axl_foley
XS400 Member
so a couple weeks ago, i picked up this 1980 xs400sg (i believe its an sg model)
over a decade ago, i owned a crotch rocket for a couple years.
i wanted to get back on a bike but figured i would go for something that didnt tempt me to go a billion mph or on one wheel.
i was looking into chopper & bobber style bikes, namely hondas, until i found this. i really dig the stripped down simplicity of it, and i think i got a good price.
i have never done any sort of mechanical work before but have been reading this site extensively — so frickin helpful!
the first thing i did was add an inline fuel filter and some seafoam into the tank.
there was some gas in the left pod filter, and i thought the oil smelled vaguely of gas, so i also drained the oil via the sump screen (what a mess) because i didnt have the correct size tools for the drain plug. i didnt change the filter because there is a bar that goes right in front of where you remove the filter box (it has bolts so hopefully it is removable somehow.
there are a lot of frame chops and welds on this bike. obviously the rea seat has been chopped, and after removing the tank, the main bar is chopped, along with that weird bar in front of the oil filter.
i brought it to a local shop that specializes in old bikes (about to go write them a 5-star yelp review, in fact) and the owner suggested i do a valve adjustment and bring it back so he could sync the carbs.
it was running a bit "off," and didnt have consistent power when the throttle was twisted,
so i tried to sync the valves the other night and it got way louder with a clicking noise from the right side. took me quite a few hours.
i also couldnt get that round cover off, so i took the entire side off and found out it was still attached via some wires to the alternator (or starter?)
was able to bang out that round cover from the inside to do the valve adjustment.
anyways, this morning i did the valve adjustment again and got it right! only took about an hour this time.
brought it to the shop where the carbs were so out of alignment, he said i was basically running on one cylinder or cam (i still dont know all the terms).
now the bike is running smooth, feels waaaay tighter and sounds way smoother.
i ordered new gaskets because the old gasket on the alternator cover (where you access the LT & RT bolt or wheel) disintegrated and is now slowly leaking, so i have a block of wood under the kickstand so its more upright and leaks less.
it has no speedometer, turn signals, side mirrors, rear fender, or electric start (all the wiring is there).
he gave me a dime city speedo, not sure if im going to add it.
i ordered bar end mirrors (heard thats a legal requirement in AZ)
ordered blinkers (not sure if im going to install — plus, i would need to weld brackets on somehow)
i would maybe like to create a shorty rear fender, but i would need metal working and welding help. keep those skunk stripes at bay!
oh, and im ordered new pod filters, since the ones on there are kinda trashed.
just wanted to intro myself and say thanks for the help so far!!!
over a decade ago, i owned a crotch rocket for a couple years.
i wanted to get back on a bike but figured i would go for something that didnt tempt me to go a billion mph or on one wheel.
i was looking into chopper & bobber style bikes, namely hondas, until i found this. i really dig the stripped down simplicity of it, and i think i got a good price.
i have never done any sort of mechanical work before but have been reading this site extensively — so frickin helpful!
the first thing i did was add an inline fuel filter and some seafoam into the tank.
there was some gas in the left pod filter, and i thought the oil smelled vaguely of gas, so i also drained the oil via the sump screen (what a mess) because i didnt have the correct size tools for the drain plug. i didnt change the filter because there is a bar that goes right in front of where you remove the filter box (it has bolts so hopefully it is removable somehow.
there are a lot of frame chops and welds on this bike. obviously the rea seat has been chopped, and after removing the tank, the main bar is chopped, along with that weird bar in front of the oil filter.
i brought it to a local shop that specializes in old bikes (about to go write them a 5-star yelp review, in fact) and the owner suggested i do a valve adjustment and bring it back so he could sync the carbs.
it was running a bit "off," and didnt have consistent power when the throttle was twisted,
so i tried to sync the valves the other night and it got way louder with a clicking noise from the right side. took me quite a few hours.
i also couldnt get that round cover off, so i took the entire side off and found out it was still attached via some wires to the alternator (or starter?)
was able to bang out that round cover from the inside to do the valve adjustment.
anyways, this morning i did the valve adjustment again and got it right! only took about an hour this time.
brought it to the shop where the carbs were so out of alignment, he said i was basically running on one cylinder or cam (i still dont know all the terms).
now the bike is running smooth, feels waaaay tighter and sounds way smoother.
i ordered new gaskets because the old gasket on the alternator cover (where you access the LT & RT bolt or wheel) disintegrated and is now slowly leaking, so i have a block of wood under the kickstand so its more upright and leaks less.
it has no speedometer, turn signals, side mirrors, rear fender, or electric start (all the wiring is there).
he gave me a dime city speedo, not sure if im going to add it.
i ordered bar end mirrors (heard thats a legal requirement in AZ)
ordered blinkers (not sure if im going to install — plus, i would need to weld brackets on somehow)
i would maybe like to create a shorty rear fender, but i would need metal working and welding help. keep those skunk stripes at bay!
oh, and im ordered new pod filters, since the ones on there are kinda trashed.
just wanted to intro myself and say thanks for the help so far!!!
Wow that's a big rear tire!
