Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told you...

PO said he put a new battery in "last year" He did, but never checked the water and it was nearly dry.
PO said he just put a new chain on. 18K miles seemed a bit premature then I realized he didn't know about chain LUBE.
PO had new tires put on by a bike shop, he took them the wheels. He screwed up reassembly of the rear axle so the nut was tight but the axle still flopping about.
PO said he "removed" the sidestand switch--he did, cut the wires and spliced them...
PO couldn't figure out why he had "fuse problems" (glad he didn't try to fix that) so he gave me a LOT of spare fuses...
PO kept a rolled up shop rag under the seat, just behind the tool box tray, effectively BLOCKING most of the air intake...
PO apparently didn't know you have to periodically change spark plugs...
PO apparently unaware the bike has an air filter.
PO kept the bike outside for the three years he owned it.
And the number one reason: PO said it was his first motorcycle.

 

LOL I try to be honest when I sell something but I always tell buyers not to trust what I tell them - check it out for themselves. I don't even ask POs about much anymore.

Sounds like your PO was just clueless on maintenance. Mine supplied receipts from his mechanic so I knew a bunch of stuff that had been done. No receipt for a carb rebuild but I just went through them and I would like to shoot whoever touched them last.

There is an old saying - buyer beware!

 

Good one ! I'll add a few. . .

PO said it was driven by a 75 year old man.
PO said if he blows the carbs out and gets it to run, he's doubling the price next week. (on my Maxim, with 1 dead CYL)
PO said those pods give you more horsepower.
PO said everything worked (over the phone, long distance)
PO said these bikes are going for about two grand.

 

PO said I just had it running a few weeks ago but the battery died (after taking apart these carbs, there is no WAY this bike was running within the past few 'years')

PO said it's a simple fix I just don't have the time

LOL ;-)

 

One of MY personal favorites!

PO: "Bike is EXTREMLY RARE!"

 

If the PO refers to a bike as a Maxima,Maximum,or Sega,run like hell!

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

Where do I start!?

PO said just needs tires, battery and carbs cleaned. Yea right.

I've been fixing/replacing things for the last six weeks. The best one being the fuse box simply removed and the wires twisted together with electrical tape.

 

My PO whittled a piece of wood and stuck it in behind the "CHOKE" switch to keep it from closing all the way and tried to tell me it was the best way to adjust the idle.

 

LOL OUCH! My PO is awesome then! He freely admitted he pretty much broke everything he touched or attempted to do, and that he had no idea how reliable the bike was or could ever be. He did say he had left it outside for the past three plus years too, which there was no denying in any case. He did only charge me $300 thourh, and the bike is a rock now after some basic maintenance by me. I have felt fortunate every day since getting my maxim!

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

The PO of my 650 told me it just needed valves adjusted. Yeah, right. It had cracked rings on two pistons and the carbs were so full of crap it took me a month to clean them out. Also, someone had retapped several bolt holes on the frame and engine to SAE thread.

I bought it with 2 cylinders barely firing at half throttle. I guess I'm a sucker for a pretty bike.

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

My PO is a buddy of mine. He was honest about it....
All he did was change the oil and filter regularly.

 

i bought an xj1100 for 700 bucks that looked beautiful and fired right up with some ether in the intake, it stumbled on idle for a little while till it warmed up and i figured it was just a little cold. Then he tells me when it gets moving it really goes.... when i hopped on to take it home it took off like a rocket right away but about a mile down the road it starts smoking and sputtering...... what a jackass. Then when i take the seat off to check things it turns out there is no filter in the air box.

So my story ends with me only riding the bike for that one mile and thats about it.... unfortunately i am having some financial problems and cant spare the 90 bucks to fix the fuel lines. So if anybody wants to donate to the "running xj1100" fund please get in touch..

 

PO doesn't understand the difference between in/lbs and ft/lbs of torque
PO doesn't own a torque wrench
PO doesn't own any metric wrenches/sockets, and every nut & bolt proves it

 

PO failed to mention there was a quarter sized hole in the case...

PO gave me my money back!!

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

I had no problems with my PO/ Bike. I paid $1200 for it. I had no idea about what to look for regarding problems. I think my only two questions was does it run and how do I start it up!?! Somebody recently asked me would I sale my XJ and my wife answered, "ur be better off asking how much he sale me for." The point I'm making is that even my wife know my bike is priceless! THANKS PO!!!

 

How are fuel lines gonna cost you $90? On my 750 it was about $4 of new rubber fuel hose. From the harley shop at that.

