A new project, the abandoned xj650RJ

I do have the original motor with the plain engine covers. I may do that instead of working any harder on this one since I may not use it for a while. Like you said I may just bag it and save it for a better day.

 

So your replacement motor is a YICS motor?

 

I believe so.

 

You should be able to tell by the valve cover.

Unless it's from a Canadian 650R, it's a Maxim motor so you'll have to swap some shifter-side stuff over too.

On the upside, it should not have a mechanical tach drive (so your XJ700 instruments will be easier to fit.)

 

Bigfitz,

It does have the YICS cover and I remember when I took the old engine off the frame on the top part where the tach drive is (was, the engine came without cable) and the replacement YICS engine does not have such port.

I am glad somebody in Cows'n'Pigs'n'Chickens MICH knows what I have on my driveway

Thanks for pointing that out. the new engine came with the shifter so no need to swap stuff. It's good to know that the new gauges may work easier with this engine.

Whenever I have this motorcycle running I will try to figure out what was wrong with the second gear on the other engine.

Thanks a lot for the heads up

 

Yeah, I forgot you were swapping mills.

If you are going to go to the electronic tach, I'd actuallyrecommend that you get a 700 wiring harness, too. That way, you get all the connections for the gauges, the fuses are in the gauges and are blade fuses......so you elimeate the glass tube AND the fusebox under the seat. The lights can all be hooked up with what you have ........you have 700 gauges, 700 lights, etc........ everything would fall into place pretty easily. Basically, it would be a 700 desguised as a650 seca, with a regular 650 YICS engine..............

That's cool sort of sleeper......................

Dave F

 

Right.

Except the Seca has a "rearset" shift lever, operated by a linkage, and the Maxim motor does not.

So when transplaning a Maxim motor into a Seca, the LH shifter stuff will have to be swapped. Take a close look at both, you'll see what I mean.

 

If you're swapping the whole engine, I don't think it will matter if you swap the shifter or not. The shift pedal pad ends up about the same place, doesn't it? It does matter if you are swapping covers.............

I could be wrong............

Dave F

 

Here is what I found:

 

It matters.

Umm... not by about a size 37 shoe.

If you don't wanna go out in the cold, do a Google Image search on both bikes. Look at where the rider pegs are on a 650 Seca and where they are on a 650 Maxim.

Take a look at where the shift shaft comes out of the cover on a 650 Seca and then imagine a lever going FORWARD from there. (The actual shifter stub, not the pivot for the lever.)

A size 19 might be able to do it...

The mousetrap and all that should swap right over; the inner cases are the same.

 

Umm...

Hold the phone!

Stop right now and check the shorty VIN on the YICS motor. That's either a Canadian motor or a 750 motor. Unless somebody did the swap before you.

And forget about having to swap the shifter stuff. Those are both Seca configured motors. The question is where/what the YICS motor is.

You might be about to make a big upgrade.

 

And the Power ball tonight is.... 5G2 - 1981-83 XJ750 Seca USA correct?

 

8O

The project has taken a new turn.

What you have there Dragon Warrior, is a 750 Seca motor. Check it out: http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14577.html

You'll need a 750 Seca TCI unit. NOT a 750 Seca wiring harness (honest.)

The ecoman is buildin' hisself a hot-rod. You can keep the thread in XJ Chat, you (inadvertent) modifier you.

This will actually be a tad more challenging than using a different harness; but totally do-able. Check with Len for possible plug-n-play options he may have.

If you want 110% confirmation, go look on the front of your cylinder block, just above where it meets the block. You'll see the 3-digit number there (with "CC" after it) begins with a "7."

Congrats. Pull this off and it'll be a screamer. (Plus one hell of a lot more comfortable than a 750 Seca with the "scoopy" seat.) And no goofy anti-dive.

 

Isn't that just handy master Shifu, I just won an auction on the bay for stuff I thought I could use:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300829758011?ss ... 1497.l2648

It sounds like I'm in for a fun ride, luckily I have my master. Hmm I guess one more thing to buy for this thing... this is the downfall or being a newbie, don't even know what I have here... hopefully the surprises are over and the "straight forward" procedures start jumping at me.

 

SOME of that stuff you CAN use, and is very valuable. I see a turn signal cancelling unit AND a TCI in the pile. Together, those two alone are worth over $200, even if you need to swap the TCI with one for a 750 Seca.

And I'm sure somebody will want to get their hands on the stuff you can't use.

 

How much can I expect to "invest" on that TCI box?

 

Oh golly. I just looked at your "pile of parts" again.

There are two brand new "650 Seca" badges in there.

You just made out like a bandit. This strike rivals my $20 NOS 150-mph speedo.

You have done well, Dragon Warrior. Well indeed. Even Master Fox will be impressed. (And jealous.)

 

Ok, I wasn't thinking about the relation to the footpegs.....I was assuming they were close to the same position. I was basing my recollection on the 750 engine that I pulled out of a 650 frame.....the pedal pads were at just about the same locations.

