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Project Grandson's bike - XT600Z

Discussion in 'Other Projects - Other Bikes (non 250's)' started by Murdo, Apr 1, 2021.

  1. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    My Bike:
    1937 Royal Enfield 250, CF Moto 250 V5, Honda's XL250, CBR250, FT500 plus a few others.
    My eldest grandson scored this poor XT600Z that has been sitting behind a shed in the weather for years. The engine would not turn over and the forks are bent, the plastics are all broken off after sitting in the Aussie sun, the exhaust fell off when he moved it, the electrics are cut about or missing, the seat is crumbling and a lot of bits rusty or missing.
    XT600 & MEC 2 016.jpg
    XT600 & MEC 2 018.jpg
    It is fitted with a motard front wheel but will be good for him when we get it back on the road. We got the engine out (he did most of the work as I am still too sore to lift anything heavy) and the head off to find it was only an exhaust valve stuck open. I showed him how to get the valves out and they all look good and will lap in ok. The bore is still standard and piston good, so a light hone and new rings will get it going again.
    XT600 & MEC 2 027.jpg
    The frame will require a full strip down and repaint and a lot of searching for new bits. He has 9 months before he gets his 'L's so he best get busy.
     
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  2. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Having seen your efforts of previous bikes , I know this is going to be an awesome bike build , but hot damm, Couldn’t he have bought something a little more saveable ?
     
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    Last edited: Apr 1, 2021
  3. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    My thoughts exactly! I am hardly well enough to do much so it will be his show with my supervision.
     
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  4. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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  5. 2valve

    2valve Well-Known Member

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    If only the bike could tell it's story where it's been / what happened to it to , to end looking like that.
    That tank is bloody huge though , full of fuel that would be top heavy.

    The bike it still going to get the Murdo special treatment correct ?. No doubt you'll will be working in the shed late at night while the Grandson isn't there.

    Another bike being brought back to life , what a great Forum we have here !.

    Found this one listed , it's very nice.
    https://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/helensburgh/motorcycles/yamaha-xt600-z/1271332564
     
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  6. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    No, how will he learn if I do all the bits? This is his bike, his choice and he can do all the work (and pay for the bits too).
     
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  7. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    My Bike:
    1937 Royal Enfield 250, CF Moto 250 V5, Honda's XL250, CBR250, FT500 plus a few others.
    The boy came over today and finished stripping the frame.
    This is the left fork leg after he slid the gaiter down to look at the bend. Was easy to pour the oil out.
    xxx 001.jpg
     
  8. Andych

    Andych Moderator Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Even RAD wont be able to fix those forks....
     
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  9. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    My Bike:
    1937 Royal Enfield 250, CF Moto 250 V5, Honda's XL250, CBR250, FT500 plus a few others.
    I welded up the broken bits of the frame and took to sand blasters. Picked up Thursday, paint on way home and painted Friday morning. He came over today to work on bike ( even brought his own lunch!!!) and he has done well. Got a lot of bits cleaned up and even bolted some on.
    xxx 002.jpg
     
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  10. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    Damn many young fellas would be envious and truly jealous to be in the presence of greatness to resuscitate a bike in that condition

    I remember the previous XT600 reanimation - this one too, will be a miracle of similar proportions
     
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  11. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Bit more done on the frame bits and decided to help him a bit with the blinkers. The rears only needed a clean, resolder a wire and one new lens ($4.48 at Yamaha). The front ones were rusted beyond help.
    Belstaff repairs 002.jpg
    The rubber mounts had also fallen apart so I braised some washers to the mounting bolts, then glued them to the plastic bodies. One lens had lost two of the mounts for the screws the hold the lens on so used some plastic hose and filled with araldite. When set I drilled new holes for the screws.
    Belstaff repairs 006.jpg
    I bought two new bulb holders (trailer type) and glued them into the plastic.
    Belstaff repairs 011.jpg
    A touch of paint and ready for another life on the road.
    xxx 001.jpg
    Will fit new wiring connectors when have harness fitted.
     
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  12. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Spent most of the day welding and re-making the headlight surround.
    zz 002.jpg
     
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  13. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Welded the brake mounting plate where the bolt was so rusted in that it broke the alloy getting it out. Clean up with grinder and files, retapped the thread, blasted and painted and all good.
    CBR ready for races 003.jpg
     
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  14. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Getting a few more bits together.
    Bingara Inverell weekend 002.jpg
    Took awhile to get all the welding off the sprocket and get it off the shaft. And the reason for using an arc/stick welder to hold a sprocket on?
    Bingara Inverell weekend 009.jpg
    This will require a full strip down and I will build the splines up with TIG and regrind back to standard size.
     
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  15. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    sounds like was a farm bike, it probably broke on the farm and they welded it on because farmers are resourceful and fixed it on the cheap ?
     
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  16. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    And it spent some time on a beach by the amount of rusted bolts and sand that has dribbled out of the frame drain holes.
     
  17. jmw76

    jmw76 Well-Known Member

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    What an abused bike!!!!! I am sure you will get ir right @Murdo .
     
  18. ruckusman

    ruckusman White Mans Magic Master Premium Member Dirty Wheel Club

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    wondering if it did actually get used as a boat anchor at some stage
     
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  19. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Today he bolted on a couple of more bits that I had painted and de-spoked the motard wheel ready for when the new spokes for the 21" wheel arrive. He learned how to knock out wheel bearings and why they needed replacing.
    xx 002.jpg
     
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  20. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    The boy came over today started stripping the gearbox. Most things looked ok, although it has been apart before for a rod replacement. The balancer weight has 'witness' marks where it had been hitting the previous rod, One gear has some marks on it that should clean up ok. The clutch looks servicable but haven't measured yet. Some bearings will be replaced and seals too. Biggest surprise was the amount of dirt in the crank case.
    xt600 009.jpg
    A swim in the parts washer and laundry tub had them sparkling clean.
     
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