On the other hand, my PO was pretty cool really. I rode up with him to look at the bike (he wouldnt let me commit to buying it until I had seen it and put my hands on it). I helped him load it onto his truck, we get heading home and I looked over and said 'Anything else I need to know about this bike before I write you the check?' He told me 'Nope, the way it sits is how it was when I put it away, 23 years ago.' After tearing into it, I believe him completely. Carbs were understandably gummed up, but so far no issues anywhere else on the bike, except the fuse panel.

 

8O WHAT!!

 

Doesn't the 1100 have duel petcocks, hoses and sum kind of regulator?

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

I like your wife! She is a keeper.

I bought mine ~12 years ago. I have no idea what my PO said, but it has been a good ride. With the help of all of you I can keep it going.

 

I do protest to a first time bike owner being the primary cause of all these problems. Sure, there is a steep learning curve but with effort and advice then first time owners are perfectly capable of taking good care of a bike. Its more about actually caring for the bike than it is being a first time owner.

 

I must have found the best PO ever then. I bought mine for 900. He was the second owner of the bike, he told me the straps let go and the bike fell(dent in tank). Gave me 3Qts fo oil new filter, throttle cable(he thought it was a clutch cable LOL) the original yamaha service manual. He even had because the owner before him lost it and had to refile a title from the first onwer!! He also said the PO was maticulas with maintenance but he hadn't touched anything cept oil changes and drove it. pretty honest guy and I got a great bike.

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

I agree first timers can learn and do fine but it's about wanting to learn and maintain your bike. Some folks just want to gas it and ride. They either are clueless about the maintenance or don't care. That is certainly not ALL of them to be sure.

 

you got it hound hopefully something works out soon.... im going nuts having it so close yet so far

 

FUEL LINES AND FUEL FILTERS:


NOTE: All Yamaha XJ models use 1/4" main fuel line from the petcock fuel outlet to the carb inlet(s). Yamaha XJ700 non-X Hitachi HSC33 carbs also use 1/4" fuel line for the upper vent lines (one on each carb) just under and to the side of the idle mixture screw bore. In addition, XJ700 non-X Hitachi HSC33 carbs and some Mikuni model carbs use a bowl vent/overflow tube that runs between the #1 and #2 carb, and separate bowl vent/overflow tube between carbs #3 and #4. These bowl vent tubes require the use of a larger 5/16" fuel line. Be aware that both the upper vent lines and the lower bowl vent lines run from to carb body to "nowhere"; that is, their other ends do not attach to any component, and are merely vented to the atmosphere. Those lines just "hang free" and point downward, exiting below the bottom of the carb rack, each line being anywhere from 8-12" long. Yes---for those carbs, there is a virtual rats-nest of fuel lines going everywhere!

ALSO NOTE: everyone likes to be special, right? Well, Yamaha did, and that specialness goes all the way down to the fuel and vacuum lines, too. They used a special "thinwall" design hose that is just that: very thin walls of the hose. This makes the hose very flexible, and easy to manuever into the sometimes tight bends and squeezes that are found in the fuel plumbing on these bikes, yet still resist kinking or collapsing or bursting. Aftermarket fuel and vacuum lines tends to be "automotive" grade and have thick, rigid walls, and is fairly non-flexible. THIS CAN PRESENT REAL PROBLEMS ON YOUR ROUTING YOUR FUEL LINES. Our OEM and Premium Aftermarket Fuel Lines are both thinwall design to make routing of the hose easy.


fl2) OEM Petcock-to-Carb and Carb Vent FUEL LINE. Original thinwall, flexible rubber fuel line is black with a green or red tracer stripe. NOTE: do not use fuel line as vacuum line, and vice-versa. Fuel line is designed to withstand expansion pressures, while vacuum line is made to resist collapsing! This fuel line is NOT for use in fuel-injection systems.


HCP120A OEM 14" straight 1/4" fuel line section, more than enough to reach from the petcock to the fuel rail inlet nipple on the carbs on models that have a rear-facing fuel outlet nipple on the petcock. Correct black fuel hose with green tracer stripe is used on all XJ650 models (except Turbo) and all XJ900RK models. NOTE: use the HCP122, HCP542, or HCP2945 hose clamps with this fuel line. Although this hose is not correct for XJ550 and XJ750 models, it can be used as a lower-cost substitute for those models "dog-leg" molded style fuel lines.
$ 7.00


HCP120B OEM 8" dogleg (90-degree bend) molded 1/4" fuel line section, more than enough to reach from the petcock to the fuel rail inlet nipple on the carbs on models that have an in-ward pointing fuel outlet nipple (towards the center of the bike) on the petcock. Correct black fuel hose with red tracer stripe is used on all XJ750 models. NOTE: use the HCP122, HCP3106, or HCP2945 hose clamps with this fuel line.
$ 11.00


