82 Maxim xj550 Bobber Project (first timer)

Greetings everyone

So I have recently purchased a 1982 Maxim xj550 that with a hope and a dream, will spend the wintertearing down and rebulding this bike into a great Bobber. I had purchased the bike for $350, talking the seller down from $600. It is in good overall shape, however does not fire. It cranks and sounds good.
My first order of business is to get it running again. I plan on taking out the carb and cracking it open. Although I am proficient in fab, electrical and wrenching, I do not have enough exp in the internal area (engine, valves, carb ect) Any recomendations on how I can research how to check and effiecently clean a carb or do I just bring it in to have done? I also know the Pitcock on these bikes has a reputaion for failing as well. Any suggestions on testing this? I am in no hurry as I want to put my all in this project and do it RIGHT! Any and all advice is more that appreciated. Pics to posted soon. Thanks!

 

check for a spark before you do anything. it could be something silly. either shoot some ether in the air cleaner and see if she fires, or pop a spark plug off, ground it to the engine and see if you have spark. if they spark, then start with the carbs

 

Thanks! Great advice on where to start. I will let you know how it turns out. Thanks!

 

Also I have been following your Brute Bob and all I can say is "wow!" I can only hope for such great results on mine! You have given me some great ideas.

 

if theres anyway i can help let me know. im always surfing this site so i'll be here with ya the whole way mate

 

Thanks for the encouragement. I am planning on diagnosing the bike Sat evening. If can I will check the spark, petcock and compression if I can wrangle a kit. If all looks good I will pull the carb and start cleaning the jets and checking my floats ect. Keep your fingers crossed that I have some healthy rings and valves!

I will also get some pics up regularly of my progress starting tomorrow.

 

Oh and also will be checking for any vacuum/air leaks. The carb boots look in good condition. Im planning on single podding the carb too so I am not so concerned about the air box. What do you think about this mod? If I have a healthy engine, I feel confident I have the skill to adjust my jets to compensate for the increased air flow. I like the look of the single pods and if I get a little more power out of the deal, I'll take it.

 

NOOOOO PODS ARE A DARN HEADACHE. trust me on this, i did it yesterday and its a bloody headache. theres too much jetting and it didnt even start right from the beginning. I ended up putting stock airbox back on to save myself the grief.

These carbs are NOT fun to tweak when it comes to removing the airbox in exchange for pods.

im not saying its not possible, its just not that practical on these bikes. If you feel your up to the task atleast save your old airbox in case the "i told you so" moment appears lol.

You must remove the engine to get the airbox out...in one piece atleast

 

But you won't. You'll give some up, and you'll "move" what's left.

No you don't. But you do have to pull the carbs, the starter and the exhaust and drop it forward in the frame.

 

Noted. Sounds like its not worth the effort. I did have a question about checking the compression. Does the bike need to be running to make this test or is it sufficient to crank it with the throttle open to get a reading?

 

Removing the engine isn't to bad. Plus it makes it easy to paint, clean ect after you have it removed.

 

You don't do a compression test on a running motor. At least not while it's running.

Fully charged battery, all spark plugs out, TCI UNPLUGGED, throttles wide open.

 

Thanks for the info. So just to be clear, I need to take out all 4 sparks together before I start the compression test? Or do I pull out one at a time, test that cylinder, leaving the other three in and so forth?

 

As in "all spark plugs removed." Yes, all at the same time, not individually. You want the motor to spin as freely as possible, which is why the throttles need to be held wide open as well. Unplug the TCI to prevent potential damage to the ignition system (the factory says ground all the plug leads, unplugging the TCI is easier.)

 

Yes exactly. You can also do wet and dry compression tests

 

Great! thanks guys. I hope to have a result within a couple of days (if I can convince the wife to let me buy a compression kit)

Any recomendations on a sure way to check my spark?

I aslo re-vitalized my petcock last evening. I tried sucking the vaccum and could not tell if the plunger was moving. The switch seal is in perfect condition as is the rear gasket/plastic assembly. I streched the plunger spring out a bit. Should I be getting an air return when I try this? Any suggestions? Tonight I plan to put it back in my tank and trying the "suck test" again to see if I can get any fuel to flow.