Author Topic: Swamp thing sighting (Read 3490 times)

mrblasty · « **on:** September 26, 2009, 02:11:14 PM »

Well I picked up a 1975 Yamaha XS 650. It's been sitting on the side of dudes house for 8 Alaskan years. Back wheel is frozen. But hey it comes with some free 8 year old gas in the tank. Here are some pics, it's got more moss than an old log.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #1 on:** September 26, 2009, 02:46:59 PM »

We know what you will be doing this winter.

754 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 26, 2009, 03:14:40 PM »

Shouldered rims should be worth a hundred bux...

Hush · « **Reply #3 on:** September 26, 2009, 04:29:07 PM »

Hey great project for the winter months mate, as it comes out of the swamp I can even give you a traditional New Zealand Maori name for it.....TANIWHA (pronounced tannyfaa )

means swamp monster.

bucky katt · « **Reply #4 on:** September 26, 2009, 05:15:17 PM »

is the engine frozen?

mrblasty · « **Reply #5 on:** September 26, 2009, 05:49:02 PM »

Quote from: 754 on September 26, 2009, 03:14:40 PM

Shouldered rims should be worth a hundred bux...

That's good, at least I'll only be down a hundred if the thing turns into a fire ball.

mrblasty · « **Reply #6 on:** September 26, 2009, 05:54:20 PM »

Quote from: bucky katt on September 26, 2009, 05:15:17 PM

is the engine frozen?

I hosed down the cylinders with about half a can of WD 40 and it soaked right through, after I was able to get the kick start lever to rotate, the motor turned fairly easy with the plugs out. All that really means is the piston rods have snapped off the crank high in the cylinders

Well I'm going back outside to sit on it and make vroom vroom sounds till night time.

Bob Wessner · « **Reply #7 on:** September 26, 2009, 06:16:21 PM »

Quote

Well I'm going back outside to sit on it and make vroom vroom sounds till night time.

mrblasty · « **Reply #8 on:** September 26, 2009, 07:45:48 PM »

Well the engine turns with some compression with plugs in, and now the rear wheel is free enough to roll around so now I can get it inside. Once I scoured the moss and lichen off of the engine cases they don't look to bad. Now to figure out the gas cap, the key I have won't open the latch.
So I'm thinking about going the hard tail bobber route with this one. I've been looking around at xs650choppers for inspiration. After sitting on the 650 the 750 seems really wide.

Johnny5 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 26, 2009, 07:56:34 PM »

That bike would make a cool bobber.

rachet · « **Reply #10 on:** September 26, 2009, 09:17:56 PM »

Will you be writing up a build thread here? I would love to see "Swamp thing" rise again. This would be a great bobber project.

Rach-

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #11 on:** September 26, 2009, 10:53:33 PM »

Usually I hate to see these old Standards get chopped up but that one is pretty far gone for a restoration. At least one that makes economic sense. Parts availability is great for this bike with about the only exception being a master cylinder rebuild kit for the early 650's. www.mikesxs.net has after market master cylinders designed to work with that caliper. I will have to follow this one as I am working on a 75 too though mine will stay close to original. Good luck.

mrblasty · « **Reply #12 on:** September 27, 2009, 12:13:56 AM »

Quote from: srust58 on September 26, 2009, 10:53:33 PM

Usually I hate to see these old Standards get chopped up but that one is pretty far gone for a restoration. At least one that makes economic sense. Parts availability is great for this bike with about the only exception being a master cylinder rebuild kit. www.mikesxs has after market master cylinders designed to work with that caliper. I will have to follow this one as I am working on a 75 too though mine will stay close to original. Good luck.

With the cost of shipping to AK and the lack of availability of these bikes locally I'll be forced to keep things cheap and simple. I'm shooting for under a grand all told. I checked out the pics you posted and that's a nice looking bike.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #13 on:** September 27, 2009, 12:22:41 AM »

If you have not already check out the XS650 forum at http://xs650temp.proboards29.com/index.cgi

Here are a few 650's I have seen locally this summer.

mrblasty · « **Reply #14 on:** September 27, 2009, 02:47:55 AM »

Nice looking bikes. I have yet to see one 650 on the road up here, but I have spotted two of the 450's. I'll check out the site you linked to.

DCopp · « **Reply #15 on:** September 27, 2009, 08:43:20 AM »

by FAR the most chopperized, bobberized, flat trackerized, bike on the PLANET. You should be able to find TONS of spare parts and inspiration anywhere. MikesXS.com is the shizzle for parts cheap as hell and great info that you'll no doubt need.

mrblasty · « **Reply #16 on:** September 30, 2009, 02:18:48 PM »

Finally got the gas cap open and was happily surprised to find an absolutely rust free and shiny tank. The petcocks work and the carbs weren't all gummed up either. After hooking a battery up the lights work

ran out of time other wise I would have checked power through out the harness, that will be this weekends "fun".

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2009, 04:34:05 PM »

That is pretty amazing considering what that bike looks like and where it was sitting. Just a little FYI on your carbs. When you take the bowls off you will notice a small brass tube (enrichener tube) sticking down from the left carb body on the forward edge. The right carb does not have one and this is normal. This caused me some concern at first as many 650's have one in each.

mrblasty · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2009, 06:26:46 PM »

I figured that was what was in place of a choke. I'm missing the lever but was happy to see that Mikes has them.

BeSeeingYou · « **Reply #19 on:** September 30, 2009, 08:08:33 PM »

The choke activates the left carb and the tube feeds it and then the other carb through a hose connection.

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Author Topic: Swamp thing sighting (Read 3490 times)