Introduction of myself, a man with a plan

I've been visiting this site for months and don't see me leaving for a long while, so I made a profile. Figured I'd do a who what and why introduction of me and my bike.
My name's Cameron, but my friends call me Camo, and my bike's named Badtmilda. It's an 82 Yamaha Seca XJ750RJ. Technically I have a form of autism called Asperger's but I never wanted to know what it was because I felt it might limit me as a person because it would put preconceived notions in my head. All I've really noticed is that I do good with logic, suck in social situations, and overshare... If you haven't noticed already, lol. Badtmilda was a dying nearly dead bike that I saved and am breathing new life into.
The why... In November my mother passed away unexpectedly and I'm not dealing with it very well, so project time. I tend to use physical fulfillment to help me pull myself up emotionally and to be frank this is gonna take time... Both the project and finding closure or whatever you would call it.

I know it's blasphemy to some, but I plan on making some alterations... Mostly cosmetic, but some mechanical. It's not going anywhere as it's my first bike and I love it, so why not give it some character that makes it wholly mine and unique. Definitely will share my experience if it's wanted as I go through this journey, and I'd like to thank you all (friends I hope) in advance for the help.
I'll probably drive people crazy with questions, but this is a community and from what I've seen it's a nice one and I kind of need that too.

Well, this is my bike after I got it running (pretty much had to re redneck all the things the fellow I got it from did wrong) and did a couple minor alterations.... Handle bars and blinkers were broke and it was rusty in a few spots on the tank. So had a few things on hand to "get her by" till I had time and money to work on her.

In closing, I work a full time plus job and have a fair amount of bills, so the restoration and alteration is likely to take at least a year and probably more. I do promise, though, that my other posts won't be near as long.

 

Asperger's is not a disadvantage, its a differentness.
Sorry to hear about your mother. I think that's the most difficult of losses, aside from losing a child.

 

Thank you. She was only 57 which is what gets me. Too young for this day in age. I've never been a member of a forum. Are there any protocols I should know so I don't accidentally shoot myself in the foot? I've been looking for a list or rules or that type thing and I've determined I'm either missing it or it's common knowledge that I don't happen to have.

Sorry, found it. If it was a snake it would have bit me. Now time to brush up on etiquette.

 

First rule is "the laws of Germany"
Second rule is "be nice to mommy"
Third rule is "don't talk to Commies"
Fourth rule is "eat kosher salamis"

Sorry, couldn't resist a Ramones quote!

My bro has Asperger's too. I call him an ass burger. He claims not to "get" sarcasm, and yet burns me with it every day. He's one of the smartest people I have ever met, and I know me!

 

best thing you can do is ask questions any and all questions answered.
next best thing is to answer questions .....

 

Inattentive ADHD says Hi!

And welcome....

 

Lol, ok... We'll start the staggered barrage then.

Have you ever seen big bang theory? Sounds almost exactly like a scene from episode 2. I remember thinking it'd be awful nice if someone'd make me a sarcasm sign. Lol.

Hello, and I'll say thank you when you get back... (Dry humor)

 

Welcome to the party, @Possible malfunction ! This is probably one of the best crews to get aligned with all-round. Sorry to read about your loss - she is in a better place now.

If it were me and this were my thread - I'd turn it into my build thread.

At the time of this post it had not yet been listed, key items seem to be:
1. http://www.xj4ever.com/downloads.html (information overload hour)
2. http://www.xj4ever.com/ Chacal/Len quite literally has everything you need
3. Signature links (k-moe's above)


Ride safe,

 

and add your bike to your Signature line in your profile. 82 Seca XJ750 or XJ750RJ both mean the same thing R= Seca J= 82 how ever you like to ID the bike

I would suggest that when you start the project to start a new thread in the tech forum with your issues. bike in title and an ID of sorts
"82 Seca XJ750 ( or XJ750RJ) Possible Malfunction" would be a catchy title

 

Sorry for your loss and welcome to the family we try to help each other . Don't hesitate to ask questions . At the top of the page is xj4ever chacal sells parts fantastic service and read the overload hour lots of great info. Good luck with your project and keep us up to date on your progress...riding is a good way to forget your troubles and clear your mind.

 

Learning already, thank you. I didn't know that. Did I do the signature line right?

Agreed, and thank you

 

From the couple of photos you have put in the bike looks to be in fairly good condition, good luck with your new toy / project. You will get a lot of helpful info' here.

