My new Toy. 82 Seca xj750.

Made a deal with a gentleman I'm building an 78 XT500 for. He was purchasing an 82 xj750 from another guy I know so I told him i'd take the 82 xj750 for payment to build his XT500. He jumped on that deal.
The guy had the bike since 2004 but hasn't run it in the last couple of years but at lest it was kept in a garage out of the elements. I believe the odometer has approx 23K miles on it but the bike is in pretty good shape. I was told it ran pretty good but he's been busy with life as his wife had twin boys a couple years ago and that's kept him from riding it and the decision to sell it.
I'm getting rid of the ATARI and square headlights plus going with minimal wiring, different seat and other cosmetic things. I'm sure it will evolve as the build goes along.
I got rid of the brake master cylinder that was behind the headlight and replaced it with an aftermarket handle bar mount master cylinder and put new brake lines on.
Here are a few pics of some of the work so far. I'll post update pics as it goes along.

 

I dig where you are going with this but I cry just a little every time I see someone cutting up such a nice looking '81 or '82 Seca. They are getting a bit scarce in really good condition and there are so many good candidates for customizing.

 

Totally understand what your saying luvmy40. In all honesty Yamaha didn't do them a favor with that big ugly headlight and instrument panel. They did the same thing with the early 80's Viragos which I posses an 82 Virago 920 that I bobbed out and also have an 83 xv750 that is the project after the Seca is done.

 

I gotta tell ya', that big ugly headlight and auxiliary light are what make the Seca so unique and eye grabbing. I'm not a fan of the stock handle bars. Drags with a 4"pull back riser are what work for me.

Please save the air box, you'll want it after the pods let you down. Same for factory exhaust. I never got to experience a fully stock Seca as mine had a 4-1 Kerker when I got her. Well, I did test ride one in '81 but I didn't buy it. I went Harley back then and now I wonder what I saw in them.

 

Ya I kept the air box. I'm going to give the pods a try with a 6 sigma jet kit and see how she responds. Going to go through the engine before those carbs go back on it. Make sure all is right.

 

Welcome aboard.

Gary H.

 

Thank you rocs. I'm looking forward to finishing it and getting it on the road. This is my first xj build. I've done a couple xv viragos but have always wanted to do an xj.

 

tell me about the XT, i put a TT on the street back in the day. White Brothers low pipe with a supertrapp, longer swingarm, bigger carb, electronic ignition. wore out a lot of brakes on that one

 

Got around to painting my gas tank today. I'm not a body man or an automotive painter by any means but I like how it turned out. Candy Apple Red and I'm doing the frame in gloss black.

 

Nice job on the tank - I know what you mean about the obtuse head light and gauges, but I kept mine on my Maxim - and they kind of grow on you... but realize, I'm a fan for keeping it as original as I can. I go for the "showroom" look myself.

 

Thank you XJcook. That's whats great about motorcycles is that everybody has different taste and they can make their bike however they want and I think its awesome. Variety is great.

 

OOO look what Santa aka the USPS just delivered to my house as an early Christmas/Birthday present to myself. I must be a good boy. .

 

Cosmetic stuff is almost done. Things I've replaced/installed/repaired so far:
new brake lines
new break pads/shoes
new drag bar handle bar
new seat
new master cylinder
new head light
new tail/brake light
new bar end mirrors
new fuse box
painted gas tank
painted frame
painted lower half of front forks
painted rims
installed electronic speedometer
fabricated side covers for battery area
cleaned carbs as per house of clean
installed Outlaw carb rebuild kit
set carb floats
bench synced carbs
installed 6 sigma jet kit
air pods(yes I've kept the air box if needed)
new valve cover gasket and donut gaskets
lots of cleaning and more of that to do.

Things that are on the to do list:
check valves clearance and set accordingly
re-install carbs
minimal wiring
colortune carbs (with YICS blocked off)
clean YICS passages
wrap exhaust pipes
change fork oil
change engine oil and filter
clean/polish engine case
new spark plugs

I'm sure there are some things I may have forgot to list.

 

Personally, I like the XJ's just the way they came from the factory.

