Another Newbie

I couldn't wait to get home and logon xjbikes.com. What a wonderful and helpful site. I am now the proud owner of a 1982 xj 650, just boutght it Sunday night. Of course, I couldn't wait to tear into to it. This is what i found. Battery dead and replaced. PO said it ran last back in July. I can't get it started. I pulled the spark plugs on either side (#1 and #4), plenty of spark on #4, but none on #1. Where should I head next, coil pack? Any info would be greatly appreciated. I've been reading this site for months, and everyone seems so helpful. Is there a chance that the plug is bad? I guess I could check that easy enough. Let me know if im posting wrong.

 

First Welcome to the site.

If you are not getting spark to #1 but are to #4 check to make sure the the wire is in the plug cap correctly (thos two use the same coil)

Check the resistance of the coil (a shop manual will show you how to do this and I don't know the specs of the top of my head)

Try using some starter fluid. If it will start with that then the carbs will most likely need to be cleaned.

Before you start ridding pull the back tire and check the brakes for de-lamitation

Show some pictures of you bike

Good luck. Take it slow and ride safe. (Motorcycle Safety cource would be a good idea if this is your first bike)

 

Welcome!!!!!!!!!

 

WELCOME! Kid in a candy store, huhh! Me too! Spray that starter fluid in the air box toward the carbs :wink: ...

skillet

 

Welcome to the jungle! Na NA NaNA ! (Axle). First smart thing to do is get a manual. Has some very helpful pictures and stuff. The electrical funnypapers are good too. a little hard to trace out since they are so small but it's all there and there's some great supplimentals on the starting/safety ckt. Well...I'm electrical so it looks helpful to me anyway.
I am old so pay little heed when I wax idiotic. Sometimes I can offer lucid help.

 

Got to thinking about all the advice. Switched out the spark plugs in #1 and #2 just to see if it made a difference. All of a sudden #1 had spark. Plug wire must have not been on all the way. Hit it with starting fluid and wa la it fired up. It sputtered for a while then died. Hit it again with the fluid, touched the button and it was on. Idled perfectly at about 1500. Let it run for about 20 mins, until I could take the choke off and give it gas, then I couldn't take it anymore. I jumped on and took off. I live in Ohio and it is snowing right now, (none sticking to the roads yet) and there I went riding off into the snowflakes. Only went to the top off the street and turned around. Now I know why you guys love these bikes. I can't believe how quickly it smoothed out, and how well it ran. I am hooked. Now I am thinking about what I can tear apert next. First, the tank is coming off for paint. Then a good scrubbing and polishing beause the bike is filthy.Otherwise, it looks nice, chrome seems to be in good shape, PO said it was garaged it's whole life. It's got 39008 miles on it. Does anybody think the mileage is high for these bikes? Might end up beiong the best 400.00 i;ve ever spent. Thanks again

 

Welcome!

 

Hey big D there are a lot of horror stories about the rear brake shoe linings comming unglued and locking up the wheel on the XJ. Food for thought.

 

Hi Bigdaddy, welcome, 39k ain't terrible, if the oil & filter has been changed regular. After checking the rear brake shoes, off with the valve cover & check the clearance on the cams. Wiz...........

 

So it's off with the valve cover to check the clearances, and off with the rear wheel for some new shoes. Then new fluid all the way around. thanks again for the advice.