Very new to a 1982 Yamaha Maxim 400cc...

Hi guys a couple of questions

I'm a new bike owner, took the MSF course and have an M1 license but that was three years ago and I've just gotten around to getting a bike now. The one I was trained on was a 1995 Honda Nighthawk 250cc.

To start my Maxim first I make sure the fuel line is set to ON, then mess around with the choke and throttle. My memory's a little hazy on choke controls, on a cold start open it all the way, wait a couple of minutes, then jump on and go?

And secondly, this will be a stupider question but which direction opens and closes the choke on the left handlebar side (clutch side)? The writing is pretty faded. I awesome righty tighty lefty loosy (right closes it, left opens it)?

Thanks


p.s.

Anyone know where to find an owner's manual?

 

Firts off; Please add your bike info to your signature and you location info to your profile. It helps us help you without having to ask a lot of repetitive questions.

"Choke" on these bikes is just the name; "enrichening circuit" won't fit on the label.

It's "on" when pushed to the left (cable relaxed) and off when pushed fully to the right (cable taught. You can see the lever working at the carbs.)

The bike will take a few minutes to warm up enough to run with no "choke" once it's running decent at about half choke you should be able to ride away and take the choke off fully shortly threafter. This of course assumes clean and properly functioning carbs; clean air filter, etc.

Best place to find your owners' manual is on eBay and don't pay more than $15 or so for it.

And rememebr there's no such thing as a stupid question they're only stupid if you DON'T ask them.

Welcome aboard.

 

Hmm something must be up with my choke cable then because I turn it on with it all the way to the left, bike stutters, then it dies. I got my bike at a used bike dealership, thinking about going back and asking them about the problem.


Anyone know whats a good idle speed for the engine? From a cold star this morning, I was messing aroudn with the screw until I got it to run well at about 2000-2500RPM. Is that pushing the bike?

 

I have a XS400 that is the coldest running thing ever. Use about 3/4 choke, get her running about 2000-3000 RPM for a couple of minutes. When you feel like riding, you still may need a little choke, and after she's good and HOT, then I turn my choke off. From what I have learned and experienced, this bike runs cold for a long time (even on a 100 degree day!).

 

When at operation temp your idle should be around 1000 of course it will be higher with the enrichment on.

When it is cold out and cold stating full choke is usually good, however on warmer days it may take less. My 650 likes about half to start on warm days.

You may have to play with it. When it fires up move the choke until it runs smoothly. After a bit you will learn what your bike wants.

 

If your 82 is the same as my 83, the choke works a little diff. Left is choke "on", right is normal running position.

I usually have mine on half when starting, then as soon as it catches i slack it off (move the lever to the right) until i get 2k rpm. Let it warm up for a minute, then you should be able to turn the choke off and it will idle on it's own.

RPM for our bikes is 1200 +- 50 rpm set it for 1200 ONLY after it's good and hot. I *can* idle my bike at <800 rpm, but it doesn't like it there as much as 1200.

And yes ask away, no stupid questions!

 

Alright guys back again.

I checked my VIN, I think my Maxim is a XS400J. VIN = JYA12R008DA103083.

Anyways I finally figured the technique and what my bike likes when I start it up. My main problem now has something to do with recharging the battery. I bought a new battery two days ago and when riding today it died and left me stranded in the road lol.

I wheeled that thing out of the road ASAP, then an amazing thing happened a fellow rider who lived a couple of blocks away rode home, got his truck, and help get me back home (fireman, maybe that had something to do with it too!)!

At home he helped inspect and find trace down the causes, either my stator or regulator is broken. Any suggestions?

Also, still looking for a good manual for these bikes. Anyone willing to make photocopies of theirs and sell it? Google and Ebay aren't turning up.

 

http://singular.org/~gary/bike/Maxim400 ... manual.pdf

you are welcome

 

heh dw beat me to it .....

My guess for the batt charge would be the reg/rect unit....
I fried mine with a loose ground.... will definately cause a no-charge.....
OR, could be worn out brushes in the generator.......

 

With that many miles on it, your alternator brushes are quite probably worn right out if they're original. "Alternator brush inspection" is where I'd start.

 

I bought my service manual from a Yama dealer--well worth the money.

 

Check with Chacal, our local parts and manual guru. I bought my 650 factory manual from him and his service can't be beat.

 

Thanks for the help everyone with the manual hunt, next I'll let you know how the battery problem goes!