I love the big round headlights on my 650rj and 750 maxims
I love the square headlight on my secas
I love the little headlight on the 700's and X's

I think they look odd when altered.

And I can't stand the mini- turn signals that are often put on. I like the big rectangular ones, and the round ones

 

Like I said before "Thats whats great about motorcycling, everybody has different taste and if they are happy with what they have then thats all that matters" If everybody had the same taste then life would be boring.

 

It's a good looking bike. Grips, tank, seat and wheels...Imo add a touch of color, maybe a circular pinstrip or paint the yics emblem to the crank covers to complete the flow.

Gary H.

 

Thanks Rocs. Im going to add a black Nautical Star to the side of the tank and a red circular decal with RTB on the side covers. RTB stands for Rocktown Bobbers which is my little side business. I was thinking of painting in the YICS on the crank covers in red. I'm not done with adding little details of color contrast yet. Can't see them in the pic but there are black lever covers with red paracord lacing.

 

Haven't posted updates on my progress for awhile but I'm really close to firing her up. Finished up the wiring and all seems to be working correctly. Replaced fuel pipe o-rings and throttle shafts seals on carbs last night. I'm bench syncing carbs this morning before my kids get home then I'm done for the weekend working on the bike so I can spend time with them (priorities). As you can see from the pics below the fuel pipe o-rings and throttle shaft seals were in bad shape. Lost one of the fuel pipe o-rings during removal so thats why pic only has 5 of them. I'll post more pics as progress is made. I'm terrible with stopping and taking pics as i'm working on things which is weird since photography is a hobby of mine but when i'm in the zone of working on things thats the last thing on my mind. Anyway, I hope everyone has a great Easter Weekend and if your riding be SAFE!!!

* Denotes Items completed
*Cosmetic stuff.
*new brake lines
*new break pads/shoes
*new drag bar handle bar
*new seat
*new master cylinder
*new head light
*new tail/brake light
*new bar end mirrors
*new fuse box
*painted gas tank
*painted frame
*painted lower half of front forks
*painted rims
*installed electronic speedometer
*fabricated side covers for battery area
*cleaned carbs as per house of clean
*installed Outlaw carb rebuild kit
*set carb floats
bench synced carbs
*installed 6 sigma jet kit
*air pods(yes I've kept the air box if needed)
*new valve cover gasket and donut gaskets
lots of cleaning and more of that to do.
*check valves clearance and set accordingly
re-install carbs
*minimal wiring
colortune carbs (with YICS blocked off)
clean YICS passages
wrap exhaust pipes (not sure if this will be done yet)
change fork oil
change engine oil and filter
clean/polish engine case
*new spark plugs
*installed new 2fastmoto mufflers
rebuild brake calipers

 

The seat is going to hit the fuses and break them unless it rests quite a bit higher than the stock seat when fully compressed.

 

Its sits a bit higher up. I checked clearance before mounting it there. I even put weight on the seat and double checked.

 

Very nice bike

 

ground buss, like

 

Thanks Vito and Polock I like the ground buss to. Looks better than just splicing all the grounds into one spot. Vito the company I work for has a plant in Lancaster, LSC Communications. Been with the for 30+ years.

 

Nice work!! Some ideas I may use on my '81 Seca. FYI - I replaced the original and awful bars with clubmans. Bike is uber comfortable now, handles/looks better, and I can ride for hours with minimal discomfort. What did you fabricate the side covers with ? Might do same.

 

Thank you Jasonh. I just used some sheet metal for the side covers. If my Memory is correct it was like 22 gauge. I'll post more in depth pics soon.

 

There are better bar choices if you want to turn several hours of comfortable into several weeks of all-day riding comfortable.
I see that you mounted the clubmans upside down, which does help your posture.

 

Getting it put back together. New 2fastmoto exhaust installed. Still getting some small things done before giving her life again. Hopefully within the next week she'll be breathing again. Need to rebuild sticky brake calipers first because I know as soon as shes running I'm going to want to take her out on the road and sticky calipers aren't safe so that will be done first before starting. I am pleased with how it's turning out.

