Another abandoned project, this time xj550 seca

Apparently I have been infected with the Hogfiddle-itis and is complicated by bigfitzitis.

Between inspiration, instructions, mentoring and what not now I have negotiated a 1982 xj550 seca and can't wait to pick it up.

It seems like there is the usual maintenance that was not done and it will be my turn to bring it up to speed.

 

Re: My new project before I am done with the last one

Ruh roh.

Good going. Are we sure it's an '82? Red w/white flashes and all?

In what kind of shape?

 

Re: My new project before I am done with the last one

Here are a few pictures of the bike, now i just need to make the trip to go pick it up.

This one will have to wait in the shed until I am done with the 650rj. For the time being I will wait for a good deal on a decent 550 tank and entire exhaust. Everything else seems to be there (for good or bad) original.

 

Re: My new project before I am done with the last one

that's a SuperTrapp muffler on there, i suggest you hang on to that.
knock that putty out of the tank and solder it and you'll have a fine tank

 

Re: My new project before I am done with the last one

Oh oh............PODS--------

dave

 

Re: My new project before I am done with the last one

I know, the owner has the stock airbox that goes with it.

 

For now the supertrapp will have to do. The tank, I will look into a local place to find out if they can fix it or I need a new one. I will find out more once I pick it up.

 

I received the gauges that will go on this bike. They need a bit of cleaning but they are in great shape. Hopefully no other temptations come along until I am done with the 650 seca.

 

What is so special with the SuperTrapp, Polock?

 

Personally I never cared for them back in the day, but the cool thing is they are "tunable" by changing the amount of wafers.

 

if you think your a little lean you can take plates out or if your rich, put plates in..... "tunable"
and their kind of expensive
find a way to safety wire those screws in the back, they like to get loose

 

It felt like Christmas today. I got this in the mail for the bike I have not picked up. other than a dent on the end of one of the mufflers this set is pretty solid and in great shape

I already have a set of gauges and the exhaust, so I am not looking at buying anything else until the 650 is on the road. As soon as I get the bike I will sell the super trapp exhaust.

 

Today I drove to pick up the bike, it seems to be inpretty decent shape.

By talking to the PO it seems like it had a hard time runnning well. I will check valve shims replace pods with the stock airbox and install the stock exhaust.

When I go through the carbs I will also make sure that it has the stock jets (which I am guessing are not stock since somebody tookthe time to putpods and a different exhaust).
I will post updates as soon as we arrive to warmer weather

 

score on that stock exhaust! nice looking project too!

CN

 

Actually, its VERY possible that someone DIDN'T take the time to re-jet the carbs. Often, people have the idea that they'll pull the airbox and stick the pods on, and go run the bike. Funny, they never associate the "it doesn't run right", with the "it started running poorly right after I put the pods on......Gee, I wonder if that has anything to do with it".

So, you MAY find that the jets are still original, and putting the airbox back in solves a lot of problems............along with a thorough cleaning--------you see what the 650 carbs look like now.....make your 550 carbs like those. Be advised that the 550 rack does have some differences from what you're used to seeing in the 650 racks you've been in.

Dave

 

This is what I picked up. It is onthe trailer waiting for the trip to Charlotte.

 

I was admiring the new project bike and under the seat I found an applicationfor title from 2004. At the time the bike had 24,000 miles. Ten years later it has 28,000 miles. Not too shabby so I am really hopefull that once the valves are checked and carbs are serviced the bike will be reado to go.

 

I removed the carbs from the bike, it took less than 10 minutes to get the set off the bike. Overall they look relatively clean but obviously somebody has been messing with them. I can't read any numbers on the main jets and the air jets seem to be missing. I will hVe to figure out what is supposed to be there and buy everything to get them back to stock.

 

My 550r jets are 112.5, and 120

Dave fox

 

Thanks Dave, I found the info on the xj wiki:

Years & Models: 1981-83 XJ550 Seca North American models
Carb Manufacturer: Mikuni
Carb Series: BS28
Carb Model ID: 4U800
Main FUEL Jet Size: #112.5
Pilot FUEL Jet Size: #35
Main AIR Jet Size: #70 (non-removable, in carb throat)
Pilot AIR Jet Size: #170
AIR COMPENSATOR Jet Size: not used.
Starter FUEL Jet Size: #35 (non-replaceable, in float bowl)
Main jet NEEDLE ID: #4GZ11
Main needle JET Size: #O-8 (the main needle JET is also known as the "power valve" or "emulsion tube").
Fuel Level in float bowls: 2mm +/- 1mm (.08" +/- .039")
Idle RPM's: 1,200 rpms

Although not part of your carbs, your valve clearances should be considered as part of your "intake system", so here are those specs, too. Note that valve clearances should be measured with the engine "cold", meaning 70-degrees Fahrenheit or less:

Valve Clearance Intake: 0.11 - 0.15mm ( = 0.004 - 0.006")
Valve Clearance Exhaust: 0.16 - 0.20mm (= 0.006 - 0.008")

Now I need to figure out if everything is there and my guess is that the jets without size stamped are jets that were replaced at some point by PO

 

Yes-- 170, not 120. I realized that after it was too late to edit the post..... And yes, the others are 35's too.

