Raleigh NC riders???

Very cool thanks. Bike runs well now but gas mileage is low, 36 or so. I'm tuning the mixtures this week. will probably rebuild the carbs in the fall unless forced to do it sooner. I'll shoot you an email later. Thanks...

 

Hey Guys, just wanted to say hello. Here in Cary and would like to meet up with other XJ riders to check out bikes and swap info. Got a XJ1100 I am trying to clean/tune up.

Again, just wanted to say hello,

Martin

 

Hi Martin I'm on the north side near Falls - glad to help you anyway I can. I Have learned a bunch off this forum and now possess most of the tools including the YICS port tool, colortune and a vacuum gage to sync.

I'm tearing my carbs out for a complete rebuild this weekend. I have cleaned them before but I can't get my idle down so I'm just gonna do it.

PM if your interested in stopping by or getting together.

 

Hey Guys , Get your bikes running good. There is a fundraising ride in Roxboro on September 6 for the American Cancer Society. Cost 25 bucks and that includes lunch, its a lot of fun. If you are interested send me your e-mail and I'll send you a flyer to register. I'm trying to find a webpage, i'll post it when I can find it.

 

Cool thanks Mark that sounds like fun. I think you have my email but I'll shoot it to you again.

 

Sounds good Mark. I'll fire off my email to you.

 

I just discovered this thread. Hard to believe I missed it for so long. I have a 1986 Maxim-X XJ700XS. Have had it since 12/06. Approximately 34K miles. Runs great but want to do some of the mods I have seen suggested on http://www.maxim-x.com/index.html to improve it. Problem is I'm not at all experienced with anything other than the basics of motorcycle maintenance and could use an occasional coach.

I frequently rise early on Saturdays and ride 150-200 miles stopping for breakfast at some country style family restaurants in small towns I've learned about.

Would be interested in hearing from other XJ owners in the Raleigh area. Specifically I live in the North Raleigh area.

 

Hi Artie, I'm up near Falls, drop me a PM I'll be glad to assist where I can. I'm no expert but I can turn a wrench and follow the books.

 

I'm in Apex and can help with any modifications you can dream up. My shop has most anything needed to build things. We should get together some Saturday for breakfast.

 

Thanks Bill, will do. I see several posts in this thread proposing a ride, or meeting at this place or that for introductions, etc. Did any of these ever materialize? I don't live too far from Scooters and will on occasion stop by there for a sandwich/lunch on weekends.

 

Mlew,

Saturday breakfast sounds like a possibility. I'm often on the Apex side of Raleigh as I have a long-time riding pal who lives off of Western Blvd. near Cary. Sometimes I've ridden to Angier for breakfast at the "Family Restaurant." Depending on how you time it, you can also visit D&Q Choppers in Angier.

 

Just pick a time and place , my weekends are open.

 

Same here - I fish a good bit in the fall but let's set a day...

 

Bill and Mlew

Well, I could do it this Saturday (8/23). There are a few options:

1.) Start out early (0630-0700) when it's cool and traffic is light,
go for a ride through the countryside, after 40-50 minutes stop for breakfast (I know a couple of good places, country-style breakfast).
Then ride for a couple of hours and return. I know lots of routes, particulary east of Raleigh, that start North of Raleigh and end South
or vice versa. We could pick a familiar place to meet to begin the
group ride.

2.) Just meet for lunch somewhere (possible bike-friendly places are Scooters in Raleigh, or Locked and Loaded in Garner) for a couple of
hours of initial introductions and chat, and motorcycle "shop talk".
Meeting at 11:30 would beat any lunch rush.

Number 2.) might be the better option. It's been my experience that group rides like the one proposed in 1.) usually go better when
the participants have at least a passing familiarity with each other.

I do have a family obligation in the late afternoon on Saturday so a late afternoon/early evening ride is out for me.

Thoughts? Other/better options?

 

Sorry for the late response but my computer at home crashed yesterday. Lets do option #2, meet and talk shop for a while. I also have some family things to take care of in the afternoon. Doesn't matter to me where we meet.

 

I don't know how I missed your post earlier. #2 works for me too. 11:30 is fine - name the place. Thanks

 

Scooters sounds good to me , I've never been there. Is 11:30 good for everyone?

