What did you do to your Yamaha today?

Another milestone achieved on my one owner XJ550K Maxim.

 

Been working on this for three days , a couple of years ago bought the factory fairing . Mounting on my yellow seca this has been an adventure. First mistake bought fairing ...without the mount.. Joe Elliff to my rescue he had the mount I needed. I have been to the hardware store three times , never seen items blts in my stache of spare hardware either to long or short or wrong thread . Had it mostly together could not wait took it for a ride , it was strange the fairing stays stationary but forks move , the mount is strange and fairing moves slightly so not sure if I am missing something on the mounting . Have some more work to do ran out of time tonight.

 

Finished installing fairing here are some pictures

 

Added handlebar extensions.

 

Those what you told me about at the carb clinic? They look pretty good!

dfox

 

Well felt like I just went a few rounds with Mike Tyson, I had mounted the front fairing , I had the shimmy dampner on the bike before , and had to remove it to mount the the fairing mount. Rather than remove fairing I pulled the mount bolts after fighting getting the shimmy dampner bracket back on fought getting fairing bracket back on with the fairing attached it is rather awkward. Next issue turn handle bars to the left have plenty of space with the mirror to windshield.. turn to right and the mirror hits the windshield, adjusted the lower mount no better , loosed the handle bars and move to the left and this fixed that , unfortunately it is supposed to storm next six days would really like to try riding a distance to see how it is with the fairing .

 

Installed the re-welded collector box and exhaust with all the correct gaskets what a difference no leaks makes. Now onto the new tail light and modding the rear fender.

 

Valve cover had a slight leak dripping oil down the fins of the left side of the motor when on the stand. Otherwise, running so good, starting so easy, I decided to just swap in a new valve cover gasket. Had that valve cover on and off 3 times before I got it. That gasket is such a huge PIA!!! Anyway, got it. Now to just clean the oil all over from the 3 attempts and ride!

 

Dosen't make me happy for the next thing on my list thought valve cover gasket would be easy?!?%!@

 

To?
Riding as much as possible.

For?
I'm about a week away from having a functional workshop again. I bought new pegboard today...at $25 a sheet

 

Changed the oil in my yellow seca, the spin on oil filter conversion makes changing filter so easy , Shell Rotella 15/40 diesel oil and should be good to go till fall . Of course it supposed to rain all week sooo probably wont get much riding in. We have had monsoons lately .

 

Not difficult, just a little tricky

 

I'm going through the same thing currently...How did you re-apply the gasket in order to get it to stop leaking? Did you seal both sides with something?

 

Follow this to fit the cam cover gasket and bolt seals.

https://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/bigfitzs-airhead-valve-adjustment-with-pics-parts-i-ii.116006/

 

Got a new set of tires for my 550 maxim. Problem is they are on a 550 maxim. Tried to help out this guy just wouldn't listen fix that wire that's your problem. Rolled it home for150 fixed the wire started right up.

 

I only applied gasket maker to the cover side to adhere the gasket to it. I spent time looking around and around the cover making sure that the gasket was flat all the way around. Part of my problem was slight twisting that would occur as I cranked down the cover. Just a little gasket maker in the corners where the half moons go. I also added a washer to my far left gasket bolt to tighten it down slightly more as my cover is warped.

 

make sure your cover is not warped fhere is a spec for it. are the donuts still soft? may also need to be replaced use a brush and add the spray on gasket sealer to the cover lay in the gasket. then use rtv a thin smear at the moons tighten bolts evenly and slowly

 

Took my vmax trike out for a brisk spin at dusk - after the sun had gine down. I'm wary of riding when the sun is low.

 

Checked my fuel levels, as expected I've got some work to do.

 

Yea, my valve cover rocks on glass so may be out of spec. Donuts were new with the gasket. I'm taking it easy with it so as not to destroy my head. My bike is by no means a collector and used regularly. I may get a new one at some point, but mainly want to ride.

 

if you still have the old seal you could install that using black rtv on to seal it untill you find a new cover for your new gasket

 

so which lip is used on the X ?
is it the one on the corners?
a flexable hose would give you a better reading on the side edge
Fuel Level in float bowls: 3.0mm +/- 1mm

 

Good question, I think it's the edge above the gasket because the manual says 3.0mm +/- 1mm (as you also said) below the carb body. I'm not 100% sure though. I've read some threads about this but never found a clear answer.

