XB12S chassis check after purchase.

[john doyle]

Full suspension of the bike to overhaul the moving bits. Never trust a second-hand bike - it's amazing what some people do to a bike. Things I found: 1. Wiring harness under seat chafed at underside so that about four wires were shorting to the galvanized battery cradle. 2. O2 sensor squashed on one side. 3. Harness securing strap at rear of motor not connected on one side so that wires were touching the rear cylinder. 4. Swingarm pivot pin 'remanufactured badly in three pieces (life threatening). 5. Horn missing.

Being so far from the source, parts take about six weeks from eBay. Quite frustrating and their 48 day return guarantee expires before receipt of goods. Bought a pair of subframe spacers from DieselMoto and they sent me two left hand ones instead of a pair. Bought a spare key and am still waiting 12 weeks later.

All disassembled now and cleaned up. Just have to wait for the parts to get here.

 

[thrstrmech]

where are you located for the parts to take so long to get to you? [up]on finding those problems

 

[john doyle]

Cape Town, South Africa.

 

[WALLSXB]

Is that a Lotus Esprit under the cover? Sorry to change the subject!

 

[john doyle]

Wow - good spotting WALLSXB. '82 Turbo Esprit. Bought it in London in 1990 and brought it back in bits for reassembly. There is also a Karmann Ghia chassis just behind the bike. I bought two cars and am putting the best bits together. Also building the house on weekends but that's me - too many projects and I am now WAY off topic.

 

[john doyle]

Dropped my front wheel off at an engineering shop to have the bearings pulled out. Also took my seat to an upholstry man with pictures of the Baldwin Saddles aftermarket item and some car soft-top vinyl.
Tried to remove the pad retaining pin from the front caliper last night with no success. Alen bolt has been ruined so here we go with the easyouts and penetrating fluid again.

 

[john doyle]

Custom slidert machined and ready for fitting. Totally impractical and paddock stand unfriendly but who cares - aesthetics more important.

 

[thrstrmech]

nice[up]

 

[jasonxb9]

Those sliders are wicked looking!!! You made them?

 

[john doyle]

No, clever man with a lathe did it for me for a lot of money.

 

[john doyle]

Got my O2 sensor and brake pads this week. Wheels being stripped for re-coat. Tyres on order - have to wait three weeks for: Michelin Pilot Road 3 - 120 / 70 - 17 & 190 / 55 - 17. (going 10mm wider at rear. Bought Philips blue white bulbs for headlights and fitted them. Bought engine oil - Motul fully synthetic 20W50. Collected new poly-chain and handlebar lever pins. Ordered now accelerator cable and front brake disc springs. Bought new front wheel bearings and had the old ones pulled out. Had an engineer remove the front calliper pad retaining pin.

Just waiting for the swing arm pin to get the back end together but have to wait for tyres anyway.

Managed to do a bit of work as well.

Need to find an airbrush artist and do the artwork for him to do the proposed blue lightning on black.

 

[john doyle]

Bought some carbon fibre look decal sheet and have drawn up stickers for cutting from the 600 mm x 1000 mm sheet.

 

[DrogeN Omen]

[up] [up] [up]

huge ups on your project dedication and innovation.

hope to see some progress pictures.

 

[john doyle]

Weekend of flatting my thumbs to the bone and got some primer on and some flat black to smaller bits.

 

[john doyle]

All this waiting for import parts leaves me plenty of time to do the time consuming bits. The flat black spray has turned out well. Can't re assemble my rear end until my Fuel filter and screen arrive - not many other bikes where this would be the issue. Spent the day making and fitting new brackets for the speedo, horn and indicators. Also re mounted the ignition switch in the correct position after the previous owner's really bad modification of the front end. Would have liked to have the original headlamps but too expensive to buy second hand. Going with an aftermarket item from ebay and have upgraded the bulbs.
Waiting for:
Indicators
Keys
Clutch lever pin
Front disc springs
Tyres
Fuel filter
Fuel screen
Throttle cable
Fuel pump o-rings
Sub frame spacer - Diesel Moto sent me two left hand ones.
seat (Upholsterer has re-molded to my spec and is covering it with tonneau cover fabric and grey thread - so much better than vinyl)
Decals (have bought carbon-look vinyl but nobody can cut it for me because it is textured and the blade on their machines can't deal with that. Going to attempt to cut them by hand).

 

[Banshee77]

Did you paint the timing and primary case? If they came already black then I would be concerned about it being a 12, only ever seen 9's with black outer housing's. Not trying to be a dickhead, just giving ya a heads up if your new to the bike, the timing inspection cover should say 9 or 12 aswell, but has a custom cover...

 

[john doyle]

Hi Banshee77. You've got me worried now. The case had been split before my time. I could see traces of the silicone or gasket maker where it squeezed out. Could be that the previous guy painted the covers but it looks like a professional job. (unlike all other jobs done by previous owners). The bike came with a Harley chrome timing cover so I changed that for the Punisher item in the pics. Engine number is: SX144680954. I don't know how to interpret this but the VIN number...5MZSX14J543680954, tells me that it is a 1200 export version. Could it be that they did some black casings for their export bikes? Bit of a mystery. I like it black. Just hope it runs when I get it back together.

 

[Banshee77]

Well that frame vin does state that it is a 12, so if the vin on the base of the front cylinder on the left side of the engine matches then it must be a 12. Just a heads up, if your seeing clear silicone squished out around the casing it could still be factory, doesnt mean it was apart. Believe it or not it tends to be messy looking. I would guess that someone changed or painted the outer cases. However just to be sure you can try to find the part number on the exhaust header, 12 is 17017 and 9 is 17026. Also, because its torn down so far it would be easy to measure the throttle body opening, i believe the 9 is 45mm and the 12 is 49mm.


Cheers,

 

[john doyle]

That silicone thing makes me feel better - thanks for that. I can't find the number on the exhaust header although I have had it ceramic coated so it may have covered the number. I haven't removed the the top rubber flange from the throttle body but sighting a vernier down there certainly looks more like 49 than 45.

Temporarily connected the battery today and got the custom headlamp cluster working with Xenon dipped beam and ultra white park and low beam. Looking good. Also applied reflective blue tape to rims. Bit of TRON going on.

 

[Banshee77]

Ya man, looking good!