What did you do to your Yamaha today?

Plasti dipped my tank and panels. When I have put the bike together I will post new pics of completed bike. Still have to change the oil, replace the rear brake switch. replace gas cap and seals. Rebuild the petcock as I have it off the bike now. Drain and replace the gear oil. Any advice will be appreciated. I am trying to learn to service my bike and it is fun but I want it to be safe and done right. I do have a manual that was generously donated to me on this forum.

Most of all Guys I need feedback!!!!!!!!!

 

The virago got its floats wet-set last night. Fired it up today in a toasty-warm 32ºF garage (both doors open to let the exhaust out). It's an easy starter (one push of the button), and drops back down to idle without a hiccup

I have a few more things to do before it's ready for the road. My riding buddy will be pleased. I sure wish my Seca would start so easily in the cold.

 

K-moe, they just don't seem to want to catch on the first bump, do they...

15W fork oil down from 20W(almost rattled out my teeth). New VRM-163 tire in the rear. Rear diff oil change.

And sent my cheapo ebay shocks out to this guy:

http://chrislivengood.net/wp/?p=1167

Because I hate compressing springs.

 

I'm thinking about doing the same. 20wt is fine in the bends, and on smooth roads, but on roads with a ripple (or closely spaced expansion joints) the front end is overdampened.

 

Yeah it kinda bucked too hard on stuff that should have been a little smoother.

I also reduced preload a tad, and it really helped out. I think unless you're racing, it's way worth it.

 

Well not entirely XJ-related, but I did work on my Yamaha's today:

XJ-related:
Finished stripping my XJ650 carbs for the bike I'm getting running.
Began carb cleaning dip of internal components, and finished soda blasting the carb bodies, bowls, and hats. They are looking good, and once the parts are dipped I can use the new gaskets I got from Len to rebuild them and get them on the bike.

Non-XJ but still Yamaha related:
Finished sandblasting and boiling the parts for the Virago 700. I started reassembling the carbs with new gaskets (also from Len) and o-rings. Still have some work to do, but the bike is nearing completion. Once the carbs are on I can throw a battery in and temporarily mount the tank so I can get the carbs synced and the engine running right. It's a bit too cold and snowy out for my taste today so this was put on hold.

All Yamaha related:
Looked into the Ballistic Evo2 Batteries for my bikes. For the XJ's they seem to be around $160-200 for a battery that loses 10% of its charge per year sitting, and is way lighter than our stock batteries. The Virago takes a $300 battery but is much lighter and more energy-dense. With a balance charger I can charge each cell individually and maintain the best performance and life out of each battery.

Also stripped the full Vetter luggage and fairing off of my Midnight Maxim (which now that full luggage package is available to anyone interested, PM me for details). Got the King-and-Queen seat back on the bike with the sissy bar and a quote on reupholstering the seat. Planning on going back to stock look for this bike with hidden upgrades here and there (dynacoils, 750 tank, Ballistic Evo2 battery, etc).

More to come when I get more done!

 

picked-up my carb bank, petted it, wispered to it, wished it was installed and purrrrring. Oh well, maybe later.

 

Just remember to fix a way so you can draw current from the battery prior to starting when it's cold out. Cold Lithium batteries don't hold their energy density well, and need a quick warm-up (5 min) before they will deliver full current.

 

Heated gloves installed on both bikes, and I can always turn them on and let the running lights do the trick. That should be enough I think.

 

I spent the day repiaring the fairing to my friend's XV920. Next I'll start modifying the supposedly "Yamaha from the same year, fits your fairing perfectly" windscreen, so that it will actually fit. I'm so happy that I only spent $20 on it.

Edit:
I just got the call telling me of another snow day. It's one of the advantages of living in a town that only has one plow truck. I'll be able to put another weekend's worth of work in tomorrow

 

Should be plenty.

 

Sat on it and made "vroom-vroom" sounds...

 

why wouldn't you just let the starter warm up the battery ?

 

lol! I actually fired mine up today and it made the vroom vroom sounds.