 

Fine by me - never been either - their web site says they have a ride leaving at 11 so 11:30 is a good choice. Be crazy before that

 

I'll see you there Bill
Is Artie(RT) going to be there?

I'll be there at 1130

 

I will be there at 11:30. It never occured to me to check Scooter's web site for events. (good call Bill) I don't recall ever going over there and running into one. Well at the very least we can meet there and if it's too crazy there are some other close by options.

Just for easy ID, I have a red/grey/black Joe Rocket mesh riding jacket and grey helmet.

 

We'll just look for the classic old Yamahs, no to mamy of us arround

 

Great time today guys
Lets get together in the near future and do a long ride somewhere.

 

I had a great time - nice to put faces to the names and talk bikes. Lets plan another time/ride..

 

Hi Bill
That will be fun, a nice long ride
I cut the seat foam on the XJ and my wife loves it. Thanks for the idea

Any luck on finding the oil leak Artie?

 

Cool glad it worked out. I stole the idea off this forum somewhere. I rounded my foam off last night - I'm going to ride it this week to see if I need to tweak it before put my good cover on it.

Also got my gas cap "rekeyed" using your file it off suggestion. Cool what we can learn from each other!

Artie if you want help with leak let us know I'm sure between us we can resolve it.

 

Mlew and Bill,

No luck on the leak (yet). Actually after getting home I had to immediately shower up and get presentable for a family obligation that lasted well into the evening. Sunday I spent all day at work and arrived home too spent to be motivated to mess with it. I plan to open it up for an exploratory look over the Labor Day weekend. BTW, the "suspect" leaking area is the alternator as suspected (the service manual calls it the AC generator...quaint description I think).

But...after thinking about it awhile...I need to better understand how the alternator, as an electrical component, somehow has a path to the motor oil. Not true of autos I'm familiar with.

To all,

Greatly enjoyed meeting everyone...you collectively have an obvious wealth of motorcycle knowledge light years beyond mine.

I have a couple of reasonably long distance rides I've been looking at for a while...stay posted for suggestions.

 

Why do my post go off the screen to the right when I view them?

I couldn't find any advice on this in FAQ's.

 

Artie there should be a seal on the shaft driving the "generator". That is probably your leak source.

No idea on the posts - I'll send you my email maybe you can send a screen shot..

 

Man I'm embarrassed...I should have deduced that the
generator would have to be driven by a shaft...doh!

 

Mlew and Bill,

Okay,

The oil leak is definitely coming from the generator. I knew it for
sure as I unscrewed the hex screws on the cover. When I took
them out they were covered in oil. I didn't pull everything
completely out. I just pulled the stator part way (didn't want to
find the hidden location where it plugs in for now).

Now the dilemma...it's not like Yamaha places keep 1986 Maxim-X
parts in stock. So I'll need to order everything I need about a
week or more ahead of the repair.

Should I:

1.) Start tearing it down until I find the ultimate source of the leak?
This will mean probably removing the starter also so I can unplug
the rotor and brush connections. They seem to be hidden
behind and under it.

2.) Are there some obvious parts I need to order? I've reviewed the
Maxim-X parts catalogue and service manual but a diagram of the
shaft that drives the generator and any shaft seal it might need are
not jumping right out at me.

 

Suggestions for Long Rides:

Keeping in mind it's the ride more than the destination, here are a
couple of long ride destinations I was considering.

http://www.aaftankmuseum.com/

in Danville, VA

or

http://www.fortbranchcivilwarsite.com/

in Hamilton, NC.

Kind of in the flavor of "road side attractions" but maybe interesting nonetheless.

 

Either one is good by me - the tank museum looks interesting. I'm planning to go to the cancer ride Saturday if the storm does not come through.

Check out my gallery. I finished off my seat lowering and shined a lot of the aluminum. Bike looks great.

 

Mlew and Bill,

Remember the "colorful" Victory Vision motorcycle we saw at Scooters? Check out the link (you have to hit page down a couple of times once there).

http://www.tailofthedragon.com/

Isn't that the one we saw?

 

On the cancer ride...I am considering it. Right now I am scheduled to work late Friday (unusual graveyard shift into the wee morning Saturday hours)...but things might change. I'll let you know.

