Bill's project bike.

Bill's family was nice enough to let me have his xs project bike. The last time I saw him he had it running and rode it around. I got it home today, it will start but it idles erratically and it when you give it any throttle it will die. I put some fresh fuel in it but it did not help, any suggestions?

 

I was wondering what was happening to that bike.

I would probably recommend another carb cleaning, remember, BIll said he cleaned them, though not surgically, and hewas going to go through them again... I just read through his last post it was pretty nice to read that again

 

He had it runnig previously, and I was thinking in the 3 months it sat one of the jets probably got clogged up. At least this time I will only have to clean 2 carbs instead of 4.

 

Pull the carbs off again and clean real good. Probably gunk in the jets from sitting. I could come over and help sometime if you need. I'll be down for a few weeks, having my knee operated on this week to fix a torn cartlage in the joint.

 

Hey mark, I knew you would be the next to respond when I saw your name on the members online. I to am having troubles. Got in a wreck last month and now I'm on crutches. I will pm you my number, I was going to send you a pm and ask for your help anyway.

 

I can do all the work, but it is very frustrating being on crutches, I could use a non-handicapped hand.

 

The carburetors likely gummed up sitting. I had a lawnmower gum up this year because I didn't mow for three weeks.

 

UPDATE-I pulled the carbs today and went through them. The only problem I found was one clogged up pilot jet. I got it put back together and it started right up. You can give it throtle now, but when you rev it up to about 4-5k it will hang there and slowly come down. I even drove it in my neighborhood. It is ridable but it is not practical to ride it this way. Everything seems fine except for the hanging revs, any new ideas?

 

I tried adjusting the sync screw around with no effect. Still has hanging revs.

 

Carb boots? Could be leaking air in through there. Try the propane method?
-Chris

 

BIll tried the propane test when he got the bike and it passed. He said in his thread that at one point he was having the same problem and that a quick sync fixed it. When I cleaned the carbs today I did not touch the sync screw because I remembered him say he had done this, but when I started it up it was have the same problem as Bill had previously stated. I really dont want to have to take off those carb boots until absolutly neccessary. One thing I did miss today was the air jet. These carbs only have one type of air jet, a pilot. Tommorrow I will check out the pilot air jet and do a bench sync. If that does not work on wednesday I will just have to either try to take the carb boots off or it I cannot get them off I will run a bead of silicone around the edge of the boot. Any other suggestions?

 

Check the size on the jets, is everything still stock. Should have the stock size jets. Sounds like it is running real rich, look at the plugs to be sure. Also ckeck the slide diaphrams and see if they move freely. I'll be able to venture out in about 3 weeks, we could look at it then.

 

Just got done checking the plugs. Actually the are very lean. I tweaked the pilot screws out just a little. Tommorrow I am going to tear into the carbs again and check the boots for air leaks. The slides are moving well. If nothing works tommorrow my next theory will be throttle shaft seals.

 

One thing you can at least do to make sure they are clean is check your local Yamaha service dept. The one here will ultrasonically clean your carbs and all the parts for $25. Then you will know they are clean inside. But make sure you cover all your bases with them so you don't have to tear them off. With the shaft seals couldn't you also check them with the propane method? You would think if they are sucking in air there it would do the same thing as the boots. I might be mistaken though. Anyways I just wanted to throw out the idea of having them CLEAN. Good luck and I will keep my eye on this thread to see your progress.

 

I would start by removing the tank, draining & cleaning, replace all filters, before you start on the carbs again.

 

I didnt have the time or energy to tackle the bike today. If I fell better tommorrow I will take the carbs off again and do what xjxj650 suggested. If I pull the carbs I have a friend that works at the local bike shop who will ultrasonic the carbs for nothing, I just usaully slip him 10 bucks. As far as draining and cleaning the tank the inside of the tank is in near perfect condition and I have drained and filled it with fresh fuel. I am definitly thinking I am having a carb problem. I may need to rebuild, but I will make that call after the ultrasonic cleaning.

 

"I tried adjusting the sync screw around with no effect. Still has hanging revs"
do you mean you really did a running sync ?
no way can you just turn the sync screws and have them be right
make sure none of the linkages is touching anything, like the clamps in the intake, that one drove me nuts one time

 

Taking-off the Carbs and having them Ultra-Sonic-ed won't clean them sufficiently enough to perform.
Some of the Parts will need to be removed and exposed to the cleaning solvent.

Making adjustments to Sync Screws without a Vacuum Gauge hooked-up to the Manifold to measure the Vacuum change in relation to the other Manifold Vacuums isn't Tuning.

 

Simple thought, check the throttle cable routing, cable could be sticking or simply not laying in a happy place so it's not returning to closed at the carb end when you release the throttle....

Glad to see this taken up, Was actually just starting to chat with Bill about this project when ..........................

