new '82 xj650j

first post! just bought my first bike a 1982 Yamaha Maxim XJ650J and i'm rather excited to get it running and me out riding on it (would be nice if the weather would cooperate as well). i am VERY new to the biking world and i'm not the most mechanically inclined (tough to admit a weakness, but there you have it), but i'm not a complete moron either. my biggest issue with following some of the posts on this board (so far) is learning the location of the different parts and visualizing where adjustments need to be made. if i can see it, i can follow along.

so i got the bike, took it to a local place in town and had him check it over - asked him how i did... i didn't get a deal, but i didn't get hosed, either. i'll accept that.

about the bike: i bought it from a woman, who bought it from a woman, who bought it from a woman... so the last three POs were women, most likely not riding it too hard, which was a selling point for me. it had the carb jets replaced two years ago and then it sat (the lady i bought it from said it was too big for her and didn't feel comfortable riding it). battery was dead, so i wasn't able to start it... but i took a chance (which i might be regretting) on the bike.

knowing that, i've gotten a new battery (plugs looked good), drained the oil and the final gear fluid (rear wheel gear oil). i've heard about the tank and sitting gas issue, but the inside looked pretty clean from what i could see. i put some gas in it and no flakes or floating particles, which i am happy about.

and here's where my first issue starts:

so i started putting more gas into it until i noticed gas leaking from a hose out the bottom - and i'm pretty sure all the gas i put into the tank ran out that hose. the hose originates from a plastic box that's located underneath the back part of the tank (inside the frame). it's connected to all four carbs and i'm really not sure what it is or why all the gas is flowing from it. (see attached image, provided it works)

(carb #2 was leaking a bit from the rear - the clamp on the hose was not tight, that i can fix)

another question i have is i'd like to drain the transmission fluid and get that drained and freshened up as well. where might i find the location of this fluid or is the tranny lubricated via the oil? or is that a stupid question?

last question for this post: is there a good place to see a diagram of the engine, just so i can get my bearings when looking/talking about the bike? it would really help if i could find a drawn schematic, blown up or not outlining the different parts of the engine - identifying the different components as i'm really quite the newb when it comes to m/c engines and locations of components

 

Welcome aboard!

The fuel running through the tank and out the air box drain hose indicates a problem with one or more floats/valves. Unless you had the fuel cock on "PRI" it is leaking too. The fuel cock should not flow gasoline set to "ON" or "RES" unless the engine is running.

That thing sticking out the left side of the air box is not stock.

Engine and transmission share the same oil.

That gasoline probably didn't all run on the ground, some is likely in the oil too.

Get a service manual (Member Chacal sells them. That animated gif at the top of the screen takes you to his catalog) and don't do anything until it's in your hands. Read it cover to cover then ask questions about anything you don't understand. It has diagrams that show where components are located.

 

thanks for the help - i had the petcock on PRI thinking that meant primary (and i'm happy to find out this is not true and i'm not the only one to think that). als found out that primary is not correct - it should've been set to ON. would this cause the leaking? did that just flood the h-e-l-l out of the carbs?

also looked at the knob on the left side a little closer, and yes, i can now see that it was indeed added (and rather shoddily too). the box itself is not a complete add-on, is it? just the knob, right? if that box is stock, what is it and what does it do?

oil was completely drained and replaced. if i add gas to the tank, with the petcock set correctly to ON, do we think we're good?

thanks again.

 

No, you're not good. It just means the petcock might not be malfunctioning. Your carb(s) are still jacked.

I repeat my earlier advice: Get the service manual, read it and understand it. I know the weather is probably good and you're itching to ride. Cutting corners can be expensive, or fatal.

While you're waiting for the manual read the XJ FAQ Suggestions board.

 

thanks again. when i asked about being good i was referring to once the petcock was set correctly (on instead of prime), if i fill it back up i should get no leaking out of the tube, which is exactly what happened.

i do have the service manual - came with the bike. reading it i can do... understanding it is a lil more tricky - i am able to follow some of it. i am new at this and i'm trying to learn. i love the internet and the ability for a new guy to the world of biking like myself can so easily ask questions of experienced guys like you. i've been reading up on the basic functions of a bike and this board has been extremely helpful in getting me some of the basic information.

yes, i would like to get the bike on the road (who here doesn't), but i'm not trying to cut corners. i am trying to learn what's going on with the bike and as time goes on, i hope to learn as much as possible about my bike. with your help and the other forum members, i hope to get this thing in shape to ride and ride safely.

 

+1 to what Carl said.

Even if the oil was drained, you still have a 99% probability of having gas in the crankcase. You definitely need the service manual. Don't try to start the engine until you have:
a. Fixed the carb issue.
b. Changed the oil and filter.
b1. Don't forget the damn spring (long story)
c. Changed the plugs and air filter.

And don't RIDE it until you have:
d. Checked/bled/replaced the front brakes and HOSES
e. Checked the rear brakes for delamination
f. Checked wheel bearings

These are the bare bare MINIMUMs that you will want to do. Not doing one of a through c can result in a motor fatality. Not doing one of d through f can result in a rider fatality.

Welcome to the club! While you're waiting for the manual and in between reading the FAQ suggestions on here, how about a couple of pics of the whole bike?! (We love pics!)

oh, p.s. The BOX is stock. That's the air box, where the air filter goes (access under seat).
What the heck IS that little knob for?

p.s.s. You'll want to put your bike in your signature, saves you from typing it every time you have a question.

 

Yes, with the petcock in the ON and RES positions it should not leak. check it with both hoses off. If it leaks, then it needs a rebuild.

Best thing I've heard a Noob say.

 

petcock in ON and RES positions - no leakage!

a) what exactly would the carb issue be? not exactly sure where to start
b) did change oil and filter (after the whole PRI flooding issue)
b1) i didn't - i'm sure that's a fun story
c) plugs were actually in pretty solid shape - would they need to be replaced if they sat too long? will need to get a new air filter

d, e & f) i might just take it into a local shop to have them look at it while i'm still learning about the bike. it's intended use is to be a commuter for me to work and i'd like to have it not be half f'd because i don't know exactly what i'm doing

ps) i'm not sure what that knob is for - but it was leaking gas when the petcock was set to PRI... ???

will keep looking through the site - thanks for the help guys!

 

Carb isuue is probably a stuck float, but could be incorrect float levels. Definitely dirty carb issue after sitting that long.

Plugs soaked with gas won't fire as well as new, if at all. For 10 bucks they should get replaced so you know for sure. The plugs MAY not have been soaked, read next paragraph.

The knob probably wasn't leaking. More likely, the gas was flowing out of the carbs into the airbox, and gas was leaking out the hole AROUND the knob. Really need to figure out what that knob is for.