Tim's XS project - 750cc rephased ported head titanium valve hot cam craziness
- Thread starter Tim
- Start date
Juice_Bruce
'71 CB350, '97 & '86 GSXR1100, GSXR600, ZRX1100
Re: My XS650 project - update July 24 - My seat arrived! PICS!
Nice job!
Nice job!
Re: My XS650 project - update July 24 - My seat arrived! PICS!
Mini - update. Just ordering my stainless spokes for the wheel rebuild. Planning on having the rims and hubs polished and then laced up with the stainless spokes. Will get Avon Roadriders likely, unless I find a last-minute tire deal at Cycleworld's clearance sale in the coming days.
Going with the front disk brake for now - the drum looks nice but braking performance is more important to me at this juncture. I'll likely sell off the drum brake wheel in the near future to pay for the spokes / wheel building.
Mini - update. Just ordering my stainless spokes for the wheel rebuild. Planning on having the rims and hubs polished and then laced up with the stainless spokes. Will get Avon Roadriders likely, unless I find a last-minute tire deal at Cycleworld's clearance sale in the coming days.
Going with the front disk brake for now - the drum looks nice but braking performance is more important to me at this juncture. I'll likely sell off the drum brake wheel in the near future to pay for the spokes / wheel building.
locOleoN
Is that the best you got? OK.. now my TURN...
Re: My XS650 project - update July 24 - My seat arrived! PICS!
WICKED...
The cb750 is COMPLETO!!..DONE... FINITO...Plated and insured...
I just gotta go pick it up!!..Hopefully tonight!!..
The only thing it needs now is its Badge on the lower left fork tube
Tintin said:
WICKED...
The cb750 is COMPLETO!!..DONE... FINITO...Plated and insured...
I just gotta go pick it up!!..Hopefully tonight!!..
The only thing it needs now is its Badge on the lower left fork tube
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 13 - Mini update - ordering stainless spokes
So tonight with luck I'll be cutting the old tires off the rims, cutting the spokes out and taking the rims/hubs to Adam for polishing. Fork lowers too. Stainless spokes/nipples coming - will be bling bling wheels!
So tonight with luck I'll be cutting the old tires off the rims, cutting the spokes out and taking the rims/hubs to Adam for polishing. Fork lowers too. Stainless spokes/nipples coming - will be bling bling wheels!
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 13 - Mini update - ordering stainless spokes
Cut the old spokes from the rims last night. In hindsight - remove old tires first. Get a good utility knife, cut through the sidewall on both sides close to the rim, remove tire and innertube, then remove beads from rims.
Then unscrew all the nipples and take it apart.
I did it backwards - I cut all 72 spokes with my small handheld heavy duty cutters (like mini bolt cutters). Pulled out the hubs, cut off the tires and removed the spokes. Lots of brute force.
The rear wheel had duct tape in place of a proper rim strip. Not fun to remove. All the bits are in a box to be taken to Adam for polishing. Then building the wheels back up with stainless spokes/nipples and off for new tires.
Cut the old spokes from the rims last night. In hindsight - remove old tires first. Get a good utility knife, cut through the sidewall on both sides close to the rim, remove tire and innertube, then remove beads from rims.
Then unscrew all the nipples and take it apart.
I did it backwards - I cut all 72 spokes with my small handheld heavy duty cutters (like mini bolt cutters). Pulled out the hubs, cut off the tires and removed the spokes. Lots of brute force.
The rear wheel had duct tape in place of a proper rim strip. Not fun to remove. All the bits are in a box to be taken to Adam for polishing. Then building the wheels back up with stainless spokes/nipples and off for new tires.
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 13 - Mini update - ordering stainless spokes
Tintin, I know all too well the fun of doing this. But, I only had the 36 spoke standard wheels. Took the tires off the same way they were put on....... well, ok, you got me. LOTS of brute force, soapy water, cursing, swearing, yelling, hurting one's self, actually JUMPING on the wheel. Things always seem to work better when you get mad. I like to say it's because then the stuff gets scared that you're going to break it, so it just decides to go along with it. Only had one small little nick in the rim that sanded right out before I sent them to the polisher. Spokes came out easy with a vice grip to loosen them, and a screw driver to take them out the rest of the way. The only advice I have is to put anti-seize on the new threads when you put it all back together. I know you're getting stainless, but it just makes it SO much easier to screw them all in with a little lube on there. I wish I had a set of 72 spoke wheels.
Rudy
Tintin, I know all too well the fun of doing this. But, I only had the 36 spoke standard wheels. Took the tires off the same way they were put on....... well, ok, you got me. LOTS of brute force, soapy water, cursing, swearing, yelling, hurting one's self, actually JUMPING on the wheel. Things always seem to work better when you get mad. I like to say it's because then the stuff gets scared that you're going to break it, so it just decides to go along with it. Only had one small little nick in the rim that sanded right out before I sent them to the polisher. Spokes came out easy with a vice grip to loosen them, and a screw driver to take them out the rest of the way. The only advice I have is to put anti-seize on the new threads when you put it all back together. I know you're getting stainless, but it just makes it SO much easier to screw them all in with a little lube on there. I wish I had a set of 72 spoke wheels.
Rudy
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 13 - Mini update - ordering stainless spokes
My wheels are also 36 spoke wheels - just did 2 of them, hence the 72 spokes I mentioned
72 spoke wheels would look crazy - not sure it could even be done, unless the spokes were real skinny.
Do you have any pics of your polished wheels?
My wheels are also 36 spoke wheels - just did 2 of them, hence the 72 spokes I mentioned
72 spoke wheels would look crazy - not sure it could even be done, unless the spokes were real skinny.Do you have any pics of your polished wheels?
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 13 - Mini update - ordering stainless spokes
This really isn't in my budget right now, but it's something I'd like to do over the winter. Like you, I want to use stainless spokes and ali rims. One of the biggest things is the respoking. Once you lace them up, how do you balance the wheel? Any help on this is appreciated.
--Thanks, Chris
This really isn't in my budget right now, but it's something I'd like to do over the winter. Like you, I want to use stainless spokes and ali rims. One of the biggest things is the respoking. Once you lace them up, how do you balance the wheel? Any help on this is appreciated.
--Thanks, Chris
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 13 - Mini update - ordering stainless spokes
Tintin: The Special II came with double laced wheels..... looks amazing, but hard to find them. I think they are also chromed rims, not aluminum. I'm at work right now, but when I get home I can post a picture or two of the polished rims. A guy in Brampton did mine. There's no clear coat on them, I just use Mothers Chrome polish every once in a while. It's supposed to have some kind of wax that protects it for a bit. It doesn't oxidize at all unless I ride in the wet and don't clean them right away (did this once, and never again!).
Chris: Lacing and truing the wheels really wasn't that hard. It took a little bit of time for the first one, just figuring out everything. About an hour to lace it, then another hour to true it. The second one took an hour total. I have both wheels within 2/1000ths. This is better than factory tolerances (5/1000ths), and actually not even that hard to do. I have no wobbles, or run out at all. Both wheels are still deadnuts on, even after the front tire blowing out (not fun). I'll post pics of the process of this tonight as well.
The best advice I can give on this is to take lots of pictures before you start tearing things apart. Measure all offsets, and when lacing these things up, TAKE YOUR TIME. It's not hard to do, and really makes you feel good when you explain to people that lacing your own wheels isn't that hard. They look at you like you're some kind of god or something. Probably because of all those episodes of chopper shows they have seen where they're constantly bitching about how hard it is.
Tintin: The Special II came with double laced wheels..... looks amazing, but hard to find them. I think they are also chromed rims, not aluminum.
I'm at work right now, but when I get home I can post a picture or two of the polished rims. A guy in Brampton did mine. There's no clear coat on them, I just use Mothers Chrome polish every once in a while. It's supposed to have some kind of wax that protects it for a bit. It doesn't oxidize at all unless I ride in the wet and don't clean them right away (did this once, and never again!).Chris: Lacing and truing the wheels really wasn't that hard. It took a little bit of time for the first one, just figuring out everything. About an hour to lace it, then another hour to true it. The second one took an hour total. I have both wheels within 2/1000ths. This is better than factory tolerances (5/1000ths), and actually not even that hard to do. I have no wobbles, or run out at all. Both wheels are still deadnuts on, even after the front tire blowing out (not fun). I'll post pics of the process of this tonight as well.
The best advice I can give on this is to take lots of pictures before you start tearing things apart. Measure all offsets, and when lacing these things up, TAKE YOUR TIME. It's not hard to do, and really makes you feel good when you explain to people that lacing your own wheels isn't that hard. They look at you like you're some kind of god or something. Probably because of all those episodes of chopper shows they have seen where they're constantly bitching about how hard it is.
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 13 - Mini update - ordering stainless spokes
I thought the specials were 48 spokes or something - pretty sure they're not 72 spokes per wheel. Might as well make a solid disk at that point.
I just paid a nice fellow in the US whom I found on 650rider.com for an 18" stock XS650 rear rim. I'll have it laced up to the front drum brake and Bob's your Uncle. 18" wheels front and rear, drums front and rear. Lots of rim for a fat front tire should I want it. Can run a 110 no problem, but will likely stick with the 100 for appearance and weight.
I also popped into Ontario Cycle Salvage today on the ride home. Picked up a busted up clutch lever perch which has a nice little electric switch on it to trigger the safety circuit on most bikes. The switch will flip to the right side lever no problem, giving me a nice brake light switch for the drum brake. Will drill and tap my Tommaselli-style levers for the switch mechanism.
