1980 XL500S Questions

[marbee40]

Just picked up a HAGGARD XL500s for...well, free. Sat in her yard for 20+ years. Her dad rode it through Baja, SoCal, and eventually brought it up to Kodiak, AK before retiring from the CG. They moved again to an area near Anchorage and he parked the bike. That was in 1993. Tags on the bike say 1991. She heard me talking about bikes at a BBQ and said "Hey, want a free old bike?". Duh!

So Jr and I picked it up the other day. All exterior parts are beat and rusty. Engine has no apparent cracks. Gas tank is very rusty inside. Tires actually held air but are so dry rotten they are heading for the dumpster if I can get it running.

Rumor has it it's a 6v system. Any other tips before I clean it up, run a little oil into the cylinder, and see if she'll start?

Jim in AK

[magconpres]

I'd.try to.clean the Carb up beforetrying to start it. At least drain anything that is in there.

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[marbee40]

MagConPres,
A buddy came over and we drained the oil. It was still a nice amber color. Flushed it with some low-budget oil and filled up the dip stick. Pulled the spark plug (NGK!) and cleaned it off. Put the plug in the wire and layed it up against the head. Gave her a kick and ZAPPP! Holy cow! We got spark, kids!

Yanked off the carb and the bowl had a big chunk of yellow chalk in it. Gotta love gas that's not gas anymore. Spent an hour and a can of carb cleaner doing my level best. The rubber parts inside the carb were in amazingly good shape. I'll put the carb together tomorrow and slap it back in. I'll laugh my hiney off if this thing actually fires off.

J

[magconpres]

Originally Posted by marbee40

I'll laugh my hiney off if this thing actually fires off.

J

I bet it starts :) You got spark, compression is most likely good enough. In any case, it's not siezed up.
No points to worry about. I think that model has a mechanical advance. it could be stuck, but most likely in the retarded position, so it would still start, just not want to rev.

Looking for the "it started!" post

I love rescuing old bikes!

[marbee40]

IT STARTED! Too funny. Valves were clattering to beat all hell, but she fired RIGHT up! Sorry I don't have pix but they shut down pic posting, so no go.

Not sure what to do with it now as everything else is in a shambles. Gotta take the tank and get it blasted/painted. Not a scratch on it, but inside is filled w/ rusty coating.

Gonna get after it this winter, but should be fun if I don't blow too much on it.

[redprimo]

If your speedo works take good care of it, they are made out of unobtanium and with that 23" fromt wheel there are not many options for swaping something else in.

[ReferJohn]

That 23" front is deadly off road.... be careful. my dad had that model for 10 years, great bike, however the 23' front is a little shakey off road. congrats on the FREE XL

[magconpres]

Originally Posted by marbee40

IT STARTED! Too funny. Valves were clattering to beat all hell, but she fired RIGHT up! Sorry I don't have pix but they shut down pic posting, so no go.

Not sure what to do with it now as everything else is in a shambles. Gotta take the tank and get it blasted/painted. Not a scratch on it, but inside is filled w/ rusty coating.

Gonna get after it this winter, but should be fun if I don't blow too much on it.

Love it!
If it was me, I'd strip it down and put it back together, fixing whatever needs fixed. But that's me....I sort of have an illness when it comes to old bikes.

[brucifer]

Originally Posted by magconpres

Love it!
If it was me, I'd strip it down and put it back together, fixing whatever needs fixed. But that's me....I sort of have an illness when it comes to old bikes.

+1 Congratulations on getting her fired.

[kubiak]

thats a honda for you!