She Runs!

Hi Everyone,

First I just want to thank this community of enthusiasts for constant information, inspiration, support and enthusiasm!

I've very much enjoyed perusing the site, and even more, the wealth of knowledge that is so graciously shared. (Big shout-out to zap2504 and hogfiddles)!

So...this '81 XJ 750 Seca was in a lady's garage for years...estimates range from 6-12. Her late husband was a moto-enthusiast and skilled mechanic, so the bikes were all maintained well. I purchased this one in May-ish for a song (don't want to say how much) and my stepdad picked up a Triumph Trident (early 70s i think) that was in very rough shape...we're cracking into that one soon.

Shortly after bringing these bikes home, we had a series of crises, personal and professional that threw a wrench into the gears of summer...

Needless to say, things have worked out. And I am pleased to present (as soon as i can figure out how to upload a video) a short clip of the 'ol lass running away and sounding healthy! I did some of the work myself, and had some help from a family friend who was a harley mechanic for 4o years.

It's my goal to keep this bike as original as possible, while changing the aesthetics slightly...that being said, all changes will be easily reversible.

The current issues are:

Since replacing the battery and rebuilding the brakes (as well as the fuse box, which crumbled into dust when i started pulling out fuzes)...the BATT and BRAKE indicators are staying lit and the WARNING light is blinking steadily. Electrical system works fine and the brake lights all function wonderfully.... Any guidance on how to reset the sensors?

Also, i'd like to take off the mufflers and add some shorter, and slightly louder, shorty exhaust pipes.... reading the forum suggests that this won't impact the carbs at all due to the collector...am i right in that?

I'm also kicking around the idea of extending controls (shift/rear brake) forward a few to 6 inches...i need to ride this bike for a while more to feel it out more, but after my first 30 miles or so on it, my foot positioning feels strange to me. Any insight on the ease of such an adjustment?

Thanks everyone! Be safe and be well!

warmly,
connor

 

The blinking warning may be lack of battery sensor that was not in new battery. Syb14l-a2 is the correct one

 

the parts guru "chacal" has a gadget that will turn the battery light into a charging system monitor.
the brake light is a fluid level sensor that should have a wire to the master cylinder somewhere. it's a floating magnet type of thing, i didn't keep it long enough to remember how it worked

 

Thanks Toomanybikes and Polock. I'll look into both and let you know.

 

Congrats!!!!

Warning lights--
Options-
1. Get the battery bypass kit from Len
2. Get the "right" battery ( Don't HAVE to have that kind)
3. Just push the test or reset button on the cluster. 1st push lights them all up, 2nd push turns them all off. That's all I do--- I'm in the habit of doing that when ever needed.

Brakes- yup, master cyl has a float sensor in it... May need to check that. But again, if you have a mc without the float, just push the button

Forward controls-

1. Get the kit from TC Bros.
Or
2. Just get used to the feel of the new position

Mufflers- Harley sportster/skirtster mufflers do work.... The xj bikes are very free- blowing to begin with.... Swap and go. BUT-- bear in mind the Seca mufflers are angled and the sportster mufflers are straight, so you will contend with odd angle issues to resolve.

 

Hi all!

hogfiddles -- Reset button worked like a charm. Thanks for the tip!

Next problem...after an hour ride around town, i stopped to fuel up. Shut 'er down, gassed up, hit the starter and it clicked, gurgled while turning over sloooowly, then quit. After a few more tries, i popped the bike into 3rd and push started it...and she ran like a champ. This leads me to believe that the bike is generating power, but that it's not making it to the battery and therefore the battery is not charging.

Any advice?

 

Test your battery

 

Hey cm, another PA boy, your build sounds like mine last year, I did do the shortys with no noticeable fuel setting changes. But I will admit while I was doing a rest-mod on a 85 maxim 700 air-head, I also cleaned carbs, filter, new needles, and much more, so how much the pipes changed anything is very hard to tell. But I did not re-jet and she runs stronger than ever. I did keep the 4 into 2 OEM manifold and kept OEM headers, To solve the angle problem, (with the collector off) I took acetylene touch and a length of round steel bar stock, heated to cherry red and bent the 2 outputs down and in , was all done by eye, but came out pretty damn close, if I di say so myself.
BTW, where in PA are you, I'm West Central, stay in touch, here's a pic of how mine turned out

 

Wagy,

looks outstanding!! Great work man. I'm looking at getting slightly shorter pipes...check out www.radiantcycles.com.

How do you like the controls a set forward?

Any issues with the electrical system?

Hogfiddles, battery is fine. I cleaned the terminals and leads just in case. It's charging now. I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks again guys!

Warmly,
Connor

 

Love the red trim Wagy. Beautiful bike.

 

TY cgutz, got her done less than 2 weeks before crushing both heel bones in a building construction fall, I haven't even back out to the garage since then, And I miss her a lot. I'm glad I took some pics to get me thru, my son ,who did a lot of help on this 2 yr re=build, and thought I was crazy for tearing her down so far for just a leaking petcock into the crank, is going to take "Maxine" to her winter place this week, i'm wheel chair bound for a least 3 month, then phy. therapy, so cant wait for spring.
Hey Connor, had a Sportster bout 10 yrs ago and it had forward controls and I've been spoiled since then. So F/C are on the list for next yr, I looked at the cost and even the ones I found were pricey, and was still going to need modified. So I think i'll fab my own. Would never have tried it before, but from what I learned from this site and the full Resto-Mod on Maxine I feel I could probably pull it off now. I am really proud of how this re-build turned out, well worth every agrivation. But if anyone has a nice direct bolt on forward control set -up for 85 Maxim 700N, please let me know
By the way, where are you from in PA ? I'm goin to check out the link to radiatcycle tnx I did find a pic of my first re-build, my son's 350 Honda Dual Sport and a pic of what Max was before the face lift, TTYL

 

Hey Wagy,

Wow man...you guys just keep doing what your doing...including healing up from that nasty accident.

Check out http://www.tcbroschoppers.com/yamaha-maxim-xj750-forward-control-kit.html (thanks to hogfiddles for the recommendation). TC Bros also has a kit for fab-ing your own controls.

I'm in the Allentown are. Where are you?

Have a good one!
-connor

 

Wagy, you need a really nice tall backrest to complete it! She looks real good....nice job.

Heal up quick!!!

Connor, I grew up outside of East Stroudsburg.......now am in central NY nearer to Utica.

 

TY for the TCBros link, I'll be useing them after new years, BTW I'll western PA near Johnstown, also , just getting the back fender struts and backrest was a total mod , took a while to find one I liked and then fab to mount it. Compaired to the ugly grab bar or short high rise backrest that is offered for yamahas , I thought this waspretty good.