HCP120C OEM 9" dogleg (90-degree bend) molded 1/4" fuel line section, more than enough to reach from the petcock to the fuel rail inlet nipple on the carbs on models that have an in-ward pointing fuel outlet nipple (towards the center of the bike) on the petcock. Correct black fuel hose with red tracer stripe is used on all XJ550 models. NOTE: use the HCP122, HCP3106, or HCP2945 hose clamps with this fuel line.
$ 14.00


HCP5366 OEM 17" straight 1/4" fuel line section. Correct black fuel hose, no tracer stripe, as used on all XJ1100 models. NOTE: XJ1100 models require a total length of fuel hose of approximately 50", therefore you will need to order a total of three (3) of these hoses to do the entire carb rack on these models, and cut them into the following lengths:

1 piece each: 2", 3-1/2", 4", 5-1/4", and 8"
3 pieces each: 9"

and to accomplish the above you will cut each of the three HCP5366 pieces as follows:

1 of the HCP5366 pieces, cut into a 9" and 8" pieces
1 of the HCP5366 pieces, cut into 9", 4", and 3-1/2" pieces
1 of the HCP5366 pieces, cut into 9", 5-1/4", and 2" pieces.

NOTE: as an alternative to using this original solid black fuel line, you can use any of our aftermarket fuel lines listed below, or for a creative solution to the "which hose runs where?" issue that arises with these carbs, you can order three different colors of your choice (call them colors "A", "B", and "C") of fuel line to color-code each fuel path. You'll need the following total lengths:

- one foot of color "A" to run from petcocks to the fuel line T-Splitters.
- two feet of color "B" to run from the petcocks to the vacuum pod inlet.
- three feet of color "C" to run from the vacuum pod outlet to the T-splitter input, and then also from the T-splitter output to the carb bank input.

The pinch clamps to use AT THE PETCOCK PORTS is the HCP542, and you'll need 4 of those, while all other fittings (at the vacuum pod and at the fuel line T-splitters) should will require the use of 12 of the HCP2945 hose clamps. Note that if you choose to add any of our in-line fuel filters, you will need order and additional two of HCP2945 hose clamps for each filter ordered.



HCP5364 OEM fuel line T-SPLITTER, used on XJ1100 models only, use two per carb rack. Each:
$ 4.95




fl12) Aftermarket Petcock-to-Carb STANDARD FUEL LINE, better than OE quality, this black line resists collapse and is a low-cost, durable replacement DOT approved automotive and marine grade line. Black thin-wall design is very flexible and has no tracer stripe. Suitable for use with both gasoline and alcohol-blended fuels. This fuel line is NOT for use in fuel-injection systems.

NOTE: for the 1/4" fuel line from the petcock to the carb inlet, order an 18" section for all XJ650 (except Turbo) and XJ900RK models. Order a 12" section for all XJ550 models, all XJ700 models, and all XJ750 models. Order a 60" section for all XJ1100 models.

NOTE: use the HCP122 or the HCP542 fuel line clamps with the 1/4" hose. Use the HCP3106 clamps with the 5/16" line.


HCP4924A aftermarket 1/4" standard fuel line, sold per 12" (foot) section.
$ 3.25

HCP4924B aftermarket 1/4" standard fuel line, sold per 18" (foot and a half) section.
$ 4.75

HCP4924C aftermarket 1/4" standard fuel line, sold per 24" (two feet) section.
$ 5.95

HCP9424D aftermarket 1/4" standard fuel line, sold per 60" (five feet) section.
$ 14.00




fl3) Aftermarket Petcock-to-Carb PREMIUM FUEL LINE, better than OE quality, featuring a two-layer design with a fuel-resistant inner core and a chemical, heat, and ozone resistant outer sheath, DOT approved. The best of both worlds. Light grey thin-wall design line has a blue tracer stripe. Suitable for use with both gasoline and alcohol-blended fuels. This fuel line is NOT for use in fuel-injection systems.

NOTE: for the 1/4" fuel line from the petcock to the carb inlet, order an 18" section for all XJ650 (except Turbo) and XJ900RK models. Order a 12" section for all XJ550 models, all XJ700 models, and all XJ750 models. Order a 60" section for all XJ1100 models.

NOTE: use either the HCP3106 or the HCP122 hose clamp with the 1/4" hose.


