I just picked up a project

I got my hands on an 85 xj700 maxim.
The bike has sat for awhile and has the normal symptoms. I'm going to need a few parts, but not many. Mainly another tank, and brake master. The tank I have is going to be cut down the middle and see if I can salvage it. If anyone has one, or one that'll fit, let me know.

 

Your'e limited to the 85/86 xj700 tank if you want drop-in stuff. If you want to do some experimenting, you can look at the 84+ virago tanks.the top is a tad wider for a more dramatic look, but the tunnel is narrower. So, if you're gonna cut and weld, there's something to have fun with. Also, the the v-star tank is firmly close, but you'd have to do some work there, too.

Dave F

 

Thanks, all the ones I see for sale are dented or rusty. Mine has no dents, but a liner was put in and has since turned to gel. It has a few pinholes already. I figured I'd cut it in half down the spine blast it, weld the pinholes, then weld it back up, but that's a lot of work if something else would bolt on.

 

You'll find that the pinholes turn to pencil-holes every time you try to weld them. If the metal is that thin, forget it. Watch for one on ebay.

 

I'm on the hunt. Good thing is, I'm not figuring on this thing being drivable for about a year. Gotta rebuild the brake systems clean the carbs, shocks, forks. Normal sitting bike stuff. But, it spins free with spark and had a clean title, so I figured I couldn't pass it up for $300

 

Nice score

 

I agree with hog fiddles. Excellent

 

Thanks, I'm sure the are many on here that will be disappointed that I'm not restoring it to stock trim, but I want something unique. The good news is that once I'm done any stock parts left over will be offered here for everyone that has helped me along the way.

 

I'm parting out an Xj700n
Gas tank is solid but a bit rusty inside

 

What, no pics?

 

well, this is the starting point. The tank was so bad it's only useful for mock up. My plan is to bob the rear end, using the stock main seat removing the passenger seat sissy bar and fender. I reversed and flipped the bars and am going with new controls. Double headlight, modern brakes up front. I want some piggy back shocks, but I haven't found the right ones yet.

 

Thanks, but I finally found a good tank on eBay.

 

I also acquired an 85 maxim 700 X. What parts are you getting rid of? I could use the carb assembly and a throttle assembly.

 

Robert, good score and have fun with the bikes, need to see pics of the X also please. I have one that was my winter project, sure was a challenge but well worth it.

 

I have saved several non dented but rusted tanks. Strip off the paint then sand the outside to bare metal. fiberglass cloth and resin over anything leaky or rusted out. Then use phosphoric acid
to clean the rust from the inside, rinse, reline with a 2 part epoxy liner and paint. Not good as new but attractive and serviceable.

 

Xj700n is the air head X is water bike very different engine,carbs.

 

I have the rest fender assembly, tall back rest, back seat, turn signals front and rear, a gas tank.

 

Robeert P,

Do you plan on getting them both back up and in running condition? The airhead is where I would start, get used to working on these bikes. You can do the shims without taking off the cams and you don't have to worry about messing around with the cooling system as well.

Keep on posting with updates and pics...we love pics.

 

Can you send me pictures of the gas tank and what kind of condition it is in please? I may want to buy it from you.

 

I only scored the one bike. I also found out that the bike has very low miles on it. I would like to get it back up to running condition. I looked at the carb setup and I only have 1 complete carb out of 4. They were in a box when i got them. It will cost me just as much to find all of the parts than it would be to buy them already rebuilt and ready to put on the bike.

 

Apparently I need to stop working on mine in the driveway. Had a guy pulls in last night while I had mine torn down. He said I looked like I knew bikes and asked a few questions. After a few back and forth and some pics I evaluated he had a bad main fuse. He thanked me and went on his way and left me to put mine back together. A ten minute brake job and some spray paint turned into 3 hours with the help of a wrung off bolt that needed WD, heat, vice grips and a drill to get out. Gotta love old bikes.

 

When I was in the service in GA I drove to work many time on one of my bikes. One of the guys found out I like to tinker and had a little workshop in my garage. Seemed like every weekend I had someone else stopping by to work on there bike or needed help with something. I loved it "most" of the time, because spreading the joy of wrenching motorcycles is great!

