Yamaha XS650

Neil W · Jun 25, 2022

Well pulled the carbs and suprise suprise the diaphrams are fine , but the jets and needles are worn and the float bowls were held on with a mix of stripped m4 hex heads and self tapping screws ( used carbs may be on the cards) and the carb tops m5 hex heads were stripped and glued in place.
Managed to clean everything and bodge them back together fill them from a remote fuel source and it started on the second kick and ticked over.

Needs a huge amount of work but thinking 18" xs500 rear wheel , 18" rd/xs400 front wheel and yamaha fzs600 front end and brakes, plus UK spec tank and a 2:4 style seat plus european spec flatter bars and clocks

As a plus point it was professionaly rewired about 18 years ago and fitted with electronic ignition and it turns out the work was done by an old mate of mine at his bike shop not long before he died aged 50 with a heart attack

Neil W · Jun 28, 2022

F#ckity f#ckity f#ckity f#ck, went to start it yesterday, kick start only as the electric starter is not connected.
I forgot about kickstarting old bikes and made a half hearted attempt and the b@stard thing kicked back with a vengence.
Nearly launched me over the bars and caught me on the heel whilst doing so, I will not make the same mistake again.

Neil W · Aug 7, 2022

One step forward, at least one step backwards.

Was at Rufforth yesterday and managed to pick up a really nice set of XS650 carbs with all the threads, jets etc in good nick then when looking at the shocking paint found this , tank had a huge dent in it which at some stage someone has tried to pull out and then lead loaded (badly ) then fillled.

Will have to think about that one

Neil W · Aug 10, 2022

Rear mudguard with a few holes welded up , primed and a few coats of VW Tornado red paint, will repair the tank weld up the holes and lead load the rest of the dent and then this colour as a top coat with a Yamaha ladder pattern on the tank

Neil W · Aug 10, 2022

A more road friendly version of this might be my goal

The Other PaulG · Aug 10, 2022

I love that Tornado red Neil.

Neil W · Aug 10, 2022

Bit more progress , cleaned off all of the old lead loading , using a slide hammer pulled out most of the dent and mig welded up all of the holes.

Typically I ran out of solder paste and lead so only got half the job done but at least now it looks like the tank can be saved, bit more lead loading, bit of work with a body file and it should only need a fine skim of filler

walkingpictures · Aug 10, 2022

Neil W said:
A more road friendly version of this might be my goal

I love that style,seems to suit the XS650.Good luck with the build Neil

Neil W · Aug 10, 2022

The Other PaulG said:
I love that Tornado red Neil.

Had 2 litres of it sitting in the garage from the stalled VW SCIROCCO tdi conversion project

timeandtide · Aug 10, 2022

jonnie comet said:
Do you know anyone with the skills to do that sort of thing???? D)

I THINK, with a lot of help Mikeyboy might manage it!

But unfortunately he’s too busy working on my Husky

Neil W · Aug 17, 2022

Nuts , cement mixer and most of the remains of old tank liner gone

Neil W · Aug 18, 2022

Well these arrived today, off an FZS 600 same length as the standard XS650 ones and will be getting adapted to fit along with decent calipers and discs

Neil W · Aug 18, 2022

Over an hour to get the rear spindle out, trying out this old dr650 wheel and it definitely looks better.

Once I sort out alignment and spacers I will get an 18" rim laced up onto the hub , for the front I have a CCM hub that might do if not I will look for suitable hub

Neil W · Aug 23, 2022

Swinging arm removed and welded up where the chain had been gouging its path, have dressed up the repairs and will finish cleaning off the old paint tomorrow and get it painted, it is going to need a pivot bearing repair kit (£35) .

Have also dropped the old forks and yokes and test fitted the FZS 600 ones which only need a new set of taper roller head bearings and new lock stops made up

Work stopped for the day as our Cocker Spaniel bitch has just gone into labour

Neil W · Aug 29, 2022

Trying out my new HVLP spray gun today, sidepanels painted

Greenman14 · Aug 29, 2022

Is there a bit of orange peeling on those panels, or is it just the photo? Always hard to properly show paint quality in a photo. HVLP, High Volume Low Pressure?

Neil W · Aug 29, 2022

Orange peel is deliberate as I wanted plenty of depth of paint on the panels, will now give it a week to cure sitting in the conservatory then I will flat it back with 2400 grit paper and soapy water . Once done I will give it a machine polish .

Finish should be fine and will end up costing less than doing it with rattle cans.

First time I have tried an HVLP gun and I am impressed, will probably use it to paint the frame as well.

Neil W · Sep 3, 2022

Picked these up this morning all the graphics I will need for the 650 for the grand total of £25

theoneandonly · Sep 3, 2022

DUNSTALL PIPES ?

had to shout , they will be loud !

Neil W · Sep 4, 2022

theoneandonly said:
DUNSTALL PIPES ?

had to shout , they will be loud !

Yes it was loud and then after 30 seconds it blew the end baffle plate out of the offside pipe and it was very very loud , it will be getting new chrome downpipes mated with a set of quiet pattern pipes which are currentlly sitting on a stalled gsx750 prooject, unless I change my mind and go for high level pipes !!!

Yamaha XS650

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