someone please help!!!

Hopefully someone out there has experienced this same problem and can help me. I'm a new comer to xj's so bear with me. I have a 1982 Yamaha XJ550 Maxim. I just changed the oil for this season and rode yesterday with no problems. Today, I got on the bike and took off down the highway and I started slowing down unexpectedly. With the throttle all the way open I was slowing down. I pulled off to the side of the road and the engine was smoking slightly and the bike would not start. I had to trailer it home, and it now won't start at all. It just cranks and cranks but won't turn over. Maybe it's not getting fuel?? Problem with the fuel pump or carburetors?? Someone help please.

 

Ouch sounds scary!

When you say "it cranks but doesn't turn over" do you mean cranks but doesn't start?

If it is cranking freely then that is a good thing but the original "throttle way open I was slowing down" makes it sounds like you were pouring on the gas with no effect which I imagine to be a bit like accelerating and braking at the same time type of sensation, sound right? or was it more like the starvation of fuel from the tank cap breather blockage issue after getting a full tank (out of fuel)?
The "engine was slightly smoking" could just be oil residue on the motor from the oil change burning off too... although from first look of your question it all looks really close to a seizing engine but after looking closer it could be something less painful... thus the extra questions.

I have the questions that seems to be for sure...

Let us all know some more specific symptoms and I'm sure someone will be able to help you diagnose the problem.

 

There is no fuel pump, it's gravity fed.

There might be a problem getting fuel. This might seem like a dumb question...but was your tank near empty :roll: ? I know the first time I rode till reserve a couple of weeks ago, I was flying down the highway going 90 mph or so, when all of a sudden, I give it more gas :twisted: and it starts slowing down :evil: . I pull over and can't get it to start. My fuel indicator JUST began to flash between 1/4 and empty. Put the reserve on and feather the throttle, and it started right up and ran long enough for me to get to a gas station.

Also...is there a fuel filter installed? How long have you had the bike, and what has been done to it electrically, carbueration-wise, tuning, petcock rebuilding, etc? How new are you to motorcycling (or old bikes) in general? How does the inside of the gas tank look?

 

yes it cranks but doesn't start. It's more like the bike is empty on fuel. I try to accelerate and I get nothing. Seizing engine is not what I was hoping to hear.

 

I had a completely full tank when this happened. I don't know if there is a fuel filter installed. This is my first motorcycle. As far as I know, there has been very little to no work done on this bike. The previous owner didn't seem to keep up with it too well. I have had it for about a year now.

 

Do you still have spark when trying to start? I wonder if it has the original fuse block, possible electrical failure? Can you smell gas when trying to start, that would indicate you have fuel in the carbs.

 

Are the plugs wet? check for spark too. Sounds like it may be carb related....

 

no i crank it to death and I can't smell any gas which is why I thought it could be a fuel problem.

 

Hi,
Try putting the bike on its centre-stand, turning the petcock to PRI (prime), opening the fuel tank lid, waiting for 2 minutes and then crank the bike and try and start (if the battery is flat, jumper a car batter to your battery).
If it starts... blocked fuel cap breather! If not well... hmm hmm

 

thanks i will try that out. hopefully it's that easy....

 

if the PO didn't work on it much youve got a lot of work to do, but first check your rear brake shoes for delamination right now if you haven't already.

 

pull a plug see if its wet if it is check for spark. this might sound a bit crazy put your finger over the plug hole put the plug in the cap grounded crank it you should get spark when it blows your finger off the spark plug hole.

 

What he's trying to say is do a compression test. The gauge is $20-$40 or if you're near an AutoZone you might be able to borrow one (would be nice to know your location).

I was hoping you'd have a list of things you'd already done on the bike . Likely, there may be several issues here. For an engine to run you need spark, compression, and fuel...and all at the right time. You need to check for each of these. If it IS fuel related, prepare to FULLY tear down and rebuild the carbs. The more you do upfront, the less you have to troubleshoot later.

Prepare for a long road ahead restoration-wise if you really want to trust your bike. If proper maintenance was not performed, you will likely need to go over the whole bike or you will have problem after problem. See the following threads about the "joys" of working on a 28 y/o motorcycle, and a good list of what to go through:

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=24010.html
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=23947.html

The good news is...it is possible to fix this bike, but it won't be a simple or quick one. Luckily, chacal has all the parts you'll need to bring it up to snuff. I spent a year working on mine (a lot of time trying to paint for the first time) but it's been registered for over a month...and it's been a BLAST to ride!

 

there's two hoses on the fuel valve one takes gas to the carbs the smaller one in the back is a vacuum line to a vacuum port on one of the intake manifolds if that line cracks or comes off you run out of gas no matter how full the tank is
each intake has a vacuum port, three have rubber caps on them the other has the hose to the fuel valve
it's a good idea to replace all the caps and the vacuum line

 

Sounds like you probably have an old rusty and crusty spinker valve. One way to check it is to follow the shaft all the way down to the bottom and slowing stick your finger in it and feel for moisture, then smell it. It should smell like gas and if you have brown on your finger it's definitely in need of being replaced do to the rust build up. Did it make any weird noises when it died on you???

 

Just so everyone knows, I figured out the problem. Worn out spark plugs. Thanks for the theories everyone.

 

great nothing better then an easy fix

 

I still think it's the spinker valve, make sure it doesn't get backed up.

 

Ok who is this "JoeBlow" guy? Maybe I'm being too quick to judge, but Spinker [sic] valve? His profile lists his occupation as "Spinker Valve Tuner," and his only interest is...you guessed it..."Spinker valves"

Seems a little fishy to me.

 

You know I really want to know what a "spinker valve" is now and how you do all the things JoeBlow said in his first post with it...

 

Oh geez I just read into it...someone call the moderators...CENSOR CENSOR CENSOR Someone's gone a trollin'

 

cds1984 the spinker valve is in between the cheek valves it should be brown and right in the center

 

I think this Joeblow guy is a joke. He is totally making sexual innuendos about bikes. I also think he was trying to spell "sphincter" , not spinker.
Just my .02 cents.

 

Ack! I retract my previous interest!

 

The guy is toast, just wait & see.

 

Yeah it's worse than sexual innuendos...it's potty humor

EDIT...I think I found a pic of him and his buddies...wishing they had an XJ
http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... art=0.html
ZING :!: