yamaha xj400 special

i have a xj400 special, its a jap import,
its a 1984 model.
Cant find any real info on it has it was never sold in the uk.
it has a 4go engine.
any body know the correct spark plugs for it.
its had running problems since i bought it and thought i better make sure the plugs fitted are the correct ones.

I also have a honda cb550/4 that is a pig to start but when i checked the manual i found it has the wrong plugs in it.

cheers

 

4G0=a true XJ400 (four cylinder.) They did sell them in South America though.

You can run NGK D8EA plugs (same as the 550s) I do believe.

Your XJ will need its valve clearances checked/adjusted and its carbs serviced, betcha.

Does it look like this? This one belonged to a forum member from Santiago, Chile.

 

yeh thats the one, even same color.
not worth much i don`t think but what a lovely ride.
well now i know its time to get on ebay and treat it to some new plugs.
av already serviced the carbs but not touch the valve clearances.
would you know the setting ?
i do keep thinking about putting a 600 into it but not found one at the right price yet.

 

the xj400 is very uncommon, I would try to keep it as original as possible cause someday it will be very very rare.

 

The valve clearances would be the same as the rest of the family, .11~.15mm intake; and .16~.20mm exhaust.

I covered the procedure here, on my 550: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

Here's Part Deux, proper use of and alternatives to "the tool:" http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=29209.html

And you can drop an XJ500, 550 or 1st-gen 600 into it with very little trouble; but please do hang onto the original mill.

When you get into the oddball clutch, you'll need this (it's not the least bit "intuitive") http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=29541.html

Your bike is essentially the same as a 550 Maxim, with a 400cc motor. There are a LOT of "4G0" parts on the USA-market 550s. Pretty much anything mechanical that applies to the 550s will apply to your bike.

Personally, this is my favorite XJ400:

 

cheers to you all for your help.

 

cheers to you all for your help.
after your comments i might stick with my original plan and keep the bike standard and save it till the value increases.
just not sure it will be sort after as most people look for the bikes they had in there early days, ie i would love a yam rd250. i do have a 1976 honda cb500\4 with a 550/4 engine fitted but its not a patch on the good old 2stroke.

 

if the air cooled 400 is rare.. how rare is my water cooled 4cyl 33m xj400z..? it was released in japan only, it has been imported into australia at some stage and im currently doing the valves, timing chain, carbs etc etc etc.. a slight restoration so it is road worthy and i can register it.. also can anyone give me an evaluation on it.?

 

Let's have a pic then, you ozzy b****** !
(friendly Ashes season banter)

 

https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd...._=1447294324_b0773e4c62aef682fd42b33f7143aa57

 

Looks like it's based on the fj600! That's cool!!!

 

https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd...._=1446732474_856f7d1419210a6b18c83c5b132c791c

 

yeah its kinda more like a mini 900 from the google pics i can find.. there is absolutly no info to be found on it.. well basic info yes but nothing helpfull, the engine was used in the later FZR400R, also a japanese market only bike with no english workshop manual.. did the links work for pics of bike.?
how can i put a value on this bike being so rare.?

 

The fj600 was a littler chain-drive cousin to the shaft-drive xj900rk and IT'S little sister, the XJ750rl.

The body panels, rear cowl, rear fender, tank, seat, peg mounts, etc.... All look like fj600 stuff

 

Fj600 in US maybe by in UK it was an XJ600 - I had one ! Engine is probably non-YICS. The 600s though had a fairing and a square headlight - I prefer the look of your 400. They were also the first monoshock road bike for Yamaha I think. I like the indicators in the rear cluster on yours on the 600 they were normal on stalks. Thanks for the pics..

Day 1, 3rd Test Australia 119 for 9 - ouch !

 

yes it has YICS on the side cover.. what does that stand for.?
thanks for the info..! im still unsure how to post my own thread so ive kinda highjacked this one a little bit..

 

'Yamaha Induction Control System' I think. It's a channel that's cast into the head that connects all the inlet ports together
like a balancer tube. Makes balancing the carbs tricky unless you block it off with a special tool (can be home-made). Search YICS tool on here and you get plenty of hits.

TBH I'm a bit surprised about that on this model, maybe it has YICS or maybe someone just stuck on a different side cover. Does it say it on the rocker cover too ?

Cheers

PS All out 136 ..

 

Yamaha Induction Control System is correct. It was fuel saving engineering. There should be a port on the bottom backside of the head with a bolt/washer on either end. That is the yics port.

Gary H.

 

NICE BIKE!!! But I gotta ask.. what kind of car / truck / work bench with a vice is that?

 

an awesome one?
lol I was thinking the exact same thing. I want it.

