HELP, xj550 Shuts Off If Put In Gear

would you consider my wife, no title, no inspection and i won't report anything. older model but a hell of a cook

 

lol... older model...

Thanks but I can barely handle the one I've got... unless... wait... whats the resale value on that? Considering everything seems to depreciate in value as soon as u take it home I'm not sure that would be a sound investment. I do have a thing for classics but I'm not sure that applies to women...

 

Anyone know about stage 1-3 Dynojet kits? Considering how my xj550 is running so lean would it be worth considering bigger jets? I know i could eventually get the carbs adjusted more adequately after countless trial and error, but would it just be simpler to re-jet them for more fuel? Also I wouldn't mind squeezing out a few more ponies.

Also, would slide hole modification be worth the time it would take to do it? Or am I barking up the wrong tree even thinking about it?

 

Get the carbs to the church of clean, get the shim clearances back in spec, and you'll get your power back---- your running lean cuz things are out of whack

 

I've been meaning to go to church just been to busy or lazy to tear the carbs off and tear them down again. From what I understand the float spacing on mikunis are responsible for all kinds of irregular behavior so no matter what route i would go the carbs will need many adjustments. Since I got the bike I put a few miles on it, it's now over 16k, so checking the valve shims is right around the corner. I just need to find the necessary tools, which are MIA at the moment, and a few days of free time and it'll be at the top of my to do list.

 

Ok, so I've been filling out all the necessary forms for a Vermont registration. I even called the Vermont DMV before I started to make sure I'd have everything I need to get the registration. While filling out the Registration Application and Vin Verification forms I noticed this little stipulation > 3) vehicle currently has liability insurance in effect as required by 23 V.S.A. So here come's my question... is it even possible to get insurance for a vehicle without having registration or a title 1st?

I remember having a similar issue when I bought my car about 10 years ago where I couldn't get it insured without registration/plates but couldn't get registration/plates without insurance but I don't remember how I got it worked out. I think I had them both done at the same time at an Auto License Broker, but I can't really do that in this case... I know sometimes it depends on the insurance company, so anyone know a good, fair priced, insurance company i can go with?

 

When I bought my bike I purchased insurance for it before I rode it home: no title and no registration in hand. I did mine through progressive. I think all they asked for was the VIN.

 

Sweet. TY Ryangh. I'm checking out some insurance options now so I'll take a look at progressive while I'm at it

 

If you have other insured vehicles then your existing policy covers new purchases for a limited time (usually 30 days). Check with your agent and they can get you a temporary card to get your registration with.

 

In NY, you MUST have insurance on anything before you can register it. DMV will turn you away if you don't have insurance with you at registration,

 

My car's currently broken and uninsured...

TY for all the help Everyone

I did get a few motorcycle insurance quotes and so far I haven't been asked for registration. I just have to get to my local DMV to get a motorcycle permit and get my bike to the police station to get the Vin Verification form signed. As soon as that's all taken care of I'll purchase some insurance then mail my paperwork to the Vermont DMV and I think I'll be good to go if I decide to go that way...

I may still try to get the Registration through my own state (PA) if it seems faster or easier. I'm not really sure yet. When I spoke to the Vermont DMV the guy said they were about 3 weeks behind on mail so that's a bit depressing... The registration fee is only $18 here compared to the $31 there. I know, the extra $13 isn't important as long as it gets me registration, but if I can get it taken care of in one day at my local DMV I'll be as snug as a bug on drugs I just need to have an MV-1 form (which i cant download) and a PA Vin Verification form signed by an inspection mechanic. And it's way easier for me to ride 2 miles (without plates) on back roads to a mechanic than it is to get it to a police station in town. I'm still working it all out but I'll know for sure Saturday when I go to my local DMV (they're only open 2 days a week...)
I have to go there for a motorcycle permit anyway so I might as well try for registration before I mail my paperwork to Vermont. Either way I'll try to get the insurance tomorrow so I'm prepared for whatever I decide to do.

 

Won't PA also want a title?
The whole point of Vermont is because they are one of few states that do not issue titles on vehicles over 15 years old, and the only one that lets a vehicle be registered without the owner having an in-state residence.

 

I'm not sure... take a look at this website and let me know what u think > http://www.dmv.org/pa-pennsylvania/motorcycle-registration.php < I'm not sure if that link refers to a new registration or just updating an old registration.