 

Ok, so I got my Haynes manual and started tearing my bike down. Went to drain the oil and as this is my first bike it might be nothing but it seems odd to me.
Oil plug and oil filter drained oil colored if a bit dark.
Middle gear plug drained tan oil?
I couldn't find anything that would explain it aside from condensation, but it wasn't just a little milky looking. It looked like a McDonald's iced coffee!

 

Sounds like condensation. That's not uncommon if a bike has been sitting for a while, particularly in humid and cold conditions. The color is from condensation being mixed with the oil as the gears were turning.
How was the bike stored, and for how long?
In the future you can despense with drining oil from the middle gear. It's a hassle to get to, holds barely a cup of oil (that will be diluted into the new oil), and the plug has a tendency to break off.

[Merged threads]
FYI, it's really helpful to keep all questions about you machine in one thread, so we can keep track of things and give you the best advice posssible as you get her back in shape.

 

Okie doke. I'll keep em all in one thread then. I changed the oil when I got it and it's wintering in a garage (unheated)

 

Congrats on the new toy. I hope you are able to make it your own successfully.

 

Ahhh the Tool Master of Brainerd!


Being your first bike, please take a MSF course.

 

Welcome to the forum. Brainerd is a nice area. I spent a significant number of summer 2 week paid "vacations" at Camp Ripley courtesy of the Army National Guard.

 

Thank you, and congrats on your acquisition of your 81 xj650.

Lol, I shared that with my fiancee and we both got a kick out of it. That's too funny. Not often you hear a song about where you live when it's not a major city.

Thank you.

 

They played my senior prom!

 

Ok. Tried taking off the carb to motor boots. Now I need a head and head gasket. Unfortunate, but I got it to work for now with my brother in law's help. Ended up snapping a bolt which seems to be a normal problem. That's all I have to report for now

 

Don't throw in the towel build a dam with clay get some alum in the spice rack mix it up place some in the dam put a heat lamp on area let sit for a day or so it will dissolve the bolt but will not hurt the head.

 

Yes do that - and remember you'll learn more in the 3 months after the MSF course than you will during but only if you take it...

 

So Jetfixer, exactly what is the alum you mention? I have a pair of float valve fixing screws that need removing, and I don't fancy drilling them, especially as there's no hurry

 

alum as in the cooking spice .the float valve screws soak them in penetrating oil and use the proper JIS screwdrivers

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Aluminum-S...727991?hash=item4b3f7d5e77:g:YwsAAOSwldRaSCUj

 

Alum is a spice? I guess I need to do some searching.
No point telling me to soak anything, or use jis screwdrivers, the screws had rusted away, heads fallen off. The only two on the whole set.
Thanks for the link.

 

alum is a pickling spice. it can be purchased at stores

 

Alum works but as I stated you have to keep a heat lamp on it and be patient might take a couple of days but can save you from messing up a head . If you try to drill it out ALWAYS buy several NEW and higher quality steel drill bits . Do NOT ever use a wood bit or a Chineese made bit .

 

At first when I read that, I thought you meant a bit made of wood!

 

Many bits are sold as for use on steel but are better suited for drilling wood . A broken bolt or stud should be ground even and carefully drilled with a high quality new drill bit ,you do not want the bit to "walk" on you , over 30 years working on aircraft you learn to do this in the right way . You also should have good quality easy outs the best set I have are Snap On they are not cheap but worth the investment . Sorry but Harbor Freight is not a place for real high quality drill bits , I usually buy bits from industrial supply Grainger sells good drill bits . That was my point , thanks Matti for your view .

 

Quite right jetfixer, the cheap stuff that's turning up everywhere is not worth buying. Never had an easy out work for me, perhaps I'm just clumsy. I have s ready supply of this alum stuff, never knew it had steel eating properties though.(I work for a water supply utility)...

 

there is a utube video on this where the guy uses a can and 4 watt light bulb.

it took me 12 hours on the stove to disolve a tap that was broken off in a mc just remember mc have steel in the piston cylinder here the bolt secures the hose.
but you are working on a head.

 

Best, and most expensive, set of drill bits I ever bought were cobalt ones from Mac tools. They are one of the best I've used. Best part is when the finally get dull or you manage to chip them from carelessness, they have a lifetime warranty. From the 1/16 to the 1/2

 

I have a Drill Doctor to sharpen bits when they get dull ...Cool tool !!!!

 

Ok, so I just picked up a motor. Got it for 50 dollars. Whole aside from a starter.

I believe it's an 81 xj750rh by the motor number.

