Getting started on a 1983 XJ750 SECA

Hey all, I'm pretty new to the site, but basically I just got a 1983 XJ750 SECA from a neighbor who was moving. So the man told me that he started on it but only got the tank and seat off before throwing in the towel.

So I need to know where to start with this bike. Wiring harness was hacked to pieces and brittle so I pulled it out. I also got the air box out to clean the gunk that was underneath it.

The man said that when he got it there were no keys and the ignition had been cut from the harness, tips on where to find a replacement would be gnar.

I already ordered the shop manual and it should be here soon, but I also want to get thoughts from you guys.

I included a grip of pictures of all the parts of the bike, well almost. I do have the tank, seat, and exhaust too.

It may be too soon but how much am I looking at to bring it back to life?

Thanks ahead of time!

 

BB,

Do you have a clear title? You'll need to sort out the loom and have a fully charged battery so you can compression test the plant (engine). The compression test will tell you the status of the plant. You can proceed once we know that. Hope this helps.

Roc

 

Roc,

Yes it does have a clear title, which is why I got it, it's been on non operation for years though. Plus I like the early 80's blue plate (California).

Is there a shorter route to determining if it fires up without getting the ignition/harness, etc? It's gonna be a doozy sorting it all out lol.

 

BB,

No offense, but there have been members that bought bikes and later found out they had purchased a stolen bike. And believe it or not a few members have had their bikes returned to them several years after the bikes had been stolen. Good to know yours isn't stolen. You don't want to fire her just yet. The test is to check for compression in each cylinder. You'll disable your bike's ability to fire and remove all the plugs to do the test. The compression numbers will tell us the state of the engine. Good compression numbers means the plant is viable and you can proceed. Bad compression numbers means bad news. Honestly, I don't know if you can do a compression test without the starting electrics being operable. We have to wait for some of the more experienced members to chime in. Don't fret...they will. Until then, hope this helps.

Roc

 

Whoops, sorry if my reply sounded like I was offended, I wasn't lol. But yeah that was the first thing I asked because a free bike is always sketch. Ahh alright I see, cant I run cables straight to the motor, and try to hot wire it to check the compression? Does that even sound possible? Or would opening it up give better insight on if I should continue or not?

Thanks for you reply's though rocs, this thread has been pretty dead haha.

 

You can certainly just "hot wire" it to test compression. Depending on how you accomplish it, just be sure the TCI (ignition module) is unplugged; if it tries to fire without being connected to (grounded) spark plugs it can self-destruct.

That being said, you can just run 12V to the starter (with the motor grounded) and it will spin, which is all you need to test compression.

Don't pull it apart until you've done some diagnostics on the actual "mill" if you pull the head you've lost an excellent opportunity to troubleshoot first.

Budget-wise, a proper "recommissioning" of a relatively complete XJ will generally run $600 ~ $800 if you do all the work yourself.

 

Welcome and good luck with this project!
I'll be watching with keen interest so keep us posted.
Great pics, keep 'em coming as you move along.
Cheers!

 

For the compression test, I've heard of someone who simply cranked (counterclockwise) the engine by hand with a wrench applied to the lefthand end of the crankshaft (under the side cover), probably the simplest way to do it but it surely involves more elbow grease!

 

It would be impossible to get accurate comp #'s by hand cranking the engine.

You HAVE to spin it with the starter.