New Member, New Bike, New Problems

I just bought an 85 XJ700 Maxim. It's my second bike following my 80 XS400. I upgraded to get a bit more performance, boy did I get it. But of course with a used bike there are some problems.

First my bike has a small oil leak. The oil appears to be coming from the front of the cylinders. Part #14 in the diagram.

Am I going to be opening a can of worms by tightening the bolt. Should I replace the washer? Or any other part? Other recommendations?






Also I think the PO of this bike knew enough about wrenching to get himself in trouble. I think the mirror mount and switch's mount are reversed, am I right?


I'm sure I'll find more things that need some work but for now thanks for any help and suggestions you can give me.

 

Welcome...

I dunno about the oil leak but yes the mirror mount is definately on the wrong side of the hand controls

 

Looks like you are needing a valve cover gasket. Replace the gasket and all the grommets for the cover bolts.

Good time to check the valve clearances.

 

Having the mirror and switches reversed will get you better visibility behind you (Especially if you are on the large side)...but it obviously it makes hitting switches more difficult.

 

I'm going to have to try this tomorrow. I have trouble with the mirrors on my bike. This might just give me enough "clearance."

 

I think I got lucky, the nut in question was very loose. I put on the socket to check the size and found that the nut could be tightened by hand! Time to cross my fingers that the leaking stops and check every bolt, nut and screw I can find to make sure no more are that loose.

If the leak doesn't stop then I'll pop the valve cover off and replace the gasket, and I'll take your suggestion about checking the valve clearances.

The buttons are much more in reach now. If you need the wider mirrors, give it a try but if you don't have a very long thumb it's going to be a pain. I realized that it couldn't be right just because it was so awkward.

As a foot note, if you don't have a screw extractor set and a set of drill bits go get them before you need them. Theres nothing worse than extra trips to the hardware store in the middle of a project. I was tightening down the mirror/clutch lever bracket and broke the bolt off.

Speaking of buying things I think it's time to get a good torque wrench.

Thanks again,

 

If you found that Nut loose ... I would take it as a WARNING!
I'd put a wrench on every fastener and check the tightness.

Since that's a Cylinder Head Fastening Nut ... when you get ready to check your Valve Clearances ... do a "Torque Check" throughout the pattern of the Cylinder Head Securing Nuts.

NOTHING is worse than having a Head Gasket Fail because it wasn't torqued-down right.
You might as well do the dance around all the Cylinder Head Nuts than find-out the hard way!