New member

Hi: I just joined your group and I just picked up an 81 Yamaha Seca XJ750 today.

It seemed ok for the most part, fairly clean with 17K miles. When you back it up cold, it is very hard to move. Thought maybe an issue with the shaft drive. Then after I drove it and warmed it up it was fine.

Was thinking maybe the guy put heavy gear oil in there to cover up anything. and then once if warms up it runs fine. ??? :?:

It had new tires, you can let your hands go from the handlebars, it tracks straight, small leak in valve cover gasket, carbs ok, started right up cold.

THe gauge shows a yellow light, but the guy said it was a bad sensor way down in the engine and does not appear to affect the way if shifts and drives.

It looked like it was knocked over, didn't look like it was crashed, after I got home, then I realized the handlebars were slightly bent.

I feel ok about it. I bought it to work on, so it seem ok.

Any input would provide would be great. As in these forums you guys usually know these bikes in and out.

THanks for your help.

Deb

 

Welcome, Deb!

I think you made a good choice with the bike. My 750 is coming up on 47K, but it starts even on below freezing mornings, runs all day when I ask it to, and has enough power to play in traffic...

The hard-to-roll issue.. Best way to troubleshoot that I can think of is to set the bike on the center stand while it's cold, and roll the rear wheel by hand, while the bike is in neutral. It won't spin freely like the front wheel, but it shouldn't take too much effort, either. Have a friend sit on the passenger part of the seat while the bike is still on the center stand, and check the front wheel for binding. Also, check the air pressure in both tires. It can be harder to roll when the pressure is too low... or if the rear brake is adjusted too tight.

If the bike is hard to roll when it's in gear and the clutch is pulled in, it's possible that the clutch is grabbing too much and needs to be adjusted.

At 17K, I seriously doubt you would have any driveshaft issues. Those things are very hard to kill, unless the PO poured molasses in the differential...

What is the yellow light that you see on the gauges?... The only sensors in the engine are the neutral gear and oil level sensors. Neither is all that deep inside the engine...

oh, and if you need a perfectly straight set of Seca bars, you can have mine for the price of shipping. I switched to GP touring bars so I could lean forward a bit.

 

Hi Stereo: Thanks for your input. I'll try that test on the shaft. I probably should have checked tire pressure prior to riding it.

I'll check those things. That makes sense. But it is funny, once I drove the bike a bit, it went away.

I'm sorry-What I meant was a "red" warning light on the console for brake and oil when you 1st start it up. The guy said it was some type of sensor that was bad, but the bike seems to run fine.

I think at one point the bike was in nuetral and the other time, I think the clutch was pulled in.


Oh-do you have the 81 with the ugly plastic stuff over the bars and the square console deal?

Yeah, I would pay you shipping for the bars if there the same ones. I have the 81 Seca 780 XJ.

I will be going through the bike and checking, and adjusting everything.

I will like to eventually toss that ugly square thing and put nice round gages and maybe some cafe bars and get rid of the plastic. I'm sure I will learn a lot from you guys.

1st thing is to make sure everything is right, adjusted and all that.

I'm enrolled in school at night to obtain a certificate in motorcycle mechanics. I bought the bike to do maintenance and repairs on.

I also have an 07 Bonnie T-100.

The Seca is nice and really easy to ride though.

Thanks again for your advice.

Yeah, maybe it needs bearings.

 

Hello Debbiker

You have just entered XJBIKES Most here like to call it Paradise, some call it Home, But I call it The Best place to Find Help and Friends.

You will find this place your favorite on the internet I know I do.

So post some pictures of your ride. and visit everyones gallery , and when they git that gullderned map working please add yourself to the map.

I came here 2 years ago . and not I feel as though I have went to HOTEL CALIFORNIA. you can stay but you can never leave LOL

again greetings from Wisconsin

 

Welcome Deb,
Lots of good folks here with lots of good advise.

I was going to guess the rear brake being too tight too.....
Who knows the PO might have just put the wrong oil in the rear drive unit.... it happens!
You could drain some and see what is in there...


