looking for someone to work on my bike, will pay money

i have an xj750 and i took it to a mechanic but he messed it up badly, did something with the carbs or valve and its not running as usual. fuel is leaking out of the bottom line. engine is very loud and sounds clinging. I was hoping if someone lives around Los Angeles, i can take it to them and have them work on it for a fee, i'll be installing chacals new fuse box as well. I don't really have a garage or tools, if maybe someone can teach me and i'll also pay them.

 

order a repair manual. don't know where you live in L.A. but there are 3 harbor freights on the northern end. camarillo, ventura, simi valley. i buy tools as i need them.

the easiest way for a newbie is to take things one step at a time. don't go into it full bore.

buy yourself a tray to put your nuts and bolts in along with parts. so they don't go rolling all over the ground and possibly down a drain.

when i lived in apartments. i also had a power inverter hooked up to my car battery for electricity. unforttunately i had a good battery and charging system so i never had a dead battery. but just in case, i did have 2X 50 ft. extension cables from harbor freight and a cheap low amp charger just in case. but i only used a dremmel tool and a polisher.

it sucks not having a garage with electricty and air. but them old motorcycles are fairly easy and can be worked on with every day tools.

you can buy tools and a tool box cheaper then paying someone. but thats your decision with what you do.

 

fuel was leaking because the peacock i got from ebay was bad, but the compression and redoing the carbs, that's something i'd like it done by a professional xj biker. at least the valve, if someone can take a look, i'd be much appreciative

 

Moderator Robert lives over in that neck of the woods... Ventura or somesuch. I think "OneSikXJ" does as well. Come to think of it, I believe there's a grunch of users that live up near where you're at. (There was a map that showed where some users were, but it done got brokeified.)

If you're looking to reset the fuel levels on the carbs, this handy walkthrough should help. I have that and some others at XJ4Ever for everyone's enjoyment.

If I can learn to tear carbs down to their basic components, reassemble them and make them work, so can you. You can do this.

Edit: updated URL and site for writeups

 

BROKE-IFIED???

Is that somewhere just this side of "tore up?"

That's better even than "restification" you're getting into "transmogrified" territory.

Seriously though; Schmuck's right. Get a manual and study it, that will help you decide, and plan.

 

I live in Southern California. In Norwalk to be exact. I can show you how to check the valve clearances. I just did it the first this week, however.

I've got a question regarding change the shims. When I was rotating the crank shaft (after I slid the shim back in) there was a snapping noise. Is that normal? I'm assuming it's the shim popping back in to place. But I read that you can crack the head as well if you're not careful which I fear the snapping noise might be.

Thanks.

 

I don't remember hearing that when I did mine last, but the shim popping back into place sounds reasonable. I don't know about cracking the head, but if one is using a shim bucket tool, I keep reading that one can break it or damage the cams, I think it was, if the engine is rotated backwards while the tool is in place. (I didn't have that problem, as I used the ziptie trick -- my shim tool wouldn't catch on the bucket.)

Brokeified. That there chingadera don't work no mo. It's not pining -- it's passed on! This user map is no more! It has ceased to be! It's expired and gone to meet its maker! It's a stiff! Bereft of life, it rests in peace! If you hadn't nailed it to the perch it'd be pushing up the daisies! Its metabolic processes are now history! It's off the twig! It's kicked the bucket, it's shuffled off its mortal coil, run down the curtain and joined the bleedin' choir invisible!! THIS... IS AN EX-USERMAP!!

 

bargomer i'm taking on your offer if your serious about it... i'm starting school and my new "used petcock" hasn't arrived. would it be possible if i can ask you again about 5 weeks from now. i'm taking Calc 01 this winter semester and i'd love to take it to you sooner but unfortunetly my time is first with school before fixing this bike

 

Sure thing. First I want to know what the heck that popping/clicking noise is before I work on anybody elses bike.

If you need help with your math just send me a pm. Also check out http://www.patrickjmt.com it helped me pass calc II in the Summer.

 

Does the cam chain auto-tensioner "Pop" when it self-adjusts?

I don't think it's brokeified. . .

 

wouldn't a compression check and pulling the valve cover off indicate if something with the head got broke?

 

Welcome to the world of being a student and fixing a motorcycle. I bought a run down maxim and will get about 6 weeks on and 6 weeks off of riding due to repairs. Sometimes it sits longer depending on money/time.

I can tell you that if you have a good system of organizing parts, screws, nuts and bolts you take off of the bike, you can easily step into and step out of a project. It makes it easier if you take notes/pictures.

A manual, this forum and optimism will see you through.

 

Let me know if you need backup Bargomer! I still want to know what size shims you have on your intake and I've got a date with a member in Irvine the weekend of the 8th. Complete tune up (shim check, carb tweak).

 

since i have everyones attention... thanks for the replies guys,
i wanted to show you guys my build, i've started to build my bike little by little with other stock parts from different xj bikes but the most significant would be the xj900 tank. actually the only thing from another bike would be the crankcase cover from an xj700

i wanted to add bobber tires and finish it off with 4-2 mac exhaust.... wanted pods but people on this forum were constantly against it so i don't know where to put all those lingering wires and how to cover the sides.

Much appreciative if people can point me to some new ideas.

 

i heard harley sportster shocks will work on these bikes, can someone tell me which year or tell me who changed their xj750 shocks....

I would love it if someone has any information if anyone used ohlins shocks like the xjr1300 yammys.

 

Let me know if you guys get together. I would love to learn by helping out.

 

I smell impromptu carb clinic...

 

what you smell is a potluck haha, Beer and BBQ

 

If y'all can wait till late Feb/ early Mar I would love to ride up there as well!

I have to say, by the time you start paying money for someone else to fix your bike, you might as well buy a new bike. It would be a lot cheaper, and more reliable.

 

yea let's go riding, i know there's someone from ventura and someone from torrance too so i hope maybe we can all set a date and meet sometime.