new owner, question about routine maintenence

hey all,

with the project of fixing up my newly acquired 83 750 maxim, I was hoping to get some info on what routine maintenence should be done on it. I don't have a manual so I'm not sure what oil to use/other fluids, etc...

appreciate any help..

 

Here's a good read! Print it out and keep it in the garage.

http://www.i-op.com/jimm/xjfaq.txt

 

I'll add my two cents... I see you're new here so I'll introduce myself as the loudmouth of the group

- Check oil levels
- Replace oil and filter at intervals. Manual suggests filter every 6000 and oil every 3000 IIRC? I just do it at least once a season and always as part of my winterizing process

- Check brake fluid level
- Check rear brake indicator - it's a shoe system and lasts a long long time.

- Rear gear oil I do every time I change the rear tire. At the same time I lube the splines.

- Lube the cables ( I suggested using a luber and oil - however, it was suggested that I should switch to graphite instead of oil. Sounds good - I will do that on my next cable but I'm not sure how well oil and graphite would work together)

- Check tire preasures
- Check tread depth
- replace old tires. Old is a loose term but 5 years is long in the tooth. I find I'll use up a set of tires long before that. I did throw away the PO's tires as they were old. Look for weather cracking - if they are cracking consider the value of the bike and the value of the last few hundred miles you'll eek out of them then consider the cost of replacing the tire. It is always cheaper to replace a tire at home or the local dealership then after a mishap and forced into what ever is in stock at a mystery dealership.

- check your lights and horn every ride. Sometimes the horn will wiggle loose - finding out the hard way isn't fun.

- check for dripping oil - it's a sign that things aren't right

- clean/replace filter frequently

- install a inline gas filter

- use stabilizer for winter storage

I'm off - more later

 

thanks guys for the great info.....much appreciated!

is there somewhere I can get a manual for this bike or something that will show me how and where to perform these maintenence items on the bike?

thanks.

 

XJCD... awesome resource - 10$ us. Try a quick search for it... @ work or I'd look;

 

Woot, you don't qualify as a loudmouth, your too level headed. Bartman, check out the Haynes Manual (available online and from most bike shops for about $20). It is not perfect (little issues about the pictures listing the wrong jets for the carburators, BSD) but is more than adequate to sustain you. The XJCD is an excellent suppliment to the purchase of the factory manual if you have about $60 for it (the factory manual but I'm told that the CD has most of the important stuff out of there already). How to purchase is outlined at the head of the XJ Chat forum. Go get 'em!