What did you do to your Yamaha today?

Ease:

You got it going-on! That is one sweet looking ride. Man-oh-man how you got the Retro and Classic look working for you on that ride of yours.

Sort-of reminds me of the Bike that NORTON featured in that Classic magazine full page color ad, introducing the Commando to the U.S. Market back when I was a kid and riding a Honda Super-90.

Work of art my friend
I'm thinking we ought to have a little Contest and end the year with Bike of the Year honors ...
We'll be needing pics of all the eligible entrants!
There's some fine Bikes to acknowledge.

This is one of them!

 

Loose or dirty connector somewhere probably.

Yes!


And congrats, makes all that effort seem a little less difficult......

 

buy the tool and change the oil. You are looking at the right bolt!

 

pulled my speedo off and repaired it with jb weld. nub broke off where it mounts to the cover.

 

Took her out again to warm up the engine and discovered a few things.

1) The front brakes still aren't working as well as I'd like. Time to sand the rotor surface and replace the pads.

2) The self-cancelling unit works!

3) The left flashers only work sometimes. Need to open the controls and have a look. Yes, I know there are teeny parts in there.

4) Neutral light still has that weird problem. I may have to take the headlight apart again and look in there. Not sure if I care that much just yet, though. Works fine once the bike is warm.

5) Horn button is dodgy. Probably needs to have the contacts cleaned.

Also changed the engine oil at last. Getting the oil oil out was a royal pain. There is no place one can put the oil pan to catch all of the oil! Big mess. Going to need a bigger pan. This 4-into-1 header isn't helping at ALL.

While getting the old oil out, managed to shear off the head of the middle gear dra... just kidding, Rick. Didn't get to the gear oil.

The owner's manual is kinda vague on this point. Is the oil level properly measured when the bike is on its centerstand? If so, is this true for both engine and gear oil? If not, I have probably overfilled the oil a bit. Runs fine. ;p

Found some places where the valve cover gasket is completely missing. Will have to replace that at some point. Still need new spark plugs.

Despite all of that little stuff, she runs GREAT. Lots of pull, and with the spedo fixed, it occurred to me that before I was likely getting false odometer readings. Need to re-check the mileage. This is going to be a fun bike.

 

proper oil level is checked while on the center stand.

It does seem that you have an issue in the switch assembly on the handle bars. Be very careful disassembling and make sure everything is documented so you don't forget how to put it back together. Spray it out with contact cleaner and use some di-electric grease on the turn signal switch sliders and springs and all the contacts. The horn button may be broken completely and you may need a new button. There was someone on here selling them...but the name slips my mind now. Maybe Chacal has some.

Anyway, good luck and you seem to be on a good road.

 

Verily, not just a pushbutton, but with it's spring, too:

Starter Pushbutton:

HCP1072 Aftermarket starter Pushbutton & Spring, properly replaces or repairs damaged or missing "start" plastic pushbutton and coiled copper spring unit on the right side control switch assmebly. Each:
$ 10.00


I haven't verified all of the applications for this unit yet; I know it fits at least 550 all models, and 650 Maxim/Midnight Maxim/Seca models, and probably any other models with a round starter pushbutton, too........if anyone has any insights, please do tell!

 

Thx. It's likely to be February before I can get to this due to parts money drying up. :wink: It's just as well, since I know I need to replace the handlebars. I can get the bar and the horn button from chacal at the same time (and some spark plugs, and...).

I know the horn itself works perfectly. Connect it to the batt and it makes quite a lot of noise. Ha!

 

yeah, my guess is the button is shot. Just clean it up and maybe replace it.

 

What did I do over the Xmas break?

I got into the polishing.
I can now see myself in the Rims and the rearset brackets

 

I put a gang of LED's on the rear panel above the tail light (3 strips) and wired them in to fire with the brake light.

I GOT a "Back-Off Tri-Star" Ubit for Christmas and I'm wiring that baby in to give me the Modulating Brake Light and LED's ... PLUS ... Turn Signals coming-on with the Brake Lights ... PLUS ... functioning turn signals if I'm sitting there with my brakes on or using the brakes and signaling too.

