Shout out to my fellow XJ owners!

Hey all! Just finally getting back on a bike after a 12+ year hiatus. Shopped around for a good few months before I come across the 86 XJ700. I knew several friends that had 550's to 750's, and everyone said that the engines were bulletproof.

All I can say, is when I first looked at this bike I loved it! Had low mileage, and sounded great. It had sat a couple years, so I did some minor work, changed oil, fresh gas with some Seafoam to breakdown any sediment.

It was nice to come across a forum dedicated to the Maxim series of bikes!


Cheers all!

 

Welcome from VA! You will want to check your rear brakes for delamination. (see thread) as well as all the normal things also. Tires (date code), brake lines, valves adjusted, carbs cleaned. That way you will know your ride is road ready for any trip. Welcome again.

 

Thanks lostboy! Just picked up my new rear tire yesterday.

This rear break delamination you speak of, I am going to look for this thread. They feel good, but I'm not to up on the term. But I'm not afraid to take stuff apart and attempt fixing it myself. I do all my own work on my ATV with no catastrophes.

 

Take rear wheel off (use new cotter pin for reassembling) , look at the rear drum break pads. Make sure the pads are not peeling/falling off (delaminating) from their metal assembly.

10 minute job if bolts not frozen or axle stuck.

Invest in some KROIL penatrating fluid. (See the deal I posted in sale forum).

Read and keep reading all the good info here.

SERIOUSLY save up $$ and replace 30 year old brake lines. (Check date code on them).

Don't be lazy/stupid like me, check valve clearances and replace the shims ASAP.

Expect to properly clean and properly sync your carbs. Seafoam is NOT enough. (No product in a bottle is). The ate not forgiving car carbs.

Oh yeah and enjoy your new beast. ;-)

 

Welcome! You HAVE to do your valve shims ASAP - be sure to get a new cover gasket and doughnuts. (Can't do the carbs properly unless they are in spec)

In addition to what's listed aboveI would also recommend: battery, rubber, front and rear pads, fuel line (add an in line lawnmower filter too), vacuum hose, your throttle shaft seals (while you're doing your carbs), oil/filter, air filter, and gear oil. Also, while that rear tire is out, pull the final drive and lube that shaft too.

Hate to break it to you, but that seafoam is probably not enough.... plan on doing a full carb teardown.

enjoy the new ride!

 

All good tips guys! I've been checking the pdf's at xj4ever on carb breakdowns and such, for when I'm ready to attempt them. Valve shims sounds like something that I will have to pay somebody better equipped than myself to do though. Is there a way to tell if they need shimmed, or a certain amount of miles that they should be done at?

 

Welcome from green bay, wi!

 

Welcome!

 

Valve shims are fairly easy to check--basic hand tools and a set of thin feeler gauges. Most of the time involved is getting the cam cover on and off.

"Adjusting" is slightly more involved, but still not difficult, adds another 10 minutes of labor (plus a few days for the new shim to arrive) per out of spec valve. It can be done without special tools, or there is a special tool that is supposed to make it considerably easier. I needed one new shim at 17,000 miles, and I doubt previous owners had done them.

 

Valve lash was to be checked at 3000 miles and every 5000 thereafter. It really isn't hard and needs to be done.

Once again thanks go out to bigfitz!

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

 

Thanks for the link biggs500, that is much easier than I thought!

 

You're welcome. Just take your time and double and triple check everything.