New XS400 owner! questions, comments, and my build!

[xschris]

Looks great!!

 

[Scorpio1963]

Awe come on man at least they are faster than than riding a moped.

 

[ksqrly]

Diggin the build any updates?

 

[rodeo]

Laced the wheels up with some chromed spokes from ebay. Had the rims powder coated; they were rusty and in shabby condition. The powder coating place I found ground and sanded off all the imperfections. They turned out really well, I don't have a pic of the before, but the spokes were a rusty mess and rear rim had deep gouges in the from someone changing a tire with the wrong tools. 30$ to have both of them fixed and painted, and they look brand flippin new.

I scuffed the rear one up in a couple places though, first time lacing wheels =D

 

[ksqrly]

They look great man. $30 is a great price. All of the place around here would probably ask $100 a piece or more. Spoking wheels sucks. I have never done motorcycle wheels, but I have done one two many bicycle wheels, and I would imagine they are the same.

 

[drewpy]

good job on those wheels, love the flying carpet too

 

[rodeo]

More stuff done today; finished the valve cover

Installed it; but now I have a problem =\ I can't get the motor to rotate a full 360, I can get about 180 degrees out of it or more before it abruptly stops.

This is about as far as I can get it to turn. What the heck!

Quick edit; Just looked in the spark plug hole on the RH side and it looks like the intake valve is hitting the piston at the top of the stroke? what? how..

Edit 2; Seems like the valve clearances were so off they were causing the valves to touch the piston on both sides. doh!

 

[Flexeril]

Rodeo,

I have to hook up with you man. The job is moving me to the PNW this summer. Not sure if I will stay in Olympia or Tacoma area.

Nice job on the wheels man. Where you get the stand?

 

[rodeo]

Yeah man shoot me a PM when you're around!

Both of the stands I have I got from harbor freight. Cheap, and you get what you pay for, but they work.

 

[Richmond]

Did you only soda blast those pistons and head? that looks so great that im headed out to the garage to do it myself!

 

[danisawesome]

Good to see another enthusiast in Olympia! My bike is up there while I'm in Portland, but I'm moving back in a month to either Lacey or Oly so maybe I'll see you puttin' around town.

 

[rodeo]

Did you only soda blast those pistons and head? that looks so great that im headed out to the garage to do it myself!

Yep! soda blasting is a great way to get that carbon off =D

 

[rodeo]

Zinc plating!

Parts are turning out okay; my technique needs some improvement, but its still pretty cool =D

Quick ride today after work/before working on the XS

 

[rodeo]

Been a while; School is almost out for the summer Finals week!! arg!

Motor is done, valves set, ready for me to put it back in the frame once I'm done with exams!

I had the covers powder coated and painted. The same goes for the sprocket cover and other engine bits. I'll post more pictures as they get installed!