'80 XS400 whiteout

[rshutchinson]

'80 XS400 whiteout

Didn't know what to call it to get your attention? I'm also slowly working on a small resto-mod of my dad's xs400 as well as working on my own GR650 chop but I think this is going to take precedence for now, quite excited to see how it turns out.

Going with a clean white and pink-red scheme for my wife. She is short and I think this is a perfect bike for her. She wants a small bike so this be a minimalistic build. Also will be powdercoating everything I can except for the frame since I can't bake that in a regular sized oven.

So I picked this up on christmas day for $200 not running. It's not seized and has compression so I'm sure I'll get it going. It's missing some things but most of the important stuff I'll be using was there, including 18" front and rear spoke rims with drums which I like. The throttle shafts were seized but managed to unstick them eventually with some heat and oil.

When I picked it up it came with a mag wheel since the spoked rim was seized up and not rolling. Also a Virago 1100 tank I think he said it was. Huge. It's going.

Quickly stripped it down and removed the wiring.

Went to a salvage yard and picked up this kz440 tank for $20. Going back to pick up odd's and end's I still need that I hope they have.

Now that I have the tank I'll be using I am hoping to make some quick work of this build.



Question: the bike came with white coils that are different than those that are on the other 81 xs400 I've got here. I tested them and they are over 5.5 ohm primary? This bike has a pickup and the TCI says 3f9 on it so I believe it needs 3 ohm coils, correct? I'm sure I do, just want to double check.

 

[xschris]

Welcome to the forum. Yes 3ohm for tci bikes. You can download the manual for free in the classified section of the forum. I hope you didn't use much heat on the carb shafts as there are seals at each ends of them.

 

[rshutchinson]

Hi Chris. Yep, I removed the old seals and already have new OEM yamaha seals to go back in it as I read OEM is the only way to go for those things. I think they were left in someones back yard for years, they had cocoons inside them.

I have the carbs taken right apart, just need to change the media in my blast cabinet before I can powder coat them.

 

[Sesty]

you can powder coat carbs?

 

[rshutchinson]

Yep. Even though they're pot-metal they're still able to be coated. Just don't do it at too high of a temperature or for too long so they don't distort and they're just fine.

Just need to be careful with masking off!

 

[rshutchinson]

Powdered the carb bodies in white.

 

[drewpy]

look very nice, should be easy to keep clean too

 

[rshutchinson]

Well, I hope the white doesn't turn out to be a bad idea when it comes to cleaning!

Ordered the other color. Went with a strawberry red for the accent pieces.

I also ordered some sparkle granny smith for my bike. Excited to see how the green will look in the sun.

 

[rshutchinson]

Got the rest of the powder so I was able to finish up the carbs. Everything is powder coated on them, no paint. It's called Strawberry red, looks a little more pink than that to me but my wife loves them.

Also got the steel I need to modify the backbone for the new tank.

 

[OleDoc]

Damn those carbs look awesome.

 

[rshutchinson]

I'm really pleased with them. They look better in person, the color doesn't really show through in pictures.

I tried a new clear and it came out a little orange-peely so I'm going to look into that before I do the engine cases.

 

[arfstrom]

Love it, I just powder coated 2/3s of my engine, and I would love to do that to my carbs.

 

[rshutchinson]

Do you powdercoat yourself?

 

[arfstrom]

Nope, I found a powder-coated about 15 miles from my home, he did it in his garage. I powder-coated the sides, the case, I just spray painted flat black. So the Head, Oil cover, access hole covers, left/right covers, lids for starter, breather assembly. He did a great job!

 

[rshutchinson]

Got any pics? What color?

If you want them done I would do them no problem. I might not have the powder in your color but could probably get it.

 

[arfstrom]

No thank you, I appreciate the thought, They (carbs) should be working wonderfully come summer, I like what you did to bring more color to them, If take the bike down again for a break, I might consider it. I like that this would seal up the leaky brass closures, that seem to leak for no apparent reason. I have sprayed painted mine black. with the same hopes.

I still want to touch up the tank, but at the end of a short summer, the last thing I wanna do, is take the bike out of action.

You can see on the oil cover front, the variation between the powder coat, and the spray coat I put on. Ultimately, I am not going to worry about it. Its close enough for me.

 

[rshutchinson]

Okay well if you change your mind let me know. I have plenty of flat and gloss black and satin clear coat as well.

Can't even tell the difference in the picture of your job and the powder coat. Only time and rock chips will show the difference.

 

[RichieB]

I would be interested in hearing the process in how it's done. I wanna powdercoat my carbs white and black.

 

[OleDoc]

Do you powdercoat yourself?

Ouch that would hurt

 

[rshutchinson]

I would be interested in hearing the process in how it's done. I wanna powdercoat my carbs white and black.

It's the same as powdercoating anything else but I bake them a few times first to offgas. Do you have the equipment?


Make sure the carbs are fully disassembled and throttle shaft seals are removed. Then I threw them in the oven at 350 for 15 minutes and let cool. Heat at 350 for another 15 minutes. Do this atleast twice to help offgas the bodies of any gasoline that may be in the metal. It's to help prevent any problems when baking the powder. You don't want to have to try and remove powdercoat from the small nooks in the bodies if it messes up.

Then I plugged the holes with silicone plugs, taped up the top hats and bowls (to prevent powder coating them the same color as the body and having to remove it) and put them back on the carb bodies. Tape up the ends of the bodies and any parts you don't want covered like the brass tube. Alternatively, you could leave the top hats and bowls off the bodies when coating but but I find it's easier than taping them off, especially the bottoms where the bowls cover up.

Then I threw them in the blast cabinet and quickly went over them. I use crushed glass mostly from TSC, 50 lbs for like $10, works awesome but can remove too much material if you spend too much time on a spot but I like the profile it leaves for coating. I also have crushed walnut shells for more delicate stuff. Also, take some fine steel wool to the brass tubes to get them shining again.

Then blow it off with compressed air well. Pre-heat in oven, shoot them hot and shoot hard to get to spots first then do the whole thing. Then bake. Then clear if you want. Nothing to it, just like coating any other piece.