i feel a case of "hogfiddlitis" coming on.

I am going to look at a mostly complete xj550 seca parts bike sometime next week. if the tank looks good and the compression is good, I will be trading a rifle (ruger 10/22) for it.



FU

 

Yup, I have similar symptoms. I think it is highly contagious

 

A man after my own heart.....

I might be interested in the front fairing if you don't plan to use it.

Ask if the side covers are still around, as well as the original mufflers.

You are missing the chain guard, and a standing handle---- I MIGHT have a standing handle around here, yet... Not sure.

Dave

 

yea I don't care much for it. too bad a po painted the clear part. it was likely cloudy and scratched up anyway. len gave me $150 worth of carb rebuild goodies for the last one, but it was in almost original condition.

FU

 

I just added more to my post while your reply came in---

 

I am afraid the oem muffs went away before this guy got it. the side covers are likely gone too. what's a stand handle? the plan for this bike is to support the other one so I am not super concerned about little things.

FU

 

Standing handle is the little HANDLE that you use to help get the bike up to be STANDING on the center stand .... Hence it's name--- standing handle.. Took me only 15 yrs til I learned that

 

well it's mine now. can't wait to hear what the wife has to say about it. unfortunately it's a little more beat than I would have liked (been dumped a few times) but the tanks is super clean inside and it has a few parts I can use. the compression numbers were all over the board which sucks, but that could just be due to tight valves, we will see.

FU

 

Congrats!!!

 

I went out an "fiddled" with it a bit and got it to fire up. it's definitely not hitting all 4. gonna go try another compression test and see if it has changed after having it running then check the valves later after it cools off. I am sure it has vacuum leaks since there is rtv black smeared on the intake boots and none of the plugs are fouled. he said it ran better when it was warm, which indicates tight valves. we will see.

FU

 

Don't check valves until its at least overnight cold. If you do it tonight after it having been run, you're readings WILL be inaccurate

 

overnight cold ? as in -2 F cold ?

 

Well..... -21 if you're up here

 

I decided to check them before running it again. the first run was for less than half a minute and it was hours ago, so it was good and cold. the compression numbers came up, but still all over the board.

#1) 110psi
#2) 130psi
#3) 100psi
#4) 140psi

I also discovered #3 plug threads are cross threaded. this may be part of the low comp. number there as the guage can't make a good seal. but I got it hitting on all 4 and it actually kind of idled. I am sure it has vacuum leaks and I also discovered #2 float bowl drain leaking a little.

FU

 

I didn't say you couldn't check compression when it's been running. I said don't check the VALVES---As in Valve Clearances......... THEY must be overnight cold, stone cold, a day-old-cold, etc..... If there's any heat still in the engine, the valve clearance readings will be off.

Dave F

 

honestly, it couldn't be any colder. but I'm not that concerned with it being right on, it's all relative. I just wanted to see a change in compression numbers, which I did. this bike will never see the road again, in fact, I will likely not transfer the title even.

when the wife pulled up, I was just about to fire it up after adjusting the valves. she thought it was mine (the one she calls "Roxanne"), then was surprised when I told her this one was "spare parts" and she said that's what you named it? lol!

FU

 

You're not listening to me. If you ran it AT ALL, it's gonna skew the readings for the valve clearances. You may THINK it's cold....................

Again, I'm not talking about compression numbers. I'm talking about valve shim clearances here.

 

I know what you are saying, but like I said. I wasn't going for perfect, just looking for a change from earlier comp numbers. it may have been warm here today mid 50's but still the thermal loss is pretty good when there is a breeze and it's been breezy here today.

before the valve adjustment and before it ran, the comp numbers were

#1)100
#2)120
#3)90
#4)140

it's parts, I was just looking to see what I got and I got my answer. now that I have a spare starter and harness I've got to dig out my other 550 engine and check it's valves and compression, it's out of a maxim. I wonder what the acceleration curve is like with the different cams and final ratios?

FU

 

I think just for sh*ts and grins, I will check the valve clearance numbers tomorrow to see what I have.

FU

 

Not sure if you know this, but make sure it's COLD when you check the clearances.....

 

I did the following day, and they were the same as they were the day before.

FU

 

I'm curious what were the clearances, And how many miles on the engine?

 

intake exhaust
1).13 .18
2).13 .23
3).10 .18
4).13 .18

I didn't have the shims I needed for #2 exhaust and #3 intake. but again I was just loosening up the tight valves to see if that effected the compression numbers. the bike had 31k on the clock. pretty sure it's the original clock, but no way to know for sure.

FU