New here.

[verticaltwin]

Well more good news, some of my top end noise was a small exhaust leak... along with the "tick". Thanks for the tip on the 250 flywheel, I have one for an sl250 motor. I may keep the heavy one at first though... I get all the light flywheel effect I can stand on my 250! ;D

I'll give you guys a tip too... Double check your tax preparer's work! Found out last night the lady made a mistake and had us down as filing "single"... What the heck? Married 22 years w/5 kids! lol... Looks like we should be ok on taxes, even a refund perhaps, and the race season is ON!

[kawasakifreak77]

Been looking for any hop up parts like a bigger carb & the TL flywheel. No luck yet.

The frame is done. Pulled the arm out, checked & greased & cleaned it all up. Put the shocks on the forward mounts with a couple washers to take up the slack. We chopped the tail shorter, detabbed it, welded in a rear hoop & touched it up.

Rebuilt the forks, holy nuts they were in BAD shape! That alone I'm hoping will transform the front end. Measured everything up & had a guy cut me some spacers on his lathe. Got the Seca wheel within 1/64ths of center, hope that's close enough. It's my first wheel swap.

Still nothing on K180s, got another K7o for the front now.

If you order XL350 steering neck bearings from Dennis Kirk.... You will get CRF stem bearings..

So for now the build came to a screeching halt until I source other bearings.

For busy work I've been tinkering with little things like painting the number plates, screwing with the left peg & finishing my 636.

[tsmiley98]

Mar 18, 2011 2:15:50 GMT -5 kawasakifreak77 said:

Been looking for any hop up parts like a bigger carb & the TL flywheel. No luck yet.

The frame is done. Pulled the arm out, checked & greased & cleaned it all up. Put the shocks on the forward mounts with a couple washers to take up the slack. We chopped the tail shorter, detabbed it, welded in a rear hoop & touched it up.

Rebuilt the forks, holy nuts they were in BAD shape! That alone I'm hoping will transform the front end. Measured everything up & had a guy cut me some spacers on his lathe. Got the Seca wheel within 1/64ths of center, hope that's close enough. It's my first wheel swap.

Still nothing on K180s, got another K7o for the front now.

If you order XL350 steering neck bearings from Dennis Kirk.... You will get CRF stem bearings..

So for now the build came to a screeching halt until I source other bearings.

For busy work I've been tinkering with little things like painting the number plates, screwing with the left peg & finishing my 636.

I sent you a message on flattrack.com about a 38mm flatslide that I have awhile back. The XL 250 flywheel is lighter than the 350 one too, and they are much easier to come by, and I believe just under 2 lbs heavier than the TL.

How bad are your OE bearings? unless they were totally jacked up a good cleaning and greasing should do. As far as wheel being off center, that 1/64 should be plenty close. I made my spaces on a chop saw and used a sander/grinder to finess them in..

[kawasakifreak77]

38MM? About the only mod to the engine will be a homemade pipe. Would that be too much carb?

Well the bearings are probably shot after we beat them out! After I rebuilt the forks & went caged bearings in my KZ6/750 it's a whole other bike now, amazing. So that's what I'm wanting to do with the XL.

[tsmiley98]

Mar 19, 2011 8:41:09 GMT -5 kawasakifreak77 said:

38MM? About the only mod to the engine will be a homemade pipe. Would that be too much carb?

Well the bearings are probably shot after we beat them out! After I rebuilt the forks & went caged bearings in my KZ6/750 it's a whole other bike now, amazing. So that's what I'm wanting to do with the XL.

Its either 38 or 36mm not sure, been awhile since I looked at it.

My bike is a stock bore/stroke with a needle bearing cam. I ran a 38mm round slide all last year (because that is what the bike came with), this year I am trying out a 36mm round slide. I bought one new for $90 shipped.

[verticaltwin]

Hey Ray... I got some K180's for you. Brand new 18" rear and almost new 19" front. Give me a call sometime.

