1982 XJ550 Maxim is having fuse box issues. I see meltdown and know there are other problems and am in the process of tracing these down. BUT...I'm thinking a new fuse box will be a big help and have seen others post on replacing the original equipment with a newer blade-style box.
The original has only the 4 slots in it and from what I've been able to test and visually inspect, the wiring harness all looks good going into the box.
Any suggestions any of you might have will be deeply appreciated.

This is a common problem. My fuse block melted so bad that the fuse holders came off. I went down to my local Autozone and picked up a generic 4 fuse holder (block). I had to add some crimp terminals to each wire and bolted the unit to the top of the air filter cover. Worked like a charm. The old cover does not fit over it, but nobody knows that I duct taped it on (except for the users of this message board)

The replacement fuse box that I've used on both of my Maxims was acquired from wirewerksperformance, and cost less than $10. Pictures at My Webpage

Bill Hanna
Harrisburg, PA
www.whanna.com

Hotwires and Bill,
Many thanks for the replies. I've already book-marked wirewerks and will be poking around their site more. I've also discovered that the main cause of my problems is my boyfriend's much bigger butt.
Reader's Digest version: His Harley is broken (again) so he has developed a habit of hopping on Brutus when he needs a bit of wind in his face. Well, his 230 lb.s presses down hard enough that the seat compresses the fuse box cover (and box) which presses the metal tabs open which allow all sorts of shorting and displacement of the fuses themselves.
Primary solution? I now hide the key to the bike.
Secondary solution? Thinking of how to reinforce that whole area.
Third solution? Buy him his own XJ.
Again, many thanks y'all - appreciate it.
Vykky
PS - Hotwires - I'll never tell about the duct tape.

My fuse box on my XJ550 disintigrated over a period of 24 years everyday use so I made my own 'Blade type' fuse box up this year.