Hi everyone. I'm Gideon. I'm from the Detroit area and I'm new around here. I've got a little problem I need some help with.

So, here's the deal. I have an '83 XJ750 Maxim taking up space in the garage. It has sat in my garage for two years and before that for about eighteen months outside in Michigan weather in the previous owner's Ex-girlfriend's driveway. I went to fetch it in the driveway in '03 (where, incidentally, the ex had left a big pile of dog crap in the saddle for him) with a bag of tricks including a new battery, new plugs, carb cleaner and fresh fuel. I got the thing running and running strong with the little tune up I gave it then came the kicker. When you pull in the clutch lever and drop it into gear the thing stalls. The clutch appeared to be hung up. So instead of riding it back to my garage I put it in the truck and took it home.

The PO has pretty much abandoned it, the sniveling little dilletante that he is, and has left me with the check as it were. Now I've taken the cover off, pulled the clutch plates and cleaned 'em up (they were rusty and stuck together) reinstalled 'em with all the proper torque on the bolts, the springs are okay, got a new clutch cable and installed and adjusted it correctly. Don't you know the bugger still still does it. Pull in the clutch lever, shift into first and the thing jumps and stalls. Now I've tried busting the plates loose again by placing it on the center stand, throttling up and dropping it into gear, but it just stalls the engine. So I'm at my wits' end with this bike. It would make a great scooter if I could just figure this clutch problem out. Any one have any ideas?
Gracias
Gid.

When the bike is turned off, and in gear - when you pull in the clutch lever will it roll back and forth? If it won't then disregard my next thought... If it will then it would seem normal so far.

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Does this bike have a neutral or sidestand switch?

I can't remember if the XJ series did - mine definately does not, however, I seem to remember people being surprised by that.

If it is a switch - look for the sidestand switch, unplug it and plug the male and female ends together. I think it is a plunger type affair - and they get sticky with lack of use. ( My old zx600r had a sidestand switch and a neutral switch. Parked on the sidestand engine running it would often kill itself.


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My suggestion would also be to check for a sidestand or neutral switch. I believe you should have either/both.

A good way to check, if you haven't found a manual on ebay or elsewhere, would be to use the Yahmaha parts catalogue as a reference. You can look at what parts are supposed to be there by viewing the diagrams for each section, and compare it to your bike.

Hope that helps.

JC

I realized yesterday that the neutral safety was part of my problem, but not the whole problem. The bike will not roll if it's in gear and I pull in the clutch. When on the centerstand with the kickstand up all it does is bang right in to gear and start the wheel running when I pull in the clutch to shift.

I guess one less pleasant thought is that the clutch could be assembled wrong - but now we're getting beyond me as I couldn't tell you what was right.


One other comment - cold oil will stick the clutch plates together - In the morning I always bump the bike back and forth to break the plates apart -- makes the starters job easier.

Sorry - I'm not more help on this one...

Is there a switch on the Actual Clutch lever ?

SOunds to me that it is your clutch assy, Oil would not stop it from working, Is the Lever Stiff when you pull it in? (considering you have a new cable Etc) It should be quite light? I fit approx 20 a year into differant bikes and not come across this before, not after the initial freeing up of it.

Back when I used to work away a lt my XJ would sit in storage for months at a time. Clutch wold often stick just like you describe. I always fixed it this way:-

Get it started. Get it rolling and jump on. pull clutch in and stick it in second. While riding with clutch still in get on and off the throttle a few times and it always broke loose.


Mine just got the plates stuck together and needed freeing up and get the oil back into them. From your description of removing rust from them my guess is they still need to be bedded in to get the shine back on them.

Hope my description makes sense. Your problem sounds totally clutch plate related and nothing to do with switches IMO.

Failing that, Might be time for new plates.

One other thing concerns me in your initial post. On the center stand you say it stalls when dropped in gear. My worry is gearbox problems. Jammed cogs or bearings. Any idea why the PO parked it up in the first place? You can check this by putting the bike in gear (ignition off) and pushing to see if the engine turns over.(plugs out helps) Start in top gear and work down just to make sure they are all free and spinning. Listen for grinding or clunking.

Hope this helps and the problem is the easy fix.


Mark

I would try putting it in gear when rolling too. When I got my Seca it had been in storage for about 10 years and my clutch was stuck too. I pull the cover and cleaned up the plates but when I but it back together it would still do what yours does, stall when put in gear. Luckily my driveway is a little downhill so I would hope on the bike, push it downhill and then with the clutch in drop it into first. The first few times I would have to have the RPM's up to keep it form staling out. After doing this a few times I was able to put it in gear while stopped but I still had to have the RPM's up. Then after a while it was fine.

This is rather simple.

When you had the clutch plate cover off it was not reassembled correctly.

The shaft has a pin mark in it you line up with the arm. The book tells you to put the arm parallel with the cover and install that way. The shaft will turn slightly. I did so JUST like the book says and there was no pull on the clutch... Since there was no clutch tension I didnt try to start it.

To fix it I simply rotated the lever moreso than the book tells you to untill I found the sweet spot.

Works like a champ now. I got good clutch anymore...