When you run the hone, try to keep the scratch(we call it hatch marks here?) at roughly a 45degree angle to each other for the best seal. That rattle can paint job didn't look that bad for what it was, I've seen cars with worse paintjobs done by "professionals" . I quit wasting my money on Clymer or Haynes manuals and will only go with factory. I picked up a brand new Yamaha manual for '83-'89 XT600's on ebay for $55.00 US dollars and a close to new Honda '83-'88 XL600 also. Most of the time Clymer just say to "disassemble and inspect, then reassemble", wellllllll, just how do you disassemble it in the first place ?? Not much help .

Well the slug build probably not a good description, "How not to do a rebuild" would probably be more appropriate.

Honing tool acquired and is described as a brake cylinder honer! hopefully (xtrider) I'll get some nice 45 degree lines, plenty of vids on youtube, keep it running on exit. Yes, Clymer is poor, crap pictures, should have bought the works manual.
Paint was great apart from the over polishing and a poor attempt to repair. I should have give it to a paint shop after I primed it, I should have gave it to a paint shop to polish it, I shold have give it to a paint shop to fix the poor patching, now its in the paint shop and I'm waiting for a £200 bill, would have been cheaper but I found a large filler spot on the left hand side.
I'm sounding negative but I am enjoying it (haven't done much) this is first rebuild in 30 years (XL500S) and I'm sure to put more thought into the next.
I'm off to marcm's this weekend, he's kindly offered his services to show me how to disassemble the engine, I'm sure an expensive parts list will follow, 3AJ oil pump etc etc. But I have to do as I've said before, it'll drive me crazy knowing the engines not sorted.
Before


After


What to do with old knackered seat foam? if anyone needs one at postage cost.....or do I need it????


Kedo foam with DL cover


Muttley with the bad tooth

Chemical stripping, the easy way to get the paint off.

Well me very expensive spokes arrived today, I found fitting one side then flipping to the other the easiest way, thou on the back wheel I had to remove an opposite spoke to fit the inner spoke. They all went in pretty easy, NO FORCE, followed drawings I made, offset, directions etc. Hopefully there right!!!!!

I have D.I.D wheels, is that standard or aftermarket?

I'm looking for tyres, any recommendations? I'm not looking for off road, I'm too much of a pussy and lacking off road skills, could manage gravel / dusty back roads but anything more and I'm in trouble, Sahara tyres?



Just got to find a local wheel man to true them, I think I could get there but for the cost and piece of mind I'd rather leave to the more skilled.

Finally getting round to fitting parts to the frame, photos to follow.

Hope the little ferry ride on the way home wasn't to bumpy andy....been up over cliff tops on tdr earlier and its howling up there...

marcm wrote:Hope the little ferry ride on the way home wasn't to bumpy andy....been up over cliff tops on tdr earlier and its howling up there...

Got to the ferry with seconds to spare, Headwind, against the tide but quite smooth.
Thanks for your help today, I'd definitely have made a mess of it, will go part number shopping tomorrow and let you know of findings.
Really helpful and me heads less stressed.

Hi Vanandy, DID are the correct rim for the 34L, you will notice how thick they are in the sidewall,bead area compared to the later model weaker ones.
Regards Eric

Andy, it´s looking weird in the pattern here. Or it´s me thats not seeing right from this angle.
Well you got a nice pair of rims there anyway.

Edit: no I´m wrong, your spokes is ok. Just checked a pic of mine and it´s the same.
2 of us can´t be wrong.

yes, it does look strange / wrong, optical illusion with spokes from both sides? also the wheels arn't trued, spokes loose and the hubs could well be rotated to a wrong position.
I think its impossible to fit ALL the spokes wrong, if you're wrestling and adding pressure when fitting somethings wrong. that said I guess its easy to run them from the wrong side of hub to correct rim position. Andy

vanandy wrote:yes, it does look strange / wrong, optical illusion with spokes from both sides? also the wheels arn't trued, spokes loose and the hubs could well be rotated to a wrong position.
I think its impossible to fit ALL the spokes wrong, if you're wrestling and adding pressure when fitting somethings wrong. that said I guess its easy to run them from the wrong side of hub to correct rim position. Andy

Yeah, I know, I fitted them wrong first time.