What did you do to your Yamaha today?

Allright ... you guys inspired me! I'm having starter clutch issues, so today I decided on a total overhaul. The engine is now out ... my bike is going to be awesome!

 

Today I used it to jump start the missus's Skyline lol

 

Discovered that the steering bearings in both of the 650s are going bad. The bearings in the parts bike are quite gone. The ones in the runner are developing the same problem ('notch' in the center and corners).

Additional electrical problem discovered. I'm pretty sure that when I first turn the key that the oil light should come on. I've run a bike with no oil before (long story) and though I do hear some suspicious tapping in the engine on the left side near the carbs, I don't hear the horrible sound of unlubricated valves clacking, so I'm fairly certain that it's something simple like the light itself or lack of continuity in the wiring. I suspect something similar with the rear blinkers.

Also got some more disappointment in the continuing saga of the front end. I finally figured out how to get the front end up the cheap way (center stand + jack stand under the frame just below the headers), only to give the wheel a spin and discover that the wheel and/or the rotor is not true. Going to take both front wheels to a shop near here to have them checked for sure. If it isn't the wheel, it's the axle, something in the bearings, some weird thing in the forks... (all of which are already suspect anyway).

On the plus side, found a guy who will ship me the stays for the rear blinkers and put a new battery in the running 650. Actually starts now! Will have to take it for a longer spin and see if the charging system is working. If the charging system checks out, I'll get on the wiring.

Oh, and the front brakes are still not grabbing all that well. I suspect many things, including very worn pads and a very worn rotor.

Little by little...

 

FYI:

Bearings used for Headset, Front Wheel and Swing-arm are a Universal Standard. They are easily replaced for HUGE savings by buying them directly from a Bearing Supply House ... rather then buying OEM which are marked-up over 50-Percent or more!

 

To check your charging system can you just disconnect your battery, push start it and see if it runs? Ha ha ha. Refilled battery acid, got rear tire changed, running on all new rubber now! I was having to push start my bike, took a full foot-foot and a half of pushing each time. Took me a few starts to see notice that, guess my charging system is good. Refilled fluid and didnt even have to charge the battery! Light is still coming on so guess I need to check the connections again...

 

Jack,
I would strongly recommend against trying to run one of these bikes without a battery attached. You WILL fry the electrical system!
Quote:
"IMPORTANT NOTE: on no account should the engine be run when the battery leads are disconnected, because the resultant open voltage can destroy the rectifier diodes" (Haynes Manual).

If you have had to replace the electrolyte in your battery, it is toast.
Get a new one ASAP.

 

Making a gasket? I thought gaskets were stamped strips of material that had to fit the piece in question. Do you have a blank and cut them, or is this one of those liquid spray/brush-on liquids that forms a seal as it dries? (a la caulk)

I guess the alternator cover gasket doesn't need to make a seal so much as it needs to separate the two metal parts, though, yeah?

 

You can buy gasket material at the local auto parts store for a couple of bucks and cut out your own.

 

Sprayed wheel cleaner on my front rim. Got some on my case savers and dulled the paint. Polishing didn't fix the problem, need to repaint them damn it.

 

cut your own gaskets??????????

Definatley a lost art!!!

I've been cutting my own gaskets and making my own o-rings for years.

 

hmm...started tearing it down, swapped in new signals, took the seat off, pulled the mirrors, and started sorting the electrical on the front end.

Oh, and pulled everything off the rear fender. Fender and bars come off next weekend. (gott apace myself on this project, don't wanna get done too far befor ethe snow clears in the spring)

 

Thanks Robert, did not know that. I didnt run it without a battery, just one that was not holding a good charge. I know that is a way you can tell on cars if the battery or alt. is bad, just disconnect the battery and see if it runs. If anything I would have ran it just a little while with just a bad battery, kept a little juice, just not enough to start it. Is that still bad for it, or okay?

 

Yeah. What he said. 1/32" rubberized fiber material. Plop it down on the sheet, trace around it, cut with scissors. Cutting the inside is the tricky part. I imagine there's a way to have the piece mark the mating surface on the gasket material, but I'm not certain whether it would compromise the sealing qualities of the material.

Nothing artistic about mine, I'm afraid. It ain't pretty, but I think it'll do.

 

Mornin' ya'll.

I posted a message regarding XJ Police bikes here:
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=3 ... rt=15.html

Not sure if anybody has actually seen it so thought I'd ask here!

Cheers!

 

I'll bet that black marker on the edge of the piece will mark the material without compromising it, particularly if you stick to the edge and don't mark the entire surface.

Another idea that is more work, but won't affect the gasket at all, is to use the marker trick on plain paper, cut that out, then trace around the paper on the gasket material. Plus, in that case, you don't even need to use marker. Anything will mark the paper. Water, WD-40, brake fluid... ;p

 

a light coat of a contrasting shade of grease or possibly using something like charcoal/chalk or marker on the surface of the item you are making a matching gasket for. If the edge is sharp enough, just presssure to make an indentation might be enough.
I usually stick with the grease add a sharpie line (si I can wipe off the extra) and continue cutting. I also cut the inside first.
If you can get a rough shape and the bolt holes at least (be sure to have clearence inside and out), bolting it down once can make very nice marks to follow.

Some gaskets are insanly expn$ive. Some gaskets cant seem to be bought outside of a kit (cars, bikes, whatever). Sometimes your just stuck and have to make do with making your own.
Steve

 

After rebuilding the front master cylinder and caliper of my 81 xj650, I installed them and bleed the brakes.

YAY!!!! Now that was fun!!!!

 

Nice job, Wink!

 

Finally got it inspected by the CHP and I have plates now! Yay.

Almost suprising how the CHP is worse than the DMV here... In making an appointment***, those guys must me swamped.

 

a one hole paper punch from office-max or staples makes nice bolt holes in your home made gasket