I don't know what's on the MV-1 form or if a title is necessary yet. I have the Vermont documents all done except the Vin Verification. Then I read that web page and it made me think maybe it was easier or faster just to do it here in PA. I was going to ask the folks at my local DMV when I go for the motorcycle permit on Saturday and if it seems like a wild goose chase then I'll mail out the paperwork to Vermont Monday morning. I figured when I go to have the Vin Verification signed I'll have both the VT and PA Vin papers signed at the same time just in case. Let me know what u think, I plan on getting the Vin Verification form(s) signed tomorrow if I can.

 

1st off I'd like to apologize in advance for bombarding you with all of this confusion...

I think you may be right k-moe. But even though Vermont doesn't require/issue titles for older bikes won't I still need to get one in PA? I'm pretty sure they're required here. My original plan was to get the registration through Vermont and use that to get a Title here in PA, but the PA registration process seems almost identical to Vermont's except for one major difference.... PA's requirement of the MV-1 form. Turns out that the MV-1 form is the“Application for Certificate of Title” I'm pretty sure either way I'll have to do the MV-1 form. If I apply for the registration here I'll have to apply for a Title right away and if I get it through Vermont I'll still have to do the entire PA registration/Title application anyway when I have it transferred to PA...

The PA DMV's information seems so much more vague than Vermont's... From what I've made sense of so far (which isn't much) I'll have to transfer the registration/plates to PA (within 20 days?) once I receive the Vermont registration.

So yeah... I'm still not sure what the best option is... Seems like no matter what I do I'll still have to fill out the MV-1 form (and possibly others?) for a PA title but I don't know, it's all gibberish to me... I've been focusing so much on VT registration that I hadn't given much thought to getting the PA Title... At this point, by the time I get the Vin forms signed, I'll have to wait til Monday to mail out the VT Registration paperwork anyway, so I figured I might as well weigh my options between now and then. I'd like to find the fastest/cheapest way to get it done and spare myself a ton of extra fees along the way but every PA DMV form I look at seems to point me toward more forms... I don't mind spending a little more money if it gets this all over with but I think the only way I'll really know for sure (without waiting for the lazy folks at the local DMV) is to call PennDot or the local PA Auto Brokers in the morning.

P.S.
I'm not sure if this will help anyone make sense of any of this but here's a few links for the curious.

Here is a link to the Pennsylvania MV-1 Fact Sheet > http://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/dvspubsforms/BMV/BMV Fact Sheets/fs-mv1.pdf < it's just some info on what to expect from the MV-1 form.
A link to a fact sheet about buying/selling vehicles in PA > http://www.dot.state.pa.us/public/dvspubsforms/BMV/BMV Fact Sheets/fs-buysell.pdf < I found this one to be a bit more helpful as it covers a lot more about registration and titling in PA.

 

If I'm reading the FAQ correctly, the MV-1 form only allows transfer of ownership for brand-new vehicles where you recieved a MCO (Manufacturer's Certificate of Origin), and is used to get the first title, or for registration of a vehicle where you currently have a title in your name or that has been assigned to you. What you need to find out is the PA requirements for titling a vehicle with a lost title. You will need to provice proof of ownership. It looks like you will probably also have to track down the last owner listed on the title and have that person sign the vehicle over to you (which may be problematic). The only thing I see on the buy/sell page is about getting a duplicate title if you misplace yours, but that would only apply to the former owner (who you'd have to get to do the paperwork).

Going through Vermont gets you a registration in your name, which will be treated as proof of legal ownership by PA, and allow you to get both a PA title and PA registration as if you had a title in your name.

 

I didn't have a title for my bike here in NM. I just had to get a surety bond through my insurance company and then I got a title from the DMV. It did take a while and it cost $50 for the bond

 

try going to your local state rep with all the forms and ask them if they can send/take them in.
i had a title in two weeks but that was a long time ago. they've been ripping you off for years, let them work for some of that money

 

...Ok... So I tried calling PennDOT but they never answered (surprise) pretty useless as usual... After that I called the PA Auto Brokers and they told me... If the Vehicle was a PA vehicle (which it is...) then it was originally Titled in PA and I would need to track down the original owner, regardless of where/how I get registration, and have them file for a Duplicate Title, OR file for an Abandoned Vehicle Title at the courthouse. A friend of mine said they can refuse your claim for an Abandoned Vehicle Title, repossess the vehicle, and I would have to buy it back off of them at auction... so I'm definitely not going that way with it... I suppose I could have the VIN searched to see who the original Title holder was and go from there, but it sure seems like a lot of extra headaches... The chain-guard on the bike has a decal on it of the dealership that sold the bike so maybe I could try them (if they still exist 30 years later) and find the original owner that way... But again, many more headaches to be expected...

