1982 Yamaha Xj650LJ

I need some help. Got an 82 Seca turbo and actually ride great. For a bike older than me. Picked it up for $300. Basically a full restoration project. Finally got it street worthy and rideable after years of tinkering and playing. New battery, new seat, rebuilt the engine and took it out last week. Went to start it last weekend and the instrument cluster wasn't functioning. Neither are the turn signals, horn or head light. Key on and the boost gauge moves, tail light/brake light is on and fuel pump is engaged. Cranks but no start. Really loving this bike and I do not want to take it to the junkyard. Any help is sincerely appreciated.

 

welcome to the forum, try checking the fuses. if it still has the glass tube fuses, you should install a new blade type fuse block. xjforever has them, just click on the link in the top right corner of this page.

FU

 

Already have blade type fuses installed. Thanks for the tip

 

get out your wiring diagram and start tracing your wires checking for voltage. test your coils

 

Actually been trolling other forums for Yamaha bikes. On a hunch and a whim, I pulled the key switch. Found a broken wire.

 

I'm glad that you found the culprit. Some things can only be solved in person. It would be wise to go through the wiring harness thoroughly. Clean every connector and reassemble them with dielectric grease. You may find other issues along the way. Better to get them before they get you.

 

It's amazing how many people jump right from "hmmm, it ran great yesterday but won't start today...." Right to "is it junk and I have to take it to the scrapyard.....", totally bypassing or jumping over the "ok, it was just running fine, so I'll have to figure out what the LITTLE issue is---- and if takes longer, I'll just have to drive the car for a while".

I have two bikes down waiting for stator repairs, I have one down with an engine torn wide open, I have one down with carb issues, I have one down needing front calipers rebuilt cuz they're sticking....... I'm not scrapping any of them. They're my rides .... They just need little things to be fixed. They just have to wait til I have the time.

YOU have an awesome bike there. You found the small problem, can fix it and enjoy it. Keep doing it that way ....... But NO, scrapping it isn't the way to go.(well, unless the engine blew up, the frame broke, it caught fire, all at the same time.......then maybe it might be junk--- lol)

 

That reminds me of what happened last weekend. The heating element on our dryer stopped getting hot. The wife thought we might need a new dryer. I dug the wiring diagram out and proceeded to test things. One week of wait time, $35 for a timer, and we have a fantastic dryer again.

 

If the engine blew up, I would find another for it. If I couldn't rebuild it. There are 2 at the local motorcycle scrap yard. So parts there except for one bike cowling I need, for this one.

 

That's exactly what I am doing. Thanks for all the heads up and advice

 

There you go! You've taken the first steps becoming a true XJ owner. Many people come here, asking questions, and then ignore all the answers. You on the other hand, came here have asked questions listen to the answers and are following up with those answers! Keep doing it that way, and you will end up with a very nice rock solid reliable ride that people will love to look at.

 

On a side note, repairing the ignition switch wiring didn't help, so I pulled the harness and will be going through it tomorrow after work. I have dielectric grease and extra wires at work, if I have to repair any of them. Have found a melted plug already, and repaired it.

 

I am an automotive technician. Mostly stock engine swap. Swap the dead one out and install a new working one. I am a noon when it comes to bikes and bike repair. I will listen to any help that some one is willing to give me.

 

Here's a dumb question-- someone pointed out to check the glass fuses and clips... You said it's been upgraded to blades----- but ----

Did you check THOSE fuses???

 

No such thing as a dumb or stupid question. Yes fuses are fine.

 

ha! funny story! I bought a fairly high end set of laundry machines new. paid a premium for them several years ago. the washer eventually started exhibiting signs of failure. I took it apart and discovered that the "start" button was a little short. so I stacked some layers of masking tape on the business end of the button and it has worked well ever since. you never know what little triviality will falsely condemn a mechanical product.

FU

 

First snowmobile I ever bought, I got for cheap because the guy could start it but it wouldn't move. I gave him the $50 that he wanted, grabbed a pry bar out of my truck after backing up to a snow bank. I broke the skis free from the ice, and rode the sled onto the truck. HE wasnt happy, but I was....

 

Found some electrical tape on top of electrical tape on top of more electrical tape in the harness. With the harness being wrapped up in electrical tape. I think I am going to solder these together and heat shrink them. This doesn't seem too safe. Is it more work than what I need to do? Probably.

 

Also this melted plug contact as well

 

It looks like you have a lot of nonstandard connectors in that harness (nonstandard for Yamaha). It might be worthwhile to source a used one that has not been hacked on.

 

Regulator/rectifier? That's what that plug is for.

 

TCI. One of two plugs for it.

EDIT!!!!!

I dun goofed. That is indeed the Regulator/Rectifier plug.

 

len (user name chacal) can hook you up with replacement connector shells and wire connectors.

FU

 

So could that be the source of my problem? When I key on and the instrument panel doesn't do anything except show boost pressure?

 

Well going through the harness and soldering all of the wires together got my instrument cluster working again. Poor connection somewhere. Time to put it back together.

 

Yet, now my starter doesn't engage. I have to jump it manually. Any ideas guys? Fuses are fine

 

Do this.
Turbo Seca Wiring Harness
It will save you a lot of time.
Some things just aren't worth futzing with, and hacked up wiring harnesses top the list.

 

Thanks. Went through the harness again and figured it out. Had 2 connectors switched lol. The headlight and ignition. Fixed it and now it cranks and everything is ok. Going to put it back together and fresh gas, before I attempt to resync the carbs. Made a note and color coded the button connectors so it doesn't happen again.

 

Just a minor inconvienve. The turn signals don't seem to function. I did replace the relay as well. Stopped working before. The original relay made the signal stay on and not flash. Removed it and opened it up. Rust city. I was careful in cleaning it up, then put it back in the harness. Nothing. Switched it out with a new one and nothing

 

Take care of that later. Got the carbs bench synched. Any idea on how to fine tune the carbs? Maybe a link someone has posted to tune these would help. I'm on a phablet and it's almost a pain scrolling through all the posts...

 

search for it by using the term/phrase "running sync"