A new project, the abandoned xj650RJ

Nice looking parts bike , should be able to make a real nice Seca now. I would still do the 750 motor though.

MN

 

Now that's what i need to find Is a maxim with some good parts and no title. How do you find all this just googling it and checking out ebay?

 

First I need to figure out how to get this one from Columbus, OH to Charlotte, NC

 

Road-trip Ill get the beer and chips you drive

 

If it RUNS, you can have it delivered to you for about $300. Every vehicle transport company I talked to would only move a vehicle if it runs.

But it's only a little over 400 miles away. I'd borrow or rent a van (or trailer, depending on what you drive) and go get it. You can do it in one (long) day or easily on a weekend.

Nice find. I'd rethink the whole project and use the other bike for parts (including the frame if you have to.) Then after it's up and running, I'd get the 750 motor ready to swap in; and get everything figured out beforehand.

The 750 motor in a 650 Seca idea is just too good.

 

look at that.... the whole exhaust system, the seat, BOTH standing handles.....sheesh. Some guys have all the luck. (guess I better not talk about any of the 900's I have....)

dave

 

Thanks, it is all XJKungfu I've been practicing and great masters in the forum.
Next thing before I even touch it is to run the VIN number since the guy does not have a title.

 

That would be a lot of chips and beer if you are driving from CA

 

Update:

I have made arrangements for a friend to go pick up the bike and a shipping company (through uship.com) will pick it up and deliver it to me in North Carolina for $200.

I don't think it could get any cheaper than that so, we'll see how it turns out. Yes I am still thinking about using my bike's frame and most of the parts that are off the frame now will be from the donor bike.

Depending on the condition of the donor bike I may try to still add the 750 engine, clean and get new jets for the donor carbs to run the bigger engine. I should be getting my bag of goodies from fleabay, if it turns out to have the TCI box for the 750 I will be set.

After all that the next thing to do would be to get the brakes rebuilt before testing on the road.

Lots of plans and it seems like parts are falling in place (my driveway)

 

Today I got important things accomplished. I finally met with the previous owner and got the title transfer to my name so I should be getting the new title on the mail soon.

The parts bike will be shipped to me next week and will be home on Wednesday.

A "grab bag" of odds and ends that I found on ebay arrived today.

A bunch of electonic parts, a whole wiring harnes,brand new speedo cable, throttle cables, TCI box for the 750 engine (SCORE!)...

And our course the main reason why I went after this box:

 

dang... they're almost as nice as the set i have for my 900rk that are still in the plastic and the staples have NOTeven been opened . :0)

nice stuff there....

dave

 

They are brand new, they are so shiny that I don't even want to think about them being on a bike (almost like a collectible comic).

Here's a picture of some of the other stuff that came in the box. At this time I have no idea what is what so I other than the main switch for the key, could you guys help me out identify what is on the picture?

 

Thats what I call a score you might want to buy a lotto ticket while lady luck is hanging with you

 

Lets see,,,, starting at the top left and going clock wise. TCI and A rectifier, next is the pick up coil, looks like the reluctor in the bag. Next is the starter solenoid. the black doughnut looking thing looks like a fork dust cover. Then the ignition switch is next. Then the thing with the o ring is the oil level switch. Right above that I THINK is the diode block then above that is you beloved turn signal canceling unit. The last two I am not quite sure about, the black one could be the side stand relay ? and the gold looking one could be the engine cut off relay.

 

Looks like razz pretty much nailed it on ID'ing the stuff. Yep, yes and sure is. Except I think the black relay is the flasher itself; and the gold one could be sidestand OR cutoff depending. (They're both "gold.")

I have a set of NOS "550 Seca" badges sitting right here on my desk, staples not removed either. SPARES. Here in the house, not out in the cold garage.

Luckily, as trashed as my 650 is, my sidecover badges are like new. But I (we) digress.

The Dragon Warrior has done well. The true treasure here is the TCI unit, for a 750 (or YICS 650.) Obviously the eBay seller was a bit confused (or Canadian.)

And there's a cancelling unit in there too. Plus you got somebody to ship your new Seca for 2 bean$.

I'm in awe.

 

And the ignition switch still has its DECAL!

I'd switch my lock cylinder into that one.

 

The one thing that I have not been able to spot / find is the rear outer fender. That sucker is really hard to find. I have found pretty much every other single part out there ( I just found another almost complete xj650RJ but I have no play dough $$ this time to get it.

The internet is powerful and the wallet is my brake.

 

Virtually every numbnuts that got his hands on a 650 Seca "trimmed" the rear fender.

That one will just take patience.

 

I just found one, the only problem is that it comes with two bikes and it is in California. I just cant justify to buy another project bike with awesome parts just for the fender. I called that seller and he is not willing to part the lot.

Here is the ad: http://losangeles.craigslist.org/sgv/mc ... 00859.html

May the (YICS) force be with you...

 

Yeah, finding parts doesn't count if every time you find one it has the whole rest of the motorcycle still attached.

 

Go on line to http://www.mrcycleparts.com or http://motosalvagenet.com/ to find that fender. If they can't find it it's not out there,,,,,yet.

 

Well....they ARE out there....you just have to have the luck to find it. I found my complete incut fender about a week after I got my 650r.

Dave F

 

Ok, so this waiting period is driving me crazy. I can't wait to get my bike for parts and start working on this project...

