FINALLY got my xj700 running nice

I bought my 1985 xj700 with 9500 miles on it in 1991 for $1000. Except that the PO couldn't get it started it was in near mint condition. 45 minutes and a can of carb cleaner later I've got it running around the neighborhood. Even so, it never really ran "right".... never started easy, occasionally leaked gas, and sputtered and stalled primarily when cold... and it ran that way for the next 17 years and 6 thousand miles. Finally, about 2 years ago the crankcase filled up with gas, I could barely get it started after the usual can of spray carb cleaner (and some in the tank) so the bike just sat. Late this spring I decided to give it a try and could barely get it started and it stalled out for good at the gas station a couple blocks away. To make a long story short (?) I bought a set of carb rebuild kits, a petcock rebuild kit and using the threads from this site did a full carb dissassembly, cleaned every stinking part, and "rebuilt" (basically just new float seat, float needle, and bowl gasket), set the float levels using the clear tube method, bench synched the carbs, and rebuilt the petcock.

After reassembly and changing the oil, the bike started right up. A couple minor adjustments to the main idle knob and I can't believe how smooth this thing runs now. It even idles smooth and it NEVER did that before.

I should have done it 15 years ago.

Thanks to all the experts who contributed to the threads. Even though I have the Yamaha service manual, the threads have much more detail and helped tremendously.

 

I hear ya.

 

good stuff man !
i wonder if you still have the threads you referenced in your internet browser history? if you can post them that'd be great, otherwise theres always the old search button
i might be doin the same soon hah.

congrats and welcome to the forums

 

The threads are easy to find on the first page or so of the "XJ FAQ Suggestion" forum on this site.

How to bench sync = http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=6366.html
How to clean your carbs = http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=2908.html
How to rebuild petcock = http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=25058.html

I browsed several threads for setting the float level since there is no dry height specified for the 85 xj700. However, after using the clear tube method and measuring the resulting dry height, it turns out the dry height is the standard 17.5mm

 

hey thanks buddy i appreciate that

 

Lucky.

I bought my '85 XJ700X from a coworker a couple of years back (luckily for $300), and are still trying to get it going. The one thing holding me back is carbs - it's not a cleaning issue, they're simply trash. I need a new rack o' carbs to get it going.

 

$300 is a great deal. I thought I got a pretty good deal at $1000 for my XJ700 but I did buy it in 1991 with only 9500 miles on it.

The carbs on my 85 XJ700 were in surprisingly good condition (its been primarily garage kept since new). Even after pulling them apart there was only very minor visible dirt inside. However, I did polish every brass part with 00 steel wool and sanded the slides and slide chambers to ensure a solid "clunk test" and rinsed everything very thoroughly with carb cleaner. Now that they're clean, the floats set, and bench synched, the bike runs unbelieveably better. I was out on an hour ride today and it was a joy to ride.

I now realize that, given the amount of work it took to remove, completely disassemble, clean, install the "rebuild kit", reassemble, and reinstall, I should have replaced all the butterfly shaft and other o-rings simply as a prophylactic measure.

I'd keep an eye out on ebay for a set a carbs. I've seen full sets sell for as little as $50. I know my XJ700 uses the Hitachi HCS-33 carbs so I assume your does too. I don't know the "swapability" of what I believe is the more common HCS-32 carbs but I'd look into it if I were you just to get the bike back on the road.

jmd_forest