Good Luck with your new bike and your new XJ Bikes experience.

Mike

 

Hey Deb!

Don't be dissing the Seca computer guage head! That thing is 80's cool. Regarding the hard to back up issue-

Mine kind of does it too, it gets worse the colder it gets which says it has something to do with oil viscosity. Anyway, what I do to "unlatch" it, is roll forward a few inches, then roll back and it's easier. Sometimes it binds up again, so roll forward a few, then roll back. It doesn't always bind up again.

Nice to meet you.

 

Hi Sushi-biker.

Nice to meet you too.

I'm sorry, I guess it is kinda of cool-space age like.

I hope I didn't offend anyone.

Thanks for the input on that. It is funny, cause as soon as I drove it a little while, it was like it was ok, it loosened up.

Thats what I was thinking maybe the gear oil in there is too heavy or something.

I appreciate your guys input. I'm pretty excited about it.

I see lots of parts on ebay for it.

Thanks again,

Deborah

 

You didn't offend anyone. I'm just a semi-purist. ) If you really worry that the final drive oil is too heavy you can easily drain and refill it.

What's the ambient temp where you're at?

 

I Sushi: I just ordered a manual.

I think maybe the guy didn't drive it very much, cause today, I pushed it back and forth and it is fine. Maybe something froze up, maybe a little rust or something due to not using it much.

I will check the manual and see what gear oil they specify or maybe you have a recommendation.

I live in the San Francisco Bay area.

Right now I think it is about 55-60. It gets about 80-90-100 tops in the summer and winter may go as low at 35-40. Temps are fairly moderate here. It freezes a little in Nov, Dec, Jan, but starting to warm up now.

I'm going to go through it and change all the fluids anyway,

 

The "doesn't want to roll backwards" thing can also be a front brake issue; if the brakes aren't releasing 100% it will tend to drag much worse trying to go backward than forward. You could have a plugged passage in your master cylinder (you'll need the book to FIND your master cylinder.)

Make sure "changing all the fluids" includes a complete replacement of the brake fluid as well. If it has the original pads and shoes, I'd replace those too.

 

Hi Big Fit: Thank you. I plan on going through everything. But I didn't think of the brake pads and shoes. Thank you.

I appreciate any input or advice anyone has on the bike.

 

Welcome Deb, nice to hear of your interest.
You can get all of your parts from our resident XJ guru and expert Chacal. You'll see him in the XJ vendors section.
I used to drive through your neck of the woods when I was stationed in the bay area and lived in Folsom...
Loved the area, still visit once in a while (friends in Fremont and family out in Folsom). I think you will find you enjoy your bike a great deal, they are just too much fun and reliable. So fear not and dive right in, we can help you with everything.

 

Thank you Robert. I just posted a picture and am really excited about my purchase.

You guys in the forums are always the best resource.

Thank you for letting me in. Normally I am the only girl when in comes to bikes and working on them.

Deborah

 

Deb, you will be surprised at the group we have. You (thankfully) are not alone, we do have a sprinkling of women here. We accept all who have an appreciation for motorcycles, that is all we require.
Glad you found us and please do not hesitate to fire questions at us, we're all ears...

 

nice lookin ride

 

Wow looks great - welcome

 

Deb, that is a sweet looking ride. Welcome to the insanity.

Greg

 

hehehehe,
When I saw 17 replies to a new member post I new something was up.
Hi Deb.
:lol:

 

ha ha hound I was thinking the same thing!!

Welcome Deb, nice lookin bike you picked up, be sure to add your bike details to your sig. so the local guru's don't have to ask when you have questions in other posts (these guy's are amazing and the more info you give them the faster and more accurate the response you will get. welcome to XJ Bikes
Shaun

 

Hey Guys:

Thanks for all your greetings.

I look forward to gleaning from your vast knowledge for my new commuter/wrencher ride.

I will keep you posted about the progress with it.

Thanks again.

Deborah