My XS400 build/restoration thread

Just a small update, i did not have much time to spend in garage last weeks.

But i cleaned the engine, its starting to look OK finally.

here are some before pics:
20150426_134616.jpg

20150426_134600.jpg


and this is after:
20150510_190427.jpg

20150510_190434.jpg


The old paint was damaged so i decided to clean and polish it, and leave it like that for now, overall i think it looks good.

Now Im waiting for some parts and soon there will be first starting attempts.. stay tuned :D
 
Thanks, yes inside the frame, it was not easy :D .. i removed the covers, that was not a big problem, to clean them, but the engine rims, my god.. i spend some hours scraping the oxidation away.
 
Hey everybody, its been a while, but I am back on working on my XS. I am getting it ready for the registration and there is one frame related problem and I need to solve it.

The back part of the frame, one side is a bit lower than the other, so with back fender, its not fitting correctly and its not centered.
here you can see how it fit:
20160228_164532.jpg


I made some measurements of the frame:

I measured it on center stand, from the from the top part of the frame to the ground. There is 1cm difference. Left side is 71cm, right side is 72cm. Can somebody make the same measurement to help me understand what is wrong? should i bend down a bit right side, or left a bit up?

this is where i measured it:
822fa40d-6722-4664-8c67-c28254976cf5.jpg


few more pictures:
measurement on the center part of the frame, its OK there
2.jpg


measurement on the back part, you can see its not the same
20160228_160406.jpg


measurement on the back once again.
1.jpg
 
I can take some photos of my frame this week, maybe that will help you decide which side is wrong.
From the last picture I'd say the right side looks a little twisted clockwise and bent up, but that might just be the perspective.
 
I can take some photos of my frame this week

Yes, photos will help for sure. Another idea maybe, take some measurements between specific points on the frame, on both sides, i will do them also and that can help.

i think these 2 measurements, made from both sides can help me to understand what is bent:

1. measurement between rear shock top mount bolt and rear fender bolt hole, on the end of the frame
measurement1.jpg


2. cross measurement between the hole in the middle brace of the frame and the same fender bolt holes as previous
measurement2.jpg


if you, or somebody else can make this, i will be very very thankfull! :)
 
Sorry, I didn't make it to the garage yet, work is pretty time consuming right now. But I asked a friend and he pointed out that we have different rear ends.
Mine doesn't have the big loops on the ends, seems like they were cut so I'll have to find other measuring points
 
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Yeah, the polishing job is something I'm hoping to match. Looks great.

Will probably buy a bench grinder and disassemble one end to mount a buffing wheel. Might get close that way.


I went to try to measure my frame from the ground to a straight edge, like your first set of pictures, but the ground isn't close to flat where I keep the bike.

Will try to get the other measurements indicated.
 
1. measurement between rear shock top mount bolt and rear fender bolt hole, on the end of the frame
measurement1.jpg
Approximately 11 3/4" or 298mm, center to center.
2. cross measurement between the hole in the middle brace of the frame and the same fender bolt holes as previous
measurement2.jpg
And about 13 3/8" or 340mm, center to center.
 
Today I tried to start it up. no success, after trying to start both with electric starter and kickstart, only think that i got was few pops of black smoke from left exhaust.

Help me to investigate where can be the problem:

- fresh oil 20w50
- new fully charged battery
- new spark plugs - tested if they make spark
- valves gapped
- points set and gapped
- carbs cleaned, new pilot screws in - 3 turns out
- carbs bench synced, will sync them with manometer if i will start it someday
- everything stock, air inlet, and exhaust

what can be the issue? i tried to start if for 5 minutes but as i said, no sign of engine running. it was not running for 1 year, when i bought it, PO started it in front of me, it was running very bad, but it was.
I did not check compression, that is probably the only thing that i did not check, can it be reason to completely no sign of engine running?

maybe the cold weather? its after winter here and today it was 10 degrees celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit)

also, I am not sure, but i think i saw few backfires from the engine, through the carbs. when trying to start, i heard sound of compressed air getting out from the carb area, very strange for me.(i will check for this more next time) I did not change any jets, its all stock as it was when it was running before.

thanks for every input
 
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Just because the coil is on the left doesn't mean it's being told to fire when the left cylinder needs the spark.
The left cylinder primary wire should be grey, right coil orange.

I had almost the same symptoms on my 360 for similar reasons but with a different cause. I had taken out the cam that rotates in the points assembly and reinstalled it rotated 180 degrees out, causing the points to fire at the wrong time.
Spun it around the right way and the bike started up the first try.
 
Yep it's just one of the quicker/easier things to check in regards to the symptoms you describe. Back-firing is a dead give away. Might be something else but start there. I've done it, I've seen tons of shops do it on cars, it's normal :) Best feeling in the world is when you swap the plugs and BAM, fires on first try:bike:
 
Guys, I love you!!! :)

The problem was exactly in swapped coils. Very strange that i did not discover this before. As BBS360 said, i checked the wires first, and I saw that left primary is grey, and right primary is orange.
20160320_180909.jpg

But wait, that does not work. Nevermind, I swapped them. now left is orange and right is grey.
20160320_191831.jpg

Turned the key, choke, starter button and boom! the best sound in the world :)
Here is the proof

Thank you! Now lets tune it..
 
Awesome! :thumbsup:

Maybe the wires are swapped on the points plates. Doesn't matter though, it runs!
 
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