Tom's XJ750 Seca...

Well, here she is in all her glory, my '83 Seca! I'm the third owner, I bought it from a friend who used it as his daily rider until the front caliper locked up a few years ago and he took a dive over the handle bars. I have the fairing, but I'm not too fond of it.



I will be rebuilding the carbs in the near future. Until then I started sanding down the tank.



There is a pretty nasty dent on the left side, so I experimented with the heat gun and canned air (same concept as the dry ice method.)



It is hard to tell in the pictures, but there was some improvement; enough that I'm more comfortable using body filler on it now. I went through two cans of air, and the results are marginal at best. If anyone is considering this method, save your time and money. That is where I'm at for now. in the mean time, I'm contemplating how I want to go with this bike. I'm thinking clubmans, and maybe a round headlight with smaller gauges. Although, the gauges are in good shape, and work properly, so I would feel bad taking them off.

 

You may want to look online at prices for for that fairing... you might be able to get some decent coin for it! Also the luggage, if you're thinking of ditching it. The plastic bits on these bikes are getting harder to find in good condition.

 

The thought crossed my mind. The wife would be appreciative if I were able to use the bike to help fund itself.

 

Very carefully check for holes in the frame along the left side engine cradle (by the kickstand). I didn't check mine as well as I should have and recently have had to repair the frame. Also consder pre-emptively replacing the primary chain guide, the cam chain guides, and replacing the starter clutch springs and rollers. There's nothing quite like hearing a crunch from the gearbox while crusing on the freeway 400 miles from home (I got home fine, but there was some minor damage done that could have been avoided had I taken care of things earlier).

 

That's good advice k-moe, I'll have to double check that next time I'm out in the shop. I'm also going to have to find some new mufflers, they're both burnt through on top. I swear the list grows every time I go out there.

 

well. i would love to tell you that it will be a cheap project.

but....

it WILL cost you less then $250.00 a month plus full coverage insurance, in the long run.
(new bike payments)
short term it may seem expencive, but that is only due to a lack of previous maintinence done in the past.

that are many things that should be replaced every few years... but i am terrible about that type maintaining as well.

that's a good looking seca, i hope you choose to get it running again.

good luck.

 

Oh, it will be running, I can gurantee that. I'm just plotting out and prioritizing my order of operations as it were. I need to rebuild the carbs and change the oil (dumping gas out of the carbs and through the airbox tends to do that. after that it will be front and rear brakes and tires. Finally the headlight and she'll be rideable. All the cosmetics/custom bits (and mufflers apparently) will follow as time and money allows. =D I knew full well that this project wouldn't be cheap; but my new job means extra cash so I'm getting a little anxious to get her running.

 

Just a little update, carbs are rebuilt, checked the floats, did the bench synch, and reinstalled them. Next is an oil change due to gas getting into the gear box.

 

glad to here it's coming along,

did you do a compression check?
i know it seems odd to start with that but i've been seeing a high number of low compression yamaha's comeing through my shop lately.
i suspect it is due to car oil being used instead of JASO MA rated oil (specific motorcycle oil).

I'm not trying to start another oil argument, but every bike company now requires this rating of oil to be used in they're bikes.
i'll leave it at that..

each person is responcible for they're own machine, so use what you deem correct.

 

I haven't done a compression check yet, but it is going on the list. I had it running for a few minutes today, it idled at 1k rpm until it died... So now it will rack my brain until i can work on it again in a week and a half.

 

Who cares what bike companies are requiring in their bikes NOW? We need to use what was required in these bikes THEN. I use regular dinosaur oil....... Yamalube 10w-40. LOOOOVE it. Sometimes will get the Maxima, but normally run with the Yamalube.

dave f

 

I finally got to spend some more quality time with my baby tonight. I could talk about the progress I made, but it's easier to just show you.



She still needs to be color tuned, and she spits and sputters a bit when I rev it up. Maybe I can bribe Biggs with beer and pizza to lend a hand?

 

Nice!

 

Well, after a little playing around I discovered the clutch needs a rebuild... I guess Chacal's gonna get another order from me.

Yeah, I was totally trying to go for a joyride down my driveway when I discovered this fact.