What did you do to your Yamaha today?

Fixed the oil leak on the oil filter cover. Ruddy FRAM gaskets are too small now. Fortunately, the local hardware store "has a whole drawer of o-rings just for that purpose." Bought two and put in a K&N filter. Next up: carb sync check and steering head bearings.

 

Drove it to work.

Just put replacement OEM type grips on it last week. Much nicer than the crumbling foam grips I had on it since 1985. 83 XJ550 Maxim.

 

Took apart, cleaned, dielectricked and put back together left hand switches and ignition switch. Cleaned a bunch of electrical connectors. I have 1.5V voltage drop on the Br wire (the main bus, basically). Trying to go around the loop and get that to well under 1V. The drop between the battery, the two connectors, the main fuse, and the main R wire was 0.5V or so, so cleaning those points brought it down to 0.1V in that section. Hopefully I can repeat that throughout the harness and get better electric performance.

Yesterday was the starter and alternator cleaning and checking of brushes etc.

Tomorrow?

 

Swapped out ignition switch that was damaged and swapped wafers in key so they all still match

 

oooooo, pretty! Mine's got all the writing scrubbed off

 

The original was bare of writing and steel cap and trap door where gone

 

Went on a 360 mile Little ride Seca 750 really wanted to roll

 

CHecked the fuel levels in bowl #4 for the 6-7 th time, still correct and stable. New seat and new needle did the job. NOw ready to put the carb rack back in the boots. I hope I'll have a few days of good weather to ride the bike before CHristmas...

 

Had to take last six weeks off due to broken foot . Going through withdrawals but my 82 xj 650 ran like crap . I guess she didn't like being ignored for 6 weeks . Any suggestions ran great when parked now stalls at idol and runs rough.

 

Sorry about spelling (long day).

 

Pour half a can of seafoam in the gas tank, run bike, if needed run more seafoam through it.

 

Got around to replacing the spark plugs that had been in for an unknown mileage. Fitted Denso W24EPR-Us in place of the old NGK BPR8ESs, just because that's what is available easiest to me. I have no axe to grind against NGKs, I've always found them to be excellent.
The bike didn't start any different, but it runs slightly better - it's this kind of thing that points up how sensitive these engines can be to slight differences. I might try new plug caps next, as a couple of them are definitely quite old, and one of the coils had been replaced with something unknown and looks like it might not be OEM.

 

Don't break your foot.

Drain the float bowls and tank, and then do the Seafoam with new fuel. You've probably got a combination of less than stellar fuel and gummy crud in the jets.

 

I did the fuel and put new N GK 's a month ago . I have heard of sea foam glad to hear it firsthand thanks it's Saturday today and hopefully xj day . First stop auto parts THANKS!!

 

Thanks ! Did what you suggested , added sea foam and it runs GREAT!

 

I've been rebuilding a spare set of carbs. Today I finally got a chance to do a running synch and go for a ride, and I learned three things.

1. I have a vacuum leak at one of the new intake manifolds, so my decision to not use gasket dressing was unwise. Carbs will come off again tonight (thankfully this is only the third go-round with that).

2. Even with the vacuum leak the bike loves this set of carbs. They are not going to be a spare set; I'll rebuild the original set this winter.

3. Pulling a clutch lever hurts when you're only two weeks past having needed to put a mushed finger into a splint. My next ride will have to wait a few more weeks.

 

Hmmm..... well rebuilt carbs decided to develop a vacuum leak. Bummer.

On the upside I think I know where the leak is.

On the downside it means that I messed up installing one or more of the throttle shaft seals. Bummer x2.

On the really upside the old carbs are still in shape to run well, and the new intakes are leak free, so there is that.

Of course snow is on the way.
Bummer. LOL

 

Rebuilt the front brake light switch, hooked up the heated gear, and RODE! And filled it with gasoline for $1.88/gallon.

 

Checked if an '83 Yamaha XS650 SPecial manual petcock would fit on my Seca900 tank, as a temporary fix for the slow leak I have had for one week. It seems it would work, even if the RES position may be a bit problematic (wrist contorsion).

 

It wasn't today, but I removed the carbs and sent them off to Hogfiddles to get rebuilt. And I checked the valve clearances.

 

Just unboxed a pair of Honda CB coils, 6 feet of wire, and 4 resistor caps.

Time to get the old iron running again...

