What did you do to your Yamaha today?

Who has the highest mileage XJ?

 

making a unicycle?
Seriously, what are you building/converting?

 

Just rebuilding a neglected '81 650 seca, came without front forks, tank, front wheel, but with a substantial amount of rust and general neglect. Still not fired it up yet, but at least if it does run I will be able to take it for a spin now.

 

Tonight I sandblasted and painted a set of Hagon gas shocks and springs, they will do for now.

 

I hooked up my exhaust today, checked the wiring, and tomorrow i will be adding the carbs back on, everyone pray she will live!

 

should have put carbs on first then lit it up can be a nice show after dark

 

Went to lunch today and finally had a chance to see / ride another 750.

This guy and I ride the same stretch of road every day to and from work for the last year and have never seen each other on the road. I found him through a local facebook motorcycle group. Totally weird riding a fairing for the first time.

 

Just started the motorcycle after a grueling change of the starter clutch... IT LIVES!

Things to fix, Exhaust Leeks like a sieve.
The engine squeaks like a chipmunk.. wth!..

don't really want to rip it all apart again...

 

Dantoys how many hours did it take to fit the new starter clutch?

 

Either an exhaust or (hopefully not) a compression leak..........

* Whistling or chirping noises are some of the hardest to identify as to their source. Here's a couple of tricks:

Quick verification: take the plugs out. If the noise goes away then it's compression. If the noise remains, it's something else. "Something else" can be a number of things, but large vacuum leaks tend to give off whistling and/or chirping sounds...........


* Popping noise or what sounds like a bearing knock:

Possible it's a bad bearing, but more than likely it's a leaking exhaust gasket (hold a tissue around the exhaust joints and see if it flaps in the breeze.......)


* A bag-'o-marbles-in-a-tin-can sound:

This is typical of a starter clutch issue.....see the STARTER CLUTCH section below. Not a good thing........


* Clutch chattering:
http://xjbikes.com/forums/index.php?threads/38486

If the sound comes only when the clutch lever is squeezed, then check the throw out bearing. It's a radial needle bearing that is pulled by the rack and pinion inside the clutch cover, and when it goes bad it will squeal like a stuck pig.


* metallic sounds from the top end of the engine:

XJ550’s can make a particular type of “quiet” rhythmic, metallic knocking sound from the top end, which will disappear as rpm’s increase………..this is typically caused by a primary chain (inside the engine) which can “flop” around a bit at low rpm’s due to low oil pressure (oil pressure is used to tension this chain). It’s nothing to worry about.

A "tap-tap-tap" in the upper end may or may not be something to worry about; if it’s s “sharp” metallic sound…..that could be a cam bearing or cam cap problem. Both the XJ650 and air-cooled XJ750 engines had a factory TSB (Technical Service Bulletin, or in other words, an internal "warning" to their dealers) regarding slightly loose tolerances for camshaft end-play on these engines. It's a regular ticking sound that increases along with the engine speed, and is most easily heard from the right side of the head when the engine is hot. Generally, it is safe to ignore it, as no harm is being done. The camshaft end-play is not so large as to cause any damage.

If it’s just a soft, sewing-machine like tick-tick-tick sounds, then that is probably just the valves happily clicking away through their proper clearances. By the way, the lack of this tick-tick-tick sounds is not a good thing: tight valves make no sound, and tight valves are a quick way to ruin your engine!

 

I did not count the total job, but I started in June tearing down, and just finished , worked a few hours here and there on weekends. It would have been much faster with uninterrupted time, I spent an Entire week spraying the gasket and beating the hell out of my Head just to separate the Gasket.(My Rubber Mallet is broke). Gasket removal was by far the most difficult process. And if anyone plans to try this, clean the engine well, before you remove anything, if you think it is clean, go back and clean it again. and I posted a tip about gasket removal, after most of mine had been painfully removed with a razor blade and plastic scrapers. Soften them up with some Gun bore cleaner.. paint thinner did nothing to help, but stink up my little garage. LOL.

Oh as a note, someone posted a method to replace the starter clutch springs by just removing the Alternator.

Good Luck!

 

Yes gaskets can be a pain, I did the head gasket on my car recently and got the head skimmed at the local engineering shop. I saw the note about accessing the starter clutch on the XJ but I think it is quite tricky to fit them they way. I will have another look at it. Why did they do away with kickstarts lol, the most reassuring piece on metal on a bike.

