30% of the way there...

Those look sharp! It's one of those little things that all add up to create a nice looking restoration.

 

Starting the artwork.

 

Finally finished the tank.

Just have to wait for it to cure, then I can buff and polish it.

 

Hot, sweaty work.

 

Rims are done! They just need new rubber now.

 

Awesome work on the bike so far!

Looking at all the carb parts pictured above, $40 makes me worry about the quality. I’ve found that today’s gas destroys the cheap aftermarket brass and O-rings.

I only use OEM or high quality aftermarket parts in my carbs and OEM only for brass. I’ve found Keyster and K&L to be okay for O-rings/gaskets but others on this site have had various results.

Of course it’s your bike, just trying to be helpful .

Thank you for sharing your build!

 

One small step for man... during the workweek.

 

Heat curing the ceramic coating on the engine.

 

A YouTube Short from yesterday.

https://youtube.com/shorts/nrZq2b0fmmc?si=mrMqI88biEBeA2Tg

 

Very nice!

What paint did you use? Did you do anything to the bare aluminum areas besides clean (polish etc)?

 

Just polished the bare aluminum. I used the same 2K paint as I used for the fuel tank and side covers. It's supposed to be good up to 300°F, but time will tell.

 

Just hand painted the side covers... with a dental pick.

 

That's really nice that you can bake the coating like that!

What's the time/temp on a bake like that?

Maybe a stupid question - but do you have to worry about heat effects on any gaskets or plastic chain guides or anything like that? (yes, I know they must be designed for heat since they are in an engine, that's why I said it maybe a stupid question).

In the auto refinishing world, you can't use the same heat to bake as the OEM since there is typically a lot of stuff that would melt and disassembling would be cost prohibitive of course - so just curious.

 

That's why the cases are empty.

 

There are no gaskets or plastics in the cases. I strip all of that stuff out when I hot tanked everything.

I baked at 200F for 30 mins, cool for 30 mins, baked at 400F for 30 mins, cool for 30 mins, baked at 600F for 30 mins, then let cool.

 

Fleabay fail... again.

At least the seller refunded my money and corrected the listing.

 

Not so fun fact.

On US models of the XJ650 Maxim, the brake caliper doesn't come off the fork.

So now I have to figure out how to clean, repaint and rebuild it in place.

 

It's a unique front caliper, but it is removable. The pivot bolt described in the book is accessed from the bottom, underneath a plastic plug that hides the bolt head.

I've looked at those "universal" master cylinders also. No matter what bike, or how many calipers they operate, or what the bore of the original master, they spec the exact same part....it magically fits everything! And of course it doesn't, and they definitely should be avoided.

 

Woo Hoo!

 

Imagine having to buy a slider and caliper as one unit .