 

True, I'll try to find a clear horse that fits.

 

Hose

 

As you can see the picture doesn't match reality.

 

Well that is why I asked if it's the top one you're pretty close respect on a few of those carbs if it's the lip on the outer edge and the corner then that's a different story. Also it was discussion on there being an error on the fuel level of the X. Something about them having to be set to a different level than respect I think I don't know where you'd search for that here but it is here in one of the threads. Now I guess I can see why there is probably a misunderstanding about the fuel level will you have the potential of two points to measure from

 

Yep, damn you Yamaha I will search the forum again and try to find an answer. Thnx.

 

Yeah sometimes the twists and turns are in the bike not the road. It was a fairly recent post about the fuel levels I'm sure somebody will remember it

 

https://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/what-is-correct-float-height.129499/
Is this the post you're referring to?

 

Rode both Seca's at least six miles not much but I did not have much time had to do wifey things . This evening started cleaning on bikes , good way to spend evening

 

Set my fuel levels, decided to go for 2mm below the bottom of the SIDE of the carb body. Bike started good, now for new sync.

 

No it was supposed specifically about the maxim x if I recall correctly.

 

Really can't find it. That's why I choose 2 mm from the side. The photo in the manual also shows the side. I choose 2mm because if has to be measured from the upper lip than it isn't too far off... That is, if the 3 +/- 1 is correct...

 

I just bumped a thread on where the measurement is made from. It is the upper lip not the corner. Still looking for thread I was referring tohttps://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/carb-fuel-level-help.129481/

 

Thanks to Hogfiddles providing the installation manual , I was able to finally figure out the bracket installation on my yellow seca for the factory fairing that was a hoot. While I had the tank off I wired up the auxiliary power plug that is on the fairing . While putting fuel gauge plug back together the plug was in bad shape , I bought a plug kit off of amazon last year what a great buy, put on new plug looks factory fresh .

 

Thanks for thinking with me XJ550H. I did find that post but after reading it still wasn't clear to me, probably my frustrated mind... For other carbs we are measuring from the bottom of the lip of the carb body, because that's what we can see. The X carbs have this lip on the sides and on the corners. On the back and front you can see the real bottom of the carb body because there is no lip there. The photo in the manual shows measuring on the side of the carb. So the manual is wrong and for the X carbs we're measuring from the real bottom of the carb body?

 

Bummer because then I have to take out the carbs again. Well I'm getting quite handy with this. 15 minutes out and 30 minutes in (-:

 

Not your frustrated mind, there were a couple of responses and it wasn't clearly stated to say it is "A" or "B", which was posed as a very simple question by the OP.

My interpretation between the two threads posted is the correct answer is "A."

 

Exactly my thoughts, maybe nobody knows for sure. A was my interpretation too, but XJ550H interpretation was B if I understood it right. So it's still a quess. It would be nice if someone who has the knowledge and is sure just says A or B...

 

Other day added light bars to my XJ550, thread is in the XJ Modifications section. Scroll down for the pics because the first links I used in my original post weren't working.

 

Rode my yellow seca 350 miles yesterday, rode all day got home just as sun set pull in garage ...no headlight. In my haste fixing new plug to the fuel sending unit, the wire going to fuse block for the headlight pulled out of terminal.

 

Finally changed my turn single stems.

 

I'm totally bummed rode my yellow seca this past weekend, long story I think the starter clutch is totally roached . This is my spare engine and has been fine ...until now . This is now worse than the original engine, so I guess it is time to do the deed and tear into orginal engine and replace the starter clutch ...I even tried another starter ( always nice to have spare parts ). At least my Johnny Cash bike is running great so not without a bike .

 

Cable lube for XJ650J and XJ700J. Not my favorite job, but you gotta do it.

 

Oh s#@t...

 

It's not so bad a task once started no pun intended.

 

Once you get the motor out Jetfixer you will split the cases quicky. I had a big problem getting the cylinders off the cases and the two front studs at the head cylinder joint were seized. But if you can leave the cylinder head on the motor it's not so bad.

 

Found this on a 6 year old thread. You should try these methods before attempting to change out the starter clutch. Thread is called "XJ750 Starter clutch going out?

 

Really? Well that gives some confidence for the time when it happens to me. It's one of the horror scenarios on my list now