Psyched I am ...
At Last ... some rear-end protection for the "Kah-roo-zerr Bike"

 

Dyna coils! DC1-1!! Brand new... $31+s/h, $46 to my door!

Gotta love eBay! Especially when the seller lists them as Dayna coils!

Looks like I'm gonna be busy this spring...

 

Bought material and foam for my seat. It's gonna be GROOVY!

 

Rick, what exactly was the product that allows you to have the turnsignals come on with the brake lights. My dad wants that. as for me, my baby lies in pieces...awaiting stripping and painting. TOO dang cold right now to do much. I've got to get a pair of studs out of the engine (one exhaust, one engine cover). The bike is completetly apart. It's funny because about three days ago, I rode it up and down the driveway, but the exhaust leak from the broken stud was driving me mad, so I decided it was time to pull her apart.

 

Back-Off Tri-Star from Signal Dynamics Co.

I'm wiring-in the one I got for Christmas right now. I think the Turn Signal Self Cancellation Feature on the Maxim and other Yamaha's ,akes this Unit need a bit of working-around the flasher unit,

I haven't got mine all in and working, yet.
I'll let you know.

 

mcrwt644,
You can use a trailor converter to make your turn signals come on with your brake lights. I use one on my Seca. You will need red lenses for your signals (or get after market ones like I did)
The converter I am referring to is one I got at an auto parts store. They are used to activate brake lights ona trailer from a vehicle that has separate turn signals from the brake lights.
I had a Nissan pickup and needed one to pull my boat trailer. It had amber turn signals separate from the brake lights, so when I hooked it up tothe brake lights, I had no signal lights. I never did install the converter (sold the truck)
So it activates the turn signals when I hit the brakes, and the turn signals work also, even when the brakes are on. It is fairly cheap (alot cheaper than the ones made for bikes) I think I paid a whole $12 for it when I bought it. They go for about $21 now, but that is still cheap.
You leave the brake light hooked up like it is now. You hook one of the wires (they're labeled) to your brake light curcuit, one wire to your right signal and one to the left. The wires coming out the other side of the converter hook up to the right and left signals (again, thier labeled)
There are a few different brands out there , so you may have to ask the person at the counter.
Mine is an older one and has two sided tape on it, so I just stuck it to the top of the airbox and left enough wire to make sure I can still access my air filter to clean it.
I just bought another model for my other bike, but have not installed it yet (I need to get red lenses yet)
If your lucky, some of the parts stores may still have the older models like mine, which is just a small(3"x2"x1/2" square) box with two sided tape on one side. There are 4 wires coming out of one side (brake light, left signal, right signal, and ground) and three wires coming out of the other side.
You have to use a resistor inline if you use LED lights for turn signals or they will not work properly.
If you have any questions, you know where to find me. >PD<

 

I put in a new battery. It starts right up in the cold with a good battery. The po had an el cheapo walmart battery in it. I got a maintenance free one with a lifetime warranty.

<rant>
I hate ups. I ordered a master cylinder and they said it was delivered but when I got home later that day, it was not here. The driver left it by the side door that is uncovered and in full view of the main road. I have called them once aalready about drivers leaving packages there and not on the front porch. I guess I am gonna have to put a sign on the door saying not to leave packages there. I have to order another one and have it overnighted so I can have transportation. I will deal with ups and the first package after that.
</rant>

 

For anything of Value ... have them indicate you need to have someone SIGN for it.

We had a problem like that, here in New England, this Holiday Season.
Crooks were following the Brown Trucks and Mail Trucks and helping themselves to whatever got delivered when the people who it was sent too weren't home!

 

Started painting my tank on a budget. Ordered the last few things to get the bike tuned for the spring.

 

I finished up sealing the tank with the 3 stage Kreem kit. I also replaced the foam padding around the speedo, and got the choke and throttle cables routed correctly. Still jonesing for warm weather, just rain and the occasional freezing rain flurry around here. cruzerjd