In the meantime I picked another restoration project...




Two emerson fans, one from 1930 and the other one about the same.

 

I've been known to build an occasional 1/72 scale model airplane...

 

Cool, any pictures?

This is what I did before becoming a dad, when I was single and had all the time in the world to my hobbies:



It takes a lot of time to build and fly especially when you need to rebuild after you "fly".

 

Ok, I digress... back to the topic.

My parts bike should be here on Wednesday and now I am debating if I should get the 750 engine on or based on the condition try to use the 650 engine.

I agree with bigfitz that a 750 would be more fun but if I want to really restore the bike to stock I guess I should go with the 650... decisions, decisions...

 

750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750 750750 750 750
I am Thinking maybe the 750

 

Eco,

I've never done a transplant but based on what you have there how difficult would it be and possibly using Ric's Title Method to title the frame on the new purchase? If you could do that you'd be able to put together "two" rideable bikes. I'd make that one a rideable bike then do the 750 transplant on your first bike. If not that, I'd do the 650 transplant. For me, having a "rideable" bike would motivate me to crack the case on the spare 650 engine and learn/fix the issues preventing it from being a usable plant and if I could I would use it to make another stock 650 and sell all the 750 parts. Then again, you could transplant the 750 engine and use the parts 650 engine for the rideable 650. It's your decision and you know "you" better than I do. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

Gary

 

Today I went to lunch and saw at least 20 motorcycles on the way there. On the way back every 20 seconds a motorcycle went by on the highway. I wish I had mine ready to go on days like today when it is 75 degrees.

 

750 750 750!

 

As there are ways to get a title for the new parts bike. A restoration could be in order for that bike.

You have already picked up the necessary parts to do the 750 swap on the original bike. May as well continue on with doing the replica 750A. This will allow repainting of the current flat black paint scheme. Leaving all the original paint parts for the restoration. Keep the original engine. That way the bike could be returned to its original setup if needed at some point in the future.

 

Thanks for the feedback and I am thinking that the 750 may look like this picture except for the goldish seat, I do like this look a lot. The 650 for parts it may be worth restoring once I figure out the whole registration fun.

 

Hey guys!
Just chiming in to say that this is a very interesting thread. I started reading it this morning and I couldn't stop until I read the last post.

I own a 1983 Maxim 750 that doesn't run for the moment, and my bet is that I will have to "walk in your steps", starting with a compression test and valve adjustments.

Keep on wrenching and reporting it!

 

Ooooooooohhhh, Quebecois59 is now officially addicted to xjBikes.......

Next thing you know is that you you're going to be going back through all the archives, reading every single thing you can get your eyeballs on.

THEN......you're gonna start going through all of XJ4Ever's posts (Len Chacal) and you're gonna start being able to identify bikes and parts simply by the part numbers, and prefixes.........

Welcome to the Hotel XJ-fornia --you can check in, but you can never leave.......

Dave F

 

That makes two of us for 2013, that is a good start for the forum.

I just realized that the picture above matches my avatar... I guess that is what the paint scheme will be called if it ends up being the final answer: the XJ "Dragon Warrior" 8)

 

Yep, addicted is the word!

 

Now, I forgot to note the right feeler gauges for our XJ and I wouldn't read all this thread again, the only thing I could remember is that I'll need the metric one, but what is the minimum thickness that could be measured with these gauges?

 

These are the feeler gauges I ordered to get mine done:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000CO ... 00_s00_i00


Note: when you check your valve shims make sure that the feeler gauges are not stacked up and you are getting a true measurement. The thinnest 0.04 is almost like aluminum paper so just take your time (don't ask me how I know this could happen).

 

I already have one set of these wide-tip gauges, the thinnest is 0.002 inch, or 0.051 mm, I guess it is too thick, and I understood that the metric ones are highly preferable.

 

Yeah----

Go metric or go home.

Dave

 

I just ordered a set of gauges and a compression test kit with adapters. Only thing missing is the shim tool.

 

After having used the tool for years, I used the zip-tie method this fall........I found out that it's a WHOLE lot quicker, and a whole lot easier.

dave F

 

Yeah, and it is impossible to crack the cam or the head with the zip-tie method.

What thread does describe that zip-tie method?

 

Here is a video about replacing valve shims:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V3gxT57e ... 0JslvhC8rw


My project has come to a long pause due to weather. It has ben raining all week and I do not have a garage, the company that is shipping my motorcycle for parts is delayed and working on it. I can't wait to get back to work.

 

Technical question for the gurus: What frames are the same as the Xj650 Seca? I am thinking about looking for a frame for the parts bike... wait am I already talking about a second bike?

 

All right, thank you!

 

It's the only frame for the bike. Doesn't share it.

Dave F

 

That being said I may recomission the original project as the "dragon warrior" and later find a frame to get a stock 650RJ up and running.

On the bright side, I feel more confident taking the carbs apart totally knowing that i have another rack aseembled to use as reference.

 

PLUS I have a rack that I just went through, as extra reference...........
PLUS I have two more racks that came with my 650rj when I got it PLUS that carb rack is common to all of the other non YICS xj650's.

So..............you have NOTHING to fear.

As far as the frame idea...........that's what I'd do, too. Swap what you need, and then mothball the rest til a good-titled frame shows up, then build another!

Dave F

 

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=29209.html