If I have insurance/registration do I really need a Title?

 

Also, Ty for the input Yardawg, I'll look into that after I get the registration/insurance to see if that's an option for me...

 

I only really need a Title to resell it right? And I don't plan on selling it any time soon. Even if I did sell it the buyer could just do the same thing I'm doing with a Bill Of Sale right?

So I think what I'll do is...
1) Get the VT registration and insurance so I can legally ride the bike in PA
2) Worry about getting a PA Title at a later date...

1993 is the last time the bike was registered in PA so I think it may be easier if I just pretend the bike made it's way to Vermont (where Titles aren't a thing of the past) some time between 1993 and now. Sure I'll have the Bill Of Sale saying it was bought in PA in 2016 but that's just because the bike made it all the way back from Vermont to be reborn in it's home state...

Does any of that sound believable...?

Does it even matter if it's believable...?

I don't know but I plan to find out...

 

You need a title to prove ownership and prevent a prior owner from deciding to claim "their" freshly restored motorcycle. PA is required to honor titles from other states. A Vermont registration is a title. I would check with a lawyer before proceeding. I would not trust the opinion of an auto broker in such an uncommon situation

 

sigh... I keep hoping things will start to fall into place as I go through the registration process but the more I learn the more discouraging it all becomes. I think I'm gonna have to do a VIN search and try to track down the original owner...

So I did a few VIN searches online. Still haven't found the original owner but I know now that it was never reported stolen. So far the VIN checks I've done won't give me any info on the previous owners without a fee... If I go to the DMV or the Police Station will they be able to give me info on the last known Title holder? Or should I just pay an online VIN search for a full report?

 

So apparently the local DMV is now open only one day a week... God they're lazy.... I'll have to wait til next week to get in there now and I'll have to wait til Monday to call the police dept. to see what they say about a VIN search so I'll probably just pay for the online VIN report. I'll let u know if I have any luck tracking down the previous Title owner.

Even if I do track him/her down then what? Do I try to get them to order a duplicate Title to sign over to me? Should I get the Registration 1st in case they try to pull a fast one on me?

 

So got a VIN Report online and it was all but a total waste of time and money. I'm not any closer to finding the Title holder... I sent a message to the guy who sold me the bike and he did eventually get back to me to say the lady he got it from lives next to his workplace but I'm still waiting for him to message me her name and phone number. Who knows how long that could take... In the meantime I'll mail my registration paperwork to Vermont and get this ball rolling.

The current Title records on the VIN Report did say that it was last titled in 2006, so at least I won't have to trace the previous owners all the way back to the late 80's or early 90's so I guess that's the bright side of it all.

Here's a a link to the VIN Report if anyone's curious > http://www.vincheckup.com/ma/tcpdf/examples/06_Aug_16/1470508024_pdf_email.pdf <
I didn't find it very useful but maybe some of u pros will see something that I didn't, though it seems pretty strait forward. If nothing else maybe it'll give someone who's considering paying for a VIN Report an idea of what they'll get for their money...

 

I called the local police to search the VIN# but they couldn't find it in their system... The guy had to have put a wrong number or letter in somewhere, even my shotty Vin Report said the bike is titled to PA... so then I called the state police and they said they wouldn't even do a VIN search for me... so then I called PennDOT... After much frustration, and having been hung up on once or twice, they told me I have to either file a DL-135 form or file for a court order for ownership... God Bless America...

So yeah... I guess I'll just go with my original plan and send out for the VT registration then go from there. Once I have registration it should be a bit easier to prove ownership when I apply for a court order or fill out the DL-135. This whole process is just a headache so I'm all but over it at this point. My guess is that the title holder lives about 250 miles away so I don't think they will ever try to reclaim the bike anyway...

 

Dateless,
You're agonising over the situation. Imo send the necessary paperwork and $ to VT then use that to get PA registration and Title and be done with it.

Gary H.

