New to the forum, wanted to say howdy I'm gonna need help

The old lady and I decided instead of a vacation, this year the tax return would would put us in the saddle. So we filed early, got the check and started looking. Craigslist gave us "82 Yamaha Seca 750" and a few weeks later "82 Honda Nighthawk 450". Both bikes running and in our budget. The XJ was the first of the two and the reason I'm introducing myself here. In other words... I sure am glad I found this forum.

I lucked across a Seca parts bike. It was missing some of the more sought after parts but mostly it was missing a title so I got it for cheap. I am willing to help as much as I can so if you need something for your Seca let me know. I have found these old metric parts to be obscure at best.

As the weather warms I am spending most of my bike time riding. The more I ride the more I want my bike to perform better. I will be reading the forums for as much info as I can get but I'm sure I will have many questions. I hope to learn a lot.

 

Welcome. Now STOP riding and go check BOTH bikes' rear brakes for delamination (I'm assuming the 'Hawk has a drum rear also.)

READ: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=15874.html

The reason I'm saying check the Honda too was the only other time I've seen this happen it was on a Honda, although it was an automobile it had been sitting...

Also: Check date codes on tires (both bikes) 6 years is the limit; replace front brake fluid, flush and bleed front brake (again, both bikes.)

The 'Hawk is chain driven, keep an eye on the chain. They can rust internally and then wear out rapidly and even fail after a bike that's been sitting is put back in service. If it "bleeds red" every time you lube it and quits holding adjustment replace it before it breaks.

Interesting read: http://hondanighthawks.net/450.htm

 

Welcome! I'm new too, but my bike isn't road worthy, yet. You don't happen to have a turn signal from that parts bike you'd be willing to part with do you? I need a front turn signal in the black plastic square design.
Nice looking bike you've got.

 

Welcome to the site!

 

Sorry the turn signals on the parts bike were one thing I needed. I have some backs and contacts but no lenses.

Oh yeah I'm no dummy. The first thing I did was to get the shop manual (for both bikes) and go through the bikes. When I bought the XJ it had no front brakes. I knew I was getting into project bikes.

So far I have done the following:
Clean, Clean, Clean
Rebuilt front brake master cylinder
Checked front and rear brake pads
New tires
New fuse box (built at radio shack. Would like to change to blade fuse)
Went through carbs
Tried to repair carb boots with SealAll (lost on the last set I saw on ebay)
Replaced aftermarket nuts and bolts with correct ones from parts bike

So she is road worthy but needs a lot of work to become everything she could be. The future holds:
Fork seals
Tracking down the problem with the fog light
Paint
Seat cover

Hopefully by next summer I will have a rebuilt engine from the parts bike.

 

if you're asking for performance upgrades, basically you cant do anything., the engineers squeezed the most they could out of it.`the best thing to do is progressive springs in the front ant progressive shocks in the back, and some nice tires.