My bike's an 82 xj750rj.

My question is are all the parts interchangeable, or some, or none at all?

 

81 and 82 Seca same motor so all the motor parts interchange

 

That's too awesome. Thank you very much for the info

 

Well, I put my beastie baby back together.

Rode up and down the street and found out that I had no blinkers. Get to try chasing that down after work Monday morning, but with the new aftermarket petcock I bought from Len and installed today I'm amazed. It's a totally different machine. Turns out when you're not flooding the carbs they actually work right lol.
Danger Will Robinson. That was an accident with the intent of bodily harm waiting to happen.
I'm so tickled pink. Today was a wonderful day

 

not lighting at all or not blinking?

no light check fuse or does the horn work? same fuse.

 

Not lighting at all front or rear, and haven't tried the horn. I did look at the fuse and it looked ok, but by that time it was getting dark so it was a preliminary perusal.

 

horn is on same fuse as lights.
could be bulbs are burnt out but i would look at and clean the control and make sure the voltage feed wire and 2 outputwires is still soldered to the little pcboard and connections are clean

and of course disconnect all the connectors from lights to controler clean them and grease them
dielectric grease on the connectors spray with electrical cleaner, use a light silicon spray on the inside of the control to lube it

 

Ok, so I wired in new blinker lights and put new ends on the connections because the other ones were a mangled mess. That went well.

I ended up taking the left control box off and did like you said. Checked the soldered connections and they all seem sound (no wiggle and light tugging didn't move em.) Cleaned em up. Horn works still, but blinkers still aren't lighting up front or back. I'm gonna try and find one of my spare relays to see if that's the problem, and off to start replacing

This mess.

 

Well, dooey me. Turns out I was thinking the starting/ignition cut off/neutral safety relay was the flasher relay. Turns out I had a spare flasher relay too so I put that in and low and behold I have flashers again.
Redid my fuse box

Now it's perrtiful and functional both.
Next on the list is to get a valve shim tool and a valve cover gasket and check those/replace as necessary to make sure they're in spec... At least as long as nothing else goes wrong between now and then. Lol
Also going to get an LED light and flasher relay set up for the blinkers. I'm also toying around with the idea of making an independent blinker switch for each side. Push button toggle switch was my thought, but we'll have to see and I'll have to give some thought to whether it'd be a good personalized touch for me.

 

you should be able to open and clean flasher relay

 

Ok, quick question for people who know more of wiring than me (which is very little.) If I were to put in independent toggles for blinkers. Seems logical to me you would need to wire a ground to both, left to left, right to right signal wires to each, and a hot wire to both. Hot to toggle with signal when depressed.
I'm thinking of push button switches. My thought was hot and signal touch when depressed creating a circuit and ground for each. All I have on my side is logic, which says it should be doable with a electronic flasher type relay and LED bulbs.
Up until I started delving into this website I didn't even know I had auto cancel, so not really a consideration.
I've really enjoyed reading, and the help I've gotten from everyone is phenomenal. The alum and heat lamp trick saved my bacon after all I could think of to do was exhausted. Goes to show two minds are better than one.
Xj550h. Your promptness with replies is much appreciated. Knowledge and speed make me a much smarter nincompoop. Not belittling all the other folks that have responded, but I feel he deserved a special mention

 

just do it the way yamaha does hot input to flasher then load wire to switch or switches switch on hot goes to bulb other side of bulb to ground.

you could use a 3 position toggle wire hot to center then switch left or right

 

if you want to use 2 switches just hook BR/w wire to each switch . if you do use 2 switches it would be possible to turn both sides on at same time which is not a good thing unless your flasher is ment for the load

 

Ok, so new development. I'm riding my bike to work every day, and after what I've done it was going good.
A few hours ago my front calipers seized. Luckily I was slowing down to go into a turn lane, but even so it got a bit squirrelly quite fast. No damage to me or the bike, but after I took the front calipers off and wired them out of the way I was able to limp her home running rear brakes and upsetting the people behind me with my slow speed.
My front upper forks are bent from a prior situation.
My question is this.
Is there any full front end that I can swap to my 750 Seca that is a direct swap?
There's a 650 Seca at the bone yard that I'm looking at, but not sure if it'll work, so delving into the amassed knowledge here hoping for a quick fix so I can get back to riding.
Hope to hear from you soon.

Cameron

 

Swap the forks from a 750 maxim. All you lose is the anti dive stuff. Otherwise, it's the same

 

These are the photos Len