'81 XJ550 Seca Carb O-Rings

New to the forum and I just bought my first bike and I am trying to get it running. I have started with the carb and while I was cleaning some of the parts the o-rings on the needle seats broke apart. I have found carb rebuild kits with that part for $20. I need all four so that would be pricey. I also can't get one of the needle seats out. It wiggles around a little bit but WILL NOT come out. I've been trying and trying with needle nose pliers and it won't come out.

So if anyone has any ideas where I could get some O-rings and tips on getting that last needle seat out, I would love to hear them. Thanks
I just need the black o-ring.

 

Contact xj4ever on upper right corner of the page. Chacal has all the carb parts read (correct parts) you can buy only the parts you need. I try to buy everything from him , yes price might be a little more but it is correct and fast shipping.

 

What he ^ said.

probably safe to assume all of the other rubber bits are crumbly also.
You may not want to hear it but truth be told almost everyone here has invested about $800 in recommissioning their XJ. That is the cost for new bits and pieces to make it safe and reliable.

Ask questions as you move through it, there are many here who can help.

 

To add to what stumplifter said, you would have to do this with any used bike, really, because you rarely know what the previous owner did, regardless of what they said. It is best to KNOW what was done by doing it yourself. It is a pay me now or pay me later proposition except you can pay now or later after having your bike towed or walking it home after something quits. I suggest paying now and enjoy the peace of mind knowing that you have taken care of the bits that keep you safe, such as tires and brakes, and the things that will keep you moving, like the carbs. You are on the right track, and taking on one of the biggest sources of headaches on any old bike. Buying from chacal will get you parts that you can be confident are exactly what you need for your bike, and wellwill keep you from chasing down gremlins that can be caused by chinesium ebay specials. Welcome!

 

wouldnt you just need a fuel resistant o ring maybe try your local bearing shop they usualy have o rings in kits in various sizes they sell seperately

 

Have your carbs ever been rebuilt? If not then that's not gonna be the only rubber part that needs to be replaced.

I know from experience that buying the 20$ rebuild kit off eBay is not the way to go. Most of the orings are not the correct size.

The bike is a old one. We all know this. But for the most part after everything that needs to be replaced is you will have a very reliable bike.

For your reading pleasure!

http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/the-information-overload-hour.27544/

http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/tech-topic-the-real-costs-of-maintenance.14581/

 

^hes just asking for some orings and where to get them not that he wants to read the whole bible and convert

 

It's not my intention to proselytize, just food for thought. I know when I first started I wanted as much information as possible, still do. Just my .02!

 

Sure he can buy some viton o-rings today, and then next week buy some throttle shaft seals and then two weeks down the road, take the carbs apart AGAIN because the bowl gaskets are leaking . . . Not saying with any certainty that that would happen, but cripes, the bike is 30 years old, why chance turning it into a weekly maintenance project when you can rebuild the carbs completely once and be confident for years.

What's wrong with converting to a person who wants a classic bike that is safe and reliable? The information that is linked is really good for someone who just got their first bike (like the OP).

 

fair enough had the early morning blues but noone

haha touche thats what im facing all the time buying the same part twice and and tearing down twice but 1st things 1st is getting what he asked for without it turning into a information overload one thing at a time get it running 1st then look at reliability and then safety

 

Soak the valve body with kroil. The rubber is stuck to the carb body. I use spark plug boot pullers to get those out.

 

scratch that looks like i have to redo my carbs yet again after reading the church of clean lol

 

Ok, so then the short answer--- Len.

But then after he puts them in, installs the carbs, etc..... he may get a little pi$$ed when he finds out he has other issues that need to be addressed and has to pull them out again.

"Gee, I wish somebody had told me to do everything else while I had them out the first time........"

Oh wait---- somebody did.

 

then again i dont think i would of understood half of it without tinkering half assed in the 1st place great information once one has a grasp though

 

Got any vernier calipers? Then measure the ID off the needle holder and tje OD from the carb body. For the ID you can afford to go tight (a bit smaller than you measure). IIRC it's something like 7.5mm. BUT maybe imperial measures work better. In UK we're mainly metric now so they come up a bit odd.