Home# 785-286-3095, I'm usually home after 4:30pm.

[kawasakifreak77]

I know they look the part, but so they perform like actual FT tires? I'm assuming they'd be better than they K70's correct?

I'll try to get ahold of ya tomorrow, thanks man!

[verticaltwin]

They do pretty good. I used a k180 front on my trackmaster yamaha 250 at first. I think they would be better than k70's, but k70's are good all-around tires too. You can check them out and see what you think. They don't come is the soft compounds that the real ft tires do, as they are DOT approved tires. They feel like something in between a cd5 and cd8 to me.

Edit - I just saw another set on vft classifieds. Has a brand new front... FYI

vft.org/vftforsale2.html

[kawasakifreak77]

I'm gonna hold off on the tires until I get this bearing problem figured out. I can't believe someone doesn't make a caged conversion for this bike.

[verticaltwin]

No problem... they aren't going anywhere. I had the front from a couple years ago, then picked up the rear recently. Planned on using them on my Triumph 500... or whatever. I just thought I'd do the right thing and offer them up to help you get race ready.

[kawasakifreak77]

After five sets of bearings I have made up a combo for the neck! All Balls PN 22-1029 with the top bearing replaced with National PN 07079.

I never would have beat those stockers out if I would have known it'd turn into this much of a headache. But I have reigned triumphant!



So Kyle, still got them K180's?

[verticaltwin]

Sure do... I'll snap a picture of them. The front isn't new, but it doesn't have much wear. The rear is new, but was mounted, taken back off, and never used.

[tsmiley98]

Looking like some progress. Better get it together only 3 weeks out.

[tsmiley98]

Ray, if you need anything else to help get you going let me know, I still have a set of Legends/Red Wing hammerhead shocks I bought new last year to replace the stock rears that I had. If you are interested let me know. They are so much better than the stock ones and I could see a huge difference. I was around 165 and they were good. I think there are 12 races on them. I decided to treat myself to some Durelles this year. Everyone around told me for the money they are a real good shock. 13.5" and I would take $110 shipped for them, they sell for about $170 new plus shipping. I wasn't ready to drop the $650 on a good set until I knew I liked racing.

Another thing, I will bring those stock rear sprockets down with me on the 29th so you have some gearing options. I highly suggest keeping your TAC on the bike. That way you can watch your RPM's and we can help you with gearing. Both me and Josh run XL350's. I learned the hard way not to over rev these things two nights before we raced. Tossed a rocker out the top of my engine. Fixed it and put the big ugly TAC on. I try to gear for 8,000 to 8,500 at the end of the straight away. Gives plenty to lug and pull out of the corners and run hard down the straight.

Other things you want to bring are an extra set of points (unless you put a new set in) an extra condensor (whether or not you put a new one in) and of course some wiring and tools. Oh and make sure you check your plug ins.

I missed the start of a race at 81 because during the heats my bike was popping. Not sure if it was points or condesor or the plug taking a crap. Afterwards trying to trouble shoot it I found the connector to the points was loose. Missed a great race over the simple stuff.

[kawasakifreak77]

Sweet Kyle. Where you at? If it's not too far (in state) I can pick 'em up in person most likely. Plus I'd like to sit down & pick someone's brain that's done this in person. Out here I don't have anyone that's personally flat tracked, especially on an XL.

TS, almost anything would help! If things go well, I'll have her ridable tonight. We spent about three hours on her last night & I'm getting ready to go do the exhaust, chain, etc. I want to see what see rides like before I go swapping parts out. I do think I'll need a pair of shocks. I believe she's still got the stockers & they're pretty soggy even with my light ass onboard.

I'm pretty sure she's still got stock gears too. Yes, I've kept the tach thinking the same thing. I have basically no spares of anything. She does have a rebuilt carb, new points, plug, fresh oil, the valves are in spec for now, with a new rear brake cable & shoes.