 

Ok here is what is going on. First I will address the recent replies on this thread. These carbs have one sync screw, when I said adjusting around with no effect I meant I turned it a little one way and then a little the other way just to see what would happen. I do realize this is not the proper way to perform a sync but I just wanted to see what would happen. None of the linkages are touching anything, that was the first thing I checked when the hanging revs started. When I let off of the throttle the linkage snaps back nicely. I do realize that I cannot just take the carbs off and have them ultra-sonic-ed and exspect results that is why I tore them completly apart before taking them to the bike shop to have the cleaning done,I don't have the proper vaccuum gauges to perform a proper sync that is why before I put the carbs back on I will do a bench sync as this is the only thing I am capable of doing without the proper gauges. Now on to what I did this morning-I took the carbs back off of the bike, tore them COMPLETELY apart, put all the parts from carb #1 in one bag and all the parts from carb #2 in another bag. I took the carbs and parts to the bike shop to have EVERTHING cleaned throughly. The bike did not have a fuel filter so while I was there I got one to protect the work to the carbs that is now being done. Thanks everyone for their support on this project I appreciate everyones input, keep the suggestions coming. I hope to have the carbs back and back on the bike later this week, I will post progress as it happens.

 

Just a heads up to anyone following this thread. This bike is BADLY in need of a new seat. The seat is in about as bad of condition as one can get in. A few hundred miles and I'll be sitting on foam. If anyone comes across one let me know, or do you all think it would be better to have it reupolstered?

 

If the Seat Pan is OK, ... you can make it be a new Seat.
You strip the Seat Pan down to bare bones.

Then, ...

You can "Design" a whole new arrangement out of Paper Mache and have an upholsterer copy your design with Foams and Padding and Cover it.

Or ...

You can "Recycle" the Foam from a piece of discarded furniture and
sculpt the Foam into a new Seat by yourself. Bring the Seat you design to an upholsterer and let him finish it.

 

I don't know your intentions with whether or not you are trying to keep the stock look but again check with your local yamaha dealer. You should be able to get a replacement cover for the seat for around $60 (at least that is what they quoted me for my xj seat) or as Rick stated bring it to an upholsterer may be a bit cheaper and you can do it however you want. As far as the carb thing, seems sounds like you know what you are doing! :wink: Get some pics to keep us clued in.

 

Sculpting a seat myself sounds like a cool idea, it would be original for sure. I am not trying to keep the stock look(anything but stock)! The bike kind of looks boring and small. I may go for a semi-cafe racer style. Drag bars, and flat black paint on the body, wheels and exhaust. I would love to make this a true cafe-racer project. If I had more experience at modifications I would go for a true cafe-racer. I cant really go wrong, the possibilities are endless. Keep thowing the ideas out there, but first things first lets get this thing running right. More to come....

 

think carpet pad for your foam

 

the local upholsterers around here wanted $200.00-$250.00
just for the front seat of my 700 maxim!
i could'nt find a cover for anything but 750's & 650's.
i went to the local sewing shop and bought a yard of vinal ($12.00),
used the old seat as a pattern, some foam from a second hand store ( $ 0.69) and hand sewed the seams. took a couple of hours but the results
were great! and for less the $13.00. good luck

 

I was thinking about what to do with the seat. I'm going to go with the xj550 seca seat look.

 

They look nice in flat black
And Truck bed liner is quite gas resistant hehe

A good bench sync will do wonders.....

Seat, I would love to find a trashed one so I could do a custom one and still have a stock

 

The truck bed liner look had crossed my mind, but I think I'm gonna totally black this bike out. With the exception of the engine, that would be alot of work. I'll put the carbs back on Sunday and see if I can get it to run properly first. If I get it running right on Sunday then the real fun can begin with the paint job. I'll post pics in my gallery of the paint progress starting on monday.

I would like to post pics in this thread of my progress on the bike, but I don't know how to post them in the thread. Just keep an eye out in my gallery for recent pics of the bike. I will let eveyone know when I post new pics of the xs in my gallery.

 

I get the carbs back today. The excitement is building. The moment of truth is rapidly approaching. Will it run? We will soon findout.....

 

Well........????????

 

Good news and Bad. Good news-I started the paintjob today and I am almost done, I am going to post a pic of the bike in my gallery later today. The Bad news-The guy at the bike shop didn't have the carbs done on saturday like he was suppossed to, so now I have to wait until tommorrow to get them back. It is warm and sunny 75 here in NC so I figured now was a good time to knock the paint job out. I will post a pic of the bike in a couple hours I will let everyone know when it is up.

 

Allright the pic is in my gallery. Burgendy before, Black after. Total paint time-2 hours, Total cost-$3.00. I still have to paint the exhaust, recover the seat and get some drag bars, but most of the painting is out of the way. And of course put the carbs back on. More to come..... oh yea and put the front fender back on after it dries

I got a question for you guy's. I could use opinons. What do ya'll think about using a strait piece of ridgid conduit for drag bars? My years of electrical experience made me think of this. A short piece of ridgid conduit should be as strong as any motorcycle hadlebar you can buy.

