First Bike and first post

Hi all! First of all I have had my XJ550 1981 for about a month. My first motorcycle(I'm 39). Certainly not a mechanic of any sort but not really afraid to dig into things either. Bought my bike for $600 US, which I think was a pretty good deal. It had been stored for the last 3-4 years and has plenty of other issues as well. I just wanted to say this site is a goldmine of valuable info. Never seen the inside of a Carb before and thanks to this site I got the Carbs off the Bike,pulled the brass plugs off the mixture screws(still a virgin!),got a new needle and seat coming from the local bike shop,and even built my own sync tool! None of that would have been possible without this site!. Anyway just wanted to say thanks, and I've got plenty more problems to fix yet, so I'll be around for a while. Keep up the good work!!!!!!

 

Welcome aboard. I feel like an expert already thanks to the expertice on this forum. RickOmatic is a veritable cornicopia of technical knowledge.

Granted I've worked on engines and cars and airplanes most of my life but motorcycles are new to me. In reality, they are no different than any other mechanical device, just have their own manufacturer specific idiosyncrosies.

Dig in and enjoy that Xj550 I think these are great bikes and they look pretty cool too. :^o

 

Welcome to the site Larry! I also have an '81 550 (Seca) and am in the process of of dismantling and bringing it back to life as a cross between a cafe racer and streetfighter. Like Kontiki, I have mechanical experience in other fields with limited experience working on bikes. Everything is a lot easier to work on once you get the hang of it.

You will learn bunches of stuff here, and always listen to Rick-O-Yoda :lol:

Good luck and enjoy the bike!

 

Welcome from another 81 550 seca owner. My story is almost identical to yours!

 

Thanks for the responses guys.It's nice to know you are not the only one that gets these oddball problems,and sometimes a different perspective is what you need.

New update: Needle valve and seat installed, mixtures screws set to 3 turns out(no colortune yet),2 cans of carb cleaner used liberally throughout.Put it all back together this morning,and guess what? Purrs like a kitten! Idleing beautifully at 1100,and no stalls at stop lites. It's a good feeling doing it yourself(and having it work when you are done!) Couldn't have done it without you guys. Thanks again!

 

3 turns out is probably too rich. I think for a 550 they recommend almost 2 7/8. I know it's close but that's what they say and what I do.

 

OK, thought I read that was where it needed to be. No problem, Easy Fix. Oh, I think I forgot to say mine is a Maxim. Not sure if that effects it or not.

 

Welcome Larry. My story is very similar to yours, especially the "I have no mechanical experiences prior" other than ripping cars apart w/my father when I was 10 (that doesn't count).... This site is a great site, and Rick is a great guy for information from. I about killed my bike cause it was running when I got it, and now its not, and in a haste to try to get it running again, I damaged my carbs and about junked it in frustration (lol). However, I know my issues now and can fix them once parts arrive (I expect to get back out on my bike this weekend).

And no, Rick, I have not checked my brushes yet. That's tomorrow's project (assuming I get my book or can find the alt myself)...

 

The gangplank has been lowered and you have been whistled aboard Larry!

I probably take the cake as the virgin mechanic, I still haven't lifted a finger after a couple of months.

Got the manual and the disks, and no personal knowledge. Got to start somewhere.

It's a cold winter here and inspiration is coming too slowly. My first job will be to check the alternator brushes! It doesn' t take too long to become scared witless of Rick!

 

Alternators have brushes?

:lol:

Sorry Rick! Just had to do it

 

Xj's have alternators????