Rising from the ashes

[Blank Slate]

Hey guys and gals,

I need some help getting this bike started. I live by the airport in Ottawa and have lots of space to do the work. Zero know how.

Below is a photo album of the cleanup work I'm doing on this bike. Just cosmetic/detailing at the moment. Baby needs a new seat asap.

http://tinypic.com/userstuff.php?u=N...0YKxG0JA%3D%3D

[jetmechmarty]

It doesn't need a seat if it doesn't run. Put that off until the important stuff gets done.

Step one is to get the manual and service everything.

[Blank Slate]

Ok so I'm reading the manual.

I get to the part about checking if your battery still has electrolytes, I figure the battery is dead so I skipped the test, removed the battery and bought a new one at CDN tire. Would you guys recommend putting in a new battery now, or keep doing maintenance in case stuff around the battery needs to be replaced?

Another no-brainer is that this bike needs an oil change, so I bought a filter and oil to do an oil change. The manual asks for 20w40 but store said they don't sell that and gave me 4 bottles of 20w50. Would you guys recommend I do the oil change now (on a bike that prob wont start for a few months) or wait till the rest of the bike is fixed and ready to resurrect?

I still want to buy a seat no matter if this thing runs or not
The old seat is ripped and had a bunch of rust underneath. Yuck.

Any recommendations for bike shops in Ottawa that have parts/modification options for my XS1100?

[mack]

Bike

Hi, I'm just up the road a few hours from you. Looks like you have a pretty good ride to work on there. Rob lives very close, probably a mile or less from you and Ernie is in Kanata. Look under the maintenance section of this site and you'll see one that says "what to do on a neglected XS11". It will guide you through what needs to be done. Basically though if the motor will turn over with the plugs out, it will run after you clean the tank, carbs and wiring harness connectors properly. For the most part these machines are bullet proof. Tires, brakes are always a good idea before you even consider turning rubber. My phone number is at the bottom of my signature.
Mack

[mack]

Look Here

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=792

[Blank Slate]

Awesome Mack. I'll follow the links you gave me. I'm Sure they'll answer a lot of my questions and brring up new ones. I'll give you a call later today.

You guys ever get together for barbeques? On the bbq I'm not a blank slate

[Blank Slate]

http://www.xs11.com/forum/showthread.php?t=792

That's an eye opener!

i was trying to drain the oil today but the exhaust pipes are in the way. Tried to remove the exhaust pipes but the frame is in the way.

Gonna read the manual to see if I missed a step.

[IanDMacDonald]

Must not be stock pipes. If you can get them on, you can get them off. T-handle Allen/Hex-head drivers are your friend. If they are stock pipes, you're not looking in the right area for oil filter and engine oil drain plug.

[Blank Slate]

Must not be stock pipes. If you can get them on, you can get them off. T-handle Allen/Hex-head drivers are your friend. If they are stock pipes, you're not looking in the right area for oil filter and engine oil drain plug.

I'm Looking to drain the oil from underneath the bike but as you can see in the picture that black bar doesn't let me remove a couple of the bolts. Does the exhaust look aftermarket?

[donebysunday]

I'm Looking to drain the oil from underneath the bike but as you can see in the picture that black bar doesn't let me remove a couple of the bolts. Does the exhaust look aftermarket?

Exhaust looks aftermarket to me and some retainers are stock and rusty and then the ones that are just bolts.
There is just the one big bolt on the oil filter.

[jetmechmarty]

Yep. You're supposed to have studs in the head with nuts holding the retainers on.

[Blank Slate]

Partial success today. Got the bolt loose but i could not get it out all the way so the oil cap wont come off.

Black oil flowing

[IMG][/IMG]

[Rasputin]

Mostly thinking out loud here, but would not this thread be best in the main forum? Some do not view here or check it often enough to bother to reply.

[Blank Slate]

I dont wanna bother the entire xs1100 world for my canuck problems.
I'm Check in once a day and I find pple really good at answering my questions.

[Rasputin]

Well I do know that having all of the community responding to your comments does increase your knowledge. As well, it does add additional info for those who do respond, or even those who are lurkers or not yet members.
It is not my place to tell you where to post but I will tell you that many of us do have knowledge, which will not be shared if we are not monitoring certain threads. I myself have only seen your threads recently. It could possibly be that I know the answer, but if I do not see the question, I will never know.
Your choice. Ask all of the world who likes these bikes or only a certain few, who are Canucks, of which I am one.
Thing is the more that can see your post the more that can help you solve a problem.