If you need to compare anything, my 550r rack is all apart right now-- and I have two other 550 racks as well.

Dave

 

Do you see the jet size stamped on the main and the idle jets? The ones on the one carb I opened had no numbers. I am just guessing that those are not stock since there are no markings.

The pilot airjet is stamped with the 170 so that one is alright.

 

Yes, that's how I ID'd them....

 

Thanks, I will have to place an order with Chacal very soon.

 

After opening the rest of the carbs I found main jets stamped, all three are 140 and they have the right needles 4GZ11

I inspected the fuel enrichment well on the bowls and they are clean and clear so that is one less thing to worry about cleaning.

 

Len on his usual fashion sent me the carb jets super fast and they were here quickly.

The actual carbs are pretty clean as the PO seems like either put in ethanol free gas or took the time to empty them before putting away the bike. Slides are a little sticky but nothing that a bit of carb cleaner and wet sanding won't clean.

I will also have to learn a bit about the mikunis since up until now they only ones I have taken apart are the hitachis for the 650rj.

 

Nice, good job on the project so far!

 

Have you posted photos of your 650? I wouldn't mind seeing that.

 

After some inspection I noticed that the carbs were fitted with different jets, they are all the same size (140) but not the same style. I sure that also had something to with the fact that the bike did not run smooth. This is another reason to order your stuff from Chacal. He will provide you with the right parts for your project.

Under the mixture screws i found that some were missing the spacer and all the o-rings are deformed.

Once that is corrected, carbs rejetted, airbox in and the stock exhaust I sure this bike will sing a very different song.

 

sooooooo, the pods can drastically change things, eh? I've them on my 750 that i haven't started yet... wondering...

 

The pods WILL drastically change things, if that is the only thing you change. To make sure it runs ok with pods you will have to re-jet, and reset your carbs. Your bike better be running perfect with the stock setup before you switch to pods otherwise you will be chasing your tail.

I am pretty positive that is how I ended up with this bike with low miles. PO could not get it to run right and then stopped running at some point (no wonder why after what I found in the carbs).

 

Gotcha, thanks! I’m wondering if that isn’t why the previous owner gave up on mine; I know the starter was bad, but I *think* he didn’t install the new one he had, that came with the bike, because there were other issues. The thing looks great, not so sure on the mechanical side of things.


Appreciate it!

 

So PO to PO replaced the main fuel jets but not the pilot fuel jets. I just removed to pilots and was able to read the stamp 35 number on the sides. the emulsion tubes are dirty but not clogged.

I will replace main and pilots with new jets provided by Len. I will also be on the lookout for a hole-less tank, if no options come along I will look into getting this one fixed.

 

Nice snag on that exhaust!

Looks like a fun project, haven't seen those flush mount signals on a 550 ever

 

I got this on the mail, i bought it on Ebay, and what a surprise, it came with some notes from a previous owner. Kinda neat to see what somebody else was doing on a bike with this manual.

 

So I ordered stock main and air jets from len as well as new idle screw washers and o rings. They are little parts but it is obvious the difference between new o rings (on the left) and the tow other ones that are probably 34 years old.

The jets were missmatching and somebody tried to make them work with the pods and exhaust.

Hopefully once I am done getting this rack back to stock, install the airbox and stock exhaust this puppy will purr like it should.

 

And now inspecting those idle screws and make sure that the tips ar enot broken or worn down.

 

And now they are clean

 

ALMOST as clean as I make them

 

I sure will, I like it better than the stock but not sure if I will keep it or not.

 

I don't have any parts of the stock fairing. Not sure what I am gonna do, keep it as-is for now.

Does anybody know if the stock airbox will slip in place with the carbs removed or is it like the 650 where I need to take out the engine before installing the airbox?

 

Alright, after hiding for the winter I finally de ided to buy a gas tank for Red.

 

Nice.....

 

This is the maxim 550, but likely the same with a comment about the airbox:

http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/index.php?threads/82-maxim-xj550-airbox.56758/#post-445523

Or, ask hogfiddles to work his magic by heating and bending, which he has recently posted. Not sure I understand that one, but I totally have faith in his methods.

Nice tank!

 

The tank is here, i have to work fri-sun so maybe I will have some time on Monday to get the airbox in and swap the gas tanks.

 

Since Mr. Yeats left, I want to be the next in line for the fairing if you decide to part with it.......

 

Once I get it running I will figure if I want to take it off and ditch it or not. If I do so you will be the first one to know.

 

Today I finally went to the DMV to get the title under my name. A guy walked in with a bill of sale, told the lady at the desk that the bike didn't have a title so he wanted one. She told him that he had to go back to the PO to get the title, if he didn't have it he would have to apply for a lost title. The guy was beyond upset. I laughed at him with other DMV staff, he was surprised that he had to have a title for it.

Anyway, I also talked to a guy who has a bike shop and mentioned that the supertrapp is a better exhaust than the stock. I may try to get it running with it and swap it for the stock one later on.

 

A number of states will title a older vehicle with nothing but a bill of sale. A few don't issue titles for older vehicles at all and just do a registration with a bill of sale.