My 1981 XJ 550 rebuild (kinda)

Well were do i start ?. A few days ago i bought myself a 81 XJ 550 in well lets just say i've seen bikes in better condition or to quote my daughter "how much did they to pay you to take it away" my plans are to make it into my version of a cafe racer (my version being what i like the look of and not what OTHER people consider a cafe) or something depending on how distracted i get during the build (damn A.D.O.S.=Attention Deficit Oh Shiney)

Some pics of how it looked when i got it home



I HATE that fairing SOOOOOO much

 

A few things i should probably mention about the bike at this point in time such as
1. the bike was parked under a house for the last 5 years and basically forgotten about
2. the motor is seized (well it was a REALLY cheap bike lol )
3.Im pretty sure theres more oil and grease on the outside on the motor than the inside
4. carbs were not drained of fuel before storage

 

Update motors not seized any more
spent FOREVER reseaching what to use to unseized the moter such as Kroil , liqued wrench etc but settled on 50/50 ATF and acetone cant remember who posted that mix but whoever you are your my freakin hero made some up put a heap down each bore and left it for about 3 -4 hrs came back clicked it into gear and rocked it and the motor pretty much turned over like it had never been seized

Also got the carbs off today (although i did have to resist the urge to burn the bike in the proccess)

the bloody airbox drove me nuts trying to get it out
although the only bolt i have found easy to remove were the inlet manifold bolts they were only just over finger tight (was packing it pretty hard after reading about how easy they snap)

 

You think yours looked bad when you started, take a look at mine. LOL


By zombiehouse at 2010-08-24

 

wow suddenly i feel WAY better about my bike lol

 

That was how it looked 2 weeks ago. Looks a lot better now. What kind of exhaust is that? Getting the airbox out is the easy part. Getting it back in is the real fun.

 

Quite a project, keep ya busy for a couple of days!

 

Well the front section of the pipes down to the muffler are a 4-1 system that looks like they were made by a crack addicted monkey with access to welding equipment suffering withdrawal symtems. And the muffler it self is a alloy unit with the name tranzac on it and FJ1000 stamped into the underside

 

Looks like it is time to scrounge up a new exhaust system for your bike.

 

yeah got a mate that runs a custom stainless/ exhuast shop might have to try the old "hey just thought i would stop in with this carton of beer but since im here with my bike and well........"

 

kinda did the same wit my exhaust. Went to my dads shop(has a pipes company in it) started talking to the guy about bikes. Told him about mine, got him syced enough to make some for me lol.

 

i think karma is kicking my arse for the inlet manifold bolts in the head being really easy to undo so far every onther bolt has felt like it was welded on lol

Oh and my kids got me the BEST EVER fathers day present they have gone out for the WHOLE day taking the wife with them WOOOHOOOOOOO





(if you ever read this honey im kidding)

 

well started disasembleing the carbs today theres so much varnish inside them they look like they have been antiqued and the diaphrams have 4 little tears in them aswell (not happy)
pics to follow

 

UPDATE: finished stripping the bike today just have to pull the motor out of the frame now.

Still cant work out why a bike needs so many bloody wires

 

Wow, looks like you're a little bit ahead of me on my build. I'm being given an 81 750 Seca that needs some TLC, and upgrades, and hopefully nothing wrong with the engine. See sig block.

 

Great job on the rebuild so far. I love following the rebuild threads when theres lots of pics and info like you are doing. and Besides when your done, u have a great storey to show with your bike.

 

another update and more pics



All ready to be blasted and repainted