Taking the bike to the shop

Im getting a new battery and Starter Relay soon. Going to ride her into the shop.

Im going to have them sync the carbs. Im also going to enquire about tuning the bike. I just dont think its "getting it" like it should.

I pray these guys dont make it worse!!!!

Im also looking into tires...

ANyhting else I should have them mess with/look at while paying the bucks?

 

I'd inquire if they have a yics tool. My dealer didn't even know what I was talking about. If they don't I wouldn't let em touch it. Cause if they don't have one they will make it worse than it is.

 

You should do your tune up before you get the sync, otherwise, your wasting money. Good point there Rich, bike shop here hasn't a clue and I won't let them touch my bike because of their glaring ignorance.

 

Well first thing is first, to get it to run.

Im going to change the oil out as usual.

I wouldnt think it wise to adjust the carbs until they were snyced?

So as far as tune up goes, the tune up is the sync and car adjustments.

Ive also been debating on going to air filter pods and making some sort of a scoop up.

Obviously steeping up the jets in the carbs also...

Thoughts on the pods and adding a scoop to the assembly?

Will the forced air cause issues?

 

To clearify Ryan, a tune up is an oil change, airfilter cleaning, spark plug cleaning or better yet replacement, cleaning of the carburetors (insides, not just the outsides), and then finally the carb sync (hopefully in that order, sync'ing carbs before the tuneup is a waste of time and money). You are headed in the right direction with the oil change. As for your pods question, a scoop shouldn't cause any problems but be prepared for your filters getting dirty a lot faster. Your also correct on riching up your jets with the pod swap. Good luck on your efforts, I'm sure it will be very nice when your done!

 

Yes.

I was intending on cleaning the carbs up also. Maybe a rebuild kit with the new jets?

Dunno. Need to check on cash flow.

 

Carb kits are running about $14-15 a pop each (x4=$60 or so dollars). Not a bad investment but you may not need them now (you will eventually though). I hope the work invested pays off.

 

Oh ya,

I dont have a YCIS model

I think while Im in there messing about Im going to pop off the valve cover and see how things look since last year. My motor has always had a "mechanical" sound to it. Could just be the timing chain...

 

Ditto on mine, nature of the beast. The hypoid makes a sound all its own. It'll turn my head any day. Good luck to you!

 

Hey Ryan.. bike shops know nothing about these bikes. You'll take it in and spend hundreds of dollars and probably get something that runs even worse.

Save your money and buy the XJCD and a few tools and do the work yourself. You should probably begin by:

- oil & filter change
- checking valve clearance
- running some Seafoam through the carbs

For tuning the carbs, consider joining the XJ Mailing List and seeing if any carb clinics are coming up in your area. There's usually one in Vermont and one in Southern Ontario which are both within a day's ride of Ohio, I think.

 

I guess the people just reading this thread probably dont know the whole story on my bike I should of filled all that in.

I have had the bike now going on three years. Ive taken the carbs apart twice the first year and its a yearly thing now. Just to keep it clean. Also done the seafoam.

Ive tore the top end down and redone the valve clearances.

Ive added new carb-block boots.

Also new clutch plates.

What Im looking to do:

1) clean the petcock on the gas tank

2) new fuel line that dont pinch

3) pod filters

4) carb cleaning and re-jeting

5) carb resync/tune

6) Possibly some type of a moveable scoop dependant on speed

7) tires

Im going to do all this myself except the carb resync/tune. The shop I will take my bike to seems to be compitent. This is one of them areas I dont feel confident in. I dont really have the patience required to do the fine tweaking. Plus I tend to have bad luck in situations like that, so I know my limit

 

If you can pull and clean your carbs, you can sync them. As far as tuning them, get a colortune and tweak it yourself. The $70 spent on the tool is cheaper than the garage. Confidence is what you require Ryan. With experience (which you can only get one way) you will gain the confidence and competency you desire! Banish those fears with the joy of the experience! Bad luck doesn't exist, inexperience does and there is only one way to cure that. I've read about your efforts and everything I've heard suggests what you need is a good manual and a buddy with a little knowledge to back you up. We are here for you if you've any questions or you hit a wall. If gas weren't so darn expensive (and a few other factors, but I digress) I'd pop on out there and give you the tour myself. Go for it big guy!

 

There is a Yamaha Motorcycle dealership here in Albany, NY. They had an ad looking for technicians. It read "no experience required." Now doesn't that make you feel even more confident not to bring your bike to a "mechanic". Good one. :arrow:

 

Ditto what those guys said. You can do it. And we'll walk you through if you get stuck. Once you've done it yourself, I guarantee you'll do a better, more thorough job than a shop that's looking to shove your job through the door to beat a flat rate (and a low one at that!)
There is nothing to these carbs...really! I was a little apprehensive the first time I ripped into a bank 'o four, but I had a good Clymer manual with lots of pictures and good text. Besides, when you're done, you'll know it was done right.
I talked to a local reputable shop about my XJ....once. They didn't even want to touch it. (It was too old, they said!) This from the mechanic who was younger than some of my kids....I told him that maybe they were just too young.... 8)

 

You don't need a YICS Tool.

Just do a "RickCoMatic Stuff"

Tested at the recent Carb Clinic in Worcester, Massachusetts.

Stufffing the YICS Passage with 100% Cotton fabric, saturated in a light, flame retardant oil works like a charm!

 

He doesn't have a YICS model. (Makes it all the easier!)

 

No doubt about it. The shops with older mechanics are not necessarily better. They don't want to touch it because all their careers they have been mostly parts swappers. Keep changing parts until it works. No troubleshooting skills, and no interest in developing them.

Jim 8)

 

Ryan, I have to agree with the others here. I had no clue how to synch carbs until about a month ago and I'm a pretty half @$$ed mechanic to start with. Turned out to be very easy -- assuming you have the tools.

You can get a set of carb sticks for $50. The colortune will cost you another $70 or so and I would really recommend an auxiliary gas tank but it's not completely essential. You can always find a way to suspend your tank on the bars or something.

Once everything is in place, tuning is pretty easy. It's very clearly laid out in the manual.

Tuning with the colortune is just as easy.

If you've already taken your carbs apart, you have the skills to do this. Considering the purchase price of the tools, you may not save anything this time around, but you've have these tools for the rest of your life. These tools will be useful with almost any bike.

Good luck and keep us posted.

Greg