What did you do to your Yamaha today?

What I did last night

 

Today I'm loading the bike up with saddlebags, tent, sleeping bag and tank bag. Tomorrow I'm leaving for a trip. The destination is about 1200 kms away. I may do a loop into the Black Hills of SD as well. The trip should be over 3000 kms when I get home by the 15th.

 

Finally got soem parts back from the paint shop( I was late getting thiings to him) I got the swing arm, tension bar, both wheels and fenders back on. Still waiting fo rthe tank side covers and some accent peices to be done. But at least it has wheels again I will fashion up somekind of temp fuel tank and sinc the carbs up while I am waiting. Then I will have some pics fo ryou all.

 

Decided to start my carb rebuild =) I think its going to be harder than I thought to get them clean but it's not as scary taking them apart as I had feared. Reassembly could be a different matter....lol. There is some weird looking moss in the bowls *scratches head. I remember reading about pine sol and lemon juice to clean various parts but don't remember exactly what was used to clean what parts so I guess I will search for that in the a.m.

 

I managed to hit a puddle and slide straight into a wall :-( Now I have bent forks a broken windshield and also took out a turn signal. I may have to part out this old 82. I won't have time until this weekend to check and see if I damaged the triple tree or anything else.

Good news I am ok and I still didn't lay it down.

 

At least your ok man, sux for the bike though

 

Almost there!

I'don't like the way the instrument panel turned out, but the rest looks pretty darn good if I do say so myself!

 

Great looking bike!

 

Taking the wheels in for some new rubber, last night I had an adventure with removing the wheels but nothing and no one was hurt.

 

Removed rear luggage rack, broken grab/sissy bar and tag bracket.

Polished rear fender, removed and cleaned rear inner fender, re-installed rear fenders.

Polished turn signals and cleaned lenses
Attempted tp clean and polish front and rear wheels, will have to revisit this, was not prepared for this one.

Removed front wheel calipers and cleaned them
Bled front brake wheel cylinders

 

1.Installed new fuse block
2.Installed extra aux light (Done properly by installing a relay so it only comes on if and only if ignition is on and toggle switch is activated)
3.Thinking of installing new horn because stock horn sounds so cute but not heard by anybody

 

tweaked the 750's float levels, as a follow-up to replacing the throttle shaft seals a while back.

Results:

Mileage: ~50MPG (US Gallons)
Plug color: Hawaii Tan

Bike runs smoooooth. I think I'm gonna leave the carbs alone for a while...

 

Tinkered with little stuff
Ordered rest of stuff to sync carbs
Charging new battery
Put WD 40 in cylinders since motor hasn't been turned for 8 years
Old plugs are black forgot to look at cermics for color
Still waiting on new grab/sissy bar
Soaked bolts on tag bracket with WD 40
May paint kick stand tonight

 

Repainted the tank a few days ago, tweking the carbs to regain a lost idle.
tomorrow am gunna coat the tank with another layer of color, clear, clear, clear, then pull out the airbrush and get crazy, not 100% sure what to paint on it yet, but im thinking dragons, what do you think???

 

placed my Dr. Pepper and watch on the seat while I was washing my truck. Most action my Maxim has seen in awhile, could be why I'm gonna sell it soon...

 

took it out for couple hrs for a good run, first time it actually went through the gears in about 4 years :mrgreen:

 

Yesterday... T-boned a 4 wheel drive and bent my forks and did a number of other small bits of damage GRRRR...

His fault, he's the one getting the ticket from the police for failing to give way... but he is blaming me... says I was speeeding and he argued with the police and tried ot say I was over taking a car as well.... He then accused the cop of making a racist comment.

I can see this is going to be a long and painful process.

My mate suggested sending the boys around lol

 

Your mate has a good shoulder on her heads............

 

It was more a balaclava clad visit he was suggesting

 

I'm sorry to hear your bike got bent. I hope you're okay!

 

Returned from an eight day, one province, four state ride. 4,250 kms (2,640 miles). The Seca never missed a beat. We kept pace with the HD's, Boulevards, VTX's and Goldwings, whether we rode at 60, 70 or 80 mph. I wasn't real keen on the 80 mph stuff due to my small windshield. The only issue I had was that my Seca started to think it was a Harley. It developed the dreaded tach cable leak and left it's calling card everywhere we stopped. It looks and sounds like an easy fix so I'll get at it in the next week or two. I also decided the Seca is a Prairie bike. The elevation in the Black Hills of SD left it gasping for air a few times. It runs much stronger at lower elevations.

 

Took a break
delivered carb parts to friend
went to hardware store bought stainlees steel replacement screws for tag bracket

Thats about it

 

Hello, this is my first post here. My XJ650 (1981) is my work ride. I just got home from my 3rd shift job. I drive a Ford truck (1999 4x4) and it cost me out the tail pipe for gas so I got my XJ to help me save money. I love that little bike. I call it my puddle jumper.

