new member, need help with xj550

hey, my name is ryan miller. i'm a 16 yrs old newbie so go easy on me
i just bought a '81 xj550 and it seems to have major clutch problems.
it seems to be disengaged at all times. i thought after adjusting the clutch it might all work out but it still has the same problem. every time i shift from neutral to first the engine cuts off, as if i wasn't pulling in the clutch (but i was). i'm pretty certain that it isn't the pressure plate or the cable. i inspected the cable down to the clutch housing and realized that the cable is fine but something inside the clutch housing is stuck and causing the clutch to be disengaged. is this a usual xj problem? and what is the solution? any help is appreciated.
thanks in advance!

 

Hi Ryan, welcome, I think you mean the clutch is engaged all the time rather than dis.engaged.
How much play have you got on the cable, at the perch?
Is the lever on top of the clutch housing moving?

 

Haha yes I meant engaged instead of disengaged, wow I feel silly.
The lever on top of the clutch housing is not moving, seems like something is jammed inside the housing.
The cable doesn't seem like to be the problem, but I have adjusted the free play to as much as I can.
I tried to move the lower lever(located on the clutch housing) with a plier / flat head screwdriver, and it doesn't move more than a centimeter. So, I presume herein lies the problem. Am to open the clutch housing tomorrow morning. Will keep you updated.
Thanks for your interest.

 

Another possibility??? Have you checked the side stand safety switch?
Bike is designed to shut down if you have the stand down and shift into first.. Just a thought. (perhaps it's called the nuetral safety switch)

Rob

 

By the way...Welcome to the forum Ryan.

Rob

 

Thanks for the warm welcome Rob.
I'm pretty sure it isn't the side stand safety switch because if that were the problem then the bike wouldn't crank over at all.
Oh and the Yamaha FZR's are wicked bikes! I give you plenty of props on your 98 Yamaha FZR 1000!
I rode a 89 Yamaha FZR 600 and it blew me away! Can't imagine what a 98 FZR1000 can do!

 

welcome!

if its in neutral and the side stand is down it will still start, but you said as soon as you shift into first it dies which would be the case if the side stand is down, or the side stand switch is pushed in. apparently its a common issue for the side stand switch to break and stay pushed in even when the side stand isn't down.

its a good group here, they helped me get my 82 550 maxim back on the road.

 

Thanks for the welcome Lopezfr2, and yes this forum does look like it's going to be beneficial!
It isn't the side stand safety switch because I started to ride the bike without using the clutch at all. I would run with the bike (on neutral) and then when I'm up to speed, I would jump on to the bike and drop it to 1st, the bike would start right up (sort of like push starting the bike so I don't use the clutch).

 

Ryan, we're going to need to know some things, and it would be helpful for you to add the info to your sig/profile so we're not asking the same questions.

How many miles are on the bike?
Do you know anything of its history?

It sounds as though the clutch plates are stuck together from sitting; if you rip into it TAKE DETAILED NOTES. The clutch on the 550s is unique; it has oddly-shaped plain plates that have to back in a certain orientation as well as couple of "extra" pieces that go in a specific place.

Before you ride the bike AT ALL you need to check the rear brake for delamination of the linings from the shoes. This is VERY COMMON on these bikes and can crash you if it suddenly locks.

Welcome aboard; you need to get yourself a manual right away. The Clymer book is OK, but find a factory book if you can; they pop up on eBay all the time for usually less than $20.

 

Bigfitz52, I put the info as my signature. The bike is a '82 Yamaha XJ-550 with 20,000 miles. I do not know anything about it's history but I do know that it has been dropped more than once.
I will be opening up the clutch housing later on today (as soon as I get some tools) and the rear brakes seem to have no problem but I will inspect linings (you can never be to safe).
I can't afford a manual right now (the XJ was pretty expensive and I took a loan which I would like to pay off ASAP)
Thanks for the welcome and help

 

Welcome to the group Ryan. Is this a Seca or a Maxim XJ? Something you might want to try is.....With the bike OFF. put the bike in gear and pull the clutch in and rock it back and forth. Sometimes the clutch plates get stuck together. Rocking it may free them up.
If the bike rolls easy with the clutch pulled in I would suspect the side stand switch. Just a thought.

 

Thanks RiderXJ
Well I opened up the bike and it seems like the previous owner (or someone) has tried to replace the clutch but didn't do it correctly.
The flat bearing is completely ruined, pressure plate needs to be replaced, and the push screw.
So my Christmas shopping list is going to be : new gasket for the clutch cover, pressure plate, flat bearing, clutch cable (inner and outer), tachometer cable (inner only), rear foot pegs, and I could use some turn signals ( currently being held with tape and popsicle sticks).

 

Welcome Ryan, if the signals work worry about them later, you've got more important things to do first.

 

You gotta do this. You won't know you have a problem until one time you put the brake on, you have no pedal then hard pedal then the rear wheel locks up with a BANG!

You just have to check; if they ARE delaminating then you shouldn't be riding it anyway until you can get the shoes replaced.

 

whoa, easy now kid,

this bike may be a bit expensive to get road worthy, maybe 200-300, or more in parts, from the sounds, I hope you didnt pay more than 500 for it... good luck with it, we'll be here, and pay off that loan, even if it means waiting on parts.. which you should get from chacel, a member here, he's kinda like santa, he enslaved children from 3rd world countries and somehow gets them to make brand new parts for xj's, you could pretty much build every xj from the ground up with what he has.

peace out kid,

Merry Christmas

 

Will check up on the rear brake ASAP.
Yes the parts are going to be pretty expensive but the main thing I need is the clutch parts, I can ride once I get the clutch fixed. Once I get the bike running I can get a part-time job and start working again (so the debt will be paid off after the clutch is fixed).
I will contact Chacel and see what he has.
Thanks everyone, I sincerely appreciate the help.
Merry Christmas.

 

KID? Geez, Schooter, somebody finally joined that's younger than you, now you're calling him "kid?"

Careful, "OLD MAN" or I'll tell everybody your real name.

Seriously though, Schooters' right. Chacal (XJ4Ever, see the forum index) is THE best source for XJ parts. The ARE some cheaper parts out there (throttle shaft seals come to mind) that are incorrect and won't work correctly. Float valves too. You won't find correct parts anywhere cheaper though.

 

I'll give him a PM as soon as I find him.
Off the topic question, but why does my profile say that I'm a "Gear grinder?"

 

haha I just like havin someone finally younger than me....

though more mature, most likely

 

Your title changes in relation to the number of posts you make.