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i need help/advice... thank you

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by dgaf, Apr 22, 2009.

  1. dgaf

    dgaf New Member

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    hello family, im interested in buyin a bike off of craigslist and have been corresponding with the owner. the bike is an '81 xj550. below is what the owner has told be about it any ideas what the problem is? or how hard the other things would be to fix? the carb gaskets are the manifolds

    this is what the owner told me>>>
    >>>>>>>>>>>>>I'm not for sure what is wrong with the carbs. I can start the bike and let it run for a while or ride it for a few minutes and it gets to where it doesn't want to run. I can drain the carbs and it will start back up. It also needs some gaskets. valve cover gaskets and some carb gaskets. The bike does run but needs work..<<<<<<<<<
     
    dgaf, Apr 22, 2009
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  2. SLKid

    SLKid Active Member

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    Pretty vauge.. But the first thing you should do is clean those bad boy carbs! Then do a low end rebuild kit, (Gaskets, float needles and such). Reset the float height, (sounds like its gettin too much gas) and then re-attach the carbs and see how she runs

    -SLKid
    (Edit) And after rebuilding you should do a Bench Sync. Look in the how-to guides by Gamru for all the little things you're gonna need to do.
    Fuel Filter, fork seals, ect ect. But Definate Bench Sync when you're done cleaning.
     
    SLKid, Apr 22, 2009
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  3. dgaf

    dgaf New Member

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    do you think it would be easy to get running right? worth $1000?... bike looks great just the above issues
     
    dgaf, Apr 22, 2009
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  4. hardlucktx

    hardlucktx Member

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    the fact that it runs means there cant be that much wrong. like Kid said clean the carbs completely the first time. not three or four times like some of us had to do.
     
    hardlucktx, Apr 22, 2009
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  5. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    the fuel valve on the tank is probably messed up
    valve cover gasket , 40-50 bucks
    carb gaskets might mean the carbs need rebuilt, not a lot of money but time consuming and messy
    ask him if anyone has butchered, i mean worked in the carbs before
    if you don't mind catching up on 30 some years of maintenance it will be a good bike but if you want to put gas in it and go i doubt thats going to happen
     
    Polock, Apr 22, 2009
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  6. MiCarl

    MiCarl Active Member

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    1000 seems high for a bike that doesn't run. It'd have to be perfect otherwise (including new tires) to be worth that.
     
    MiCarl, Apr 22, 2009
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  7. tumbleweed_biff

    tumbleweed_biff Active Member

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    tumbleweed_biff, Apr 22, 2009
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  8. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    Polock, Apr 22, 2009
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  9. dgaf

    dgaf New Member

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    it seems like in my area $1000 is the cheapest you can find a running bike that may need the carbs cleaned... usually its atleast $2500.... Yall are being very helpful... thank you
     
    dgaf, Apr 22, 2009
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  10. Kyrrinstoch

    Kyrrinstoch Member

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    dgaf, is this a 550 Maxim or 550 Seca?

    Either way, Chacal has pretty much everything you'll need to maintain/restore one of these bikes. You might want to take a quick run through everything you know you'll need to do to the bike, look up the parts and try to use that to talk them down a little.
     
    Kyrrinstoch, Apr 22, 2009
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  11. RickCoMatic

    RickCoMatic Well-Known Member

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    A Grand for a non-runner?
    NO WAY!
    Tell him you'll pay him $1,000.00 if the Bike runs trouble free.

    Otherwise: --> YOU ARE GETTING HOSED!

    You got no real idea why that Bike won't run.
    You pop for a Grand ... and, then need:
    Carbs Rebuilt with Throttle Seals
    Manifold Gaskets under seized-on Manifolds
    The Tank de-rusted.
    And, who knows what else ... you wasted money.

    I doubt there is a Member in here with the skills to do all the needed repairs, maintenance and tuning that would spend a Grand for a Mystery Bike.

    Look, ... your probably young with a Big Motorcycle Jones wanting to light your hair on fire and break your wrist passing trucks and shifting gears.
    You buy a Mystery Bike for a Grand and YOU are OUT a GRAND and cant do nothing but sit on the Bike on its work-stand and make loud motor sound-effects is NO FUN at all.

    IF THAT BIKE DON'T RUN --> FORGET ABOUT IT!

    The Number One Rule in Buying a Motorcycle you want to be able to RIDE is:
    Don't spend good money buying some other guys nightmare!!~!~
     
    RickCoMatic, Apr 22, 2009
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  12. kontiki

    kontiki Member

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    Well stated Rick.... you took the words right out of my mouth.