I rode it to work today and took of some sort of generic high pegs thet were rusted.

 

So, while I am out of work again (second time in 15 months), I took the time to volunteer for the local Blues festival to chauffeur the talent to and from the airport. Had a GREAT time with these guys and girls (go to http://www.dutchmason.com/festival/ to have a look). That's when my pal pointed out a balding tire. Spent so much time riding that I forgot the basic law - look at the tires first! What an idiot I was to ignore that!

Anyway, replaced and mounted a new front skin myself and did the rear brakes after. What a difference at both ends! And the really surprising part for me was that the tire really wasn't that hard. Took about an hour from start to finish, no special tools but I did need the volume of air produced by a compressor to seat the tire. All in all, I'd do it again - far easier than forks.

Also finally got the sad looking seat recovered by a local talent. After looking at the threads in this forum on that topic, I decided that for $80, it was worth doing professionally. I'll post pics soon - he did a great job and without the piping, it is a LOT more comfortable.

 

Removed kickstand, sanded, primed, painted it
Center stand is next
Don't know if I will ever get it back to what it once was(the bike)
Some very sharp looking bikes in this forum

 

well i cleaned her bike up, as she dusnt use it, and now its going up for sale, o well, i wanted it, but she wont let me have it,

 

Finally got some time to spend on the 650. Bent the right rear blinker back into place. Moaned over not yet having a front right replacement. Replaced the spedo. Glued the needle for the tach back together. Filled the floats by switching to PRI and back, started her up. Unhappy at first at having sat for a while, but was okay after I put a few miles on it.

Put some Seafoam (just a little) in the tank and took her for a 50 mile ride. Ate up 1.5gal, which isn't great. Put some more Seafoam in the next tank and let it sit.

Problems:

1) Spedo cable "sings" now, loud enough that I can hear it at speed. I hope it's just a cable in need of re-greasing and not something wrong with the spedo itself or the gearbox (or worse, the wheel bearings).
2) Neutral sensor is near complete failure. Since I'm also missing a clutch switch, had to pop start her a couple of times.
3) Since she has pods, the crankcase vent just vents to the open. I see a fair amount of exhaust-looking gas coming out of there. Not enough to make a cloud, say, but enough that I wonder if that's normal. Going to find a filter to stick on the vent and need to run a compression test.
4) Handlebars are definitely bent. Hard to ride with my right wrist twisted that way. Going to order new ones from chacal. I hope that's all that's wrong with the front end, although...
5) Bike has a slight vibration at 75mph and above that comes and goes. Comes and goes more quickly the faster I go, but doesn't feel unstable. Just vibrates. Wom...nothing...wom...nothing.

And there's more, but that's the serious stuff. <sigh>

But you know, she still runs like a champ! ^_^ Pulls hard and long, and corners like a dream. Another year of loving and I think the 650 will be in top shape. Thanks to all who have helped, and especially to chacal for past and future parts.

 

well, I figured out why the 550 was idling so rough and generally misbehaving. Apparently, vacuum sucked a portion of the petcock diaphragm inside the petcock body, creating a nasty vacuum leak, and hampering the fuel flow at the same time. It definitely sounds more like it should now

 

i gave her a loving sponge bath, then i took her out for a blowdry, 90mph down the country roads in my area. shes runnin lean and mean!!!! ready for the winter so i can rip her apart and repaint everything, thinkin metalic blue and silver, any ideas for a tank graphic???

 

Took the 650 out for another (dangerous) test ride. Disconnected the spedo after "singing" began. It's definitely the spedo or the odo that is making the sound. *sigh* I just bought this thing.

I think it might be time to give up and look at building a set of replacement gauges. Anyone have a good recommendation for a replacement spedo, preferably something with a top end >= 125 mph?

 

Polished on lower fork tubes yesterday AND today.
They are nowhere near the quality of say the
handle bars or side covers but are looking pretty sharp now.
they were an ugly dingy yellow.
Put newly painted side kick stand back on also.
Carbs will be ready to install tomorrow,WooT!

 

Got to the local car shop to buy:

- Sand paper 180, 600 and 1000
- 2 cans of primer
- 2 cans of mat (opaque) Black
- 1 can of Silver grey
- 1 can of transpareant coat
- metal filler

Wish me luck!

 

Well last night I finally got my parts back from the paint shop WooHOOO!!!

so I reassembled the bike and rode it home from the garage for the first time in over a month. I will get some pics up some time today I hope if not tomorrow I can't clean the tape goo off for a few days according to the paint guy I need to let the paint sure properly before possibly getting chemicals on it from cleaning.

pics are here:

pics

 

Here's what i did today that will be fixed tomorrow I mistakenly touched the fuse holders.. the 25 year old original fuse holders lol, you guys aren't kidding when you say to change them out asap, the damned clips disintegrated from my finger touching it.

I also tightened up the drive chain (was a touch too loose) and checked my alternator brushes for life (they're good for now). aaand got rid of about 3 pounds of grease, grime, and for some odd reason weeds, from underneath the chain guard and behind the drive chain cover. Also lubed up the chain with some 10w30 as it seemed a bit dry.

OH! ya and i took the speedo/tach unit off to inspect to see how easy an LED conversion will be, and clean the lenses (they weren't really that dirty to begin with) I initially did this cause i noticed the high beam indicator wasn't lighting up. after doin all that, and reassembling, the headlight wouldn't work, which led to me inspecting the fuse box yadda yadda hahah you see how my day went, check one thing and find another.

Hopefully the new fuse solution will fix up the headlight issue, as i've been studying a wiring schematic (wanted to buy a good readable schematic) and the headlight runs right from the fuses to the high/low beam switch to the headlight, so there can't be anything else buggering it.

I really need to get some insurance so i can stop doin figure 8's in the driveway lol (700+ bux a year for insurance.. on a 1983 400cc... what a ripoff)

Hopefully tomorrow goes better

 

"Knock-knock"
"Who's there?"
"Orange."
"Orange, who?"

Orange you glad who found-out how bad in condition the Fuse Panel was within walking distance to your place ... rather than have it fail on you someplace out on-the-road?

 

Yep very true Rick, good thing i can work out the bugs before i get out the driveway

 

Made some of those dreaded fine carb adjustments, its gettin close, gunna rip into the master clinder in a bit to clean out the micropassage that got clogged, again. still at a loss on my brake issues

 

jswag5:

If you get behind the 8-Ball on doing Carb Adjustments ...

Start a New Thread!
And, we'll give it our full attention!
Don't fear Fine-Tuning.
It's only a Jig-saw Puzzle of adjustments. Once all the pieces are where they belong ... you're ripping!

 

Replaced fuse box with new fuse block, i used the same type block for now. i will probably replace with water tight blade type in the winter. This afternoon's schedule will be an attempt to replace bulbs in the gauges and indicators with LED's. Also to lube up the speedo and throttle cables. Will report back tonight with how it went.

 

Report of the day (here's 8:00 PM)

Sandpapered, Primed, Painted and then coated with transparent the sides, front fender and seat fairing.

 

started eBaying for rat bike parts

http://www.flickr.com/photos/33238041@N ... 909036413/

 

Kids have outgrown the play house, so I made the door bigger, put up some shelves and painted it. It's my new XJ shed!

 

THAT, my friend, is fricken awesome!!!

 

Lubed up my throttle and tach cable today, the tach is still jumpy so it must have a kink in it or something, maybe a new one will be had in the winter. The throttle does feel better tho.

The quest for LED's in the gauges turned out to be a bust, they work, but i think i need some super bright WHITE FROSTED LED's, i was trying to use blue and red clear LED's.. didn't work out so well hahah Not bright enough, or too bright.

 

Well, It started today!

The first time it has ran in 9 years. I have to say I have reservations
as to how well i did on the carbs. But it does run. now all I have to do is dig back thru all those threads and reread them to figure out how to get
it to run right. But thats for a different thread.

WOOT!!!!!!!! IT RUNS......My first DIY with a motorcycle.
Now all thats left is to finish, lol

 

changed the oil and went for a spin (140km)

 

I agree!
That's perfect.
Put-up a little shelf; electricity (if it ain't already wired) ... and you have your own "Pit Garage"

How old did the kids get to be before they outgrew it?
They'll want it back for a ClubHouse right after you add the last finishing touch if I know kids!

 

i pop mine into my mini-shop at nights. similar setup to ur play-house.

Well, bought a new caliper from a local salvage shop, cleaning it up now.
will paint it up nice with some metalic silver caliper paint to match the tin colors im using. hope it turns out nice, will post some pics when done.

 

I found a pair of LED driving lights at O'Riellys Auto store today, so I bought them for my bike. They recommend them for "Off Road use" only. Ya, right. I mounted them to the chrome strip on the windshield, on each side of the headlight. They are very bright, but don't take much juice, so that's a plus. When I get them wired up tomorrow, I'll have to get a photo and post it for ya.

 

So i took off the speedo/tach cluster to see why my speedo was lazy, fixed the lazy speedo (sap like substance was gumming up the needle workings so it couldn't spin freely).

I also noticed that my reed switch now properly ticks (opens and closes) as it should when the speedo cable spins. Didn't do anything to it but my auto cancel works now WOOHOO!!.

I also was searching for a reason my tach was jumpy. I looked at the end of the cable before i reassembled everything and found it was quite out of straight .

Now I've always had an issue with putting the cable back on, it would always seem as though it was too long to screw the cap on. So i figured, hell i might as well cut some of the end off (leaving some square cable) and see what happens. Cut the wobbly frayed end off so it looks like i have a new cable, stuck everything back together, and BAM. Tach is as steady as can be. So i'm pretty happy about that, cause it was driving me crazy hahah.

Things are comin together quite nicely.