'82 XJ 550 Maxim project finished. Will do it again next yr.

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

I thought I wouldnt like those side covers, but I do, that trim line and rectifier (I think thats what it is) look really nice.

just my opinion, but gloss black paint on the tank.. and aybe the fenders, and a good cleaning, and that would be a suh weet bike

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

Haha... I am not even close to being finished with the cleaning project. For the side you are looking at, still need to clean and polish the covers. They'll be shiney soon enough. But it has been a project all of its own just cleaning the bike.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

Ya I am cleaning it up. The tank is still in the paint shop. I'll have it back in a couple weeks. I am going to buff and polish the crank case and timing covers and see if that doesn't bring the side covers more into the middle of the picture. To be honest... right now I don't know if I like them or not.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

I like the Side covers you made did you just use steel screws to mount it to the frame? or are you going to put some clips or something on there?

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

I was going to use the clips but the added space between the cover and the frame caused by the clips was too much. I used self-tapping steel screws. They actually tapped the holes reaaly nice and even. I couldn't have done better with a tap set.
Them being bolted directly to the frame holds very tight and they are right against the frame.
Kevineleven and PainterD both attached their covers by tapping into the frame. I was a little worried about the structural thing but I guess, from what I have read and from asking a chopper guy I know, it won't hurt anything.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about

Moved the bike to a shop yesterday. There it will be finished up... Basically just having all of the loose ends tied up and gone over to make sure I did everything right. Points of focus there will be the brake system, of course, alignment, wiring, various inspections including the clutch and cable, charging system, etc.
While it was on the trailer it got a lot of looks. One guy commented on it at the gas station and said its rare to see an old cruiser in that shape. I think it looks like sh*t at the moment but he must know bikes.
I'll hopefully be riding it back in a couple of weeks. The weather is going to be better (in the 40s) next week and if it is done by then I am riding it. I am going nuts otherwise.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

haha, it was looking like spring was coming early in the U.P. here, until it snowed recently, and I was really excited to get home and work on my bike, and since it snowed its only worse....

however, from what my parents say, there wasnt any snow AT ALL in the lower peninsula until recently, I could have put on my snowmobile gear and given her a good shakedown run.

anyways, I wish good luck to you, hope the shop does as good of a job as you were doing, and who knows? if you're in the northers part of wisconsin, we can go to the Gay parade together

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

Well... it will be a LOOONG time before we go to a gay parade together. Haha. But yeah, the snow here was melted almost all of the way but then it snowed again and it is snowing right now. But starting next thursday (according to accuweather) it is going to start getting up into the 40s.
I am not finished with the bike. Just chickened out on rebuilding the brakes myself. Actually had some green induced insight on that one and how much it would suck to realize I didn't do it right while quickly approaching the rear end of a honda civic at a busy intersection... Other than that I still have a lot more ideas. While they are doing the brakes I will be rewiring the headlight, front blinkers, horn, ignition switch, and the speedo light as well as adjusting the clutch, replacing the throttle cable, properly sealing the tach cable gear port shut, and doing an oil change. I can accomplish all of that.
Also painting the diamond plate side covers black. I compared the already black ones to the painted look and like the painted look better. Cut out the other side cover and took off the black trim I had on the right side. I am trimming it with the same stuff but red. The bike's tank will have red detail so I am trimming the covers to go with the tank.
Pics will be coming soon... hopefully.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about

instead of painting the diamondplate black, why dont you use the black metalcast paint by duplicolor or even nite-shades by VHT? it will give it that black chrome look that way, unless they arent chrome to begin with

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

Nah... I want them to be obviously painted. I just scored with 350 scotch brite and primed it. Then went over it with gloss black duplicolor, gave it a careful wet sand with 800 grit then clear coated them. Had bought a buffing wheel but the sanding was good enough on the black and the clear coat went on pretty smooth. They look really nice now. Just waiting for the trim. Using the same door edge protecting trim but had to special order the red. That stuff is impossible to find otherwise.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

chuckles, there is a town about 20 miles away from me called Gay, and every 4th of July they have the Gay parade, men dress like women and so on.. i hear its fun

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

Oh... what a name for a town. Haha... Like Hell Michigan.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

Well the bike is finished. Still at redline in Kenosha awaiting the tank (which was started last week) but everything for this year is finished. They were really good at working with me on the bike and for now I am satisfied. Still have some polishing and such to do but that can wait.
In the next couple of months the stearing arm bearings and the swingarm will be redone as well as a front fork job with the progressive springs.
So far I have learned a lot, have been pissed a lot, struggled a little, had some fun, almost gave up a couple of times, but all in all... the money, time and effort was well worth it.
When I get the tank, I am putting the petcock back on and the gas cap, driving it to the shop and installing it on the bike which has fresh oil, filter, fresh battery and new valve stems. It hasn't been started since November when i put it in the garage.
You will be seeing pics soon. It didn't turn out to be a restoration project. More like an experament. haha. Oh... and a money pit. But can't wait to ride.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about

So the tank has been finished. Picked it up from T.S. Customs this afternoon and was VERY pleased with the whole job. Anybody around the N.E. Wisconsin area ever need painting done, these guys are great. They have a web site as well and their work speaks for itself. I'm not spam, but they deserve the bump.

