Name That Seca! UPDATED pics&info

First order of business. Turn those engine guards around and mount properly.
In that condition it would have to run to be a $300 bike.

Ghost

 

Yeah, that's funny.....the engine guards are on the wrong sides of the bike.

I would be cautious about the tires.....if it's been sitting that long, they can be dryrotted even though they may look ok.........

You'd have your work cut out for you, but it IS a diamond in the rough. I've started with worse............my intruder 1500 was a smashed up wreck when I got that--

dave Fox

 

Ha, I did notice the engine guards when I was looking at it too, I snickered.

My main concern is where all the gas ended up, the damage it has caused, and what its gonna cost me? Give it to me straight?

So up front I've got fork seals, brakes, head gasket, carbs, signal, tires?

I reckon I'll give him a call tomorrow...

 

Have you looked at anything else? That thing is CRUSTY. Looks like a lot of work. Probably comes with a lot of nasty surprises that you can't see from the "outside" as well. Kinda seems like there is some info that they are with-holding from you. Not trying to be a downer, but I've bought bikes that looked viable and turned out to be more headache than they were worth... If you do get it, I'd add rear suspension to the list, those shocks don't even look close to salvageable...

 

Thanks. I understand and agree. I am interested in a project though. The info IS only partial at best. I talked to the guy who was storing the bike, not the actual owner.

The shocks are on the unmentioned list. I didn't even mention them since they are readily available to me at the local bike yard, no biggie.

thanks for the heads up. Its deff gotta run for there to be any chance of talking the wife into it!

 

First off, it's highly unlikely that you'll get it running.

Do a compression test, if it makes good numbers, it's worth MAYBE $200. Certainly not more than $300.

If it won't run, the most I'd give the guy would be $100, and I'd point out that HE should be paying YOU to haul it away.

Don't try to start it; just see if you can do a compression test. If a whole tank of gas went into the sump, you don't want to try to fire it up anyway.

In the condition it's in, it's going to be a major project and cost WAY more than what you'd ever hope get for it, so you'd better love 750 Secas going in.

 

Well, you'll probably get the it ran fine when it was parked po response. My bike was much worse and didn't run. I got it for $100 just because it had a good title. The po said he could not get it to fire and replaced the TCI, etc. Took a compression gauge with me, and when I saw 145's to 147's across the cylinders, I knew I had a decent plant to work with as well. Found the no spark was sidestand safety switch, and had it running for less than $200. Everything else can easily be repaired/replaced.

My advise, take some jumper cables with you. Unplug the TCI before you try to spin the engine, spray WD-40 in the spark plug holes generously, and check compression. If you get decent compression, look really disappointed and offer him $100 bucks to get it out of his way and go from there.

 

Bring a charged battery and a compression tester - see if the plugs fire while cranking, as they lay on the valve cover. Then there will be no surprises.

Have someone slowly lean the bike left from upright, and see when the "window" comes clear, that'll help tell you how much gas is in there.

Machining rotors?? Buy new pads, but "burn-in" these old ones first and see what you got. Maybe clean off the discs first with 240 grit.

I see a valve cover leak, most likely not a head gasket, which rarely fail.

 

easy way to tell if the gas is in the crank case.....open the oil filler and take a sniff------

smells like gas, now you know where it is

doesn't smell like gas, now you know that it's not there

I wouldn't worry about the shocks...they were dead thousands of miles ago anyway. They are easy to get.

Don't worry about spark, those parts are easy to replace. Compression is gonna be your best indicator. Let us know what you find..........

Dave Fox

 

Go back and ask if by "had it on the road a couple of years ago" really means "when the tow truck dropped it off".

Not try'in to be a dick but THAT bike has not seen ANY riding for a lot more then two years.

We have a bone yard in the area where the owner will happily tell you how long a bike has been in the weather. He has a few two years and a little less that don't look even close to this one.

And that's without tarps over them.

 

Never thought I would say this but that’s actually worst than some of the stuff you find here in the UK.
Al

 

Honestly, it looks like a money pit to me, but then maybe you've got the cash to fill the pit. I'm rarely a fan of crashed bikes though.

 

thanks a lot guys. I've got my notes and even went and got a compression tester.

 

I was looking at the pics again. You what's really tragic? Those aren't the original rear shocks; those are Progressive 12-series replacements.

Somebody cared about that bike at one point (not too recently though.)

In the shape it's in, I wouldn't go over $200 at all; and I wouldn't even touch it if it doesn't make good compression numbers. Not enough else on it is worth anything.

Unless the motor's worth saving, that poor thing isn't even a good 'parts bike.'

 

I've been looking over the pics too. I agree with you, theres really no value unless the compression numbers are good.

After examining the bike and the pics, I think that the RS damage is just from it falling over. The stuff that is damaged is broken or dented but there is not evidence of it sliding, no scrapes or any parts ground down. That leaves a little hope. I am interested in the "parts" that were mentioned as well. Ha, I kind of get the feeling the guy wasn't too in to the bike since he failed to even mount the engine guards properly...

Like I said, I purchased a decent compression tester today. I will check everything you guys have mentioned. I am currently at work but hopefully I will be able to get ahold of him tonight. I haven't had enoguh time to inspect the bike, make a deal and swap the tittle so I haven't called him yet. I don't want to work another deal and have it fall through.

Anyone have idea of what a pair of fork seals will run me. I checked the XJforever thread. They were listed but didn't have a price?

 

You're worried about FORK SEALS???

Dude. Seriously? The whole kit (seals, clips, dust seals, cap clips) should run around $30~$40.

You're looking at around $600~$800 if you want that bike safely back on the road; and that doesn't include cosmetics like the dented tank.

Do you honestly want/need a list? Actually as sorry as that bike is, half the stuff on the "basic list" can get crossed off since "replace" is going to be the only option.

If it blows good numbers, it's do-able. But it won't be cheap or easy.

You're right about the damage; it's only a tip-over. ("ONLY" he says; I bought into a bent clutch basket from a "tipover.")

 

That looks like the sort of bike that will cost $1,500 to bring it up to the condition of a bike that is worth $1,000.

 

Sometimes, though, it isn't the cost of what it will take to restore it.....nor is it the 'value' of what it will be when it's done. It can be more a matter of " I found this bike, I fell in love with it.....I saw a diamond in the rough (real rough), it took me a lot of time, care, love, and yes it took $, too........ but look at it NOW! "

Again, my 650 maxim was a non running bike, sat for two years, lots of rusty chrome-less metal, dirty, torn seat, etc.... bike. But with a new battery, new brakes, cleaned carbs, new tires, rebuilt caliper and master-cylinder, it went onto the road and was stone-cold reliable. 8 yrs and lots of new parts, cleaning, work, detailing, etc..... I received a 2nd Place trophy for it. Worth the price dollar-wise? No. Worth the price satisfaction-wise? Oh, yeah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Plus, that's the bike that got me hooked on all of the XJ's. Some are an investment, some are purely for the "let's see what I can do with this one" factor.

dave

 

Thanks Hog, thats kind of where I'm at with it. Maybe I'm just entirely too excited for a second bike or perhaps I have a soft spot for taking in strays.

I understand that the likely hood of seeing a return on my investments is highly unlikely. Sure, I'll lose my patients with it a few times. Hell, you guys may even become sick of it too. I better leave it alone untill I know more...

 

No arguments as I have done the same, but I still like to point out the pitfalls.

This is what I started with;



By the time the project is finished, I would have almost been able to buy a new bike.