81 xj550 project

Yeah, it was more about the looks. The previous mc unit itself was angled and therfore overall horizontal.

 

Sure like what you've got going on here, I will definately be keeping tabs on your thread for further updates

 

Nothing happened in a while, but tank should be done this week, hoping to have it back by weekend.
I need to put rubber or similar between tank and frame attachment for vibrations. Let me know if you have ideas. I'm currently thinking about using a sliced up fuel hose.


Update a few hours later:
Tank is done. Just received this image.

 

Pipe insulation AKA pool noodles

 

Sheet rubber-- you don't have a lot of room. If you need some, I can cut a few pieces out for you.

Dave F

 

Yeah, should be as flat as possible. Let me Google what exactly it is and let you know

Edit:
Cool, this will work. Never saw this before. I just ordered a small roll. I think I can use it for other stuff too. Thanks for the offer Dave, all set for now.

 

Aaaaand we're back in business... tank arrived today.
Inside coated with caswell, paint job fixed. Lost the petcock o-ring (seal that sits between petcock and tank) in the process, hope to find a replacement tomorrow, else Major Pita will be grounded for another few days. But it's supposed to rain all weekend anyway. I can use the time to put fluid in my front brake.
This bike really taught me how to be patient.
Only crappy thing is that I will be on mini vacation next weekend and will go to Europe for two weeks afterwards. No bike time for a long while.

 

You just need to keep a couple over there, too.....

 

True
They have a lot of bikes, especially scooters, in Paris. Lots of old Yamaha too.
Also spending two days in Corsica. Hope to find a bike rental there as I have almost a full day of downtime. Would be awesome to ride around the island.

 

You know your life is very good if the crappy part is the mini vacation followed by the European vacation. I have a work week followed by ANOTHER WORK WEEK!

 

Nah, Europe is work, unfortunately. Only free day will be half a day in corsica. But right, I shouldn't complain. I'm just getting whiny because I haven't ridden a bike in months.

 

Argh, the petcock has fuel running now, no matter what position. Gee...

 

How frustrating... Did you ever open up it up? I bought my petcock rebuild kit from Len. After a cleaning and rebuild, it was doing the same thing. Len suggested that I pull it apart again and "peen" (for lack of a better word) the metal disc ever so slightly. In other words, find an appropriately sized deep socket and place the rubber diaphragm/disc assembly at the end so that the shaft is inside the socket and disc edge is on the rim of the socket. With a gentle tap of a hammer, I was able to put a slight convex/concave shape in the disc so that it sits in the seat better inside the petcock.

For me, the problem was solved. Also I noticed that for much of my early initiatives, I never had a good amount of fuel in the tank. Giving it a good fill and therefore having more fuel there to release I think helped to get the darn thing seated properly.

 

Petcock was new and worked before I shipped it off with the tank. Haven't taken it apart yet but that was my next step.
Also have some issues filling up the front brake for the first time. Lots of fluid ran through but still have air in there. Need to spend more time on it as well.

 

I think you'd better postpone your trip to Europe....

 

Yeah, seriously. Who knows what else stops working by the time I come back

 

Leave the bike with Matti. Everything will be mine! Er, I mean fine...

 

Matti's trying to become a 'hoarder....

 

Yeah. All I gotta do is toss all my wife's furniture "projects" and gardening crap to the curb, and I'll have space for more motosickle junk.

 

Doesn't work. I cleaned up garage yesterday and put stuff at the curb. 30 mins later it was right outside the front door to be saved.
The idea of controlled fires comes to mind every time she does that.