1. Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

1981 XJ750 Seca Drag Bike Looking For Information & Opinions

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Thomas Agar, Jun 24, 2018.

  1. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    So I acquired this 81 Seca a coupple weeks ago as a back up for my Buell 1125r. Its quite modified compared to anything Ive read about on here so far. Its a wheelie bar bike. Its been claimed to be a 14:1 compression engine. Here is what I know so far

    1981 750
    ~14:1 compression (Confirmed?)
    Mikuni vm29 smoothbore carburators (confirmed)
    Triple valve spring set up with titanium retainers (not yet confirmed)
    Unkown cams (supposed to have a ton of lift)
    4-1 Exhaust

    Is there beefed up shafts out there? Same goes for the final drive?

    I think the second gear shift fork might be bent from an air shifter. when you throttle into second it acts like id popping in and out of gear, can anyone confirm this is a probable conclusion?

    Im probably going to buy a transmission and shift for asssembly off ebay and swap it if so

    tested the compression going off of a compression test. I read max is 170 psi, The once cylinder i compression tested was 220psi, and this thing has a bunch of seasons on it. My question is with the compression, Could anyone point me into the direction of a high compression piston so i can know whats possibly inside of it?

    The valve spring set up i was told it was out of a kawasaki

    The carbs are obviously off of a kz1000/900

    Ill identify the cams soon

    Can i fit a bigger xj motor on the 750 frame?

    Im sure more questions will come.

    Thomas
     
  2. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam Premium Member

    Messages:
    2,522
    Likes Received:
    1,102
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Cleveland
    Got some pics? I can’t help with questions but would love to see this thing.
     
  3. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    I forgot to mention, I bought this motorcycle and trailer for 500$ :p it's not pretty, it looks better now, but of course like I said, back up bike
    20180506_133334_1527644096384.jpeg MVIMG_20180620_125601.jpg

    I don't keep stickers I don't earn. 20 years of history had to come off

    IMG_20180614_224836.jpg IMG_20180615_004123.jpg received_10213921989697446.jpeg
     
  4. Jetfixer

    Jetfixer Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    3,173
    Likes Received:
    1,485
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Nothern Indiana
    Hmm first never believe the previous owner unless you know them. The compression readings are really high , you might want to rent another tester just to verify . While you stated you were going to check cams , perfect time to check valve clearance and adjust if needed . Sounds like you have a cool beast .
     
  5. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

    Messages:
    3,690
    Likes Received:
    1,665
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    America's friendly hat
    Did the previous owner provide you any paperwork regarding modifications? Any time slips? I wanna know what it does in the 1/4 mile!
     
  6. Minimutly

    Minimutly Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,746
    Likes Received:
    748
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    West Wales, uk
    The thing with cams and compression ratios (and cylinder pressure readings) is that one greatly affects another. With low lift and or duration cams you have optimum trapping at low rpms (hence why std cams give good low end torque).
    As you add lift (and usually duration), you get more overlap, with valves open together, losing some charge down the exhaust, some coming back into the carb. This gives a lower reading on the compression tester.
    Worst case for pump fuel is (real) high compression, with std cams = detonation, melted pistons etc.
    So measuring compression on a modified engine tells you very little, unless you know how it was built - oh, and what fuel it ran on.
    If you want to know what CR its got strip it...
     
    Franz and k-moe like this.
  7. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,613
    Likes Received:
    6,703
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    I would contact the local racing orginizations and see if you can find the builder/racer.

    I also would not try to run her until you know what class she raced in. Use the wrong fuel and there's potential for ruining the engine.
     
  8. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    I know what she runs on, it currently has 119 octane in it. He was running 116 in it but 119 was available for me. She ran in the ET motorcycle class, which means nothing.

    I do know the previous owner :)

    I know static vs dynamic compression is different but it's extremely easy to slap on a compression tester to see if it's higher than stock at all.

    My gauge isn't wrong, I checked with two already. I own an automotive shop up here in Washington, I have plenty of spares :).

