Need some eyes on this

Hello everyone. New here. I'm looking for some info on this bike. I think it's a 79 xj500 but I'm not sure. Vin sticker is fubar. I haven't seen the bike with my own eyes. But what I can tell it's in rough shape. I'm needing a new project since I finished my 84 Magna. I think the frame might be shot. But it's free. Any info you can give me I appreciate

 

XJ750 Maxim. 81 or 82 methinks. 83 had a different instrument cluster

 

It's a 1982 XJ750 Maxim.......no 1981 version of that model, and as Dan noted, the 1983 version had a completely different gauge cluster (and different, more-traditional round handlebars, too).

 

Appreciate that. I'll be looking at it on Sunday. That rust on the steering head has me worried. From the plate I'd say it's been sitting since 93.

 

How are these bikes to work on?

 

You're asking a forum of misfits who enjoy tinkering with old XJ's, of coarse we're going to say they are fun, fulfilling and rewarding to tinker with.
Don't ask a barber if you need a hair cut.

Seriously that one though looks very dilapidated. The one pic looks like the frame is buggered by the passenger peg.
All the cosmetic parts are nasty.
If its close by and free then little lost in dragging it home to see if the motor is seized or not.
Parting it out is always an option

 

These bikes are fun, fulfilling and rewarding to tinker with.

(also...you don't want that bike)

 

It would be a fascinating story to watch unfold if you did try to get it rideable again. YouTube series worthy if you wanted to try and do a full resto in to a showpiece. I've seen people work miracles on things that look like a complete lost cause.

Besides, these bikes are fun, fulfilling and rewarding to tinker with.

All that said, I'd never attempt it. Looks like a money pit. I spent a fortune just getting my fairly pristine 900 back on the road.

 

I'll still drag it home. Lady who has it will have it taken to scrap yard. I'd hate to see it go that way. Updates on Sunday. Anybody know where I can find a FSM to download?

 

Not many miles on it if its genuine. Hope the motor is not locked up, and dampness has not ruined it. Who knows it might be a good one for free?

 

The hardest thing about working on, with, these bikes is stopping at having just 1. They seem to attract each other..... just ask @hogfiddles.

 

Welcome to the forum.

For a parts bike, I think it is a gold mine. For road, riding or flip, it is all about the paperwork. Can you get it with a VIN and safety sticker that compromised? Do they have the title, if not, willing to do a bill of sale? If neither of those things, then you will have to get creative with the paperwork. Take some tools with you, them brakes might be locked up. She might not want to roll or move at all. I would go as far as taking the plugs out of it on the spot and soak the cylinders with Blaster for the ride home.

Let us know the progress or what direction you are going.

 

Well she looks like death warmed over. Rear wheel is locked up leading me to believe motor is too. Shifter linkage is broke can't tell if it's in gear or neutral. Got front wheel moving by pulling calipers off. Started to remove rear wheel with the hope that I can get the pumpkin off the drive shaft, keep them separated and get the wheel free. Brake rod twisted at nut and snapped. Well that's off I thought. LOL. castle nut on axel came off with minimal difficulty and lots of pb blaster. Pinch bolt however is a whole other thing. Forgot my 12mm socket like a dumbass, tried using Cresent and some extra "leverage" rounded the f***er up a bit. So I'll be back to it in a few days with my bolt extractor set. But yeah it's only going to be for a part out. At least she can help someone else get on the road.

 

that’s you, you just acquired spare parts for the shinier one in your future
Let’s see your Magna

 

Here it is. Took me about 2.5 years. She was in alot better shape than that xj.

 

Just sold my V65 this spring. They are nice bikes when they are turned right. Nice paint job on the bike, like the hammer the side.

 

What’re you tryin’ to say???

 

Thank you. The v65 is a rocketship with wheels that wants to kill you. Legend has it though that the v30 would match it 0-60. Past that though, forget about it.

 

Well the thought originally was to find a ride for the Mrs when she found it before I'd even seen it. Being what it is it might be faster than my Magna and I just can't have that and I'm not giving her the magna cause....no.

 

Well got the bike home today. Rear brake was stuck to drum. Final drive spins easy enough. Hope that means it's in neutral. Tomorrow I'll try turning motor over by hand. Correct me if I'm wrong please, left side cover off and crank it counter clockwise (carefully) I'll put better pictures of it also.

 

Facing the motor from the left side with a 19mm spanner on the crank, the motor spins clock-wise - opposite the wheels.
If it is seized you'll want to try rocking both directions.
Turning it either way doesn't matter, something you have to do when adjusting valves anyway.

 

NOT IF YOURE USING ‘The Tool”, and not really recommended anyway

 

Heard that. Won't get to it till this evening but I'll post results.

 

Well no dice on getting the cover off as of yet. My manual impact is broken (yay for HFT warranty) and ran out of blaster. Got two of the screws out but other 2 buggered up ( worse than I found them naturally) here's some more pics though. God's what a mess

 

All of that'll buff right out.....!

 

A hand impact screw driver with some JIC bits might be a better call for this job. I do hope you got this bike for next to nothing.

 

FREE. Only cost me blood sweat and tears. So far....
That's what I meant by manual impact. The kind you hit with a hammer. I have JIC bits too. They don't work in the impact though. But I bet there's one out there.

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/39362531...MInYuwoPbDjQMVyJJQBh1OUAAEEAQYAyABEgJu4PD_BwE

These Knippex pliers have serrations at the front for removing bolts.

 

I swear by my Motion Pro tee wrench
It has all 3 JIS bits
A deep breath, a snort and all the strength I have usually pops anything out

 

I was thinking something like this. Not this one, but something like it. I love my older ones and I even think a HF one is better than not having one.
https://www.amazon.com/Aiourx-Rever...3+impact+screwdriver+bit+set,aps,1084&sr=8-17

 

Vessel Impacta driver is made for this.
Rapid taps, not brutal huge ones, and screws loosen off.

 

I've had one where the impact driver like @Timbox shows didn't even get it out -- the Vessel Impacta had no chance. Had to drill it. Not a huge deal - the remainder of the bolt came right out once it was headless. The screws are some common metric thing too, so the originals are not special or anything.

 

https://a.co/d/43E0Zsu
This is the one I was looking at on Amazon. Plus I might get some knockerout plus along with more blaster. Couldn't hurt.