1. Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

NOW FOR SOMETHING DIFFERENT

Discussion in 'Other Motorcycles' started by wizard, Jan 7, 2012.

  1. wizard

    wizard Active Member

    Messages:
    5,282
    Likes Received:
    26
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    DEVON ENGLAND
    1978 SR 500, bit of a mess, parts missing & no compression.
    I'm restoring this bike, stock as can be.[​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
  2. Alive

    Alive Active Member

    Messages:
    1,291
    Likes Received:
    15
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Queensland, Australia
    Looks like a good starting point
     
  3. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    9,751
    Likes Received:
    2,093
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Beaver Falls, PA
    look into the compression release mechanism, might be a easy fix
     
  4. Bushy

    Bushy Active Member

    Messages:
    897
    Likes Received:
    50
    Trophy Points:
    28
    Location:
    Australia
  5. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    415
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    And I've got an original piece for you-- I still have the "grab handle" (standing handle?) from one of my SR's that got a luggage rack.

    It's all yours; plus if I can find it I have the Clymer manual for that bike somewhere.

    BOY, does that bring back memories; I had a '78 (like that one, with the disc rear brake) and after it got wrecked I replaced it with an '80 (drum rear brake.)

    I will PM you when I get a few with some boring details in regard to exhaust systems.
     
  6. Daplumma

    Daplumma Member

    Messages:
    43
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Very cool bike.I built this one from a Vintage class racer.
     

    Attached Files:

  7. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

    Messages:
    1,878
    Likes Received:
    16
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Saint Louis, Michigan
    Another project from Wiz, gotta know it's gonna turn out quite proper
     
  8. XJPilot

    XJPilot Member

    Messages:
    246
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Sarnia, ON
    Nothing like a good challenge eh Wiz! Can't wait to see the progress!
     
  9. wizard

    wizard Active Member

    Messages:
    5,282
    Likes Received:
    26
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    DEVON ENGLAND
    New sprockets & chain required & what to do about this, gear shift has been welded onto the shaft.[​IMG][​IMG][​IMG]
     
  10. MercuryMan

    MercuryMan Active Member

    Messages:
    1,154
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Springdale, NWA
    You don't see that everyday! Somebody with a heavy foot had a nice welding rig and some lazy bones. Or they had a tendency to lay it down.

    New shaft and lever after surgery to remove the old?

    Looking forward to this build, should be a nifty clean ride when done. At least you still have the sweet '500 single' side panels!
     
  11. mtnbikecrazy55

    mtnbikecrazy55 Active Member

    Messages:
    2,620
    Likes Received:
    24
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Green Bay, Wisconsin
    I'll be watching this one!

    Holy shark finned teeth :O

    I'm looking forward to seeing what you do with it!
     
  12. JeffK

    JeffK Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,208
    Likes Received:
    81
    Trophy Points:
    48
    Location:
    Just North of Annapolis MD
    A couple day project........

    I love small thumpers.......


    jeff
     
  13. mook1al

    mook1al Member

    Messages:
    447
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Talladega, AL
    Those sprocket teeth are only slightly oblonged 8O
     
  14. wizard

    wizard Active Member

    Messages:
    5,282
    Likes Received:
    26
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    DEVON ENGLAND
    Comp test results:
    Dry 1 (one) psi
    Wet 35 psi.
    Will post pictures of the engine strip down & rebuild.
     
  15. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    415
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    Would you like some good news?

    You know how I'm always cautioning folks about tearing an XJ down too far, because "since they weren't raced, things like oversized pistons are hard to come by."

    Well guess what motor is STILL, to this day, one of the most popular amongst club-level flattrackers here in the good ol' USA? (Parts a'plenty.)

    A picture is worth a thousand words-- I'm sure you'll recognize the mill.

    [​IMG]
     
  16. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    415
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    It's probably only a compression release or exhaust valve problem tho.
     
  17. wizard

    wizard Active Member

    Messages:
    5,282
    Likes Received:
    26
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    DEVON ENGLAND
    I pulled the decompressor out, so nothing is fouling the EX valve, it will need a top end service & maybe rings.
     
  18. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    415
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    Cool. Widely available here, in all oversizes. I wasn't kidding about it being a popular flat-track motor, that picture isn't more than a year old or so. Michigan is BIG on flat track, TT/XT/SR500 "guts" are easy to come by. Let me know what you unearth, and I'll help you track down some innards.

    I was serious about the standing handle if you're going to lose that luggage rack; ditto on the manual but I haven't found it yet. I know it's here somewhere, I don't throw things like that away.

    I hope you jumped on the seat Bushy posted the link to; that stupid little tail piece is probably hard to come by. Boy am I sorry I sold my SR.
     
  19. wizard

    wizard Active Member

    Messages:
    5,282
    Likes Received:
    26
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    DEVON ENGLAND
    Thanks Fitz, I appreciate any help, I'm still trying to find my way around this thing, the on-line manual I have is half in French, I can't even find how to get TDC, comp' stroke to set the valves, I'm probably going mad, but the valve timing seems odd, any ideas, my manual talks about setting points, but this bike has CDI ignition, doesn't it ?
     
  20. MercuryMan

    MercuryMan Active Member

    Messages:
    1,154
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Springdale, NWA
    Parlez-vous français? Yikes no wonder your going mad! Those are the guys who built the Citron!

    Fitz if your like me you filed that manual under the 'it made sense when I put it there' system. Which only requires that you get back into that exact same frame of mind and voila it will appear. Oh damn another French word.

    . Wiz could you remove the plug and use a physical test for TDC? Using a compression tester w/the one-way valve removed, a clear tube that will fit it, some oil. If you create a loop with a small amount of oil it would be pushed up without draining out. The peak push would indicate TDC right? and the air moved by the piston would displace a lot of oil to make it easy to see.

    Singles are fun to ride! Nice predictable power curve and throaty exhaust
     

Share This Page