CN

 

Finished the engine rebuild. Valves are all in spec, compression numbers are 130, 135, 130, 135.

 

I got board today and got out a file and went to town on my cylinder fins.

 

From what I understand that sort of battery won't deliver enough amperage to turn a starter when it's below 40ºF. Just passing on what the manufacturers recommend to do.

 

40F, that's about my limit too

 

I looked at her half stripped apart in my basement..
patted her on the rear fender
told her she was a good girl and soon we
were gonna have some fun

also put some of her parts with the other parts I have for her
kinda waiting for some certain stuff to show up
before I tackle other work

 

Changed the oil to get rid of leaking gas and took it for a ride around the block really quick while I am waiting to kill it trying to clean and rebuilk the carbs to fix a stuck float valve.😀😀 Too nice a day not to ride at least a little. I claim trying out my new dorky looking but armored gear to make sure it feels right riding as a good excuse.

 

New stainless front brake lines, rebuilt master cylinder/ front caliper. Carb battle that will continue into tomorrow. Then hopefully a ride in the sunset with only moderately chilly temps here in VA.

 

Today (tonight in fact) I rode my Yamaha to work.

So what! you might think, and I don't blame you.

But to me it's actually quite a big deal. When I finish my nightshift at 7am tomorrow morning it will be one year to the day that I bought the rusting heap of junk that I lovingly transformed, resurrected and re-modeled into the beautiful machine that is proudly standing outside the Rolls-Royce factory after transporting me smoothly, swiftly and comfortably here earlier this evening and is waiting to take me home in the morning. A total journey of 66 miles that took a year to make possible thanks to the assistance provided by all of the contributers of this wonderful community.

 

Cheers Robbie, I love your build!

The rebuild continues, and today was crimping day at Smack's house. Modern fusebox installed, replaced some corroded connectors, new negative and ground wire and starter wire. Hopefully start reassembling the bike next weekend, weather permitting.

 

Switched out some shims to bring valve clearances into spec. New pressure washers for the valve cover. Installed a carb set that I had bought off of ebay for $35, of course that is after I rebuilt, cleaned, new shaft seals, new fuel rail seals, new float valves, new pilot o rings, washers and springs over that last few months. Bench synced, wet set floats, vacuumed synced and then color tuned the a/f mix. Took her out for a 35 mile ride and she is purring like a happy cat. I wish I could compare her to when she was brand new because I think she is running just as good as when she was new.

 

Installed my N.O.S 3 way engine guards and rode 125 miles into the mountains of northern Wa State !

 

Did my resysnc after my 1k break in on my rebuilt carbs, took a two hour two up with my wife, then a few hours on my own, then spent a little while looking for Harleys and ninjas to blow away at the stop lights. Seriously, the only sport bike I have run into here that can beat me getting up to the speed limit is a CBR 900 a guy a few blocks over runs. These things are just amazing off the line.

 

When I checked my valve clearances they were almost all off. I tried to take out a shim and it wouldn't come out. I removed the cams and found there's not a single pad on the bike. Now I'm really confused. :/ Where do I start now?

 

I've been looking at the wrong manual (face palm). I got 2 manuals with the CD. Now that I'mm looking at the right one, it makes much more sense.

 

I finally cleaned up my horn contacts so it works now lol.

 

took the 700 and the 900 out for some rides and fresh gas..........nice to be back on the bike again---for a day. Now it's supposed to rain------

grrrr

dave

 

Took her out on a ride and tried to kill her or me.. no positive results..

 

Rode from Sydney Australia to the Australian National Motorcycle Museum at Nabiac and return on my 1980 XS850. Did 520kms and spent 3 hours at the museum and a great lunch in town. It is a few weeks short of Winter so the weather was perfect, 24C and fine and clear. Beautiful. (left the XJ650 in the shed today, next time!!)

 

Fixed my turn signal and rode to work. Nice and shiny after I cleaned up a few rusty bolts too.