    From what I have heard, and depending upon the condition of the bike I would consider offering from $300 to $600. I realize that is a broad range
    you must understand that unless the engine is running nicely, you will end
    up putting that much into getting it right. Trust me.

    Good luck!
     
    kontiki, Apr 22, 2009
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  13. Thee_oddball

    Thee_oddball Member

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    i with the other guys, to much money...there was a 87 cbr600 near my house for $300 with title..."does not RUN very well"i was not quick enough...post is already deleted :( , dgaf dont rush anything...for a grand i can pick up a zx1100 that "needs carb work" , put the amount of money you want to spend in what ever site your using and see what pops up...feel free to ask more questions if you like, we have all been through "the good the bad and the ugly" of buying old bikes :)

    S!
     
    Thee_oddball, Apr 22, 2009
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  14. hardlucktx

    hardlucktx Member

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    It sounds like the pricing on the bikes here in Dallas. Theres a beat to hell xj650 on Craigs list here. Stated they did 1,500 in repairs to it and owner didnt pay so the wrench wants that much for the bike. if i can figure out how to post links in here I'll post some of the bikes listed here.
     
    hardlucktx, Apr 22, 2009
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  15. tumbleweed_biff

    tumbleweed_biff Active Member

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    The easiest way to post a link is to just copy the link from the address bar and then paste it straight into your message.
     
    tumbleweed_biff, Apr 22, 2009
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  16. hardlucktx

    hardlucktx Member

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    cool Thanks,Tumbleweed
     
    hardlucktx, Apr 22, 2009
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  17. Thorlief

    Thorlief New Member

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    dgaf,

    It is the same where I live. 1000$ is about the cheapest you can pay to get a (partially) running bike. Like you said, usually 2500-3000 if it looks decent...
     
    Thorlief, Apr 22, 2009
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  18. hardlucktx

    hardlucktx Member

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    I found Two 83 XJ650's here in Dallas one is running and one is a parts bike $800.00 for both. I can get the link to copy.
     
    hardlucktx, Apr 22, 2009
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  19. hardlucktx

    hardlucktx Member

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    hardlucktx, Apr 22, 2009
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  20. hardlucktx

    hardlucktx Member

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    hardlucktx, Apr 22, 2009
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  21. tumbleweed_biff

    tumbleweed_biff Active Member

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    dgaf,

    Can you tell us where you are? We might be in a better position to help if we knew.
     
    tumbleweed_biff, Apr 22, 2009
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  22. dgaf

    dgaf New Member

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    i live right outside nashville... i have a couple people im talking to about bikes for sale but like i said ive been combing craigslist for a couple months now and just about everything thats at least a 550cc is alot more... dirt bikes are more than a grand around here usually... im not lokking for anything thats super fast or perfect cosmetically looking just something that runs and will run perfect without putting to much into it... this xj550 is $1000 but he said its not written in stone... id never pay the asking price anyway id negotiate down a little. i just want something for under a grand that basically il just have to rebuild the carbs at most but does run when i buy it ( and someone asked if it was a seca or maxim.. by looking at the seat id say its a maxim) and thank you all for all the advice and info your giving me
     
    dgaf, Apr 23, 2009
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  23. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I bought my ratty but fully running '81 550 Seca for $800. A grand for a bike you can't ride is too much no matter where you live. Remember you're still gonna have to drop at least $200-$400 on tires, brakes, and other bits to make it SAFE to ride. Twenty-five years takes its toll. I love the eBay sellers who think "original tires" is a selling point...

    Nashville, huh... let's just see...
     
    bigfitz52, Apr 23, 2009
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  24. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    OK, there are a few "fixer-uppers" in your area; no XJs (the only one of those I found was waaayyy too much for the year) and you were right about the prices. Maybe oughtta load a trailer up and come down there, double my money.

    Anyway, this first one looks pretty nice: http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/1136206554.html

    And here are a few more possibilities, some with more potential than others:
    http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/1133612940.html
    http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/1133049845.html
    http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/1132269618.html price would have to come down a lot on this one for me...
    http://nashville.craigslist.org/mcy/1132165502.html

    Plus a few off eBay within about 150 miles of you, might be worth contacting the seller to have a look...

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HONDA-CB ... 240%3A1318

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YAMAHA-1 ... 240%3A1318

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1984-V65 ... 240%3A1318

    This one's COOL: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SR-500-X ... 240%3A1318

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-Ni ... 240%3A1318

    http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1979-KZ1 ... 240%3A1318
     
    bigfitz52, Apr 23, 2009
    #24

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