PROJECT 900

I don't know what a guy has to do to convince a Motorcycle Magazine to give us the time of day.

I wrote to VINTAGE and MECHANICS CLASSIC and told them about this project and others.

I don't think they have read the mail or probably just deleted it.

Others should folo-up:

Brian Earnest
Editorial Director
Vintage Motorcycles
oldcarspg@krause.com

Rod Gibson
Editor
Mechanics Classic Motorcycles
rgibson@mortons.co.uk

 

i dont see where that metal is at....

 

They are air scoops, Schoot', now unobtainium, originally plastic, but I can't do plastic, so these are ally, they fit at the front of the tank, over the valve covers.

 

The Original Plastic Scoops were hallow with a deflector inside that directed air into the Spark Plug canyons.

 

This is where they fit, Schoot', they could wind up black, won't know until I see how they look against the dark blue tank.

 

Pet cock stripped down to it's component parts & the castings boiled in lemmon juice for 10 mins'.
How about these grips for size, 6 " long & 5" circumference.

 

Pic 1 ceramic coating on the headers, as you can see it won't loose the pitting, but the alternative is new pipes $$$.
Pic 2 the hook up, ready to sync' the carbs, if it starts.

 

WoW. I wish my 650 was that shiny. Nice work.

 

oooohhhh boy

 

The manometer ....is that 4 feeds to one gauge you move from one to the next? ..... You must be champing at the bit, waiting to let those horses move you. Hope it gets some dust and puddle splashes on it real soon, with detailed photographic proof.......

 

Yeh, just one gauge & the golf tee shuffle.
Bike was running briefly today, snags, 1 or more floats not shutting down & starter not engaging (keeps slipping out) was fine with the plugs out???
small oil leak from the sump area, investigate today.
Yes, Bushy I wan't to get mobile, but still a fair bit to do. Wiz.

 

Hi:
The 900 is looking grand.
I have been following your project with great interest. I am working on a 84 XJ 750 RL which is the same bike with a smaller motor and a frame mounted fairing. I have it stripped down and I am ready to paint the frame. I had a quote of $275 to powder coat and about the same to have it painted in a body shop. What did you use on yours?
Cheers
Glenn

 

Hi Glen, I used rattle can enamel on the frame, easy to touch up.
Well the bike fired up, ran & idled nice, one problem there was more gas coming out the carbs than going in, so off with the b######s again, #4 float was stuck on its pin, (they were fine when I cleaned & bench synced a couple of months ago) just dried out I guess. I had set the float hieghts dry, but using gas #1 & 4 were too high & if you think setting float hieghts is any easier for me, have a look at this pickle. :cry:

 

PJ1 makes a rattle-can epoxy frame paint that's tough as nails once thoroughly cured.

Don't know about availability "down-under" but I would think you could get it there in the frozen North...

Are all those "extra" hoses overflows? The little Mik's don't have 'em.

 

Atmospheric Vents.
Lets the Fuel flow into and out-of the Fuel Bowl unimpeded by any pressures or vacuums forming as the Fuel levels change in the Bowls.

You can use-up some Petrol in a hurry on a 900 at WOT, climbing a long grade or staying with 80 mph traffic for part of a day.

 

I guess the secret is to get organized, it's still APITA though, but I have a few hours before the Moto GP starts here at Philip Island. 8)

 

Hi, Wiz Were the pipes chromed before you ceramic coated them, and if so how did you prep them ? I,d like to try to rejuvenate my rusting pipes,if possible (well. chrome with rust patches,really)

Cheers ,Murray

 

Murray, these pipes were ceramic coated by 'jet hot' in Castlemaine, Vic, the pipes had some chrome left on them & I had to pay an extra $80 for de- chroming & copper coating, so that was a total of $360 inc' shipping, if you can find some decent S/H pipes it would be more cost effective. Wiz.

 

I want a MOTAD System or Silencers if I can the right situation.

Right now, North America isn't on the distribution list.

 

Hmmmmm

 

Eman,here is the LINK you need.
This is the second set of headers I have had ceramic coated, the first set stayed the same as the day they were done, just wash with soapy water.
The better the condition the headers are before coating, the better the result.Wiz.

 

The vac' sync' went very well, the bench sync' had put the rack almost spot on, just 1/4 - 1/2 turn on 2 screws was a charm.
I used RickCoMatic's bench sync' method, but used a 5mm strip cut vertically from a plastic bottle (dishwasher) it has a built in curve.
One thing to watch is the clips on the front boots, you can push them too far under & the bolt thread can foul the throttle linkage.

 

http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/Yamaha/XJ_9 ... te_System/

£290 less 15% vat (You dont have to pay this on export orders) Carriage is £38 to the USA.

Its the same system Wiz showed in "Hmmmmm"!

 

Tank, fenders & panels in primer, still a long way off paint.