So Rick, now I made a mistake LOL

Eco...........see just how easy it to come up with a stash of parts? Keep at it and you'll be just like the rest of us in NO time flat.......and you'll hotrod your bike, develop new mods, etc..... all at the same time you're learning the bikes to begin with!

That's impressive.

Keep it up!

DAve F

 

I spotted the TCI box and the 650 seca emblems which is what I had my eyes on. Hopefully I can do something with all the parts that I am acquiring lately, I know this restoration project is looking more like a FrankenCycle.

 

Jealous!?!? Nah.........proud.

I can't be jealous. I'm the one that has the xj900rk that has two 1st place trophies and is unrestored...........and is serial # 17.

See why I'm not jealous?!?!?! LOL

Dave

 

Off eBay? Anything less than $100 would be a bargain. (I got my spare for $1.99 but it was mis-listed. For that kind of thing you really have to know what you're after.)

I'd be looking to trade a member; or sell the extra 650 one you just got to bankroll a replacement.

 

Like I said I am learning about bikes but even more to search for parts all over.

I think I found a TCI on this bike:

http://reno.craigslist.org/mcy/3488414410.html

Just wanna make sure that is the right bike. I am texting the guy right now, he wants $50 + shipping for it.

 

The parts you can use become "stock." I have some old parts drawers from my typewriter repair days (when those businesses started to fold) and I have a virtual "parts store" to support my 550s and my Norton. Still building my 650 inventory.

The other parts are for trading or selling.

It's not a Frankencycle (well, ok, it is) but it's a "best of both worlds" upgrade. You get a 750 Seca motor in an easier-to-deal with (no Atari cluster, no Anti-dive, no square headlights, no adjustable cast handlebars, no "remote" cable-op master cylinder) package. Just a nice sensible bike with a much zootier motor.

A whole lot easier than de-Atari-ing a 750 Seca.

 

BINGO!

Damn, Dragon Warrior, you're on a roll! That is indeed a 750 Seca, and if you can get the TCI for $50 you are truly making great strides.

I don't know what your plans are, exhaust-wise, but you might want to see what he wants for the exhaust system. You would need those headpipes and you can sell the collector box if it doesn't fit (the collector is different between the 650 and 750 Secas but I'm not sure exactly in what dimensions.) The mufflers on that bike are trash (rusted out, aftermarket.) You can point out the rust holes in the mufflers to get the price down; the headpipes are the actual prize here. And they look really clean.

 

I would like to get the head pipes but I am gonna run out of my fun cash with all this "great finds" and need to either get another job, slow down with the XJ-Kungfu, or start selling stuff (like my restored 1930 Emerson fan).

We'll see how much he wants but the shipping might be the killer

 

Eco, This is a good thread for me to follow. I have just acquired an XJ750 seca 3 days ago and in the same boat as you. I have been taking things slowly and reading as much as I can.

One other thing, even though I am not the one directly asking the questions, I really appreciate you guys. Hog and Big have been helping Eco throughout the whole thread (Went through the whole thread while waiting to pick up a friend lol). Thank you guys for being who you guys are!

 

Finally got a chance to get caught up.

So your building a sleeper.
Actually, You are in the process of building a pseudo XJ750A. It was a 650R frame with the 750 engine. Only availabe in the Oceana Market (japan, New Zeland, OZ). You can see pics in this post. http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic ... rt=45.html

Here are a few bits that you will need to watch out for.

Engine:
Both engines are solid mount. Your good to go there. No problems with bolting the replacement engine in the frame. You will want to use the engine covers from the original motor (prior noted shifter issue).

Carbs: The 750 carbs are jetted differently that the 650 carbs. You will need to rejet the carbs to work correctly with the new motor. If you can grab the carbs from that reno bike, or any other 750. All the better.

Exhaust:
You can use the 750 headpipes, and collector. The problem will be the mufflers. Due to the mounting points on the mufflers. You will be limited to using the 650 mufflers. Otherwise the stock 650 exhaust will bolt to the 750 engine.

Major Note: Do not try to use 750 headpipes with a 650 collector. It will not work. There are slight differences in the head pipes, and collectors that require the headpipes, and collector to be used together.

Electrical:
TCI: You will need to use a 750 TCI unit. This should start with the 5G2 prefix.
Wiring Harness: With your choice of using the 700 gauges. Try to locate a wiring harness from a 85-86 XJ700 Maxim. This will simplify the issue of the fuse block being built into the guages, and directly step past the need to replace the original fuse block.

Turn Signals: Locate the front turn signal mounting bracket from one of the following.
85-86 XJ700 Maxim/Maxim X
84-88 XV700 Virago
89-97 XV750 Virago
84-99 XV1100 Virago

This will allow you to attach the turnsignals under the gauge cluster, and not have to rework the light bodies to mount onto the forks. The rear turn signals should replace the originals without any problems.

Your doing good. Keep up the good work.

