1983 MAXIM 550 engine swap?

Would the XJ750 engine fit on my 550 maxim with no extra mods? or would I have to just go with a XJ650? What be involved in swapping these engines out.

 

Isn't the 750 a shaft drive?
I think the differences between shaft drive and chain and sprocket are going to give you big headaches, but I may be entirely wrong.

 

ya i forgot that the 750s are drive shafts What about the 650s? I have a feeling they are drive shafts as well. hmm well thats prolly to big of a headache to change from chain and sprocket to drive shaft. Unless any one as any other suggestions to make it easier?

 

NOTHING will fit your 550 except another 550 or maybe an FJ600 motor and it can't be from a Seca II. The XJ550 begat the FJ600 for another year or so and that was it. The Seca II and the FZ motors while quite similar, won't fit.

The 600 was the "biggest" of the original chain-drive XJs. The motor from a 650, 700, 750, 900 or any other shaft-drive XJ will not fit in a 550.

Remember, the XJ started in Japan as the XJ400 and Europe had the XJ500 before we got the 550s. These were the original XJ "bloodline" and they were all chain drive. The shaft-drive bikes are actually "second generation" XJs, and a completely different animal.

 

thanks for history lesson Bigfitz, well Since Im pretty much stuck with a 550 anyone have any suggestion on preformance upgrades, I Had a 82 maxim 750 about 5 years ago and was fantastic so when i saw another Maxim for sale in my area i had to buy it too bad its only a 550.

 

Uhm, buy a 650/750 and sell the 550?

 

Fitz, I have a quick question on the swaps. will a 600 from a Radian fit the 550 Maxim frame? I may have a line on a crashed Radian, but don't know what I would do with it.

 

eventually i will, But it was too good of a offer and the bike is mint couldnt pass it up lol

 

If the bike is mint, then you should be able to sell it for what it is worth, keeping it "mint" - as in stock, right? Search for a similar deal on a 650/750 maybe one that would require less work than swapping engines and the accompanying mods. Restore it, then sell the 550? I actually bought a 550 at an excellent price recently which I hope to get on the road in short order because I want to try a smaller/lighter bike.

 

Exactly what im gunna do, Just trying to figure out ways around having to restore a bike since the one i picked up was in such good condition.

 

I always thought they would, but then someone with apparently first hand experience said no. I'm not convinced either way. I would take a bunch of engine mounting point relationship measurements. Let us know, a 600cc engine upgrade is one of my long-term plans.