In the big leagues now!

[revanoff2]

Greetings everyone!

I am the proud owner of a 1980 3H5 XS1100G Standard, in Diamond Silver... or at least it was at one point...

I graduated from a FREE 1981 XS650 Special:



To a FREE 1980 XS1100:



77K miles, been well maintained. Used to have the ugliest damn fairing on it which I removed. Fortunately, I have a XJ550 Maxim in the garage that didn't need it's headlight (with H4 bulb) or turn signals. So that's what is on the front for now.

I don't have huge plans for it, I just want something that hauls ass, looks cool, is comfy, and is reliable. So far, its more comfy than the 650, but that's largely due to the fact that it doesn't shake like a small dog.

I need to get it all cleaned up, but it runs fantastic, and the only thing that doesn't work so far is the fuel gauge.

Plans include: Fix fuel gauge and tach, install better handle bars (and mount handlebar turn signals), move the highway bars forward, re-do seat to mimic the older Standard seat (flat!) maybe stuff a windshield on it, 4 into 1 header, and a fatter tire up front.

Other than that, I plan to ride the crap out of it!

Rode it in to work today, was a bit on the chill side, but not as bad as a couple weeks ago.

Updates will come as they often do!

~Revanoff2~

[Briggs&Stratton]

Congratulations on the new project. Good to hear it runs well.

[MarkD]

Congratulations! Looks to be an excellent bike. Love the price. You will find a lot to love about this bike.

[Yahman]

Another member from Salem, OR

Hi Robert,

Welcome, it's good to see someone on here from Salem besides myself. I also have an 80G (not running), it has a regular seat that I would trade you for the one on your bike, if your interested. I have quite a few parts also, if you're looking for anything, just ask.

You said your tach was not working, have you checked your charging system? They get their signal from the generator and it my not be working.

Ride safe,
Larry

[Prisoner6]

Free bike!

Welcome to the site, Robert!

As Mark said, you will love your Eleven ... and you paid how much? Oh, that's right, it was FREE!! Awesome ...

Anyway, the collective knowledge of the people here is amazing ... any help you need with your bike can be found right here.

Enjoy!

[James England]

You've come to the right place now you own one of these immortal bikes. Friendly advice, lots of knowledge, respect and a lot of fun. Bienvenue!

[DGXSER]

Very nice looking bike. Glad she is running nicely for you. As for the tach, behind the fuse box there is a connector with three large white wires from the alternator. Clean those and check that connector is not melted. You will need to unbolt the metal plate the fuse box is mouted to.

while your at it I would spend a nice rainy afternoon and clean every electrical connector on the bike. It will save you alot of headaches chasing electrical gremlins down the road.

sounds like you have a plan for the beast. Good luck!

[IanDMacDonald]

Hey Don- Hypothethically the connector coming from the alternator has the side that was obviously melted, but still checks out. After sealing it with dialectric grease, is there any harm in leaving it be? (Not a hypothetical really, but I avoid shame if I say that )

[TopCatGr58]

Hey Ian,

The melting means too much resistance so it got hot...duh. I would have taken some Deoxit and really cleaned the contacts thoroughly first to ensure as low a resistance to current flow there as possible, and THEN apply the dielectric grease. The grease just keeps the moisture/corrosion out, but doesn't clean the connection.

T.C.

[DGXSER]

No shame in avoiding cost. However, depending how melted it is, you may want to add some electrical tape to the bandage.

As TC stated, definitely clean the connections first.

[crazy steve]

One big problem when that connector gets hot enough to melt the plastic is it can also take the 'spring' out of the metal connectors, so they no longer fit as tight. Reading through it with an ohmmeter won't tell you that, only under load will the problem show up. Cleaning is only half the problem...

[TopCatGr58]

One big problem when that connector gets hot enough to melt the plastic is it can also take the 'spring' out of the metal connectors, so they no longer fit as tight. Reading through it with an ohmmeter won't tell you that, only under load will the problem show up. Cleaning is only half the problem...

Hey Steve,

Couldn't he take a crimper and "tweak" the female clamping pieces a little tighter together so that it could regain it's SPRING/Tension to make stronger/tigher connection? OR are you saying that the overheating changed the molecular/grain structure of the metal to the point that it will have NO spring tension.....like a stretched sprung spring?

T.C.

[crazy steve]

Usually it kills the 'temper' that was originally in the metal, basically annealing it. My personal rule of thumb is if the plastic is melted enough that it's hard/impossible to remove the wire connectors from the plastic part without breaking something, it all needs to be replaced.

Sometimes you can 'tweak' them tighter, but if you have to 'rock' the connector to get it fully engaged they generally just open back up.

[Bartman]

I have worked on my gas gauge many times and it works and then doesn't. I have taken gas float wiper apart and fixed broken wire and cleaned contacts but still can not get it "fixed". It ohms from about 18 to 85 when in my hand.
I think that it gets a 7 volt power source from a small black box inside of the tach. But, I haven't hooked a volt meter to the wires while riding.
I keep thinking that the bouncing of the bike that makes the tack jump is also a possible cause of the gauge not constantly working.....

[revanoff2]

Well,

So far, all I've done is clean it up a bit (much shinier now, more to do though), and snap the speedo cable. There's another one in the mail to deliver this week so I can have at least A working gauge lol.

I haven't had much time to actually get in there and look at what is up with the fuel gauge and tach. I can say that the fuel gauge does "operate" to some degree, it just reads WAY off.

When I have to hit the "reserve" switches on the tank, the gauge says about 3/4 full. when I fill it, the needle sweeps off the visible part of the gauge. I'm thinking a dirty connector is most of the issue with it.

I have swapped the original bars off now. I stole a set off the XJ550 at my house. The issue I have now is cables that are way too long (Clutch, Throttle). So if I turn the handlebars to the right, the engine revs a bit.

I am going to modify the brackets for the Samsonite hard cases that were on it to fit a set of leather-wrapped hard bags off Harley Roadking that a buddy is giving me. Those should look damn sweet once mounted.

Other than that, she's been running great, and I've been riding every day that I can. Went through a whole tank of gas in less than 24 hours so far!

~Revanoff2~