 

Hi Guys
Since Hurricane Hanna is bringing in nice weather they have postponed the ride until Sept 20. I am thinking about riding to Michaels Bar in Chapel Hill for breakfast on Sunday, care to join?

 

Cool I was bummed about not making the ride. Can't do Sunday mornings have Church. We do need to get together for a ride/meal whatever.

 

mlew, bill

Would have really liked to have had breakfast but was on short-leash-call or working the entire weekend. Maybe I can go on the 9/20 ride.

Oh will be ordering the parts tonight to repear the leak.

 

Bill and Mlew,

Did either or both of you decide to go on the charity ride 9/20? I don't have a chance of going unless I can get the rotor off (Mlew see thread below, you don't happen to have a rotor holding tool do you?) and the repair finished

Bill, I will be in touch about those extra set of hands...probably after Wednesday.

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=13063.html

 

I'm planning on doing the ride - Let's get your bike fixed...

 

I can't go on the 9/20 ride, my friends wedding is that day, darn it. I have some other friends that are going, they are meeting in RTP on Miami Blvd. If either of you are going I'll send you some contact information. I've already paid so you can go for free if you impersonate me and my wife. I'd like to see that, haha.
Sounds like we need to have a bike repair party at Artie's place.

 

I certainly wouldn't mind hosting said bike repair party...I just hope getting that rotor off is the hardest part of it and it's downhill from there. I won't know my evening availability to Wednesday.

Mlew, Bill and I have exchanged cell phone numbers. I will send you a PM with mine.

If the strap wrench doesn't work, I saw another idea using a band-type oil filter remover.

 

Hey Guys, been out of the loop for awhile but would still like to meet up with you guys some time.

I do have a problem I could use some help on. I have a XJ1100 that starts and runs well but when I decelerate I get a lot of popping. I am no carb expert by any means but I believe that the secondary jets may be clogged depriving the carbs of fuel when the needle is closed. Any suggestions? I have not pulled the carbs yet; a little wary of it due to the fact that I try to ride to work every day and I just have not done it before.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Martin

 

Hi Martin. sounds reasonable to me. It's not hard to pull the carbs and clean them. It does take a good bit of time if you want to do a complete cleaning. You could just clean the lower jets but once you get into it you may want to do the whole thing. I'd be glad to help you. I have done it on a Friday night and reassembled on Saturday to allow stuff to soak but you can actually pull clean and reinstall in the one evening.

There is a Cancer ride in Roxboro Saturday I am planing on going to - Artie is coming I think if we can fix his leak. You should come along...

 

Hi Martin
Good to hear you have your bike running. A good carb cleaning should be done over a weekend to allow time for cleaning an tuning. I can help also. and probably live close to you. Are you running stock or aftermarket exhaust? The bike will make popping sounds with an aftermarket exhaust and stock jetted carbs. running lean will cause that. I think Bill said he had a color tune setup, maybe we and use it to find out. I would like to try it on my bike.

 

I have the color tune - welcome to borrow anytime!

 

Bill, mlew, thanks for the responses. Where do I start;
I would like to join the Cancer ride but having my
daughters 10th B-day at Chucky Cheeses on Sat.
The exhaust is what came on the bike but I believe
it is aftermarket (4 into 2 with flare tips). I thought
this might be causing the bike to run lean.
Do you guys know of a good size jets and a place to get them?
Would love to borrow the color tune Bill, maybe a bike
repair party would be a good thing.

So for I have repaired the fuse block, replaced the fuel sender, and some basic cleaning. and again would appreciate any help. This is the first bike I have owned since I was a kid.

Martin

 

Sizing jets is more an art than a science from what I have read. I'll try and locate the information I found and pass it on. Mark is right about cleaning on a weekend, after a good clean you should tune.

If you want we can pick a date and help you out or you can take a shot at it. It's not hard at all, just need to stay organized and follow Rick's great directions. I'll email you the stuff I pulled off the site. Either way you need to be familiar with it.

 

Cool, Thanks!

 

Len made it easy and just reposted his rejet advice

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=13122.html

 

Awesome Cancer ride in Roxboro today. Enjoyed meeting a bunch of folks. About 114 bikes total. Artie(RT) and I rode up together and had a great time. First time I have done a large group ride.