Need input on '82 750 Maxim purchase price

I've got a chance to buy the bike in the photo for $400. It won't start, but hasn't had the carbs gone through in three years and he doesn't know when/if the valves were adjusted. It has a new front tire, fork seals, and brake pads. The speedo has been broken since before the seller got the bike four years ago, but he thinks there are about 40k on it. I haven't yet seen it in person so I don't know about the compression.

It's definitely a high mileage bike but seems like a pretty good deal. My intention would be to get it running and then resell it, (unless I fall in love with it, of course). Any advice or cautions would be appreciated.

Thanks!

 

If the motor has good compression and you got the cash it's not a bad deal. Worst case you can part it and still make a few $$.

 

Obviously I want to look for a cylinder that's lower than the others, but about where should the compression be on that motor?

 

I don't know what the spec is for these. it will depend some on the temperature and the altilitude the test is done at.

Mine at more or less sea level with the valves correct and unknown actual miles pumps around 155psi cold across all 4. Obviously higher numbers are better.

Less than about 110 with the throttles open and a good gauge then you probably have some problems. Maybe rings (redo test with teaspoon of oil through plug hole) maybe valves. If the test numbers are much higher with the oil it's rings.

Unplug the TCI so that it does not try to fire.

 

Its a good looking bike, well worth 400$ if they have the title. Bring a batttery to turn the engine over, you can tell if there is any major mechanical problems just by listening. Run a quick compression check, if all the readings are within a few psi of each other then make him a offer. He might take 300$. Don't worry about the compression number so much, all you are looking for is readings that are about 110 and above with no more than 5 to 10% difference between all of them. While you are testing look at the plugs to see if there is any spark.
Don't let the small non working items scare you away, they can be easily fixed.
Count on investing another 500$ or more to get it safe to ride.
Needed:
Tires
Battery
go through the brakes front and rear
clean, rebuild carbs and sync
valve adjustment
change oil and filter

 

If you buy it and don't want the luggage rack and back rest keep me in mind ;-)

 

I would go for it. You can part it out and double your money if it doesn't run.

 

I'd buy it in 2 seconds. parts are worth mor than the asking price, if you cant get it running.

 

g'day, for that price i would buy it just to look at and polish up when im having a beer,over here(aust) prices are a lot different than in america.

 

Cool! I may be going down to get it tomorrow. Before he can sell it to me, I need to sell it to my wife...

Thanks to everyone who has replied so far.

 

Looks nice and clean, you can do no wrong, particularly with the goodies on it.

 

That's kind of what I was thinking. I'm not sure what the faring and trunk are worth, but certainly a few bucks.

 

looks like a nice find. Clean those carbs and I bet it runs. Bring it up to my shop and I would like to try something on those carbs and take a few pictures if you don't mind. Maybe a little You Tube Video. on carb cleaning. I need to try something to see if it actually works.

MN

 

You'd be able to get most (or all) of your money back from the fairing and the luggage rack. Go get it before someone else does (try for $300 though, after all it's not a running bike :wink: ).

Apologize to the wife later. Worst case, you're just saving her the trouble of coming up with some other reason to put you in the dog house.

 

I'd just buy it first, then when you show it to her....just have her bend over it a little bit and slap the nuts to her from the backside....it's a win win. Then thank you for making your ultimate fantasy come true. She will be more pleasant about it.

 

He had it listed for $500 so I've already got him down $100 before even leaving home. Between renting the trailer and the gas for my van, it will cost me $100 to go get it so I'm pretty much back to the asking price at this point.

 

Don't tell him that, I'd love to have the rack/back rest for dirt cheap. :twisted: :wink:

 

Hey, are the spark plugs the same size on a 750 as on my 550? I want to make sure I've got the right fitting for my compression tester.

 

No, the 550 uses the smaller 12mm plugs..........

 

P.S.:

The specified compression pressures should be:

550 engines:
Minimum: 100 psi
Standard: 121 psi
Maximum: 135 psi
Max. variance between lowest and highest: 14 psi


650, 750 air-cooled engines:
Minimum: 128 psi
Standard: 156 psi
Maximum: 171 psi
Max. variance between lowest and highest: 14 psi

 

Nice find good looking bike you can always ask forgiveness after you bring it home and if she gets really pissed tell her its for her.

 

Yeah, thanks, but we've been married a long time. I learned my lesson early on about giving my wife gifts that I thought were cool.

 

Thanks for that info, chacal. I need one more piece of info, if possible, and that's the dimensions from front to back. I was hoping to get the U-Haul cycle trailer that I've rented in the past but that's booked for today. I hauled my 550 on one of their 4x7 trailers once, though, and that worked out fine. They are 7' 8" inside. It doesn't have a ramp but I used a tire ramp from a set I have in the garage and just set it under the end of the gate.

I can't imagine that it will be that much longer than my bike, but I don't really want to be surprised when I get there. Thanks.

 

I don't have mine to measure. But I would be surprised if it didn't fit. My 650 fits easy on a trailer that size.

 

Well, I passed on the bike. Compression was 128, 115, 128, 135. The head gasket was also leaking. I could have parted it out and made some money, but that would really be more of a project than I was looking for. There was a bit of hidden duct tape here are there, too. Nice in other ways, though. Tank is very nice with just one little dent and the seat is almost perfect.

A long drive for nothing. Disappointing.

Thanks again for all of your input.

 

If I can tack one last question onto this thread, my compression tester did not work properly yesterday and I had to use the seller's. I bought mine a long time ago and haven't used it in quite awhile. It's not a name brand. Is there any way of servicing it? Basically it would go up to 90 lbs and stop there.

I know this isn't specifically an XJ-related topic, so someone would rather send me PM, that's fine, too. Thanks.

 

Sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness than permission :wink: