What did you do to your Yamaha today?

When little things can make a big difference:

A quite normal servicing, Oil,oil filter, Air filter, Shaft drive oil and new plugs (the good ones, NGK BP7ES in place of the BPR8ES 8O i found on.

Just went to a 30 km (18 miles) test ride and...wow, really smooth drive, the gears are shifting in a lot better and that 10 w 40 Mineral cured also my slightly slipping clutch!

 

not a fun day. bench sync carbs (2nd time) tried to dial them in (useing just the one gauge). plugs still have lots of yellow on tips,runs rough, just can't seam to get the sync screws to "sync". to make it worse my car died so now i have to ride my poor unhappy xj to work.oh well its only a small problem compareitivaly i suppose.

 

Pulled the tank and side covers to prep for paint. Powder coated all the handlebar control housings, MC, and bars. Nice pretty high gloss black.

 

finally done bead blasting the swing arm, and other little parts for paint Now it is up to my friend with the paint shop he will ahve everything by the end of the day so hopefully next weekend I will be otu riding again in a new coloer and no chip, dents or scratches.

 

finished painting the tank for my cafe project

 

I spent all night rebuilding the XJ1100 master cylinder, so I could mount it on the 550! :-D

I had to switch the clutch perch as well, since the mirror angle is different.

BTW.. the XJ1100 got a big-bore MC from mikesxs.com, and with stainless lines, it brakes with two fingers.

 

like the paint mrkil: rattle can, or spray gun?

 

thanks
the paint is rattle can
that pic is before clearcoat and polishing.

i'll post a better one in a bit

 

Got her tag and registration! No more sneaking around the block. I feel like I'm 17.

 

mrkil: please do - would be interested in what rattle can type and clearcoat you used! ;-) (and how u did, you tape off the sections?? with what, etc ..etc..etc.. ;-P )

nice job!

 

I finally changed out the OE fuse box and...........the bike still runs. My first small victory!

 

Way to go Yamahamama!

Probably the most important victory is the first small one, but in this case, very important. This is one of those jobs that you will never know if you really did any good because there will be no trouble.

Nicely done, congrats.

 

Put my fixed ebay left side cover on.
Still searching for the elusive right side cover

 

Cleaned the bike from top to bottom. Waxed the tank, wiped everything down, changed the oil, check the tires, cleaned the windjammer, took a toothbrush and gunk cleaner to the gunk off of carbs and motor. It looks awesome. I rode it for a while this evening to cool off. (It was 100 degrees today and I needed some air) The ride was short but the bike was in top form.

Desperado

 

Cleaned the bike from top to bottom. Waxed the tank, wiped everything down, changed the oil, check the tires, cleaned the windjammer, took a toothbrush and gunk cleaner to the gunk off of carbs and motor. It looks awesome. I rode it for a while this evening to cool off. (It was 100 degrees today and I needed some air) The ride was short but the bike was in top form.

Desperado

 

So this is what she looks like yesterday:




If you want to hear her running click here and start the video. She is the loudest XJ you have ever heard:

Loudest XJ650 YamaHOG

So right after the video was taken I ran her a few more times until she seized on me. I pulled open the valve cover to see I was missing a cam chain sprocket on the exhaust cam. The casting was cracked across one of the bolt holes but the other one looked untouched. The sprocket blew into 5 pieces. Two halves and some debris.

I am thinking one of the bolts holding the sprocket on backed off somehow and the imbalance caused the sprocket to shear. I pulled off the heads and the cylinders and spent about four hours fishing all the metal out of my bike. The crank sprocket looks fine. It didn't really get run with the brocken sprocket because the front chain guide wedged into the crank sprocket and prevented the engine from being turned over. I put the bike in gear and pushed the tire backwards to get the guide out of the sprocket. It was really wedged in there.

Needless to say I'm going to put her back together tonight and try again. I'll use a cam, sprocket, and guide out of a spare engine.

What could have caused this? I put the chain back in and there was no slack. And cranked the cam over a few times and the timing marks maintained their positions. Give me some ideas guys. I'm truly stumped.

 

Dude, you are one dedicated trooper! Better luck this next time!

Mmmmm, lamb souvlaki, one of my favorites!

 

So, I got to go see Batman, and thought it was great, the only trouble was getting to the theater on time. It's only 10 miles away, and I had given myself 30 min to get gas and get there, I just didn't plan on giving the bike such a bath. In a huge thunderstorm, almost the whole way there, and after the movie (which was great and I felt obligated to shivver all the way to the end) all the way home. Lots of water in the roads, lots of lightning, and the one accident to gawk at wasn't me.

So, I filled her up and gave her a bath.

 

Dude, EXACT same thing happened to me except the sprocket stayed in one piece. Never did figure out why.

 

all i did was ride it today!

 

Installed my fairing
Now all I have to do is find a windshield for it.....suggestions welcome!

 

I spent hours fishing metal out of my engine and rebuilt the top end... again. If you want to see the video of it running click this link:

After two rebuilds

Needless to say I'm going to finish the bike tonight and take her for a long run this weekend.

 

Gwyndwr, I'm guessing you're not married..

I admire your dedication to getting that bike together. Looks beautiful

 

I feel like the character Richard Dreyfus played in Close Encounters of the Third Kind. I'm completely obsessed!

And I am married... I just don't know how much longer if I keep this up.

 

Nice work Elvis... Had her out for that test ride yet?

Today I think I might replace all my brakes... Not the pads, they entire brake setup.

I've spent all week and a couple of full days last week stripping, cleaning and fitting new parts to a couple of sets of calipers, a new front master and a rebuilt rear master...

 

Today i did some body work:

I demounted the cracked front fender and let it weld by a friend,meanwhile i removed the brackets of licence plate and blinker as they was welded togheter with some steel bars in between by the PO, i guess in order to make some sort of home made top case holder.

After i cutted and resprayed it, i forgot my rule nr. 1: NEVER, NEVER and NEVER let me with a circular saw without the supervision of an adult...so i cut the back fender just below the licence plate holder.

Finally:

- Took off both exhaust

- Cried, a lot.

- Went on e-bay and ordered a couple of new exhaust.

 

New handle bars, handlebar grips, new Mirrors and new rubbers for the pegs

next is tires.

 

changed the oil, and bought the wrongs plugs for it yesterday .... today, buying correct plugs and gona ride a lil IF the weather holds out.

 

Put about 130 miles on the Seca in 100F (about 38C) heat. Can you say WARM? 8O

I think the automatic chain tensioner clicked a notch, cause my chain got quieter about 80 miles into the trip.

 

Changed the oil today. I bought a Fram filter so for the first time ever, I changed the big o-ring on the filter cover. I installed the new 17mm filter cover bolt I bought this spring. I changed the gasket on the drain bolt for the first time as well. For the last "first" of the day, I used a torque wrench on the bolts.
PS I have 54,000 kms on this bike.

 

Today I just got back from a 600 mile ride through the mountains. It was unbelievable. The engine is now officially broken in.

 

Good job Gwyndwr!! good to hear you finally got it sorted out(knocks on wood).

Today I just looked at the bike slid it over to the wall and rearranged my friends garage. Sulked that it will be over a week still before I can re-assemble the bike ahhh!!!! I have to go out of town this week Of course when the painted parts will be done I will be 3+ hours away at work by day and motel by night till Fri eve.

 

Lets see this has been over the last 3 months or so. I have been out on my bikes and have not been sorting through XJbikes much lately here goes.

Rebuilt all 4 carbs, replaced carb holders, Colortune, helicoiled #3 spark plug hole GURRR previous owner X-threaded the plug and just kept twisting! New plugs, full Sync, changed oil and filter installed 17MM filterbolt, upgraded brakehose with stainless steel, rebuilt master cylinder and caliper installed new EBC brake pads, Installed Memphis shades Shooter windshield, replaced rear brake shoes and installed new cheap standard 25$ chain on old worn out sprockets, rebuilt tank petcock was dripping gas all over my garage floor. Hard soldered my regulator/rectifier wires due to connector meltdown. I must add that was after the H4 headlamp upgrade! Replaced turn signals with little 8W bullets, electronic signal relay "i miss my auto canceling signals =(". Had the seat recovered/refoamed, replaced battery getting ready to upgrade the chain and sprockets also it's about time for a new rear tire, and some stem bearings.