 

I was also wondering, maybe a Holden Commodore?

 

Or just ignore it and do your carb balancing without it. You don't NEED to use the tool. ( yup, opening that flame-war again...... Lol). Oh, and YES-- I have a YICS tool..... and NO, I don't use it .

 

So you have it, and say you need it, but you don't use it?
Is that just because you're so experienced balancing them?
I will need one.

 

That, my dear friends, is what our Australian cousins call a 'Ute' (utility vehicle) most likley a Holden as suggested ( a division of GM - down under)..
Neat eh ?

Must be a sticky wicket -Oz 1st innings 136, England 1st 281, Oz 2nd innings 121-6 and it's only day 2 !

 

No... I said you DON'T need to use one. I've never used one. You can get it darn close without it. If you're retentive, and have to have things perfect, then you might want to get one to use. But then, there are so many other small variables that I don't feel it's worth the time for playing with the tool. Once you're on throttle, it's pretty much a moot point anyway

 

Understood.

 

down under we call them UTES luis, thanks for the info on yics, yes it has this port cast into the back side of the head

 

and hell no its not a holden!! holden and ford rivalry is huge in aus, im a ford fan! its a1999 model tickford VCT SOHC 4 liter 6CYL ford falcon with manual gearbox and ceramic cussion button clutch.. bit of a handfull in the wet haha, that vice on the back has come in handy sooo many times its not funny!

 

Quick note on the Holden... GM did bring a coupe version (I think it was a version of the Commodore) and called it Pontiac GTO. I think it was about 10 years ago. 2 door V8 rwd. Aussies get all kinds of wikked cars we never see. Probably as a thank you for Mad Max.

 

I'm an auto mechanic by trade and I'll tell you what, this is just a hoot.... love it

and MattiThundrrrr......... cant beat 1970 Pontiac GTO.... affectionately known as a "Goat"...

 

yes the pontiac GTO 2 door coupe you speak of is known as a holden monaro here in aus.. god they are an ugly car IMO..
the ford has put out a ute, very similar to mine above, with the supercharged coyote engine out of a the mustang.! traction is over rated in australia mate hahaha

 

well ive done valve clearances, synced carbs, free'd up a seized bush in the rear suspension, then found the shock to be leaking found a good used one at local bike wrecker from a xj600, exactly the same shock and spring! so now ive got head set bearings to go and its ready for a roadworthy certificate and registration for road use!! im just a little bit excited.!

 

Good work.

 

Trust me, Luis... I know the original GTO. OOPS! The original GTO was a Ferrari! It means Gran Turismo Obligato (or something. I can't remember what the O word is exactly). I mean the original Pontiac, aka "The Judge". Some credit it with starting the muscle car wars. I'm still mad at GM for killing Pontiac. Why Pontiac and not Buick? Seems like a mistake to me.

 

@MattiThundrrr: Why Pontiac and not Buick? Ooh, ooh, pick me (with raised hand). Uh...more $!

Gary H.

 

Yeah, old people and their options... but then they re-branded Buick, and it isn't much more fancy than Chev. Plus they've got that angle covered with Cadillac. In my always awesome opinion, the high performance aspect of Pontiac should have been played up more. Can you see a Firebird or a Pontiac Corvette selling more than Buicks do? I sure can! Plus, that 4cyl Solstice was a damn fine car. The rare coupe is so cool looking. Could have capitalized on the sport compact market the way that Toyota/Subaru are with that flat four rear wheel drive thing. FFR, FRS, BRZ, whatever, I can never remember those alphabet soup names!

 

I'm a lot of bit excited jefferyxj400z, good luck... Spot on MattiThundrrrr.. Gotta love those early ones...... Just like my bike... Love it!!

 

They missed on solstice buy not going hi perf v6 twin cam!

 

just got back from a 500klm round trip, what a lovely bike to ride, does everything you want it to, with out breaking your neck.! am going to find out one way or another if the magneto and clutch is the same between the xj600 and xj400z as they are the only things i can fault with my bike, if anyone on here can tell me how to post my own thread on asking these questions that would be very helpful.. or point in the direction of someone who would have an idea about this.. thanks!

 

Nice looking bike jeffrey400z and good work on getting it all done.
BUT you managed to bring out the poms about the cricket and at this point in time that means a deduction of bonus points.
If you take a look here http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/forums/xj4ever-supporting-vendor.23/
You might just find the info you need,haven't looked but Chacal has pretty much all the info you might need about XJ's

 

thanks gunabuild.! ill check it out

 

cant find much or any info or parts for the 400z through his pages.. wow is all i can say, so informative and easy to understand granny could fix her bike with some tools reading through his pages..!