 

yesterday went for a ride and took a left and just kept on going.
Started in Medford Oregon, Jacksonville, Grants Pass and then on down 199 to California took a right and and headed back up the Oregon Coast. Brookings Oregon had lunch at the HUNGRY CLAM hehehe.
Basically same route I took earlier in July.
ride time 6 hrs.
Miles 276
MPG 50
Amount of satisfaction OFF THE CHARTS
Got home and realized that I was 6 miles from reaching the 74,000 mark on the odometer.
Grandson (4yrs) got on bike decided to put his feet down and knocked off the K&N air pod easy fix
Grandson was so sad that he broke PAPAs bike
Took the opportunity to show him how to fix- GRANDSON all smiles afterward especially since I let him do the wrenching.
Lesson for myself-
It is all about perspective, take each opportunity to teach the little ones while they still listen!

 

I was so inspired after reading this sites threads on rear shocks I made my own version of the spring compressor/remover. Took longer than I thought, and one thing I learnt - some springs are right hand wound, some are left. It may seem trivial, but the shape of the spring cup/holder is dictated by the shape of the spring. I tried it on my konis and the hagons I just finished refurbishing, it worked a dream, but I would like to make a new spring cup, biased the other way. The last item to do is a rubber/felt coating for this cup - to prevent marking the spring.
Handy tool, glad I took the time to get it made.

 

Nothing. I got to fit 1/4 round trim around doorways instead. Not so fun, but very satisfying. I only have one doorway left, and the kitchen floor will be complete.

 

Re-installed the 65orj carbs---- it's getting closer to completion

 

Finally got carbs synched and color tuned ,sure neighbors are happy . I had been messing with this for 2 weeks , after talking to hogfiddles realized I had my synch gauges turned around , I did not think it would make any difference if I had number 4 connected to the number 1 on manifold , but swapped them around and a slight tweak on numer 1 and 4 and all 4 read even and steady idle .

 

A bunch of tuning. Reduced the air and cranking pulse width for better warm start. Turned on overrun fuel cut, which works really nicely for a smooth coast downhill and should improve MPG. Richened up the top couple of rows of the map to get closer to 12.2:1 at WOT (seems to pull a bit better from 4500 onwards like that). Also tweaked the just-starting-off areas of the map to try to keep it from dipping too rich there... haven't had a chance to test ride that change. Also a took a nice ride out for lunch.

 

Fitted the Hagons to the maxim - noticed the upper pins are too long - I guess due to the allowance for the seat/grab rail, which I don't have.
Pulled the old maxim shocks apart using the new compressor, they're Kayabas, and still work OK but the stems are pitted.
I've agreed a deal to buy the koni adjustables, so hope they're as good as the seller says.

 

more washers

 

Used a hydraulic cable oiler to oil the clutch and throttle cable.

 

Vacuum synced and colour tuned my xj1100. Replaced the clutch switch so I can start her when she is in gear now. I also relocated the rear turn signals so my saddle bags will fit. The bags fit well now but I will need to fashion something to keep the bags from hitting the wheel.

 

Finally a day off from work so I took the “new to me” xj750rj out for a 40 mile tour for assessment. All roads are within 5-10 miles of my place so it was nice to have been able to get her real hot and bothered so to speak

1-Starter clutch is “good”.. yay!
2-Runs out real well until about 70mph and then I’m getting a good front end vibration happening thru the bars (neck bearings?)
3-Brakes need replaced front and rear
4-Forks have leaky seals on both sides
5-no noticeable leaks from any gaskets
6-hogfiddles has another carb job for winter
But it’s plenty good enough for the rest of this season knowing the “Connie “ is my daily ride
7- all in all I’m pleased with my introduction to this bike as everything that needs done is expected from a bike this age
8- We all wholly agree the list will become larger

 

Nice looking rife!

 

Get to have two days off this week.
So I went riding this morning before the smoke came rolling back in.
Decided to upload this summers mileage that I have acquired. A amazingly even after having my little accident and my XJ was down for a month.
Just noticed that 73,000 and 74,000-mile picture have the same odometer reading. No, it is not broken just a coincidence. Well that didn't work out like I thought it would LMAO.

 

Been riding through clouds of smoke the last couple of weeks with forest fires burning all around us. The seca seems fine with it but if I open my visor at all I get a face full of ash. It's like snow in the headlight beam at night. This morning it was still dark at 9:30 because the smoke was so thick. I rode into a right turn that leads under an overpass and onto a bridge across the Nechako River and the back end slipped a bit on the ash on the ground. I crossed the bridge and did a lazy down shift without rev matching and the back locked up its so slick. It's going to be an interesting ride home tonight.

 

might consider what all that ash is doing to your air filter.