It's coming together Can't wait to get the wheels built.
I thought the specials were 48 spokes or something - pretty sure they're not 72 spokes per wheel. Might as well make a solid disk at that point.
I just paid a nice fellow in the US whom I found on 650rider.com for an 18" stock XS650 rear rim. I'll have it laced up to the front drum brake and Bob's your Uncle. 18" wheels front and rear, drums front and rear. Lots of rim for a fat front tire should I want it. Can run a 110 no problem, but will likely stick with the 100 for appearance and weight.
I also popped into Ontario Cycle Salvage today on the ride home. Picked up a busted up clutch lever perch which has a nice little electric switch on it to trigger the safety circuit on most bikes. The switch will flip to the right side lever no problem, giving me a nice brake light switch for the drum brake. Will drill and tap my Tommaselli-style levers for the switch mechanism.
It's coming together
Can't wait to get the wheels built.Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 20 - Sorted out my front drum brake
Tintin: Sorry, my bad. Not 72, but 64 spokes up front, 48 in the rear for the Heritage Special. 36 front and rear for the standard. Anyway, I've attached some pictures I took when I was lacing the rear wheel. Put all the spokes for one direction in first, then rotate hub and put the other direction in. You gotta make sure you do it the right way so that you can get your spokes through the ones you've already put in. Last is a pic of the front wheel after being laced and trued. That rim is really shiny!
Tintin: Sorry, my bad. Not 72, but 64 spokes up front, 48 in the rear for the Heritage Special. 36 front and rear for the standard. Anyway, I've attached some pictures I took when I was lacing the rear wheel. Put all the spokes for one direction in first, then rotate hub and put the other direction in. You gotta make sure you do it the right way so that you can get your spokes through the ones you've already put in. Last is a pic of the front wheel after being laced and trued. That rim is really shiny!
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 20 - Sorted out my front drum brake
WOW - can't wait for mine. Did you prep the rims at all before polishing? I didn't realize the front special wheel had 64 spokes. That's nuts.
BTW - any reason you didn't polish the hubs too? I'm planning on having mine done with the rims.
WOW - can't wait for mine. Did you prep the rims at all before polishing? I didn't realize the front special wheel had 64 spokes. That's nuts.
BTW - any reason you didn't polish the hubs too? I'm planning on having mine done with the rims.
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 20 - Sorted out my front drum brake
The reason why I got the rims polished was because they were peeling and getting oxidized. They just plain looked like crap. I tried polishing them myself, but that was before I had the tools to do it properly. Some 800 grit sandpaper and some foam...... definitely not the right tools. So, no, I didn't do any prep work. I don't know what the polisher did, but when I got them back I almost shat myself! Now I wish I had the guy do the hubs and cases too. The cases look pretty good now. Gonna do the fork tubes this winter. Out of all the aluminum, they got the least attention. My focus is the XS400 right now (LOTS of stuff to polish!), so the 650 is just in ride and maintain mode until it gets too cold out. Can't wait to see how your XS turns out. They're definitely great bikes, to work on and to ride.
The reason why I got the rims polished was because they were peeling and getting oxidized. They just plain looked like crap. I tried polishing them myself, but that was before I had the tools to do it properly. Some 800 grit sandpaper and some foam...... definitely not the right tools. So, no, I didn't do any prep work. I don't know what the polisher did, but when I got them back I almost shat myself!
Now I wish I had the guy do the hubs and cases too. The cases look pretty good now. Gonna do the fork tubes this winter. Out of all the aluminum, they got the least attention. My focus is the XS400 right now (LOTS of stuff to polish!), so the 650 is just in ride and maintain mode until it gets too cold out. Can't wait to see how your XS turns out. They're definitely great bikes, to work on and to ride.Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 20 - Sorted out my front drum brake
Chris, for balancing I bring my wheel to a shop, but for truing the wheel I use a dial guage and magnetic base. You can get them from most DIY stores. I got mine from Princess Auto on sale. Here's a picture of one. I put a piece of cloth on the end of mine so it wouldn't scratch the side of my rim.
Chris, for balancing I bring my wheel to a shop, but for truing the wheel I use a dial guage and magnetic base. You can get them from most DIY stores. I got mine from Princess Auto on sale. Here's a picture of one. I put a piece of cloth on the end of mine so it wouldn't scratch the side of my rim.
Re: My XS650 project - update Aug 20 - Sorted out my front drum brake
TinTin:
Sorry for the hyjack!
So do you put the axle through the wheel and mount it to a contraption--spinning the wheel and watching the dial gauge? That's the picture I'm looking for...
--Thanks thus far, Chris
TinTin:
Sorry for the hyjack!
So do you put the axle through the wheel and mount it to a contraption--spinning the wheel and watching the dial gauge? That's the picture I'm looking for...
--Thanks thus far, Chris
