New Guy

Hi all!
I just wanted to take a second and introduce myself. I just recently (early spring 09) bought an 81 XJ650 Maxim (my first bike!) and so far am loving it, despite the previous owner's apparent abuse that keeps showing up. So far I've found paper towels in the gas tank (after experiencing an odd fuel starvation problem), a badly scored tacho gear housing that won't stop leaking, fuses that have been soldered on (my headlight went out at night while doing 80 on the highway)... the list goes on...

In a strange way though I'm enjoying all these problems because, having very little prior mechanical experience (besides a strange compulsion to take things apart), I'm learning a heck of a lot about, well, about motorcycles. And I have to admit, this forum has helped me out more than anything else. So thanks for that.

I still have a long ways to go before the bike is in great shape (my next adventure is adjusting the valve shims, will they make a tapping sound if they are way off?) and I'm sure i'll have tons more questions along the way.

Until then however, any general tips are very welcome, as I am basically learning as I go along.

 

Strange compulsion to take things apart is how we all got started.

Welcome!

 

Carl is right Welcome WORM

 

Welcome aboard Dr
When it comes to your valves
Tapping sound = GOOD
Quiet valves = BAD
You need some clearance between the camshaft and the valve shim to ensure they are seated. That gap creates a "happy" pitter-patter of valve shims on the cam which is what you want.

Quiet valves are never leaving the surface of the cam and thus not seating 100% in the head and will eventually leak and lose compression.

 

Towels in the gas tank? That's interesting, haha. PO's are the devil. Take it as it comes, man... It seems to me a general trend that it will keep coming. My XJ is going to get a new name if I don't get much further than a day or two without another, totally new, problem... I'm thinking "Fishfood."

 

Welcome, my friend. I, too, am new here. I just picked my two 82 xj650 maxims up last week. Have not had a chance to even ride at all yet.

Towel in the tank?? Someone had to be just a wee bit tipsy!!

 

Thank you all for the warm welcome, and thank you for the info Designer Mike. Hopefully I won't find anything too ugly when I check those out.

Finding the paper towel was pretty weird, I definitely had some questions for the PO (though it's probably better that I never got a chance to ask them).

I've got a couple more questions while I'm at it:

1: Where's a good place to get a Colortune plug? The ones I've seen are all like $80. Are there any cheaper ways to get one?

2: Is there a decent replacement for the stock fuse box? Where can I get one?

3: I hope this doesn't sound disrespectful in anyway (it's certainly not meant to), but why do some bikers acknowledge each other by pointing diagonally at the ground? Is there some sort of history there? Does anyone else feel a little silly doing it?

 

1. and 2. -- you might try our parts guru, Chacal. He has both the colortune plugs and a good replacement fuse box available for a reasonable price.

Check out his thread here, and send him a PM.

3. This is just a personal observation, but it kinda makes sense: Aerodynamics. A rider extends his hand pointing down and slightly to the back. Out of all the different waving "methods", this one requires the least effort, and doesn't disturb the other hand as much, which is (hopefully) controlling the bike at the moment.
This doesn't apply to Goldwing riders, since they don't get to experience wind forces :mrgreen:

 

Huh, that makes sense to me. And I'll be sure to get in touch with Chacal.

Thanks Stereo.

 

Welcome - sounds like you are off to a great start. Paper towel in the tank is a new one for me - gotta wonder why.

 

Welcome to the forum.

 

Welcome dr. post some pic if you can so we can see what your working with
Shaun

 

I'll try to get some pics up this evening.