    He ran on the bottom end of 12 seconds, he's a big dude though. I'm 5'8 maybe 220. He's probably close to 6 foot and on the better side of 260-300.

    With the cams, he says it's an aftermarket cam with adjustable cam gears but he has them zeroed out.

    I just didn't know if there was general knowledge on a high compression piston. I appreciate all of your feedback so far :).
     
  9. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    2,835
    Likes Received:
    814
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    Tsawwassen bc
    If you need a gearbox I just sold an 82 750 with a bad top end to one of our members from Seattle I’m sure he’d give you a deal on it
     
  10. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

    Messages:
    19,613
    Likes Received:
    6,703
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    The City of Seven Hills
    Any non-stock pistons will have to be custom made, or you might get lucky and find someone with a stash of racing parts that never got binned.
    Even stock overbore pistons are hard to come by. There just never was much demand for either.
     
  11. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    Interesting. Thanks for your input.

    The guy raced it in heavy into the 2000s. Last sticker was a 2013. The gentleman couldn't hang on anymore because of hand issues. He's told me what he could about the build. Everything I've been told I've said here.

    I plan on yanking the valve cover off later today to see what's inside. I want to degree the cams properly as well. I have a launch control sitting here that I'll probably throw on :)
     
  12. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

    Messages:
    3,690
    Likes Received:
    1,665
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    America's friendly hat
    Or you could pretend he couldn't hang on due to SPEED issues!
     
  13. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    Haha maybe. Dropping the clutch with a wheelie bar is quite the ride
     
  14. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    Can't seem to find a number on the cam. I measured .480 lift on the exhaust, having a hard time to get my magnet based dial indicator to stay still on the exhaust. Possibly a megacycle 250-40. Cams a bit beat up.
     
  15. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    Alright, so here is an update. I decided to break her down a bit. Here was the problem with second gear.

    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]

    I have a new transmission sitting here. Will put it in after ewverything else.

    So here come some possible goodies. Let me know if something doesnt look normal or stock, i have no ides what im looking at when it comes to parts ID

    [​IMG]

    These pistons look a bit more domed to me from photos of 750 pistons i have come accross, i could be wrong.

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    Intake port & Exhaust port. Any evidence of porting?

    [​IMG] [​IMG]

    and here is the heasdgasket if it matters

    [​IMG]
    Let me know what yall think

    Thomas
     

    Attached Files:

  16. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    Here is a close up of one of the pistons, definitely yamaha as it says it inside the piston

    [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG] [​IMG]
     

    Attached Files:

  17. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    So im going to assume that this is a high compression engine due to the piston having a lot more dome than i have yet to see in a photo of another 750 piston. Also if you look at the photo here, the mill has taken material out of the bolt boss for the intake or exhaaust bolts. That being said, and with the valves being so close to the flat surface, i think i may be at the limit for taking off any more material.

    [​IMG]

    Im going to see about getting the head CC'ed today, while im at my machinist, ill ask him to pop a valve so i can see the spring set up.
     

    Attached Files:

  18. Minimutly

    Minimutly Well-Known Member

    Messages:
    1,746
    Likes Received:
    748
    Trophy Points:
    113
    Location:
    West Wales, uk
    Hmm, rod bolts upside down - that's a 900 isn't it? Time to measure it up?
     
  19. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    No sir, thats the way they go. They are shaped so they cant go the other way.

    The engine is a 750 :)

    Thomas
     
    Last edited: Jul 23, 2020
  20. Thomas Agar

    Thomas Agar New Member

    Messages:
    29
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    1
    Location:
    Pacific WA
    Update

    Combustion Chamber is 24cc, does anyone know what stock is? Ill be calculating the dome of the piston within the week if i have time and that will of course help me witht he comp ratio

    No titanium at all. 2 spring valve springs exhaust and intake. Ill get the spring rate soon,

    Thomas
     

Share This Page