 

Fuel cap in poor condition.

 

Pic' shows final paint color, forget the paint spec I posted earlier, the codes meant nothing to the guy in the auto paint shop.
Went with Paraglaze Basecoat, 2003 FORD AMERICA, SONIC BLUE PEARL, this paint needs to be mixed 50-50 with reducer & must be coated with 2 pack clear within 24 hours, as the tank will have 2 colors & decals to most panels, I had to clear over the blue, then nib it back with 1200 grit wet & dry (not a job for the faint hearted) then mask up for the second color, fix the decals & shoot another clear over the whole thing, will post pictures, if it works.

 

wizard this is going to be the most beautiful damn bike in Melbourne. I'll be keeping my eyes open for ya.

 

I'll second that! I've been deliberating over colors for my XJ and have thought of that Subaru Electric Blue color with maybe an added bit of bling metallic or similar.

I think the blue or similar will look good on an XJ900 so will be interested to see the final overall result.

K.

 

Some exquisite colors ... past and present:

"67 GM Special Editions -- Corvette and GTO -- "Royal Plum Mist"

http://pontiac.internetrader.com/index. ... tailView=1

BMW Ltd. Editions -- M3 "TechnoViolet"
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/4717 ... ertgv0.jpg

GM '06 - 07 Caddy and GMC Spec. Ed. "Stealth Gray Metallic"
(The Gray they blew on the early caddy was dark when you looked at it one way and charcoal gray, another)

http://peoria.craigslist.org/ctd/1434196015.html

 

Wiz... I have a fuel cap if you need parts

 

Thanks Alive, but I have successfully rebuilt this one, lock & all. :lol:

 

So where are the photos of the new paint???

 

Havn't done it yet, still waiting for the decals.

 

Panels almost there, still working on the tank.

 

I think I may have to get on a plane and take my bike on a trip to see you. You can just wave your magic wand and, poof, bike looks and run like brand new. lol

 

Is it just me that doesn't see all the pics?

Great job Wizard btw.

 

Flasher, I have to keep knocking out the earlier pic, cos I run out of space.
I will always re-post something if needed.

 

Wiz-man:

This is by far too important a Project to have you delete progress photographs.

Upload your Photos to:
PhotoBucket.com
Start an Album.
ReLoad the OLD Photos using a PhotoBucket Link
Add the Link to the previous Posts where you deleted the Pix.
The Pix will be available for viewing and illustrations.
PhotoBucket Tooks make cropping and re-sizing E-Z.

 

Actually Wiz all your projects I've seen on here are worth the photobucket option.
These projects of yours are a valuable info resource we can all use.
900 is looking great by the way,but then we all knew that would happen.
Glenn

 

Pictures of front & back, working on the middle. pic

 

Dude you're making me seriously jealous here....Even though I have one and took it ofr a 100km ride this morning

Right time to take to off roader for a spin

 

Link to pictures. Photobucket.

 

Finished the tank & it's been a nightmare, due to poor advise from the knob in the paintshop, he said do the base coat blue, then clear coat, rub down with 1200, mask up for the silver & fix the decals, then clear over the whole thing, problem was the silver kept reacting with the clear, re-did it 3 times, then had to prime the silver area & paint the silver, then clear. Live & learn, I guess. :cry:

 

Mean... How long before you assemble it?

 

Connecting up the tank today, still waiting for the seat to be recovered & a pair of mirrors to arrive, not long now.

 

Just had a shakedown cruise, sans seat & mirrors, bike goes like s--t off a stick.
One problem, oil leaking from valve cover, this has new gasket fitted, so either it's not seated properly or we have a doghnut issue, any suggestions welcome.

 

Looks great

 

Wiz,

Check on this site for Rick Masseys detailed explanation of seating and securing ouil tight the valve cover gasket.

Personally, whenever I remove it and then reinstall the gasket I make sure I place a little bead of tube based gasket sealer all around the flat side of the gasket where it mated with the cylinder head. As an added touch, I also place a small amount in the groove on the valve cover so that it holds the gasket in place as you tip it over onto the head.

I think Rick might suggest using just a little bit of oil on the flat side of the gasket to act as a sealant but I find that the only thing that has worked for me completely oil tight has been the application of gasket sealant as described.

Nice job by the way - love the color. Similar to what I had in mind for mine.

Cheers.

 

Cheers, K, I will strip it off & do it over using some sealer as you say, I have ordered 8 new grometts form Yam' in Frankston, I will get these last niggles ironed out & get riding, it's an exciting bike to ride, wa hoo.

 

hey wiz,new grommets should fix it.bear in mind they can be a pain in the a--e.
start ripping them out why you r waiting .this will get you on the road sooner.
but who am i to tell you what to do!!
with the work you produce you know what you r on about.

chhers al bear
looks great