 

Jarred,
Thanks for taking on Bills project. Sandra and the kids really wanted to see it completed, as do I. I know Bill is smiling his great big grin :mrgreen: watching you go throught the process. And as in true form, the support of the forum is as Bill decsribed it to me.

As far as bars, you can pic up a set of bars cheap with a little research. I've seen them for around $20 on the internet searching for a new set of bars for the Vmax.

Please keep the pics up as you move forward. It would be great if you could ride this bike next summer on the anniversary memorial ride.

 

bikemaster 7/8 drag bars are $11 plus shipping. Google them.

 

Lord willing I will be able to ride this bike this winter. I got an update. I am finally going to be getting the carbs back today. I just talked to the guy at the bike shop and he has them done. When I get them home today my first priority will be to reassemble them. I will be putting them back on the bike probably on Sunday. He cleaned them as good as it can get. When I took him the carbs I already had them taken completely apart and he went as far as to dissasemble them from each other. I know every part on these carbs will be clean, so after fitting the pilot screws back in, doing a bench sync and checking the carb boot screws for tightness it will be ready to fire up. Let's keep our fingers crossed. How did you guys like my $3.00 paint job?

Thanks for the feedback on the bars. I am still researching on them. I am not moving any more forward until I get it running first. I will definitly have it ready to start up on Sunday, so look the thread up then and I will keep everyone posted.

I forgot to mention, I did do some of the bike in truck bed spray, You can't see it in the pic, but I did the top of the gastank and the side covers, it came out really cool looking I am glad I did it.

 

Just got the bike put back together and it is doing the same thing as before, their has been no improvement. What my next step is, I don't know.

 

Hmmmm , never had a hanging rev issue, except when my throttle cable got snagged on reassembly...... if all has been cleaned and bench synced, it should run pretty good..... all I had to to to my old girl and she sat for 7 years with gas in the carbs.....

 

hanging revs mean a lean condition somewhere. maybe a leaky head?

 

I know it has to be leaking air from somewhere. I have a couple more checks I have to do, so I haven't given up yet. I'm gonna check some more stuff this weekend, be on the lookout for more post in a few days.

 

Get to spraying to see where the leaks are

 

Do you have rubber intake boots? maybe with all the on/off of the carbs you have a new leak.

 

Any progress Jarred? I have some free time this weekend, maybe we could look at it.

 

Wow. I just now found this thread. i never even knew about it nor do I go looking on this part of the forum. I'm glad you got the bike Jarred. I do hope to get together again soon for a ride. Mark I haven't forgotten about you. Sorry to hear about your knee, and hope you get well soon.I've just been busy lately with the baby and all. Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

 

Boots were a problem for me with the recent card rebuild... ended up replacing them and it took care of the leak... They didn't look bad at 1st but apparently when she warmed up they expanded?! at least thats my story and I'm sticking to it!!

 

Jared,

Great to here you are completing Bill's project. I've pretty much been AWOL from the forum lately. Work has taken up so much time it's left me with no extra time except for essentials.

I'd love to see it as you make progress.

 

Well the bike is in my backyard covered up by a tarp. I have screws in my foot from my surgery and it's hard for me to get around, I'm tired of working on it right now and it is hard to get any help. I'll pick back up on it someday. Mark if you want to help me you can give me a call, Thanks.

Thanks everyone for their continued support, but I am out of options at this point and I am just going to let it lie for awhile.

 

I'd be glad to help, my knee has been keeping me still for the past few weeks. I'm almost back to my old self

 

Jared,
I haven't posted in a while, but have been lurking in the forums. I have a 400 Seca that I was working on the same time Bill was with the Maxim.
When I first started her up, she had a very similar issue... however cleaning the carbs and then removing and replacing the carb boots with new gaskets (made my own... it's fast, easy and best of all CHEAP) and it was better... but it still 'hung' and would only run with the choke. So I took it apart AGAIN. I used a wire I stripped from a wire brush... very thin... and found a whole bunch of little holes and passages that were STILL clogged, and I had thought I had been thorough. I encourage you to clean the carbs yourself... it's not hard at all and that way you can be *SURE* they are properly cleaned. ^^
My Seca 400 is currently stripped down the frame for a winter rebuild, and I will be shimming the needle a bit as she ran pretty lean (apparntly these engines do that). I'll be happy to answer any questions as I have all the parts easily accessible on my workbench, and would be happy to take any pictures if you need.
I'd really like to see Bill's project completed, and the bike enjoyed.
Take Care.

 

Jared, We'll all be here to help out once your back at her.....

SS, My Max was running lean, but responded fine by just adjusting the mixture screw, didn't need to shim the needle at all.....
Running a bit rich fixes up some of the engine braking in 1st and 2nd (If your runnigna bit lean you know what I mean, especially in 1st) and chenges the exhaust note to a bit more throaty

Time for the annual carb clean here as well, and plot some more mods.
All depending on free cash (whatever that is hehe)