 

It's ALIVE!!! Put gas in and she fired right up. Motor hasn't been run in over 3 years. I still need to colortune the carbs and a few other items on my list but I'm pleased that it's running.

 

Colortune and synchronize; emphasis on synchronize.

 

Bench synched the carbs the other day after I installed new throttle shaft seals, fuel tube o-rings and mixture screw o-rings. Set float levels also. I've got a Carburetor Synchronizer set I'll hook up also.

 

A bench synch only gets you close enough to let the bike run. The idle will smooth out a lot with a running synch.

 

True Dat K-Moe. It's on my after running punch list. I'll get on it first thing Monday morning since I have to work all weekend.

 

Good catch on the clubmans. Yes, upside down gave me a perfect balance between sporty feel and comfortable posture. Off to do a full day ride today !!

 

Got the carbs synched and colortuned. She purrs like a kitten now. Now if it would just quit raining so I can take it for a spin and see how it does. I understand from what I've read on here about the issues with putting pods on and I did keep the air box just in case she doesn't like them. I did install a 6 sigma jet kit also the factory carb to air box rubber boots between the pods and carbs and from what I've also read some believe that air turbulence is a factor in the pods not working to well so I decided to make small covers for the outside carb pods. I figured what the heck. Maybe someone with more brain power than I has tried this and can chime in. Can't say how how it does till I can ride it and see how she responds.

 

Not a proponent of chopping up XJ's but that does look sharp. Crafty work with the side pod covers.

 

Thanks Stumplifter. I'm pleased with how it's turning out.

 

Colortuning carbs. I know a little about it, but not enough. Any good articles on this site ?

 

I'm sure there is a thread on here somewhere about colortuning your carbs. Pretty simple procedure. First off is that you'll need a colortuning kit. I did mine in conjunction with a running carb sync. Did the synch first then colortune then repeated a couple more times. As far as colortuning goes just make sure the engine is warm and start with whatever cylinder you want to. Pull the plug out and replace with the colortune plug and make sure the supplied copper washer is used, handtight not torqued down. Install the long electrode supplied with the colortune kit and hook up to the spark plug wire and the colortune plug. Start engine and look into the colortune plug to see the color of the ignited gas/air mixture. Yellow is rich, Whitish is lean and blue is the desired color. To adjust to get the blue color your looking for turn the mixture screw of the carb that corresponds to the cylinder your colortune plug is installed into. Turning clockwise will lean the mixture and counterclockwise will richen the mixture. You want it to be what Colortune calls Bunsen Blue. Remove colortune plug and move on to the next cylinder. Let your motor and colortune plug cool a bit between cylinders. Excessive heat is not good for the colortune plug. Like I said above repeat the synch and colortune a few times. Pretty simple procedure. My motorcycle is running pretty good now after doing this.

 

^^ that^^
Put a box fan in front of your bike, plug it in and turn it on.

 

I'd been debating about a front fender and the one that was on the bike when i got it was damaged in the front end of it so I got the ole grinder out and started cutting away and applied same color paint as the tank. I do believe i like how it turned out.

 

liking the progress. keep up the good work. When you painted the tank did you up a 2k clear coat? It will help with any gas spillage and other mishaps.

 

I like this setup, made holder for fan
Keep me and the bike cool on hot days

 

You should move closer to Brooklyn, NY. That way I can come by to bother you and use that beauty of a bench.

 

I haven't clear coated the tank yet. The paint I used is a one stage paint with clear coat in it but you can apply a clear coat if wanted. I got it from paintforcars.com. Pretty good paint and prices.

 

For the clear coat you can use Spraymax Aerosol can http://www.66autocolor.com/Spray-Max-2K-Clear-coat-Aerosol-3680061-p/spm-3680061.htm

Pretty easy to do, just wear the proper breathers. This stuff can kill ya.

 

My wife loved her trips to New York. Was at NCR in Connecticut for training and would ride the train in and take the hop on hop off bus and do the tourist thing on the weekends. She was there a few weeks before 911.
But sorry we are west coasters.