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  1. kirkn

    First bike! Now what to do with it?

    Welcome aboard! Tires, yes. Then, check brake pad / shoe thickness and proper operation. Change the oil & filter. Lube and adjust the chain. Make sure the lights, brake light and blinkers operate properly. The procedures for doing these things will be found in an owner's manual or a...
  2. kirkn

    Daytona Bike Week

    We were going to go Sunday, but it was cold and rainy all day. We just about bailed on the whole deal, which would've been a shame since he brought his bike up from Miami to where I live in Orlando and he wouldn't still be here next weekend. But I got to thinking that this was the 20th year...
  3. kirkn

    Daytona Bike Week

    Took the day off work yesterday and rode to Daytona for a quick Bike Week visit with my older brother and dad. Perfect day! Sunny and bright, about 74 degrees. Me on my Seca 400, my brother on his GS850 rat bike, and dad on his Low Rider. Dad turns 80 years old in another month. Lots and lots of...
  4. kirkn

    when ignition switch is all the way right for lights bike shuts off

    Also, learn to use punctuation and capitalization in your posts. :D
  5. kirkn

    Single lights

    +1 What a maroon. :shrug:
  6. kirkn

    metal rescue : opinions thoughts or comments?

    So, do it a second time. Do the vinegar. Let it sit for 3 ~ 4 days. Rinse, repeat. At only $2.50 a gallon, it's the cheapest thing going. Or, pick up a gallon of swimming pool acid at the local Home Depot, Lowes, etc. Fill the tank 1/2 full with water first, add the gallon of acid, top...
  7. kirkn

    metal rescue : opinions thoughts or comments?

    Skip the science project. Go with vinegar. http://www.xs400.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5153&highlight=vinegar&page=2
  8. kirkn

    Seca Tank Leak Repair - Your Favorite Technique?

    Woke up Sunday morning to the smell of gasoline in the house! Checked out the 5 bikes in the garage - yep, the Seca 400 tank was weeping from "the usual" spot - one of the low points on the right side. Sigh. Just enough to wet the cylinder & head fins and oooze down the front of the...
  9. kirkn

    My New xs ... what do you think?

    Sweeeeet! :)
  10. kirkn

    Timkin (roller or needle)bearing conversion

    Went to tapered rollers on a Honda CB750K8. Waste of money. Clean, grease, adjust properly your stock set-up and you'll be good to go, unless, maybe, you're going racing. I've refurbished a dozen stock set-ups of all the Japanese manufacturers and they've all worked perfectly, if you take the...
  11. kirkn

    How do you Repair white metal of Carb

    I have done this exact repair with JB Weld (building a post for a snapped support for float pin) on a KZ400 Kawasaki and it's still working perfectly years later.
  12. kirkn

    Blasting aluminum head

    Here's a pretty extensive write-up I did (with lots of before- during- and after- pictures) for the HondaTwins forum on my experiences with different blasting media, including walnut shells, glass beads, and soda blasting. Have a look...
  13. kirkn

    Happy Christmas \o/

    Sittin' here in shorts and T-shirt with all windows open. Sunny and temp ~ 78F. :) Merry Christmas to you all, and Happy New Year! Kirk
  14. kirkn

    Seca 400 - Steering Bearings Refurb

    So, the next few steps is just the steps I follow. I've learned over the years this gets the fork correct and gives the best chance for getting the bearings set correctly the first time. Your method may vary. The manual says to tighten the ring nut to 18 ft-lbs, then back it off 1/4 turn...
  15. kirkn

    Seca 400 - Steering Bearings Refurb

    Once all the hardened old grease is cleaned outta there, and things are refurbished (paint or whatever), it's time to go back together. I used ordinary wheel bearing grease and a small brush to load up the upper and lower races with grease. This holds all the balls nicely in place for...
  16. kirkn

    Seca 400 - Steering Bearings Refurb

    Ooops, I didn't get a picture of the old grease before I wiped it out, but it was aged, dirty and stiff. Here's the top race with the old grease wiped out. There were no dents or notches in the race, so I'm good to go. I soak the balls (19 from the top, 19 from the bottom) along...
  17. kirkn

    Seca 400 - Steering Bearings Refurb

    I did this project on my 1982 Seca 400, but it is applicable to all the models. This is just a refurbishment of sticky, grumbly, stiff stock steering bearings. This is not a conversion to tapered roller bearings. To begin with, my bike's steering was stiff and notchy. You could feel a...
  18. kirkn

    rip and tear

    The stock risers put the bottom of the handlebar about 3/4" above the top of the triple clamp. Zero "pull-back". If you're interested - I'll swap ya... You first. :) No, really, you first, because my Seca is my daily rider (here in sunny central Florida). If you send me yours...
  19. kirkn

    rip and tear

    Hi, Tritowns, Looks like a fun project. Keep up the posts. I'm wondering if you're going to be using the original bar mounts in your new build? I have a Seca 400 and just lately have been kicking around the idea of somehow positioning my bars a bit up and back. It's a bit of a long...
  20. kirkn

    MC relief hole / spooge hole

    There should, indeed, be a tiny tiny return hole in that 2nd smaller divot. Sometimes a tiny wire can be used to poke it clean, but your best bet is an ordinary sewing needle - they are hardened and come to a very very sharp point. Good luck with it, Kirk
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