Saga of a red-headed step-child

Looking back on everything, all things being equal. I should have bought an XJ750! Before I go on I must say that, my 85 XJ700N has given me too many smiles to let go and rust away. I've owned her since 89' when she only had 9,000miles and I was the third owner. She has 49,000miles now. Such a good and faithful machine that has been abandoned by it's creator. We've been on some GREAT runs. She was with me on my last tour in Germany where the rides can only be described as epic! Wicking the throttle on well banked curves through a tunnel of trees to pop out into a meadow with a mediveal castle overlooking from a sun washed cliff. We were together twice while I was stationed in Arizona, 365days of riding through 120mph straight-aways and twisties that would tighten your pucker through mountians passes & downhill straight aways.
My problem is that there are not many critical parts for the "tariff" step child of 85'. Cooler looking than the 750 IMHO but, some parts are like hens teeth. I spent 3 full days calling around the states looking for a set of standard rings. I called 75 different numbers asking the same question. The answer always came back the same, "Yamaha has discontinued making those." I have even considered buying the next size up rings & pistons, getting my cylinders re-bored to the total tune of $650. Guess what, there are no over size anything available for my bike. I didn't need the next size up but, I was willing to go there. I'm now wondering if I could get a set of 750 cylinders, head, crank shaft rods, ect.... would they bolt up to my case? Can I make that kind of a change? The parts that are available on eBay would be less than the re-bore job that I was considering. I've contacted a local parts manufacturer a week and a half ago to make a set of rings, they have yet to give me a quote or a dollar figure, which is kinda frightening,(is the price that big?) I'm going to continue to march in a positive direction, there has to be a set of standard rings out there somewhere but, for now I'm getting a bit discouraged about ever bringing my favorite (and only) bike back to life. Just needed to vent a bit. My bike has been more than ride, she's a bookmark in my life that has been more faithful than my ex-wife :lol: If anyone out there knows of a set of standard piston rings for an 85 XJ700N(non-X) give me a holla. Thanks all!

Ken

 

Ken, what does Chacal say about your dilemma?

 

He does not have any rings for my bike. He's a great source but, if they are not anywhere to be had he can't provide what I need either =(

 

Did you look on the XJCD xref to see if there are rings for other models that are the same?

 

Total Seal Rings will make custom rings to any size.

Call me @ 330-630-0240 @ Summit Racing and I can give you
the phone number. Just ask for Tom
I will also look in the TSR book to see if they are available if you can give me the sizes.
Its a pretty good bet because they make rings for everything!

I work Mon Tue Thurs Fri 11am to 9pm eastern.

 

TECHLINETOM you saved my bike!! Thanks for the tip on for Total Seal Rings! I called them just moments ago, I'll need to send them my pistons to widen the second grove but, they had rings that would fit. Total cost is going to be $208.28 plus shipping. A bit high but, actually very reasonable considering what I was planning. I'll let you know how everything turns out. Now I gotta call the folks here locally to stop the presses (not that they've started anything yet!) And for the record I do understand that they do very good work, just too busy for a one off small job I guess. But thanks again to everyone concerned!

Ken

 

I just stopped by the Yamaha dealer here in town and was told that they are still available? Of course, it was a new guy at the counter.

 

LoL, I know that you have no dog in the race but, I'd bet dollars to doughnuts that when asked to produce a set of 1FG-11610-00-00 rings he'll come back sheepishly with an excuse that the "darn computer yatta yatta yatta....." But hey the last few days has made me a jaded sceptic. I have literaly called 75 different places across america looking with the same results, they're no longer made by Yamaha. And further, no one else has made any after market rings. But all is not lost, Total Seal out of AZ can hook me up with a set. Little more that I would like to pay but, half the price I thought I would have to pay to have them Fab'ed. Thanks for the help. The folks here have been very helpful and, I will continue to check back here often maybe, I'll be able to "pay it forward" sometime in the future like the others have been doing here for years.
Thanks again all
Ken

 

Wow, that's a totally different PN than what I got. When I looked it up I got

SKU: 1AA-11610-00-00
PISTON RING SET (STD)

and

SKU: 1AA-11610-20-00
PISTON RING SET (2ND O/S) ALT. PART (backordered)

and

SKU: 1AA-11610-40-00
PISTON RING SET (4TH O/S) ALT. PART

Unless I am looking at the wrong bike.

I looked at a 1985 XJ700XN. :?:

Am I smoking sumthin' illegal or am I just an idiot?

Greg

 

the xj700Xn is the liquid cooled version he has the xj700n(aircooled)

pass the peace pipe you've had enough LOL!! It does get confusing as some things interchange and some don't.

 

Neither Greg, There are alot of 1FG parts that are mistaken for the 1AA parts, all the numbers that follow are exactly the same. Yamaha I guess, decided to continue with some of the XJ700X liquid cooled model parts for future bikes and, abandoned some of the key parts for the XJ700N airhead model bikes. Oh well, I'm determined to get my bike up and running again soon. I was afterall tipped of to the AZ shop Total Seal by TECHLINETOM
Thanks tho
Ken

 

No problem, Ken. I guess I just got learned!! Does that make it a good day?

 

Wow great to see a rescue! This site has saved me a ton of money and time repeatedly.