TomFX4
Beginning Rider
Hey Y'all!
I've made an introduction post already. I didn't include any pictures, as the bike was in my dark basement, and I only had time to work on it at night. I've got it running, and is not in my garage! This is my first bike. I never rode anything but a TTR250 before this bike. I kept getting tickets for riding it on the road, so I found this, and love it!
The bike is a 1982 XS400 Heritage Special. When I bought it, the bike was only running on one cylinder. It had multiple small issues, like any 33-year-old bike would. I got a deal on it, is the only reason I got it. I come from a Harley family, but this bike caught my eye. Now I've rode it some, I love it!
Here are some pictures:
It has a few small problems left. It keeps flooding out as soon as I turn it on, and dumps gas out of the air filters. I ordered a carb rebuild kit today. The tires are bald and old, so I ordered new tires. They're in picture 5. Something caused the turn signal on the back to short out, and the amber lens melted. The pipes have some rust on them. The brakes aren't really the best. It has a big ole' dent on the tank. The seat latch is broke, and the seat won't latch. The headlight sucks! I don't drive at night at all, because of it. I broke the tag light lens.
I have some fair plans for it. I'm not really going all out custom with it, as I lack the skills of welding. I'm kind of restoring it, but not back to original. I'm going with some different handlebars. These I find are uncomfortable on fairly long rides. I want to go with some sort of different headlight setup. I'm not sure of my options, so I'm going to wait on that. I'm going to install a better bulb, and get a new adjustment screw. Someone rounded the head off on the current one. I want more brake lights, or better ones. I'll probably switch all the bulbs to LED. I've already done this to my truck. I'm going with chrome shorty turn signals. I'm going to get different pipes. The baffles are out of these. It doesn't sound bad, but the rust is ugly. In the winter, I'm going to tear it down. I'm going to have someone paint the tins for me, and I'm going to paint the frame myself. I'll have the guy pull the dent out of the tank. I will probably have the inside of the tank coated as well. I'm going to tear the motor apart then as well. Check out the inside, and replace all the gaskets. Replace anything that looks to worn. The bike only has 8,000 original miles on it! The valves will probably need adjusting.
I do have some questions.
Someone told me that it may need to be rejetted, due to my altitude. I'm only around 3000 ft. It also may need it because of the baffles being out. Is this true as well? If so, what jets do I need to get? I'm clueless about carbs. I'm learning as I go. When I rebuild it, do I just put it back on the bike? Or is there a process to it?
I'll probably have more questions or ideas. I'll post them as I go! As I add new things or fix old things, I'll definitely be posting some pictures.
I've made an introduction post already. I didn't include any pictures, as the bike was in my dark basement, and I only had time to work on it at night. I've got it running, and is not in my garage! This is my first bike. I never rode anything but a TTR250 before this bike. I kept getting tickets for riding it on the road, so I found this, and love it!
The bike is a 1982 XS400 Heritage Special. When I bought it, the bike was only running on one cylinder. It had multiple small issues, like any 33-year-old bike would. I got a deal on it, is the only reason I got it. I come from a Harley family, but this bike caught my eye. Now I've rode it some, I love it!
Here are some pictures:
It has a few small problems left. It keeps flooding out as soon as I turn it on, and dumps gas out of the air filters. I ordered a carb rebuild kit today. The tires are bald and old, so I ordered new tires. They're in picture 5. Something caused the turn signal on the back to short out, and the amber lens melted. The pipes have some rust on them. The brakes aren't really the best. It has a big ole' dent on the tank. The seat latch is broke, and the seat won't latch. The headlight sucks! I don't drive at night at all, because of it. I broke the tag light lens.
I have some fair plans for it. I'm not really going all out custom with it, as I lack the skills of welding. I'm kind of restoring it, but not back to original. I'm going with some different handlebars. These I find are uncomfortable on fairly long rides. I want to go with some sort of different headlight setup. I'm not sure of my options, so I'm going to wait on that. I'm going to install a better bulb, and get a new adjustment screw. Someone rounded the head off on the current one. I want more brake lights, or better ones. I'll probably switch all the bulbs to LED. I've already done this to my truck. I'm going with chrome shorty turn signals. I'm going to get different pipes. The baffles are out of these. It doesn't sound bad, but the rust is ugly. In the winter, I'm going to tear it down. I'm going to have someone paint the tins for me, and I'm going to paint the frame myself. I'll have the guy pull the dent out of the tank. I will probably have the inside of the tank coated as well. I'm going to tear the motor apart then as well. Check out the inside, and replace all the gaskets. Replace anything that looks to worn. The bike only has 8,000 original miles on it! The valves will probably need adjusting.
I do have some questions.
Someone told me that it may need to be rejetted, due to my altitude. I'm only around 3000 ft. It also may need it because of the baffles being out. Is this true as well? If so, what jets do I need to get? I'm clueless about carbs. I'm learning as I go. When I rebuild it, do I just put it back on the bike? Or is there a process to it?
I'll probably have more questions or ideas. I'll post them as I go! As I add new things or fix old things, I'll definitely be posting some pictures.
I like those Federals, too.
Lots of threads on carb syncing with one.
