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Yamaha xj550 sitting for 10 years

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Wottel, Aug 7, 2015.

  1. Wottel

    Wottel New Member

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    Hi guys !

    I'm Wottel (nickname) from Belgium, 25 years old. This weekend i'll pick up a yamaha xj550.
    This bike is gifted by an old couple to me ;) (was standing in their way)!

    I allready went checking this bike. It's fully complete and verry low mileage.
    It has also a cafe racer style winscreen and side panels for Luggage.
    The bike was bought by the parents for their daughter. The daughter drived it 10 years ago a couple of laps in the garden and decides that the bike is to fast. So the bike ended up in their barn and didn't saw daylight until this weekend :).

    I'll post pics asap.
    The chrome is rusted and the wheels and engine is oxidated.
    The storage conditions were not ideal.... :(

    I allready did somme research of this model but i didn't find that much at all.
    Are these bikes so rare?

    Before starting this bike their will be plenty of work i need to do :
    -Remove old gasoline from the tank and remove the rust inside
    -Clean the carbs
    -Inject little bit oil in the piston rooms and let it in for couple of days
    -change oils
    -change spark plugs
    -See that all fuses an electrical system is ok
    -...

    I realy need somme advice to get this xj550 starting.
    So if u guys can give me somme advice and thing i need to pay attention shoot it ! ;)

    Greetings from Belgium ;
    Wottel
     
  2. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    you have come to the right place.
    here is an wiring diagram for you hover your mouse over things
    http://frankjohansson.com/stuff/xj550/XJ550ElectricalDiagram.html
    after soaking pistons for a while
    i would change oil first then remove crank cover on the left side as sitting on bike.
    then see if you can manualy turn it over 18mm wrench be very carfull not to damage the pickups.
    if motor will not turn wait to spend money. let us know

    go to this link
    http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/forums/xj4ever-supporting-vendor.23/
    read
    information overload, church of clean, secerat life of carbs,follow the link in something new something naked, and read talkin tech
     
    Last edited: Aug 7, 2015
    DreamerXJ550 likes this.
  3. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

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    Post a few pics that will help us help you to determine model you have and did you mean panniers ? We call them saddle bags on this side of the ocean
     
  4. Wottel

    Wottel New Member

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    Thanks for the advice !
    Wow that wire diagram is amazing.

    I'll post pics when i picked up the bike tomorow.
     
  5. Wottel

    Wottel New Member

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    I'll do ;).
    Yeah plastic panniers and a huge windshield,
     
  6. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    it is my understanding that the only xj550 overseas are all seca, but not called seca.
    it could be a NA version brought over through a military base or something.
    I know this because I have asked members from that side of the ocean. I am/was looking for a euro maxim for the front right lower fork to convert my xj to dual disc. it seams my only option to do that is to go seca front end and obtain a left lower fork from europe. Just qualifying my statment do not wish to thread drift. I do have a old thread about this.
     
  7. a100man

    a100man Well-Known Member

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    Hey Wottel

    Euro xj550s ar eteh coolest, twin disc and an oil cooler. wow ! I had my first one at 19, a long time ago.. Trying now to rebuild one from crates but time is precious. Look after that baby and have fun.

    Cheers

    James
     
  8. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

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    Don't know if I ever saw a 650 Maxim dual disc setup it would be gold if you ever find one.
     
  9. Wottel

    Wottel New Member

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    The bike arived home :) !
    I littarly pushed the bike to my house (500 meters). :p
    Me and my dad are verry happy with this bike. I like the style and first thing i noticed; what a giant engine :eek:!

    It will be a project i'll do with my dad during the winter.
    First thing to do is to carefully get the engine started step by step.
    If we see the engine comes alive and it's not stuck, we will invest somme money into parts in order to put it back on the road;).
    Exhaust pipes are rust on the bottom and also the fuell thank needs to be cleaned.

    What do u guys think of this project?
    The bike is from 1982 type 4v8 xj550.

