New to forum justt purchased my first bike an 81 xj650 midnight maxim going to bob it.

Hello everyone my names Dillon from Washington state just picked up a 81 xj650 midnight maxim for an awesome price of 300$ didn't run cleaned carb up good runs now so started the building process you guys have some incredible bikes! Ordered some ape hangers and a new solo seat to start mocking everything up. Advice is greatly taken! I'm a welder so I love fabbing stuff!

 

The airbox. Keep it.

 

Welcome Dillon,
From a safety/ reliability stand point, it is my understanding that the XJ650's front fender is part of the structural support of the front fork assy., see if the seller has it kicking around in his garage.


And put some air in that front tire!

 

It may have been a midnight at some point in time, but there are so few Midnight parts still on your bike. Its only a midnight now because it used to be one. Now, it's just another on of the minions of 650's That have been cut. Too bad it's a midnight that got lost.

 

It actually has a lot of the midnight parts that the previous owners painted over still has the gold rims they just spray painted the black the carb still has the "gold" on the caps but other than that you are correct

 

I have the front fender thanks for the heads up! And needs a new front tire so working on that thanks

 

I guess it depends on how one would look at it. The way I see it, there's only a few midnight parts...

I did see:
the sprayed-over rims
The gold carb hats
The upper fork tube covers

Can see but possibly also painted-over:
Rear hub
Brake cover
Rear footrest mounts

Can't get a good enough look:
Gas cap
Front brake rotor

But I also DON'T see midnight maxim:
Turn signal housings
Handle bar
Gauge cover
Headlight ring
Fork emblem
Fork lowers
Exhaust pipes
Mufflers
Tank
Tank trim
Side covers
Side cover emblems
Clutch cover
Airbox covers
Taillight housing
Mirrors
Grab rail
Swing arm pivot covers

 

yea its ok not too worried about it being a true midnight anymore they already screwed that up but next question does anyone know where to get a new fuel shut off set up mines gaskets and such leaked

 

so the guy gave me the airbox but said he had to cut it to get it out how big of a pain is it to just use pods and rejet the carbs or have someone do it? thanks i might try to see if i can repair the stock box does it make it run that much better?

 

Up on the top right of your screen is a link to the xj4ever catalog. User chacal here offers just about anything you could need for the bike there.
As far as pods go, there seem to be many more people that can't get it right than can. People get their bikes running that way, but generally not well.

 

The airbox. Fix it, or buy a replacement.
It does not matter what motorcycle you're working on; constant velocity carburetors need an airbox to work as designed. Fuel metering is controlled entirely via airflow. Mess with the airflow dymanics and you mess with fuel metering.

 

Heed well the advice of Hogfiddles and K-Moe.....if you want to get your bike running right (especially if you want to do the work only once)!

 

I would find a complete airbox and take the time to correctly install it. Use the correct boots correct jets, etc....... The engineers knew what they were doing.

iT is NOT hard to shift the engine.......remove the starter and the clutch cable mount to give additional clearance, drain the oil and remove the oil filter/ cover/bolt (you were gonna do an oil change anyway, right?!?), place a jack and supportive piece of wood under the engine, remove the muffler mounting bolts, remove the the engine mounting bolts, carefully let the engine tip down and toward the front. You don't' have much room, but the airbox will juuuust squeeze through. If needed, some careful application of heat with a heat gun will allow you to 'fold' the box and slide it in. Heat to 'unfold' and make straight and smooth again. Reinstall engine mounting bolts, muffler bolts, new Filter, reinstall cover, put in new oil.

Check/adjust your clearances, clean your carbs, do your brakes. DO YOUR BRAKES. Who cares if your bike goes fast. What matters more is that your brakes can STOP you fast.

Dave

 

They didn't........ Parts could have been located to restore its MM glory.... You did when you cut the back off----it could become a MM again if someone were to weld correct frame horns on again, though...... So it's not totally a goner.

Too bad it wasn't a generic Maxim though...... There's loads of those around. BUT, what's done is done....... We move on

 

Here it sits after a week of tinkering new bars and seat will be in tomorrow have fender just waiting to mock it all up once the parts come in. Sanding down tanks to re paint. Painted pipes black.

 

Just got the bars and seat now time to put the fender on and build a seat mount looking better and better super excited with how the bars look and feel!

 

Have you checked your valves?

 

+1
Engine first, then move on to the time consuming things.
It sucks to have to work on an engine when the rest of the bike is all brand-new-shiny.

 

engine runs just waiting on air filter parts and jets so in the meantime i am working on the body but yea i agree motor first which is what i started with.

 

Just got done working on it got the seat and fender mounted up and pods put on gonna tie everything up and fire it up tomorrow night after work see how it runs with the pods. Was gonna be a slow build but anxious to get her on the road!

 

Dillon,
We appreciate you showing us your progress.
Please take a moment to review other members responses in this thread. These guys are smart.

It appears you may be so focused on the build and gettin' er done that you may be missing out on some serious headache stoppers.

Example; valve clearances. Did you truly check them?
Your reply was 'engine runs'.

Sure engine runs, but out of spec valves will effect synchronization of the 4 carbs that have pods on them.
Pods themselves tend to make fine tuning black magic instead of a true science.

What I'm saying:
Build as you desire to have the bike look a certain way, but also respect the advice given in regards to the bikes performance characteristics.

 

Pods.......

 

Did you check your valve clearances? Juat because it runs it does not mean that they need to be neglected.

 

Unless you have checked the valve clearances then you must assume that they have never been checked.
Unless you check the valve clearances you must assume that you will drop or burn a valve in the near future.

 

Pipe or structural welder?

 

Oh, and unless you rejetted for pods, it's going to run lean. Hole-in-piston-making lean.

 

Yes I have taken into consideration all the advice and it is all very appreciated and sorry I haven't responded to everyone's posts but yes I need to check valve clearance and I received the jets in the mail but couldn't do anything until pods came and jets came besides body work and such and also waiting on new Petcock which is in route and then I will be tuning what's a good thread for valve clearance specs thanks all for the suggestions I wanted to stay with stock air box but since it was broke and missing all the boots I chose the pods thanks again

 

http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/1981-xj550-seca-valve-shim-job.47819/

You will find specs, and how-to video on this link. This should be square one on your quest to working on your bike. You can make it look as cool as you want or add as much bling but your efforts will be futile if the engine fails.

 

Looking good can't wait to see finished bike.

 

Thanks man appreciate it been waiting for parts and needing to find time getting close though