 

Stopped writing a reflection for college. Looked at it. Sighed. Went back to writing.

 

sat with them while having my morning coffee, told them spring is around the corner. tucked them in and said see you tomorrow

 

8 inches of snow last night 45 degrees today fired up my maxim to test a new tci out . ran well
mmmm the sound of her running wish I could have gone for a ride.
soon very soon.............

 

Temps hit 50 2 days in a row fired up both days let her run for 15 minutes ( it rained both days ) sounded so nice ...counting days till spring

 

15 degrees today - High of 13 tomorrow . . . . . .

Hate you guys.


I can't recall ever having such a case of cabin fever . . . we are only in February but I am soooo ready for riding weather.

 

Snow is soft, so if you fall NBD. Go ride

 

Nice weather in South Georgia almost all year. I ride all year, and yes it's a bit hot and humid July -- Sept, and a few days of cold in Dec--Jan. Took a casual ride on Friday, and my XJ started immediately and ran great. Just love the sound of these 4 cylinders purring along after spending some time on my v-twin Honda. Going to take a close look at my carbs tomorrow. Appears to have some oil or something appearing around the area of the throttle shaft on one of the carbs. The plugs look great so I'm hoping it's just some residue.

 

Not mine, but I finally dialed in Virago that I've been working on for a friend. I (and the PO) neglected to jet for the aftermarket exhaust. She pulls damned hard now, and isn't running lean anymore. Sadly It's going to be shipped to another state, as are my friends. Oh well. road trip

 

Stared at it. (Waiting for a fractured Ulna to heal)

 

Walked by it in the garage. Supposed to be 60 degrees here Friday. Tempted, but there is a lot of sand and melting snow on the streets...

 

Predicting 50 here this weekend. . . so much sand here I was able to slide in a corner on 4 wheels.

 

broke Ulna and Radius 2 steel plates back in july , now Im waiting for spring

 

Supposed to be 60 lots of sand and salt on the road... supposed to go work on a buddys 81 Kz1000 on Sunday oh well at least it is working on a bike

 

Got my shims out and checked! Some knucklehead put one of them in numbers up, so I called my friend with a laser engraver. It has numbers again! Now to wait for the mail to arrive with my shims and carbs!

 

Took exhaust off... Polished primaries with #0000. Scotch Brite the rust off collector box. Sized up new low pro bullet turn signals, messed around with headlamp position. Studied profile between tank and tail cowl for making seat pan.... And continued staring at space between velocity stacks and frame to picture shape of airbox... Admired the patina of the original paint and thought about how much I look forward to meeting some of you Xj junkies for rides once I'm wheeling.

 

1. Took the 700 for a 12 mi ride......after walking it through the snow to get to the driveway.

Did some preliminary re-arranging to make room for the next resident in the stable----just shook hands on a deal for a 2003 BigDog Bulldog. Oh, don't worry, I'm not leaving the XJ's

 

Yikes Dave! That's quite the bike! What displacement? Gonna start an other motorcycles thread? We need pictures!

 

107 CID

 

Damn! Is that a 37 degree rake?

 

You might find a little bit of torque in there...

 

I looked at mine and gave it a wink.

 

I attempted some spring compressors. Need to build another set to compress evenly.

 

it is sooooo long!

 

Creative, but the correct size spring shouldn't require that much compression to install . . . I would suspect that once it is installed it will be a very firm ride

 

I've put 70 miles on went to filling station last night , and filled up almost got all the stabil/seafoam ran out of tank...she is running sooooo well 65 degrees yesterday , 43 today and Saturday 34 for high and snow...well time to spend some time cleaning ...

 

My back aches just looking at that Big Dog. They did make pretty bikes though.

 

Waiting for replacement wrist pins and rings for my XJ700X- scoured the garage for my original air box came up with the hose clamps, chrome, new K&N air filter but no box.
Going back to original set up instead of pods!
Still looking for the air box, while in between coats of paint for the engine valve cover and head assembly. Up to the third coat of clear coat
Other then a college class and a guidance counselor appt. thinking of what I can do tomorrow ?
Time to do the exhaust and rear brake drum I think if time permits.
Also very grateful that my wife is being patient with me over my bike

 

I have a paper that's due, if you're looking for a time killer.

 

As far as I know, thats the stock spring. It certainly looks like the stock KYB shock. I assumed the same. Then as the coils compressed, they became rather stiff real quick. Talk about a variable rate!