Cylinder/Ring Job

So i did a dry test on my bike ... 90 psi
Did a wet test... 120 psi

How hard is a ring job on a 84 maxim 750?

 

Why would you want to do a ring job? Those compressions seem fine....

The biggest hurdle you will have is finding the rings.

 

You will need appreciably more than just the new rings when you dive-in to doing a Ring Job:
Head Gasket
O-rings
Bottom Gasket
Sealing Rings
Wrist Pin Circlips
Rings
Honing
Standard or 1st Oversize needed?

You see ... it's going to start adding-up FAST!

Degree of difficulty: 8 out of 10
You come-up just short of having to split the cases.

You need the space and the right tools.

 

Rick, what would you say would be indicative that it is a good time to do it, though?

Is it ever something worth doing on an old bike like this?

I mean, I got mine for $200--so my time spend doing this to the engine would probably not be worth it, seems like.

 

If it runs ... run it until it quits on you.

The easiest thing to do, in my opinion, would be to shop for a complete engine that is certified low mileage and good compression and do a complete engine swap.

Keep the original engine and wrench on it at your leisure.
Put a few bucks into it over time.

I don't think I'd go after "Low Compression" and just pop-in some new Rings.
I'd take my sweet time doing that job ... stretched-out over a long period of time ... while riding the Bike with a decent Engine you can grab and just fit in there like its the one you got.

It's a tough call. Especially if you have already invested time and energy doing other things to the engine.
But, if you are in the shake-down faze and have learned about this Low Compression problem early enough to not be that far into it ... shop for a used Mill and swap 'em out.

You'll be saving a lot of time.
Probably saving a bunch of dough.
Making life a whole lot easier on yourself; too!

 

Ride yr Bike.. when it stops running/being ridable, Buy another Bike.
Sad reality these are wayy too low value to involve oneself into anything but minor repairs/maintenance.. Unless there are genuine emotional reasons.

 

I love my Momma!

But, I ain't doing Rings on her Bike if I can find a whole darn engine to throw in there.

One like this:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1983-xj7 ... enameZWD1V

 

I actually just ordered rings and circlips for my XJ750. I know I could have probably found a donor motor but I love to go on long road trips and like to have a good idea of what my motors internals look like so I can play a little harder when the signs say "Curvy Road-Next 77 Miles".

I had to replace the camchain and slides anyway so while we were at it we dove right down in and checked everything. I was lucky and it turned out that other than the chain, and the oil rings primarily, everything else looks good.

I don't think that economically what I am doing is a sound decision, but I love my XJ, and rarley make sound decisions with money. Seeing as I was planning on spending some in other places, I figured that the motor deserved some love as well. Besides, my wife doesn't relate my 26 yr old XJ to our bank account the same way as she would a brand new Ducati, so I can do what I want to this instead!

Regards
XJ750GUY

 

Thanks all for the input.

Well best of all I purchased the bike for $100. The only money i have put into it is buying a new battery.

I have no idea if it runs yet. We'll see this weekend when i get all the peices back together.

If any of you are still reading this how bright should the sparks be on the spark test?

I conducted one last weekend and in a shop with prettt good daylight coming in i could barely see the sparks.

thanks again all.

 

They don't spark real hot. Just barely able to see them in sunlight sounds about right.

If it's been sitting awhile you might find the the compression comes back up after you run it a bit.

If it's not firing your problem is likely with the carbs. A shot of starting ether in the intake should make it fire, ruling the other stuff out.

If you update your info with a little more detail you might find you have a talented XJer near by. On my map Canada is a really big place.

 

What MiCarl says is true. You might find running it will bring-back some of the Compression you aren't getting in Compression Testing. Msaybe not too much, but enough to have the Bike run is all you'll be needing.

Lay-off doing the Rings until you see if it runs at all.
Once you get it fired up and tuned-up a little bit ... you might be able to leave it the way it is and just motor along without the expenditure.

You'll know if that is the case when you try to start it.

 

I needed a ring job, paid 300for a 12000mile engine, run fine ever since. I didn't want to do the ring job myself, and all the bike shops I called pretty much laughed. One place said they didn't work on anything that old, and another made out like it would exceed $500. Another place claimed they would do it for $300, but after I had them check my bike over and he told me "the chain" was tight and everything looked fine, I figured I would be better off somewhere else.

 

I don't want somebody to do a Ring Job and than shortly after they have a good running Engine with nice new Rings need to go back and do a Starter Clutch or a Chain Guide.

It's like visiting Paris for a sightseeing tour and only looking at the Eiffel Tower. There are other attractions within walking distance. So, you might as well take the walk and take it all in while you are already IN Paris.

That translates into rebuilding the Engine. You have the nastiest part done with the removal of the Head and Block. Why not keep going and do the Guide and the Starter Clutch while you are already invested so heavily in the amount of labor it took to go that far and not go an additional few hours more.

 

Agreed Rick, ounce of prevention that chain guide is...