1974 XS/TX650 rebuild

**mbshop** · May 8, 2021, 05:06 PM

Looks strong enough. I have always had an aversion to shiny things on my bikes unless they can be cleaned very easily. Hope you like polishing !

**th62** · May 8, 2021, 06:00 PM

Obviously, why else would I do it.! I don't mind cleaning, polishing and maintaining my bikes at all, better than riding around on a filthy POS!

**mbshop** · May 8, 2021, 07:30 PM

Well, my bikes were kept clean including my dirt bikes. I did not enjoy spending time polishing though. Clean, yes, polishing, no. Most times I just had to polish my rims on my street bikes. Otherwise, not much aluminum on them that was shiny. For a few years I had a neighbor that had an Indian. I think he spent more time polishing it than riding it. After my getting on him to go ride it, he told me he enjoyed polishing it as much as riding. I dont understand that but to each his own.

**th62** · May 8, 2021, 11:10 PM

So why are you commenting on this thread, you obviously don't like what I'm doing, go look at something you'll like.

**mbshop** · May 9, 2021, 12:36 AM

Seriously ? Where did you get that idea ? Did I not say I liked it ? Have I not been positive in my comments ? Did I not like your brake light setup ? I follow because I do like what your doing. I just commented that I, me, did not like polishing. Take a chill pill dude.

**th62** · May 9, 2021, 02:46 AM

'I have always had an aversion to shiny things on my bikes unless they can be cleaned very easily. Hope you like polishing !'

Sounds pretty negative to me. this bike has loads of 'shiny bits'. Go somewhere else!

**th62** · May 9, 2021, 03:08 AM

On second thoughts, you stay, I'll go somewhere else. I have limited patience with fwits, you are just one too many for me. Bye.

**th62** · May 10, 2021, 07:03 AM

Ok, I wasn't aware there was an ignore list,, so I have activated it. I received a PM from a member asking I continue with updates, so now I've activated the ignore list. As I'm sure you are all aware by now, I'm and odd bod, I'm very proud of my work so do not respond well to criticisms, real or perceived. So if you wish to humour me I shall continue with updates.

**th62** · May 10, 2021, 07:09 AM

Today I messed around with the single points cam I made a while back. As you can see in the first two pictures the lobes were slightly off: when the right hand cylinder was timed correctly the left was slightly advanced, not a great deal, split the difference and have the right a smidgin retarded and the left a smidgin advance and it would run fine, But just to satisfy myself, I decided to see how close I could get them, after all I'm working with minute measurements here, so pulled out the files. As it happened, I managed to get them spot on, statically timed anyway, with very little work. The problem now is the keyway is slightly off, so the points backing plate has to be turned fully clockwise in order the get the timing right. So, now I know it is possible to get the lobes right, harder though is the keyway: I turned the cam around and set the backing plate midway, with the cam running free (no key) on the advance shaft, I turned the cam by finger and and marked where the keyway should be cut, unfortunately, you only halve to be a smidgin out to ruin it, and you guessed it, I was that smidgin out. So, tomorrow I'll make another cam, but this time I'll try cutting the keyway first and then filing the ramps. Fingers crossed. BTW, this was the problem with the commercially available cams, the lobes weren't set 180 degrees apart, making timing difficult. Many of the XS650 shops don't stock them anymore for this reason.