 

I opened it up on Sunday and gave it a clean but there wasn't much in there surprisingly. I'm off fishing for a week from Saturday and hopefully things will be better when I return.

 

This I thought of an since the air filters are K&N I just wash them out once a week since the fires started.
Thanks for the reminder

 

Having lived through many forest fires, and one volcanic eruption; softwood ash is no big deal.
The engine will let you know when the filter needs to be blown clean.
You'll start having a bog like she's running rich (which she will be).

The bigger issue is what the ash does to the paint and windscreen if you try to just brush it off.

 

Started it and drove it, burnt nearly a whole tank of gas with no destination.... Cruised some country roads... Nice day

 

So I just pulled out two valve cover bolts to check the donuts, they are in good shape and still soft. I'm ordering the new gasket though, I hate the oil getting all over my engine.

 

My advice, if you're bothering to do the gasket, do the donuts at the same time. They may still be soft but not tall enough to put adequate pressure on the gasket to seal it. I have heard some says that they have fixed a leaking valve cover gasket by just replacing the donuts but I strongly recommend doing both, I did, could not be happier. No leaks whatsoever

 

I'm on a bit of a budget, and I've had good luck re using similar before so I'm gonna take the chance for the moment

 

Can definitely understand that.

 

Relocated my signal lights and fitted some saddle bags. I think it worked out pretty well.

 

Yesterday I replaced the universal joint in the output shaft, and stopped the knocking that the previous owner had some how caused. The old universal joint was so far out of round that you couldn't get the driveshaft to catch the splines anymore. It was ugly, but now it's done!

Afterwards, I went after the electrical system to see why all my lights turn on, but they don't flash. I'm replacing the flasher relay, but not really sure that's the problem yet. I also used Klean on the gas tank.

Today, I'm headed to Ace True Value's spring section to see if I can get a spring to replace the missing one from my side stand. I'll also be running Blast through the tank today, hopefully the gorilla tape will stick to the petcock this time... Or maybe I should just plug the holes with something a bit more substantial.

Anyone have a clean picture of an 82 Seca 650 sidestand in the lowered position and stowed position??

 

Found another picture. Sorted neutral light today.

 

I love that paint scheme. Still trying to decide if I’m redoing mine original or going off the grid. Either way I’ll still have the original body.

 

Cheers SpearChucker. My bike was originally Black and Gold but I like it the way it is now too. This is an older picture so I have to add the stripes to the fairing (as the one in the picture has been renovated) and fit the replacement tank once I derust it and probably seal it. The paint scheme above was one of the original ones Yamaha offered customers as you will know.

 

That scheme is definitely in the running for my bike.

 

I like the 1100 Maxim, nice bike. I tried a friends Yamaha XS 750 custom I am sure it was thirty years ago and another friend had the standard XS 1100 but I think the Maxim looks better. Great torque in those engines.

 

Thanks. The more I ride it, the more I love it. It has so much power that it feels less powerful than my xj700 because it accelerates so effortlessly. Doesn't corner nearly as well though.

 

In trying to fit an 8 inch headlight to my maxim (see seperate thread), I went to try the maxim tacho cable on the seca(both 650s). Suprise suprise, the clocks had nowhere for the cable to go - there was one on the seca engine, but it was hanging free -now I know why.
So are these clocks off a 750 then?

 

yesterday had the rear tire changed at 74,343 miles. Bridgestone battle axe tire and this will be the second one. I have really good luck and I really like the way it handles around corners compared to the previous tire Shinko. Shinko are good for mileage as the Battle Axe not so much LOL yet better for cornering.
Give and Take- Anyway just keeping in touch with my fellow riders.

 

Painted the maxim headlight bracket with 2 pack epoxy, had some left over gloss black so rubbed the shell down and did that today - i had expected it to go off overnight, but we'll see what it looks like on the shell.

 

Spent an hour trying to troubleshoot a dragging back wheel bearing....only to remember I adjusted the chain tension last week and forgot to loosen the rear brake...which of course was dragging...I turn 60 tomorrow, so that is my excuse!

I also installed the new rubber grommets to hold my side covers in place, so these rare things won't be lost. Thanks XJ4evr for the parts!

 

On Sunday member XJ750DB came over put a colortune on his carbs . His bike is bitchn , he sent me pictures of his plugs 3 are still lean . Was pretty cool having them next to each other.

 

Hey thanks again for taking a look at my bike. I was able to get 300 miles under my belt in 1 day. From Chicago to Indiana to Michigan and back. What a day.

 

Tried to pool all my plug caps and make a good set.

Gave up and ordered new splices, cables, caps