HCP948A aftermarket 1/4" premium fuel line, sold per 12" (foot) section.
$ 3.50

HCP948B aftermarket 1/4" premium fuel line, sold per 18" (foot and a half) section.
$ 5.50

HCP948C aftermarket 1/4" premium fuel line, sold per 24" (two feet) section.
$ 6.50

HCP948D aftermarket 1/4" premium fuel line, sold per 60" (five feet) section.
$ 15.00




fl23) Aftermarket Petcock-to-Carb COLORED FUEL LINE, high quality 1/4" polyethylene alcohol and petroleum-compatible transparent fuel line allows you to both view fuel flow AND obtain a certain measure of "XJ-bling"! Really dresses up---in a subtle way, of course---your engine area, especially if used with colored spark plug wires and vacuum lines! Thinwall design is very flexible, as original; and has excellent abrasion resistance. Note that these are lines are not "eye-blidning" bright colors, but rather soft pastel tints necessary to allow the "see-through" feature. Suitable for use with both gasoline and alcohol-blended fuels. This fuel line is NOT for use in fuel-injection systems.

NOTE: for the 1/4" fuel line from the petcock to the carb inlet, order an 18" section for all XJ650 (except Turbo) and XJ900RK models. Order a 12" section for all XJ550 models, all XJ700 models, and all XJ750 models. Order a 60" section for all XJ1100 models.

NOTE: use the HCP122, HCP542, or HCP2945 hose clamps with this fuel line.

All clear and colored fuel line is priced and sold at $ 1.75 PER FOOT and only in one-foot increments (i.e. 1-foot, 2-feet, 3-feet, etc.).

HCP4909 aftermarket 1/4" Transparent BLUE fuel line.
HCP4910 aftermarket 1/4" Transparent RED fuel line.
HCP4911 aftermarket 1/4" Transparent YELLOW fuel line.
HCP4911 aftermarket 1/4" Transparent GREEN fuel line.
HCP4926 aftermarket 1/4" Transparent CLEAR fuel line...use with the HCP122 hose clamps only on this non-tinted, clear fuel line.


NOTE: do not use fuel line as vacuum line, and vice-versa. Fuel line is designed to withstand expansion pressures, while vacuum line is made to resist collapsing!



fl8) OEM Yamaha and Aftermarket Fuel Line Hose Pinch Clamps, genuine scissors-type tension clamp. Use 2 per fuel hose for non-aftermarket filter application, or 4 per fuel hose when you add an aftermarket in-line fuel filter.


HCP122 OEM Fuel Line 1/4" Hose Pinch Clamp, correct fit for the HCP120B and HCP948 fuel lines, and a slightly looser fit for the HCP120A. Each:
$ 1.50

HCP2945 OEM Fuel Line 1/4" Hose Pinch Clamp, correct fit for the HCP120B and HCP948 fuel lines, each.
$ 1.50

HCP3106 Aftermarket Fuel Line 5/16" Hose Pinch Clamp, correct fit for the HCP120B and HCP948 fuel lines, and a slightly loose fit on the HCP120A fuel line. Each:
$ 0.80

HCP542 OEM Fuel Line 1/4" Hose Pinch Clamp, correct fit for the HCP120A, and a very tight fit on the HCP120B fuel line. This is actually the "3-finger" spring clamp used on the intake manifold block-off caps, and is much wider than a standard (stock) fuel line scissors clamp, but it provides better clamping action and is easier to install and remove due to the wider spread of the release grips. Each.
$ 2.00

HCP542SET2 OEM Fuel Line 1/4" Hose Pinch Clamp, set of 2:
$ 3.75

HCP542SET4 OEM Fuel Line 1/4" Hose Pinch Clamp, set of 4:
$ 7.00

 

OK - - I gotta ask

What the heck does "HCP" mean ???

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

"Honda Certified Parts" sorry I couldn't resist :twisted:

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

My PO told me before I bought the bike that he just rode it down the road before I came over to look at it, but he had to jump it with his car.
Don't know how the hell he rode it with the rpm's ramping up to 4 grand at idle. I'll be checking the clutch before I ride it myself. He also had the wrong type of battery in the box which he claimed was new.
It looked like an ATV battery.....

 

Well, that's a PO for ya'!!!

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

Got a new one, and a whole new angle on the PO concept--the guy I just bought my '83 from WAS NOT the PO, he was simply the GIBIF (Guy I Bought It From) and only the PO's "neighbor." ONE of them was a COMPLETE twit. First and foremost issue: Unacceptable and inappropriate substitution of fasteners. OMG. Bizarre, unecessary and even dangerous cable routing. OMFG. Stay tuned.

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

Here's a good one, GIBIF claims no knowledge, musta been the "PO:" The bike had a full GALLON of oil in it. At first I thought it was gas in the oil signaling a carb problem, but the oil (although obviously a synthetic) looked fine and no gas smell, but there was a LOT of it in there. Poured the used oil into a jug...ONE GALLON. PO must have bought a gallon of oil and figured you must be supposed to put the whole bloody thing in?

 

Re: Top Ten (?) Reasons not to trust anything the PO told yo

Silly PO.
and synthetic too.