Maxim 400 Build Project

Have I made a huge mistake????

 

I wouldn't call it a mistake because it's doable.Question is...how much time and $ you want to spend trying to get as close to stock performance as you can without running it way too lean or way too rich? The collective advice is to start with the stock configuration then move to pods.

Gary H.

 

Which is what I have done. It ran great with the stock. I removed the airbox properly (no sawsall) so can add it back in if needed. I'll give this a few days of work and if it's a no go roll back. Carbs need cleaned regardless.

 

This may be helpful and/or encouraging:
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threa...-pods-and-4-into-1-exhaust.29381/#post-251972
Others have gone where you're going. I love the look of pods, but I have no desire to dink around with carbs and jets any more than I have too.

 

Drained the carbs of fuel and got some caps for the vacuum ports. Charged the battery and it started no problem. Left it on the choke for 5 mins and then turned it off and let it idle. Applied throttle and it now revs (it was dying before). Here's a short video of it running and throttle.

https://www.sendspace.com/file/j0h5dp

Now to get the front end electrics wired up and the battery placed so I can ride it and see how the engine is running!

 

Update. Got the headlight hooked up and the backend electrics secured so I could take the bike out. It ran great until I ran out of gas. No problems with the pods. Two things I noticed

- the front brake is always catching (I think it's because the front forks have been lowered and the hose is bent.) can you buy shortened hoses?

- when I squeeze the clutch the headlight flickers. How / why would that be happening???

 

Yes shortened brake lines are available. Get braided stainless ones.
When you squeeze the clutch, you remove the load from the engine allowing it to rev a little easier (cause it's not trying to spin the transmission). This can raise your RPMs slightly which in turn spins the generator faster creating a little more amperage which can cause the lights to flicker. Unless you are referring to a complete, momentary blackout in which case you got a loose wire somewhere.

 

Things are getting a little more involved. Any tips appreciated

 

Whopsie! I forgot we were talking xs400. Only 2 carbs, don't know if that pods link will be much help after all!

 

no problem. I thought there was good info regardless. The bike runs good - just takes it time to get warmed up.

I let it run 5 mins on choke then run it off choke. It then takes another 5 mins before the revs settle and it starts sounding like it's ready to go. I'll deal with that just fine. It's 30.

I'm going to clean the carbs and buy a jet kit if I'm feelin adventurous.

Something like this:

Yamaha XS400 XS 400 cc Special Twin Custom Carburetor Carb Stage 1-7 Jet Kit https://www.amazon.com/dp/B006QZEMUW/ref=cm_sw_r_awd_ZBMgwbGY7E7NN

Hope that will work on a maxim too.

 

5 minutes is a bit of time for it running on the battery alone. You can bring the ec (choke) to idle rpms and run it for a couple blocks under load to bring it to operating temp faster. Doing this won't hurt it. Just saying.

Gary H.

 

Gary - yeah that'll be the plan but right now the electrics / seat etc are all off so can't ride it! Trying to get it into riding condition before the weather gets too cold here.

Another question. I really want to remove the stock exhaust and put something maybe a 2-1 or just something that's more brat like. Any good after market alternatives for this bike?

 

K-moe informed me that there are a couple companies that sell complete aftermarket exhaust systems for these bikes (I thought Mac was about the only one). I can't remember if he named them. The Mac system is on eBay.

Gary H.

 

Marving is another: http://marving.co.uk You'll need to look around to fing a U.S. distributor.

 

Moved on to clip ons - can't work out if my forks are 33 or 35mm - what size are they on the maxim 400? My tape measure is inches so hard to measure mm (I know I need a new one)

 

Digital calipers will tell you instantly......

 

Dial calipers will tell you with style though.

If you have neither, use a length of string to wrap around the fork leg, mark it at the overlap, and then measure between the marks on the string using a ruler.

 

That string will only tell circumference...

 

Mathematics will tell you radius and diameter. Anybody for some pi?

 

Yeah, but just measuring the string won't.... You have to use algae bra.

I'll just use the calipers..... I'm not a mathemagician