Have been riding the crap out of this bike i enjoy the 50+ MPG and the fact that it keeps me busy learning and fixing stuff as it falls off lol. I love my Griso and my VFR but i usually reserve those for long hauls and just riding for fun. My XJ has turned into my work horse and around town traffic beater. Still love this bike and the rawness it possess, reminds me of my young days and my dads BSA without the kick starting!

 

Replaced my instrument cluster!!

Working Tach now in full effect! Got 'er for $40 at Bent Bike too! (The parts kid wanted $80, but my girl hooked it up! Don't tell!)

Installing Gamuru's replacement left hand switch for my high beams next..

 

hi all. well this wknd pull'd, cleaned, #4 carb (i know,but know time for all three. still too lean on that carb but what a rocket! can't wait for next wknd for all four :wink: C N D

 

I built a new bracket for the turn signals to move them back about 5 inches so I could install some saddle bags. Then took a quick spin up Cheyenne Canon up to the falls.

 

I took off the stock exhaust , painted the new 4 into 1 flat black excluding a ring of chrome at the end, started installing it found out I need flanges.
painted
the signal lights, side covers, handle bars flat black .
changed the oil
took off the front fender
cleaned top to bottom .
now playing with the mixture screws.

 

removed, cleaned, benched synced, set float levels, and re-installed carbs... made new idle adjust cable for easy access to adjust screw... mounted led light for plate, got bike running and idle on it's own :mrgreen: ... oil change, and bought new tires (will mount when I get it insured and on the road :roll: )

 

Hmmm what did I do?


Rebuilt it from the top up. New powder coat, paint, pistons, rings, machined the heads, different gas tank, seat, put ammo cans on as saddle bags, changed to integrated LED tail lights and signals, new handlebars, brakes, front fairing and windscreen, and then I started the engine and seized it, fished metal out of my engine for 5 hours, re-rebuilt the top end, test drove it for 1000 kms, put the carbs in an ultrasonic tank and rebuilt them, then synced the carbs, made it run really smooth, then crated it up and shipped it to Frankfurt yesterday.

It's all done. I meet the bike in Germany on Sunday and I take a nice tour of Eastern Europe.

 

Gwyndwr---you're amazing. Good luck on your trip, be careful, check in with us!

 

Thanks chacal I will be careful. You can track me on my blog at:

elvisonthemove.blogspot.com

I will post as regularly as I can. My first stop is the Czech town of Plzen, the birthplace of the Pilsner beer. I intend on doing the Pilsner Urquell brewery tour and getting as absolutely smashed as I can off unpastuerized wood keg brewed beer and crashing at the hotel across the street. In the morning I will take a picture of my bike in front of the "World's Biggest Hangover"

 

Gwyndwr- Holy Moley, nice jorb! Enjoy your tour that is an awesome plan. You've certainly worked hard to make it happen.

 

Gwyndwr... best of luck to you... this is something I would love to do... have a blast and a safe trip!

 

Gwynder ... we want pics!!

Otherwise... notihng new done to the XS except daily rides to work, which now includes a short higheway run, so far, she's working great... looking into some ammo can saddle bags, still need to do the cluster light-LED conversion...

 

Pilsner Urquell is actually my fav beer........

 

mmmmmmmmmmmmm that is a tasty brew , ranks high on my list as well.... current fave is Hoegaarden

 

Got rid of the original bar and put on clubmans while i'm waiting to recieve the new exhaust and the new chrome round mirrors

 

Today I reinstalled my PLate behind the left Rear foot peg , made a new bracket and installed A Blue L.E.D Light pod over it To make it legal. Later this week I will be making a second attempt at fabricating a new seat.

 

well, fitted a bar end mirror, made a new number plate bracket for the modified back end, fitted a 2nd hand set of carbs, £30 of ebay incl postage, what a bargain, and stripped the front brakes, hopefully ill get them back on tomorrow and a few touch ups of flat matt black ;-)

 

Got an electronic flasher installed on the Seca. Mucho better... Seems like the signals are brighter now.