Introduction and Cafe build log

Hahahaha this thread is entertaining. Are you actually a reverend?

And I originally thought it was the Mario bullet!
 
so here is the latest update. I got the tracker seat from hot wing glass and it looks great. It sits a little high so i think i will chop the rear fender and paint it black, and use that to mount a sparto tail light to. I'm trying to figure out a good place to mount the license plate. I'd love to mount it to the axle to make the tail look a little cleaner, but the Washington Highway Patrol doesn't appreciate that mounting place nearly as much as I do :mad:

I'll probably end up hanging it off the back chopped fender unless i am struck by something more creative.
 
She is coming along, getting closer to complete. I have signals mounted, dust covers for the forks, new tires, and a shorter brake line off a stock R6. Seat pad, Tail light and exhaust wrap is coming next week.

Then i just need to do some work on the front and rear fenders, paint the seat pan, get some bar end mirrors, wire it all up and she should be good to go.

New-to-me R6 line:
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New shoes:
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Things are almos done with the build just waiting for some title paperwork to work out.

I have the timing pretty much ruffed in but I need some advise.

I set the timing by just hooking up a light bulb and adjusting the points so it lights just before the LF and RF marks. I barrowed a timing light from a friend and was going to do some adjusting Does any one have a quick tutorial on where the timing should be for better milage or power and i assume that the auto advance unit engaged when the engine is running makes a difference in the marks at timing?

Any advise?
 
Well I did some internet searching (Just as a warning, make sure your filters are turned on if you google timing chain, power ... :oops:)

So anyway I hooked up the timing light and had the timing pretty spot on at 1300 rpm, not bad for a turn signal light and two wires process! So i advanced the timing about 2 degrees and got a little boost in PRM. Advanced it 2 more and got a little more RPM's. Did 2 more and it slowed down and ran like crap :shrug: . SO i put it back at 4 degrees advanced and screwed it down. I'll see if that makes any difference in the power of the bike.

Wish me luck
 
Which filters turned on, Rev?
If you are using a strobe timing light and the idle adjust screws and all else is right and good, my opinion is if exactly on LF and RF advance markings when you blip the throttle you might get a slight hesitation, not a good thing. If that's the case I would advance just a tiny bit until that goes away. Of course gapping first. After that adjust Left side then Right. I do that while the engine is running but very carefully.
The ATU centifugally advances the timing, with the strobe timing light pointing at the marks on rotor, twist the throttle slowly to 3K rpm and you will see it move in the direction of the 2 marks for full advance (and slightly past if you set the static timing advanced).

Which fork gaiters are those? mine dont slip over the top of the dust seal.

Looking vicious. Real nice. :thumbsup:
 
Which filters turned on, Rev?
If you are using a strobe timing light and the idle adjust screws and all else is right and good, my opinion is if exactly on LF and RF advance markings when you blip the throttle you might get a slight hesitation, not a good thing. If that's the case I would advance just a tiny bit until that goes away. Of course gapping first. After that adjust Left side then Right. I do that while the engine is running but very carefully.
The ATU centifugally advances the timing, with the strobe timing light pointing at the marks on rotor, twist the throttle slowly to 3K rpm and you will see it move in the direction of the 2 marks for full advance (and slightly past if you set the static timing advanced).

Which fork gaiters are those? mine dont slip over the top of the dust seal.

Looking vicious. Real nice. :thumbsup:

I was mostly joking about the filters on google but if you are really interested here is the info to filter adult content on google searches (Click here for the link)

Ya i was getting a bit of hesitation on the throttle, and it just felt tired. After advancing the timing 5 degrees i can tell a big difference in the response and power.

The gaiters were a pair i got on eBay from a company in India made for Royal Enfield bikes. These are the ones i got (Click here for the link)

Here are a few pics of the bike all put back together.
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I am just waiting on title paperwork to arrive to have it be my daily rider. I think I may be painting the side panels black. The silver sides is just a bit too much silver for me
 
Well I'm impressed by the musical taste of this group so far, but I think too much silver may need more Black on the side covers:

(this was my ring tone for a long time:rock: )

Anyway, on to my next issue :shrug:

I took the bike out for a short run just to check something. I have had it up to 50 mph a couple times on short little trips because it isn't titled yet so just short trips around the neighborhood. Today i got it on a longer stretch of road and pushed it to 65mph and the engine power was fine but any input on the handlebars and holy crap that thing wiggled like Bionce'! Any of you had this issue? Is this just something I'll have to live with? I can get a steering damper relatively cheep which would probably help considerably but finding mounting point might be tricky. Anyone here done it?

Thanks in advance
 
I think I may be painting the side panels black. The silver sides is just a bit too much silver for me

I like the silver sides, they do look like they need a decal or something though. If it was me I would look for something that goes along with your fighter plane theme before I painted them.

I do not have any help on your wobble issue. I have only heard of it happening when you drop the forks in the clamps.
 
check the head stock bearings for play. I have to tighten up my tapered quite often or it gets the shakes.
Also check tyres for wear as that does the same thing
 
Hi there, just signed up for the forum and figured I'd say hi, introduce myself and start a log of the new cafe' project i'm starting.

So... Hi.. I'm Mark i live in Vancouver, WA and just picked up a '78 xs400 with about 3000 miles on it that has been sitting in a shed for about 25 years. The last time it was registered was 1982. Anyway, everything seems to be in pretty good shape other than some rust (I live in the Pacific Northwest everything has rust!) and some old dried out gaskets etc.

My son is 14 and I'm including him in the project as much as possible to teach him some basic engine and mechanical principles. The 2 cylinder Yamaha is a great platform for him to learn some basics about internal combustion engines, and simple brakes and carburetor principles.

At this point I'm planning on switching out the tank from my "tear drop" shape to the more square XS400e (??? i guess that's the species... still learning the ins and outs of this model) I think I may have to do a little fabricating to make it fit since i think the lengths of the 2 tanks are different. I'm also going to try my hand at making my own seat pan with fiberglass. It will be the first time I've done anything with fiberglass so well see how that goes.

Here is what it looked like when I brought it home... or should say it was delivered.
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Here is some early stages of the tear down.
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Here it is after my son and I got done spending a couple hours in the garage together with it.
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I'll post more as the project progresses.

I assume I'll be looking on here for more help with suspension issues. I'm about 6' tall and 220lbs and those tiny little forks are gonna have their work cut out for them. I may try upgrading springs after trying some thicker oil. I have done springs on a couple SV's that I take to the track on occasion, but I'm not sure what my options are for these little guys.

I'm looking forward to combing through the threads here!

Mark
<applause - u r a good father ....
 
Hooray! Got all my paperwork finally, have to go get the bike inspected by the State Patrol on Monday and then i can register it and ride without looking over my shoulder. (Not that I would do anything illegal like ride an un titled/registered motorcycle on public streets)
 
All legal and ready to roll, the Patrol inspector came out and said "When i saw you pull in the bay, i thought 'there is no way that will pass inspection it has holes in the gas tank!' - then i saw they were painted on" Not sure i feel safe knowing that i'm protected by officers that thought those were real bullet holes :doh:

As for now i need to adjust the timing a little. I get a hesitation and misfire about 7K rpm. Also i did tighten the head stock up and the rear axle had a little play in it from the adjuster being a little loose. So i tightened those up and the wiggle i was experiencing was much better. It still feels very "jittery" above 60 mph, but i think that is just because its a small bike under 400lbs and i am used to riding my SV1000. I may still look into a steering damper, but its good for now!
 
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