1985 XJ700 X Looks like blowen head gasket

J, thanks but if this does not work out she will be a parts bike. I do hope this is it, with the new rings and all the other cylinders are working as they should. Will post updates when I am done.

The price of the bike was right and I currently have the time to work on her, otherwise it might not be worth the time.

 

Well once step forward and then slip and fall right on your A**! One of the EX valve keepers went flying across the shop, can't find it. I had to walk away in frustration and wonder what the heck.

So if anyone has a spare Valve keeper let me know. I sure hope I don't have to pull of the head to get the spring compressed enough to get the keepers in place.

That and the really scary part is, if I can't find it, did it happen to drop into a spark plug hole and then into a cylinder. Had the plugs out so I could move the engine more freely. I think I had them covered but just start to question what could happen if you can't find a part.

 

Took the time today to really clean the shop looking for that little part that went flying. No luck! I had the head covered when I was doing the keepers so the chance of it going down one of the cylinders is minimal. I did however make a long magnet and slid it down each spark plug hole just in case. I even hit each cylinder with some compressed air and tried the magnet again...still no keeper.

At this point I think I will button it up and hand turn the engine and then go from there. I had the shop doors open and the one I did find was very close to the door, several feet away.

So either I am heading for a good running bike or maybe a meltdown. More to come....

 

I got some time to work on the bike! Well lots of stuff got a little TLC today, but this is the bike forum. Got that pesky little valve keeper in and started to button up the top end. I followed the book this time and put the exhaust cam in second, something was not right. Would not turn over (by hand) very well, nothing too nasty but something was not correct.

Pulled the cams off and put the IN cam on first and then the EX and what a wonderful difference that made. Got all the bolts to spec and called it a day. I sure hope that I don't have to go back into the head and or valve train anytime soon.

Thanks again for the forum for keeping me a little motivated, love to see all the other posts on how your projects and trouble shooting are going. Great group of people here.

 

Yaaaay! You got the whole process figured out.

1. Do it yourself
2. When you get frustrated, walk away, come back later.
3. If it still gives trouble ask here.
4 TAKE YOUR TIME

I have some bikes that have been on the shop floor for 5 yrs or so.......one is an X, and I lapped all the valves and seats.....had everything. In a special rack that was designed to hold each valve, spring, keepers organized----I put it way out of the way so I wouldn't bump it and knock it over. Weeeeelllll.........somehow, I bumped it, it wiggled, ai grabbed for it, hit something else that fell and got to the valves before my hand--------it took me three days to find all the keepers. i haven't gotten UN-mad enough at myself yet to actually take the time to RE-lap everything. Someday......in the meantime, ai have another X project that cam in, AND 2 X's that I took in in trade and both of them are already on the road now . I'm PROBABLY gonna just take one of them and start swapping all the nicey-nicey parts on to THAT one. For now......

 

I skip step 2 all the time -- and sometimes skip step 4.

 

Honestly, though, sometimes I modify step 2.

 

Update! Got the bike all together and gave it a try. She started up and with a little adjusting she runs really nice. Flip of the throttle and it is very responsive. I kept waiting for the blue smoke to come out of the left side and the oil out of the weep hole of the exhaust but it DID NOT

The vibration of the bike on the hoist made that little valve keeper fall out of some place on the left side of the bike by the rear tire. Have no idea how it got back there, but for those of you (me too) have a bet that it was in the engine or cylinder, it is not Found and bike is safe.

I do have one oil leak on the right back of the valve cover where the oil line comes into the valve area. I will pick up some new copper crush washers and hope that takes care of it. Besides that bike is ready to get on the road!

Next will be the seat, she is really in bad shape and needs a new cover.

 

Still having some oil leaking from that banjo bolt. I put new copper washer on them and snugger it down, still leaking. Pulled of off and used a hand file to "flatten" the surface where the copper washer rests. It helped but still is slowly leaking. I really don't want to use some ultra black to make a little gasket that allow oil to flow on the banjo bolt.

Any ideas?

 

Found that oil leak! It was on the back side of the oil line before the copper washer. I had to make a little gasket from some gasket paper I had around. As soon as I put that little gasket in, the leak stopped. So, wonder if that oil line had a little crack or ding in it? Also wonder if I put a larger washer on if that would have also stopped the leak. Either way, no oil leak and I am able to ride her. So very happy

 

very excited to read this, I have been following this thread. congrats!

 

Keep an eye on that leak. If it's a crack it will want to grow.

 

And how was your ride? I hope she performed as you expected if not better.
Great job

 

The ride was really nice, getting used to the seat position and starting to like it. I can see maybe a wind shield of some type down the road for longer rides. I will have to look into those front brakes. I am so used to sport bikes having three piston front brakes that these shocked me a little. All the little things now like fork seals (maybe) SS brake lines and rebuild forks.

As for the leak, yes I will keep an eye on it and easy to see. It is the high side (left if you are sitting on the bike) oil banjo bolt. I will degrease the engine again just to make sure that I didn't miss anything.

It might be time to look at replacing the clutch as well, I had to adjust the cable a bit. The bike sure does shift nice and I had no dead spots in the RPM range when I was on throttle. I have not wound her out yet as the rings are still in that break in stage.

 

Braided Stainless Steel brake lines will make a significant difference in your braking ability. Bump that up on your list - especially if you still have the original rubber brake lines on.

 

Took her out today for a real ride not just up and down the road in front of my place. So far the oil leak is stopped, and all with the engine is fine. I didn't want to hog on her too much as I still need to set those new rings.

I will ask if the blue dot brake calipers will fit on this bikes stock lower forks? Just thinking of some good stopping power.

Here is a pic of her today, yes working on fixing the seat and also those forks, they need rebuilding.

 

Took front wheel off to do some work on those front brakes. The fork seals seemed to have done their job on the left brake. The PO had EBC pads and they are still in good shape. Lots of cleaning and sanding of the shoe ears to make them move better. Put everything together and added a little high temp grease to the brake pad pin holders. Seemed to worked a little better but still not what I thought the brakes would be like. I know once I put the SS lines on I am sure things will change, as these lines are OLD.

 

You can put blue dots on, but you'll need to make mounting plates.
Add downshifting and compression braking to your stopping routine first though; along with those new braided lines.

 

I was thinking that compression braking is fine when it is needed as this would cause excessive wear upon the engine if used on a regular basis.
As I just invested several hundred dollars into mine I would like to have the engine last as long as possible.
Brake pads are by far cheaper.
Crap I sound like my dad LMAO

 

Ye but the real question is Did you enjoy the ride?