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  10. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    thats a seca style XJ550 RJ
    the flat seat and axle at bottom of fork. dual disc euro model
    nice find
     
    Last edited: Aug 10, 2015
  11. rocs82650

    rocs82650 Well-Known Member

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    Welcome to the asylum. What do I think? Looks like a decent steed. Rebuild it and ride the wheels off of it. Varoom, varoom!

    Gary H.
     
  12. MattiThundrrr

    MattiThundrrr Not a guru

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    Looks like a BMW would have fit in better with all the Germans in your garage! That is one dusty, grimy Porsche...
    Welcome to the group, and good luck with the bike!
     
    Luis likes this.
  13. Toomanybikes

    Toomanybikes Well-Known Member

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    Would love a set of those euro switch clusters with pass flash and light switch
     
  14. Wottel

    Wottel New Member

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    Ok Yesterday i worked on the bike.
    I removed the gas tank and drained the old nasty brownish fuel...
    We gonna use elecrolytic to remove all the rust inside the gas tank.

    I injected a little of motor oil in the cilinders to soak in for a couple of days.
    We struggled to remove the spark plugs... Is this a special size? I think its wrench size 18 (Belgium).

    Today i gonna clean the petcock and the carbs.
    Also drain the engine oil (gonna do somme research how to do this.

    The spark plugs looks fine after 10 years.... Do we need to change this or not?
    The engine bay is nasty, the cilinders and head are full of corosion and paint is falling of.

    Is it possible to paint the engine black without removing the cilinders and head and all the cases ?

    I will take somme pictures of the proces
     
  15. MN-Maxims

    MN-Maxims St. Paul Minnesota

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    Wow that one only has about 8000 miles on it.
    Even though you have such low miles.
    Go and replace your rear brake shoes and the brake lines up front. Clean and rebuild your calipers and the master cylinder before you ride this bike. Brake failure because of age is not a maybe it will happen. Be safe and take your time doing it.
    Your carbs are going to need serious cleaning and some new parts. Look the carb manifolds over and if they are dry rotted and cracked you will find they may be leaking vacuum and it will be hard to get it to run right. There are fixes for the cracks but new manifolds are nice because the old rubber is so stiff getting the carbs in and out is difficult.
    Lastly before you do any sync or tuning the valve clearances need to be checked and shimmed correctly.
    Try to find a shop manual for reference and all the required maintenance needed.
    Replace the tires even if they look good the date codes are expired and they may not be safe either. Look and I bet they are cracking from dry rot also.
    Good luck you have a very nice project bike there and with some patience and hard work you can bring it back to safe rideable condition.
     
    Last edited: Aug 15, 2015
  16. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Nice find! Plan in investing the money into it, regardless, and you will end up with a real nice ride.
     
  17. Wottel

    Wottel New Member

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    thanks everyone !

    I'm realy struglin with the carburators.... Allready had to drill 2 screw out because they were rotten.
    Now i have a realy hard time to remove the carburator fuell bowls. Any ideas how they can easly comme loose after sitting around for 10 years?
     
  18. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    use penatrating oil and spray daily for a couple if days do not be in a hurry.
    are you using a standard phillips screw driver? or a JIS (japanesse Industrial standard) driver the screws are JIS. some screw drivers made for electronics
    are JIS.
    you can apply heat and or cold using canned air invert the can.
    try tighting the screw first
     
  19. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Yeah.... Send them out to have someone else do the work!! Lol

    Reality is that if its been sitting out that long, you're GONNA have a tough time. And, anyone you send them to is gonna have a tough time.

    The last set of 550 carbs I did was for listmember "Saftie". He sent me his rack, we had to buy another parts rack, PLUS raid my parts stash to build a beautiful rack for him. You can follow his build to see them.

    If you wish to discuss rebuild services, start a private conversation with me.

    Dave Fox
     
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  20. rocs82650

    rocs82650 Well-Known Member

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    Make her run right then make her stop on a dime and do all the other preventive maintenance.

    Gary H.
     
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