 

Started making a front fairing for those longer trips. Nothing fancy, I just had some spare aluminum and acrylic and like a project. Will put pics in my build thread tomorrow.

 

I changed the oil and replaced the rear brake shoes. Nothing was delaminating but went ahead and replaced them anyway. Now I have peace of mind that there won't be a rear brake problem.

 

Got the stick welder today via UPS. Made to first welds to the already cut tail/frame. They're ugly so far, die grinder here I come.

82 XJ650 Maxim

 

I'm assuming you are decent with the rod you're using. did you chip and wire brush the slag off your welds? they may not be as ugly as you think. remember, tight circles keeps the slag and oxidation out. let welds cool completely and you should be able to remove most of the slag with one tap of the chipping hammer... or two or three.

Gary

 

Started stripping the front end of my 650
I binned it on Monday when I hit a patch of gravel on a bend, luckily I found a grassy verge and didn't get as far as the trees beyond

Bike looks a bit sorry for itself and I've got a couple of cracked ribs, fortunately my missus wasn't on the back
Ah well, I just get it running superbly (thanks mainly to info from this very site) and life gives me a kick in the balls, back to searching for spare parts :cry:

 

I broke the glass on my instrument cluster, and I'm happy that I did. As it turns out the cluster had untempered plate glass in it, and broke into several large, vein-slicing shards! It shall be replaced with a less dangerous material on Tuesday.

 

Stared at the bike for about 30 min, cussed a little, then checked valve clearances. One is within spec. YAY. I get to change the shims! (grumble grumble grumble) Spoze I had to learn how sometime.

 

Really long winter and late spring here in Vermont.

Minor stuff: crash bars and highway pegs, rear luggage rack modified from a Kawi or some such, brighter headlight bulb, SS brake lines for the front, bar end weights to reduce vibes.

Bigger stuff: had the tank, side covers, and the little inset stripe on the grab bar painted metal flake blue (professionally, no less). Beats the rattle can job the PO did.

Currently shopping for a tubular bar to replace the non-adjustable stock set-up. And, yes, before you ask, I'll make sure there's plenty of play in all of the cables and lines. Been there, done that.

 

Oh yeah, I bought a used seat on ebay, stripped off the old cover, and modified the seat foam to make a better long distance mount. By using a 4" angle grinder and removing some of the stock foam (what a mess!), I was able to make room for more advanced foam. I also widened the seat by 2", put in firmer foam on the bottom, followed by softer stuff on the top layer. Then I covered the whole thing with a new Saddlemen cover and it feels great! Looks pretty good with the new paint job as well.

 

Reinstalled the wiring harness; partly set up front forks; swapped some parts from my parts bike; figured out how to wire on my r1 handlebar switches

 

After my test ride, I noticed my brake light was sticking, so I adjusted the rear brake and lubed the pivot points.

 

Did a COMPLETE carb rebuild INCLUDING the shaft seals! Changed the main fuel jets from 120 to 122. Why? Because I have 4 to 1 exhaust. And it is recommended to go up to a 122 with the 4 to 1 exhaust, made a big difference. Now to do a Colortune then a Carbtune!!!

 

I took all electrical connections ( spades - Male & female ) out of their respective connecting blocks and dremeled them....nice & clean connections now......PITA but worth it.....

Not sure how the get the round connectors out of their connecting block.....itsy bitsy screwdriver to release a stop tab I guess.....

Does anyone know ????

 

Got my state inspection sticker and then rode home.

 

Now you need to pack the connectors with di-electric grease, there was a protective coating on the terminals which is now gone. ALSO, be aware the corrosion can also occur where the wire is crimped into the terminal.

Next to impossible. I'm sure that a special tool was made, but we've never seen it.

 

Chacal,

Thanks for the heads up......will apply di-electric grease on reinstall..

 

Sanded and polished my side covers. and since I am an engraver I cut out two 1/16 inserts to go in the windows of the side covers. I think ANIMAL from the Muppets removed the badges from the bike originally so there was quite a bit of damage to the plastic bits.