any experts around indianapolis?

I could really use some hands-on advice/help.

I have an '82 xj550 seca, which doesn't run well at all. I'm not really a mechanical guy... but I can do some simple stuff.

 

I'm not really what you would call an expert but I live in Lafayette ... Hoping to have my bike on the road soon (got some friends coming in over this week to help me out) so maybe at least we can get together sometime for a cruise.

What kind of issues are you having? Rough/won't idle? Won't start? I might be able to at least point the right direction. =)

 

I'm not sure how close to Indy your looking, but there are a couple guys in Jasper that run a bike shop called AJs cycle. Both of those guys are pretty knowledgeable when it comes to XJs. When I lived there and had my Seca I was always asking them questions, having them find parts etc. Their prices are pretty good too, and their work is excellent.

 

Yeah, I've gotta do something - I think I've exceeded what can be fixed with my mechanical skill. If I had somebody to tell me what needs doing, I could probably handle it, but I don't know what to do.

Last Fall it was running really bad. I could start it after a lot of effort and a little starter fluid, but after a mile or two it would just start to bog down. It would totally lose power, and die if I gave it any throttle. Since it was warm by then, it would start up OK (sortof OK), and idle OK, but when I started to move it would bog down again. I was just able to nurse it home (a mile or two). My gut feeling is that it was flooding out - but I really don't know.

So, over the winter I decided to follow the Clymer manual instructions and overhaul the carbs. That really didn't cause me any problems. I finally got them put back on the back last week.

Now, I can't get it to start. It cranks and cranks until the battery dies, but it never sounds like it's actually trying to fire.

I don't know what to do. I tried something and made it worse. I'm ready to pay or beg somebody for some help.

I live in Greenwood (20 minutes south of Indy downtown), so Jasper's a bit of a haul, but I'm willing. Thanks for that info - I haven't been able to find anybody local with XJ knowledge.

switch263 - I'd love to ride with you with but I can't just yet!

 

I live in Richmond Indiana so I am not that close but I do think that if you can remove, clean and replace your carbs, you can probably figure this out with a little detective work.

Check fuel, spark and compression (in that order) to find the culprit. Check your fuel system first since that is an area you know has been worked on. I would bet that you are not getting fuel (or not enough fuel) to the carbs. Have you checked your float levels?

 

Well, I had the floats out as part of the carb overhaul... but how can I check them with the carbs on the bike?