 

Got the tank acid cleaned and sand blasted Sunday. Ready to throw some paint at it. Front end is buttoned up as soon as I get my levers in the mail and remove the front fender. This project is coming along nicely. Get the carbs rebuilt and this thing will be road ready. I'll get some better pics when the weather cooperates and I can get it back outside.

 

Looking good, coming along nicely. I do have a question for you, are those red lights or are you using a filter on the camera? Just thinking the Emergency vehicles are allowed to use Red, not too sure about motorcycles. I like the looks of the bars and headlight mount though.

 

The headlights are a kit from j&p cycles I picked up a few years back and had lying around. They use standard halogen bulbs and have an auxiliary 194 bulb in the bottom. I changed it to a red led bulb and hooked it up to the running light. The bright red photo is with the key turned to park. With the main lights on, the red is barely visible. Here in NC as you can have red and blue lights as long as they don't flash.

 

The bars are actually stock ones. I flipped them around and rolled them down in the risers. Yamaha fz07 clutch and master, left side switches. Kept the stock right side switches. Doing away with the choke cable in favor of a lever mounted to the carbs.

 

Interesting, I just asked my local police chief, a friend of mine, about the SD law on front lights as I'm thinking about adding some extra LED lamps on the front.

Front lights have to be white here. Amber turn signals are ok. No red or blue except for emergency vehicles. You might get picked up if you cross somebody's state line.

 

I'll chance it. It's no different than those halo lights, and I can disconnect them if need be. I've had red led lights on my other bike for years with no problems.

 

Got some paint on the tank, it's little by little.

 

That fender had better be next! Your two tone color scheme isn't working for me.

 

Lol, I just haven't taken the front wheel off yet. Waiting on my bike lift to be returned. Loaned it to a friend for his rebel project.

 

It's the little things that make a custom custom. That's the thing I like about getting old taken for granted bikes. If they're pristine it's hard to put yourself into it, where as if they're junk, you can improve and customize as you repair.

 

The dreaded carb rebuild is upon me. These things are nasty, but not for long.

 

I see 14 screws that should be replaced. A lot of people have switched to he when replacing screws. Less difficult than jis.

 

I've had worse......

 

I have the rebuild kit from xj4ever, and bought some replacements that weren't in the kit. I wanted hex, but they didn't have enough, so I got some stainless Phillips, and some anti seize. They're not in bad shape considering it spent two years sitting outside at the coast. The hats are the worst part, will probably blast and paint them.

 

Powder coating is nice... nice and expensive! Lolz

 

Well, I spoke too soon. This is the inside of the bowls. I already have the deluxe rebuild kit from xj4ever, what else, that's not in that kit, do I need to buy to correct this.....any help would be awesome. I'm not a carb guy.

 

That's quite toasty! A carb guru can chime in to tell you if that is salvageable. It might be easier to get a set off evilBay. Or perhaps someone here has a spare set in their hoard. Or you buy a second bike for parts.

 

That is a little shocking, they all like that or just the one? If they start to clean up okay well then you have a job a head of you. But if you start to clean them and parts don't move or if you look close and see that material is starting to come off then another set might be needed. Let us know if there is more then one that looks that toasty.

 

They all have that crud in them, but not to that extent, the other three floats are stuck as well, but only a little surface rust on the metal parts of the floats. That one is mostly gone. Considering that this is what the inside of the original tank looked like, I'm not surprised. So it looks like I need some floats, but where are they hiding.

 

You do have some work ahead of you, labor of love for these older bikes.

 

After vacuuming the crud out, a little oil applied to loosen things up for a few days while I source some floats and anything else necessary. I don't mind the work, I actually enjoy tedious things, it's the part availability that's a downer.

 

Great pics and good luck.

 

air screws are the best

 

Definitely fits in the budget... Can he get away with 16 of them?


And that was supposed to be"hex screws", not "he screws"! Autocorrect is making me more pervy than usual.

 

I will be using stainless hex screws on all that will be removed on a regular, such as bowls etc. Chacal is hooking me up with some floats and pins, so this beast shall breath yet. Someone needs to come up with a simple carb swap for these bikes. A good holley 4bbl would do the trick, lol.

 

Also, I don't say it enough, but thank you guys. Some of the other forums I've been a member of are nowhere near as helpful or supportive.