 

That's the plan

I figure I won't be able to get a Title til I at least have all of that VT registration stuff done anyway. Honestly, at 1st I wasn't really too concerned about having the title unless I wanted to sell it but some of the members said some stuff that made me think it was more important than I had initially thought. Getting the Vin stuff signed tomorrow and mailing it all to VT the next day. I'll worry about a Title later.

 

Exactly.

As stated by other members...always get a title when you can.

Gary H.

 

That is lovely advise I'll send out for the registration and worry about other things for now. I still have some work to do on the bike itself.

Thank You everyone for your advise thus far

 

We're all here to help and learn from each other.

Gary H.

 

And that's why I keep coming back

I feel like I've spent more than enough time on the title issue so now it's time to move on...

In the spirit of moving forward, does anyone know the correct ColorRite code or Yamaha color code for the 82 Xj550 Seca? I've seen it identified on other sites as "Maxim Red" and "Brilliant Red" but ColorRite doesn't seem to have any Yamaha colors from b4 the early 90's. If I remember correctly the Yamaha color number was something like #36. Can anyone confirm this?

I need it for some touch ups on the tank and to repaint my "new" side covers, which look much better now since I used brake fluid and hot water to strip the f-ugly black spray paint off, but they're white so they still don't match the bike...

 

Upper right corner. Click the banner thingy. Click the paint section of the catalog. You'll find the exact-match paint you need there.
Or make it easy on yourself and start a conversation with Chacal.

 

I did exactly that and found the section that pertains to my color(s).

NOTE: the following two colors were used on the 1982 XJ550 Seca models, and differ only slightly in their color tint. The HCP7915 Bright Red T5 color is exactly that: bright red. The HCP7915DR Dark Red T5 is the same basic color, but is a darker, less bright shade of red. Both colors have been observed on original 1982 XJ550 Seca models, and we have no idea why some bikes were finished in the bright red and others in the "darker" bright red, but it is a very visible difference. Perhaps Yamaha changed paint suppliers during the 1982 production year and the shade of red paint was changed slightly. In our opinion, the brighter red color is more attractive, and more keeping with the sporty, attention-grabbing nature of this bike, but we do have it available in both original shades for restoration purposes.

How do I know exactly which color of red I need? As far as I can tell I have the "Bright Red" but I have no way of knowing for sure since I don't have the other variation of the bike to compare it to. Here's a pic I took of my Seca (with the bikini fairing off) about a week after I got it running and cleaned it up bit. Does anyone know which tint of red it is? My guess is it's the HCP7915 Bright Red T5, but like I said I have no way to confirm this...

 

Pick one and paint the whole bike. The red you have now is faded (all reds fade over time) and your sidecovers won't match well even if you pick the correct shade of red. If you can't do the whole bike then Chacal should be able to send you samples so you can get a close-enough match.

 

TY for the suggestion Not sure I want to tackle painting the whole bike right now, plus the decals aren't available in Chacal's part catalog anymore, discontinued... I think I saw them on eBay a while back but they were pretty expensive so I think I'll just ask Chacal about some color samples for now. I'm sure it has faded some in the past 34 years but it's incredibly vibrant yet, the pic doesn't do it justice... Other than a few scuffs/scratches it looked pretty much new when I 1st cleaned it, but I wasn't around back in 1982 to see what they looked like then As far as I can tell it sat in a dark/dusty barn or shed for the past 25 years or so. When I got it had a 20+ year layer of dust over the whole bike that seemingly protected the paint job from the wear of time and sunlight. I still need the front fender yet so maybe once I have it I'll consider painting it all to match. In the meantime, if I can, I'll get some samples and see just how faded it really is then go from there

 

I spoke with Len (aka Chacal) and unfortunately he doesn't have any samples, but he did confirm my suspicion that that my Seca is in fact of the "Bright Red" variety, so that's good.

After I repair my side covers with some old LEGO's I'll prep them for a paint job and order everything. LEGO's are apparently made of ABS so a few will be sacrificed for the greater good. I was considering buying a 3D Printer Pen to do the repairs, since they use a string of ABS. I figured since it basically heats up and squeezes out a fine line of ABS that i might be able to use it sort of like a hot glue gun to bond/fill the cracks then sand the repaired areas as necessary. Does that sound like something that might work? or should I just stick to the original repair plans and save the $10 I'd spend on a cheap 3D Pen?

 

A printing pen won't do the job. The sidecover material has to get hot too. I use an old soldering iron to weld plastics, but there are kits that use hot air guns and come with filler rod.