Ghost

 

Dude... Kick a**. I'm actually super pumped to see how this 650 to 750 swap goes. Hopefully my project goes as awesome as yours is right now. Mine will probably take a lot longer though.

 

MiGhost, is there some guide out there that I can look up to see an interchangeability list for the XJ 750 Seca?

 

Oh man... now TCI, and carbs... like I said this "simple" engine swapping is turning into "extreme makeover" xj edition.

 

And a long thread to boot!

Your carbs are pretty typical of neglected XJ's, I've seen worse. Keep it up and you will get there. I might have the turn signal bracket Ghost mentioned if you need them-I have a ton of XV parts so I will search the frozen part land-aka garage.

Nice upgrade to your avatar! XJ Kungfu is truly remolding you!

 

yeah.......he's gonna reach xj wizard status and not even be able to start a bike yet.............. LOL

Dave F

 

What a rip off,

I was looking on CL and found this:

http://charlotte.craigslist.org/mcy/3457921406.html

A month later the same bike for twice the money
http://greensboro.craigslist.org/mcy/3504227301.html

Really? good luck with that

 

I am not aware of an interchange list. Most of what I listed has come from experience, and figuring the stuff out on my own.

There are ways to figure out if the part you are looking for is used on a different bike. Like I listed for the turn signal mount. I will work on a write up and post it to a seperate thread. So as not to hijack Eco's.

If you have questions in the mean time. Feel free to PM me. I will try to help with what I can.

Ghost

 

Be still young grasshopper. All is not as hopeless as it may seem. Help is closer than you may think.

Rejetting the carbs will be a simple matter of replacing the jets with the correct ones as you rebuild the carbs.

TCI's are available either through the sale section, or other sources that you already know of.

As always. ask any questions you may have. someone will be around to help you out.

Ghost

 

Eco, that other listing is pretty funny. Looks like someone figured to pick it up cheap (no problem with that) thinking that they could put it on the road quickly and cheaply (we ALL know you can't do that), then found out just how much work he had to do.....then threw a lot of money and parts at it........then found out that getting it legal may not be as easy as he seems to say it is..........then decided he'd better get out from under it, himself, so put it up hoping to make all of his money back.

Dave F

 

Well, isn't that handy. I am not touching that one (nothing left for me on that pile).

I have the brake pedal and the bag of loose parts on the way and I am in conversations with owners of two other xj650RJs from out of town (hopefully they follow through)

Wait a second... two other bikes???? If the wife reads this I will be cuddling with the dogs. One of them has a title and looks ok the other one does not but it looks awesome, has all the side covers, exhaust in great shape, and I have everything else.

We'll see how that goes.

 

Re: A new project, the abandoned xj650...

Did you buy this bike, are you selling or somebody is this a pic with false ad?

http://chicago.craigslist.org/sox/mcy/3522505791.html

 

That would be one of the bikes that Fitz has in his collection. As he mentioned. If you do a goggle image search. It will come up as one of the pics.

The poster of that craigslist add pinched the photo because all the photos that he was able to provide were poor quality night time photos.

Ghost

 

Is this the part that I am looking for to get the 700 engine running?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1981-Yamaha-Sec ... 47&vxp=mtr

 

I just looked at the picture of the bag of stuff I won on ebay and realize that there is an ignition box with a 5G2 number on it, it matches the 750 engine. By any chance did I get even luckier and bought a TCI unit I need without knowing it? If I did this XJ kungfu Karma thing is working for me

 

you rock dude

 

8O

Ummm... yes.

 

Yeah he did and he just got a nasty email from me. Talk about brass attachments.

That's my 650, and I didn't buy it from him; the pic is two years old.

 

I know when things are too good to be true is because they are. I think this is the case, don't know the person, bike or place but I would be there in no time and very hesitant (ask lots of questions, test everything, inspect paperwork with a microscope).

http://rockford.craigslist.org/mcy/3450531778.html

 

If you have the cash, take it with you RIGHT now, put it on your trailer and get home before the wife wakes up.

There's way more than that in the parts alone.....exhaust is CLEAN, seat, covers, tank, etc........

GET IT NOW

dave

 

Yeah no kidding.

Reading between the lines: "I pulled the motor to fix the starter clutch then realized exactly what it involves so I chickened out."

The thing is, I doubt the starter clutch needs to be replaced. It's probably not engaging because he's running synthetic or automotive oil. If it truly isn't DIS-engaging, then it's more likely a starter, wiring or solenoid issue.

 

It is not on my neck of the woods and itis pretty darn far from me, I wish it was a bit closer

 

Oh boy,

I need to step away from the internet before I go broke. I just bought another motorcycle secs, this one has no title but it looks in awesome shape, I may swap everything to my frame and voilaa...



Here is the other side with a less than happy gas tank:

 

You got the bug my man next thing you know you will be attending carb clinics
I can hear you now, "Hello everyone, my name is Ecologito and I am an XJ-AHOLLIC"