Hello, This is my bike.

Hello Everyone. New to XJ ownership (had a 79 kawasaki KZ400 before) but this is my latest toy. I think I am just addicted to older bokes.... maybe I am funny but to me they look like bikes are supposed to. Anyways this is my 1983 XJ750. I allready added the pipes the previos owner cut the pipes and removed all the emblems/decals. (I think he was a harley wannabe owner) I have allready done most of the basic maintenance. Next step is the polishing, sigh.

 

hey, if polishing is all you have to do, be happy!

 

Well not really. I am gonna do a complete rebuild of the motor. I don't know how long that idiot had the pipes off. I do know that he never adjusted the carbs because as soon as I went back to stock pipes The bike ran 1000 times better. But I imagine it need the exhaust valves cleaned. maybe a carb clean and adjust, besides which I haven't seen the inside of the engine yet. I also need to get the tank painted and the emblem back on. I am trying to restore this one back to 100% OEM. ie. can't tell it ever left the showroom.

 

any particular reason you want to do a complete re-build? lack of proper compression? valve tick? lower end knock? or are you doing it to pass the time?
i hope nothing got damaged, but it think youll find your self riding after a thorough carb clean and bench sync.

 

Doin the rebuild mainly because there is some valve ticking. From all the research I have done this is fairly normal for the XJ's. You just have to get inside the motor and insert the new shims.

 

You don't have to "get inside the motor" to change the shims for valve clearance. You only need to pull the valve cover off. Search the FAQ section and you will find excellent step by step write ups on how to adjust the valves.

 

I'd think worse case would be the PO ran it lean. Check compression. Then check valve clearances. If not within spec replace the shims to bring them into spec. If they are in spec, I wouldn't tear into it, Just ride it.
If compression showed low would be a reason to tear into it.

I recently adjusted valves on the XJ550 which had a couple tight valves. After shim replacement, I have a slight tic. But I can live with that. All valve clearances are in spec.

 

Properly shimed the XJs will still "tick" nature of the beast. You are sitting right on top of the valves with a thin aluminum cover.

Rickomatic is fond of saying some noises are good noises.

 

Well that is good to know. I just got the haynes manual for the bike, which btw is next to useless for the 83 XJ750. Seems the 83 is a special year where the instrument cluster is just like the 650 and all sorts of odd things. I think the next thing to get is the repair manual. I tried the yamaha site and the "official" repair manual costs $75 and is out of stock. Oh well. Unless someone here has one to donate I am sure I can find one I can purchase at a reasonable price.

 

Manuals

 

For the 1983 XJ750 Maxim you would use the diagram for the 1982-83 XJ650 Maxim gauge cluster and cluster/headlight mounting , they're the same...............

Other than that.....and the slight wiring harness changes that come along with it.......the 1982 and 1983 XJ750 Maxims are identical.

Oh, and some minor differences in the fork tubes.