Getting closer....

Phred · Posted: March 3, 2006, 4:11 am Post subject: Getting closer....

I haven't posted in a while, but I have been reading from time to time.

Got a deal on a vintage (been stored in a basement for 30+ years!!) extended springer complete with mini-drum front wheel from a guy at work. Man does this thing look long! It's not really what I was looking for but the price was too good to pass-I could e-bay it and turn a profit pretty easily, but will keep it. This changes my plans from a bobber to a full-blown chopper, and will require significant stretch in the legs and backbone. Oh, well, what's a bit more work....

Bought a set of engine covers off e-bay, powder-coated red. Should look O.K. with the black wrinkle cases, jugs, head, etc. Again, not what I was looking for but the price was right. Actually, I was just looking for the right side cover to replace the one that was ruined by an attempt at welding in the script-a word to the wise-DON'T TRY THIS! The Yamaha castings are very porous, and welding and grinding will result in pits, lots of pits. I found this out before I learned the cover is thick enough to grind the script out (a belt sander was suggested). Again, oh, well.....

y gaskets, seals, etc. came in, and now I'm just waiting on the cam chain to assemble the engine. Mike's has great service! Fast, and free shipping (over $35 purchase, I think). Too bad my cam chain was out of stock-had to order elsewhere, hope it doesn't take too long....

Next up is hard-tailing the frame so I can mock up the forks and figure out how much stretch the front will need, but first I have to get the 220v. outlet wired up in the garage to run the mig-welder, which also needs gas...It just never ends, does it...

Anyway, that's the state of my project at the moment. I hope to start engine assembly tomorrow, and possibly get the wiring done for the welder-I'm still hoping to be on the road by summer!

mo650chopper · Posted: March 8, 2006, 12:10 pm Post subject: Re: Getting closer....

I also going in a new direction on my swing arm chopper. Got me a decent Girder front end on Ebay. Now I can have some fun figuring out how to modify the Girder or my frame neck to be able to run it as well as a front wheel / Brake setup.

Phred · Posted: March 8, 2006, 11:41 pm Post subject: Re: Getting closer....

Yeah, the neck is giong to take a bit of re-engineering on mine as well. I believe the 650 has a larger diameter stem and a longer neck, but the Hogs use external bearing cups, which adds length. I'm considering trimming the neck length and sleeving the tube to match the Harley i.d., as this may be the simplest way to go, but I haven't decided for sure. I was talking to a builder at the bike show in Wentzville last week, and he said some guys cut the serial # off the original frame and weld in into the new-have to check on that before doing it, but that would certainly make things simple, just need a bit of 1.25" e.r.w. tubing and a set of bearing cups.

mo650chopper · Posted: March 29, 2006, 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: Getting closer....

My Girder has a 1" stem but appears that the stem is about the right length. It would seem to me with the right bearings / races it would work in the stock XS650 neck.

What Happened to 650rider.com?

Yamaha xs650