Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

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Newtsalad
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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Thu Nov 30, 2017 8:56 pm

Yes Dave, I was thinking I could get some 1mm wall tube, 8mm inside dia. and 10mm external.

Or I could remove the studs, and take the holes out to 10mm, but I'm not sure how deep they are. Over square (ish) would not be good.

Then I remembered a exhaust stud thread on here recently where I advocated taking them out to 8mm, and someone mentioned a 6mm to 8mm stud, so I shall see if I can find 8mm to 10mm studs. Then I'll tap out the nuts to 10mm, as they are a small outside diameter to fit in a recess. That or 10mm nuts with washers under. We shall see.

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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Capitano » Thu Nov 30, 2017 11:20 pm

Newtsalad wrote:
Wed Nov 29, 2017 9:59 pm
And as it's looking more likely that the XL will be going to Austria in June
Newtsalad wrote:
Thu Nov 30, 2017 8:56 pm
Yes Dave, I was thinking I could get some 1mm wall tube, 8mm inside dia. and 10mm external.

Or I could remove the studs, and take the holes out to 10mm, but I'm not sure how deep they are. Over square (ish) would not be good.

Then I remembered a exhaust stud thread on here recently where I advocated taking them out to 8mm, and someone mentioned a 6mm to 8mm stud, so I shall see if I can find 8mm to 10mm studs. Then I'll tap out the nuts to 10mm, as they are a small outside diameter to fit in a recess. That or 10mm nuts with washers under. We shall see.
Eeek is it just me that's imagining a stud or two shearing at the furthest point in Austria? :shock:

Maybe I'm a lazy arsed old f***er these days but I'd be tempted to leave the sprockets standard and live with the low gearing. 8-)

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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by BenB » Thu Nov 30, 2017 11:47 pm

Capitano wrote:
Thu Nov 30, 2017 11:20 pm

Maybe I'm a lazy arsed old f***er these days but I'd be tempted to leave the sprockets standard and live with the low gearing. 8-)

In the company Jim'll be keeping, the low gearing shouldn't cause an issue.... ;)

Newt - What RPM are you showing at 55mph?

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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Diesel Dave » Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:30 am

You going on the Grom then Ben? :D

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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project. Altering the gearing.

Post by Newtsalad » Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:12 am

5000 rpm at just over 50. Redline IIRC is 6500, without going out to look.

Ged's right. Shearing the studs would be a nightmare. I can only find Exhaust manifold studs, not sure they'll be up to the job, I reckon they'll need some 'tensile' or other. The sprocket sits on a 110mm carrier, tightly. So the six studs only need shear value, so may not need hardening at all.

It's only 22.4 hp with 17lb-ft @3000rpm, so maybe the stud material isn't an issue.... :?

Anyway, I have a plan. Although space looks extremely tight around the front sprocket, I'm going to order a 16T. Only £8, so I can suck it and see.

If that doesn't work, I'll consider a 40T rear and sleeve the bolt holes from 10mm to 8mm.

In the meantime, I realise I'm not proficient at working out ratios, to determine what I require. In an ideal world, I would shift all the gears up a range, so 2nd becomes first. Pulling away in 2nd is pretty much like using 1st gear on all my other bikes.

The ratios are as follows.

Primary reduction 3.125
Final reduction 3.00
1st 2.500
2nd 1.666
3rd 1.240
4th 0.931
5th 0.750

I presume, (I don't know) the final reduction relates to the 15/45 sprocket set up? I'm not sure how to evaluate, how altering the final drive (Sprockets) affects the gear range, or how to calculate the new gear range?

Best I've come up with so far, is to alter the range so first starts where second currently is, would mean a sprocket combo of 15T front 32.4 rear? (Yes I know that's not possible! :roll: ) Which just feels wrong? The guy I spoke to at JT sprockets confirmed my thoughts that a 40T rear would be about right?

That would give a ratio of 1:2.666, which is 0.334 down on 1:300. So would that then give me a 1st gear ratio of 2.167? :? That's nowhere near the 1.66 of where 2nd currently is.

ATEOTD I reckon 16t sprocket, suck it and see, take it from there.

BTW, If you find this thread boring, (BARKER!) don't bloody read it! :lol: :lol: :lol: :roll:

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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:16 am

Diesel Dave wrote:
Fri Dec 01, 2017 10:30 am
You going on the Grom then Ben? :D
Two Groms and a Vanvan. I think the Vanvan is 200cc? SO the XL is in the right ballpark speed wise, I'm just thinking the XL fuel tank range isn't brilliant, so a higher top gear would extend range and increase comfort.

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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Diesel Dave » Fri Dec 01, 2017 11:31 am

The Van Van is likely to be the slowest, the 200 makes a little more torque than the 125 but this won't show at 55mph.

Those tyres suck up lot of power.

A good friend used his Grom for a weeks touring including the German Dieselbike Rally so it's all do-able as he's not a small bloke either - he did however have to give some luggage to his brother who was riding an Enfield.

Do they do an Acerbic tank for the XL? Matts DR350 had one fitted and that held shi*loads of fuel.

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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by wightegi » Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:05 pm

What you need is a GC125 ...just need to find one for sale.

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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Diesel Dave » Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:32 pm

wightegi wrote:
Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:05 pm
What you need is a GC125 ...just need to find one for sale.

I remember now I went on one of SteveW's rides when we were CG mounted and there were 2 Van Van's in the convoy, left them for dead.....

Now about this need for a CG as it happens........ :lol:

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Re: Honda XL 350 1978 Project.

Post by Newtsalad » Fri Dec 01, 2017 12:42 pm

With 14 bikes already on the policy and others (three I think) kicking around, I definitely don't need a CG. I'm out! :lol:

I could take a 125 cc Eliminator. Very capable, very comfortable. Hopeless on trails, and with two nutters on Groms and a Vanvan.... Well, where would I end up? :lol:

Hence the Harley, for all it's reliability, is also out. I'll persevere with the XL. I love riding it. Like the Harley, it brings out the hooligan in me!

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