Super Noob here...need some guidance.

Hey Team,

Brand new rider/bike owner here. Been stalking the boards occasionally, trying to educate myself a bit, but as most of you already know, there is no way to really learn your bike unless you're diving into maintenance yourself.

I purchased an 82 XJ 650 Seca back in June and I'm beyond smitten. It was an amazing summer and I'm grateful to the previous owners who had kept it in such magnificent condition. Starts every time, never gives me any problems, and its beautiful, too. To that end, I've decided to take some classes on maintenance, as I'm the only guy I know who rides, I have zero mechanical background and no tools.

The instructor who I did a one off group class with, is going to just walk me through some simple maintenance things, as well as do a triage to see if anything is looking like a problem area. He suggested I bring the following

• Valve cover gasket (can only find it on ebay)
• Rubber donuts that around the valve cover bolts (can't find them - don't see donuts on the 650 engine dia)
• Ignition cover gasket (can't find it)
• Oil (10-40) (what do you guys use? I heard synthetic isn't always the best with these old bikes)
• Oil filter (best options?)

So, I'm coming to you with hat in hand, I know some of you guys have this bike, where do I find this shit? Which is the best shit to show up with?

Thanks team.
JDW

 

Welcome to the club. Click on the icon in the upper right corner.

Gary H.

 

Thanks GH. Hidden in plain view and all that...

Can anyone confirm the 82 Seca has no donuts for the valve cover bolts? Not seeing them in the dia or in the xj4e parts catalog.

Thanks team,
JDW

 

No donuts: correct (unless it's the RED colored XJ650RJC (Canadian only model, which a Brooklynite might have run across). If the valvecover has 20 bolds securing it (instead of 12), then it's a non-yics engine, and thus no donuts.

All you'll need is the valvecover gasket, and the half-circle "cam end plugs" when doing (what sounds like) a valve-clearance check (sounds like your instructor is leading you down the correct maintenance path).

We also have the ignition cover (actually called oil pump covers, for some odd reason) available.

Oil: 10W-40 will be fine, do NOT use any type of synthetic unless it is specified for use with wet clutches, and even then, think twice. Shell Rotella "diesel engine" dino-oil is the preferred juice to use; on air-cooled engines, you want to change the oil frequently anyways and synthetic is almost a waste of additional expense (and will tempt you to not change the oil frequently).

Filter: do away with the stock filter system and get one of our spin-on (can) filter conversion kits, you will be eternally grateful for this recommendation!

 

Welcome aboard, James..........next June you're welcome to take a nice long ride to upstate NY (near Utica) for the annual Central NY Carb Clinic!

Dave Fox, Host
Central New York Carb Clinic #8
June 2015 -date TBA

 

Fantastic, Mr. Fox! Count me in!

 

Send me a private message, and I'll get your info so I can let you know when the date gets set----

Dave