Anyway... the pin-stripe detail looks offset on the tank in this pic. It isn't, I was just not exactly centered over the top of the tank and didn't realize it would give an off-centered look in the pic.


The bike had been dubbed "Road Rash" by me late friend and brother, Ev, as it had road rash or other damage on just about every part of the bike. So now it still has road rash, just in a much more tasteful way.



And this whole project was supposed to be both of our project over the winter. Umm... he skipped out on the planet before winter came so I guess it's up to me now. Miss him a lot for sure. best friend I have ever had.


The bike is finished at the shop. Just have a couple of small things to do before we start it and a few loose ends to tie up before the tank can go on. Hopefully there will be pics of the entire bike here tomorrow.

We'll see. The project, at least this stage of it, will be officially finished as soon as the pics go up here. Still waiting on red trim for the side covers (which is black diamond plate that will be trimmed in red).

More pics soon. Very soon. Almost done.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about

So I went out this morning for my first morning ride. I'll do this every day as long as there is no rain. Brought the bike home last night and that was my first ride for 2010. Rode 60 miles and ran out of gas. hahaha. Thought the tank was full but had just about a gallon and a half.
The bike isn't finished completely. Still have to replace the steering bearings, replace fork springs and oil, some polishing on the right side of the bike, paint the swing arm, and finish the side covers. But here it is for now...
First here are 3 youtube links. One is the bike right before the project really started. The next two are from this morning. My first morning ride of the year. 38 degree cold start. The camera ran out of juice so had to do two seperate shots.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd8o9aPC ... re=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S60pftFaNj0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kISD837KMng

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

I like it alot man, good job

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

Thanks, bro. Thanks to everyone who helped me along on this project. Definitely a huge difference from the heap it was.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

looks good man. did you get that speedo from mikes xs? i was thinking about getting that exact one. hows it working out for you? i didn't go for it cuz that and the tach would run around $100 and i thought they were too small, but i really like how not stand outy it is. tell me what you think i may have just changed my mind about it.

 

Re: So this is the '82 xj550 Maxim I have been talking about.

Well the one I got is completely not compatible with the xj. I got it from oldbikebarn. If I am on hwy 50 (traffic stays at around 60-65mph) I am showing 80 on the speedo. I actually had a cop help me figure out my accurate speeds. But I don't know... find out if the xs and xj are the same with speedo gearing and tire diameter.

 

you fool!

you shopped at oldbikebarn? you're lucky you got your product!

if you look at the reviews of it on this site, you will find out they are a joke

 

Oh I learned that the hard way. They sent me my order in 2 seperate shipments and it took forever for the speedo to arrive. like a month after everything else.
Hey I have a question... how do you make your own carb synching tool? Just discovered not only am I running way rich, but I am only running rich on #1 and #2 and just kinda rich on 3 and 4. Seems to me the guy who synched my carbs synched the 2 side but didn't sych them together. haha. Thats some shit I'd do. So I have to make a YICS tool and want to do the synch myself.

 

There are several methods.

The "two bottle synch tool" can be found in the search.

I found this idea online.

I used a length of clear tube and a yard stick. tape the tube along a yard stick with the middle of the tube at the bottom. Fill it with something so that it shows on each side of the stick. I used ATF it's easy to see and won't damage the motor if some gets sucked in. Then attach opposite ends of the tube to the vaccum nipples and synch away. Worked great for mine and cost me about $4 at the home deopt for the tube and a flemsy metal yard stick. The duct tape and ATF I already had.

To get the ATF in the small tube I used a vacuum fitting on the intake of my jeep. Started it for a minute and it pulled up all I needed in short order. I suppose the bike would do it as well.

 

Chuckles,

It's pricey, but here is a link for a quad guage set up that's always on sale on ebay to sync all 4 carbs at the same time.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayI ... MEWAX%3AIT

 

This is one of the best / most motivating and entertaining threads I've read!

Kudos on the pure awesomeness that you've done to your bike man, seriously.

 

Its cool being able to do things yourself, but for the sake of a daily reliable runner, its worth it just to pay someone who has the stuff and knows what they are doing. I was going to try and work on my carbs, but had a pro do it. I think in the end I had more fun doing the fab up without having to sing the #$%k song over some of the frustrating mechanical stuff. ( and your tank looks tits.)



fellow cheese head

 

Beautiful bike, very nicely done. The tank is a work of art indeed.

 

I love the "Road Rash" title..... I bit it trying to ride a wheelie on a 96' Honda 900RR. Tore every ligament in my right knee. The bike ghost rode down into a ditch, up to a barb wire fence, and got one tiny little scratch on the front fender! My radio handle after that was Skid!

 

Newest addition to this project/daily (and I mean DAILY) rider coming soon. Stock side covers got their first coat today. Going back to the stock side covers. They'll match the tank.
Also, did away with the Pod filter intake and went back to stock air box. Jets went down to 115s

 

what a great post crash thread. Nice job and love the side covers.