner pipe so it can slide in farther. (Cheapest, easiest job)
C) Buy a $130 pipe expander and push out the dents. (Most expensive job.)

[Orange4]

Went on a ride today and the need for a valve adjust was very apparent. Too much clicketty clack. Also want to do the ACCT swap at the same time.

[natemoen]

Went on a ride today and the need for a valve adjust was very apparent. Too much clicketty clack. Also want to do the ACCT swap at the same time.

Just so you know, these engines have a loud top end. The cam noise actually goes away as the valves get out of adjustment because the clearances get smaller.

[Orange4]

I guess they are a bit noisy anyway but I measured them when I had the cover off and a couple gaps are too big. I'm losing lift! Heaven forbid!

[cajun31]

Looking good

You have that bike looking sweet. If it ever stops raining here I need to get some pics of my restoration on my MNS posted for everyone. I love the pipes on that bike. Wish they were still available. Looks like you have easy access to the oil filter and could actually still mount an oil cooler if you wanted to.

[jetmechmarty]

If it ever stops raining here I need to get some pics of my restoration on my MNS posted for everyone.

You could bring it to XS Southeast in September and let us look at it up close and personal! I would be about a 500 mile ride for you. It won't get you any long distance award.

[jwhughes3]

Yup, I may have to drive West first to add mileage this time there seems to be a larger contingent coming.

John

[Orange4]

You have that bike looking sweet. If it ever stops raining here I need to get some pics of my restoration on my MNS posted for everyone. I love the pipes on that bike. Wish they were still available. Looks like you have easy access to the oil filter and could actually still mount an oil cooler if you wanted to.

I may not have bought it if it didn't have those pipes. They sound great too. The left side is flaking on the inside so one day I will have to get it replated, if I can get the baffles out, but for now I'm riding as is. Yup. Oil filter access is a cinch

Looking forward to your unveiling.

[cajun31]

marty

would love to, however I have prior commitments. The bike would hold up fine. I would love to make one of these though. I hope everyone has a great time. If I still lived in Macon I would have just run up there for a day trip.