newbee with a starting problem

Hi, I'm new to this site and to bikes in general. My cousins all had them growing up and now I've decided to get one as a summer project. I have a 1982 Yamaha XJ 550J Maxim. The person I got it from said that it was pretty much problem free and that they had ridden it the previous summer. When they brought it to my house it worked fine. I rode it around the street for a while last night. However, this morning when I went to take it out for a longer spin, the bike wouldn't start.

I turn the key and nothing happens, except that a red and green light comes on the "dashboard". It doesn't even try to turn over. I checked to ensure it was in neutral and had gas and the kill switch wasn't on. The lights came on and the horn worked (until now, the horn doesn't sound anymore).

I thought maybe it was the battery, as I've been told the bike was in storage at a garage for the past year. After reading on this website, leaving a bike in storage without first taking precautions is a bad thing.

Anyways, as I said, I have littler expereince, but think it may be the battery that has died/dying. Because the bike is older, can I just buy a regular motocycle batter from Canadian Tire or do I need something else Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

 

I would buy a motorcycle battery specific to your bike. It sounds like it may be the battery. Have you checked voltage at the battery??

 

Hi, Thanks for the respond!

I haven't checked the voltage of the battery yet, but was planing to once I get home from work. I took the battery out of the bike earlier just to eye it over and it seemed fine, but then again, what do I know...

Will I be able to get a battery specific to my bike at a regular store or would it be a special item and have to get it online? Also, do you think a simple charge would be ok, from a car or a battery charger?

This site it pretty informative!!

 

Several things need to be addressed before you ride. Check tire date codes, brake hose dates, rear shoes for de-lamination, fuse box to see if it was updated, and probably rebuild master cylinder and calliper, Yamaha says replace hoses every 4 years (unless stainless) replace rubber brake components every 2 years. (master & calliper seals)

The fuse box may be your problem. The clips that hold the fuses become brittle and cause poor connections.

The battery requires a 1 amp charger. Any higher and you risk damaging it.

Canada is a pretty large place, I'm just north of Newmarket if you need help.

 

I took the battery from my XS400L (84 Maxim) to Canadian Tire and they couldn't help me.

I ended up taking it to a battery shop (All Battery) and they had two options. Basic model for $45 or a performance model for $55. I went with the basic.

The battery from my XS400L sat all winter and half of the cells died. Canadian Tire tested it for me and it was only putting out 6 V (instead of 12).


TrueG

 

That's great. I'll have to pop by a battery store here and see if they can help me.

Can anyone tell me about the front break leaking fluid? When I bought the bike the guy told me that the fluid id running right down the line to the front break. Said it'd be fine as long as I kept the fluid topped up.

I would rather just fix the problem. I've been told you could seal it? Anyone know anything about this??

 

Sorry Jewelride, missed the Newfoundland in the signature. It's too far for me to be much help other than through the site.

 

Check the dates on the hoses. They probably need replacing. There are copper sealing washers on the banjo bolts that need to be replaced at the same time. The PO may have reused the washers and the resulting leak is why they are replaced every time they are disturbed.

Also check the thread on Glass Tube Fuses.

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/p=2 ... tml#279967

 

that's your problem right there. Forget everything the PO told you, and go over EVERYTHING with a fine tooth comb. My PO rode the bike into my garage.... a year + a half later, not to mention about $1000 later, it's finally "operable" condition.

REPLACE THAT BATTERY WITH A NEW PROPER ONE (suggest an AGM if you aren't experienced with lead acid)
CHECK THE DATE CODE ON YOUR TIRES
CHECK YOUR BRAKES FOR DELAMINATION
CHECK VALVE CLEARANCES
CHECK YOUR (PET) COCK FOR LEAKS
NEW PLUGS
CLEAN YOUR CARBS

this is just the start of the basics... you're gonna find 100 more things to do when you get into these, trust me on that one. You CAN do it... not hard, and you got the right group of guys and ladies here to help you.

 

If you are leaking brake fluid don't even think of riding the bike until you get the issue fixed. You may need to do a rebuild on your master cylinder. Chacal can get you the parts. The brake line is also probably the original part and should be replaced.

Now to your starting problem. I am not being a smartass here so please don't take offense. You said when you turned the key nothing happened. Are you pushing the start button or expecting it to turn over when you turn the key like in a car? It would be an understandable mistake considering you are new to bikes. I saw it happen on several occasions when I worked at a dealership years ago.

If you are having a charging issue with your bike, the brushes may need to be replaced. Getting a new battery may not correct your problem. These bikes need a fully charged battery to start.

 

Yeah, as I said I am a newbee.

I tried pushing the start button and that's the same thing. I also "tried" to start in gears, rather than neutral. I'm not sure what happened. As I said, I had it running last night, but when i went to start it, it wouldn't work. Previously, I would only need to turn the key to get it to start. I only had to push the start button once to get it to work since it's been in my posession.

For all I know, I've left something on or am starting the bike wrong and the battery is being drained. I tried calling my local yamaha dealer today to get some help, but what put on hold for 20 minutes....after that I just hung up.

 

The dealer won't help you much except helping you out of some money. It sounds like you have alot of work ahead of you. Your going to need the manual for that bike. The bike won't start for many reasons. Those brakes HAVE to be perfect before you ride or you can DIE.

 

When you check the battery, it should read about 12.7 volts. If its less than 12 (after charging), its probably past its prime. Also, make sure there is enough fluid (acid) in each chamber. If not, you need to top that off to inbetween the high and low marks with distilled water before you charge it. (I would replace the battery anyway, its probably old. Although this may not be necessary).

My starter button was not working at first. I opened it up and sprayed some wd40 in there to clean off some rust and I haven't had a problem since.

If you remove the right side cover where the battery is and use a screw driver to jump it between the two bolts there and it starts, then you know its not the battery. (I think someone else can better explain where exactly these two bolts are. They are at the solenoid. They are covered with rubber boots and probably scratched up because it is likely your bike has been started this way before).

You can see the bolts covered by rubber boots to the left of the battery in the picture. You will create a spark doing this.

 

Yeah those solenoids go after years and years of use. You can ussually hear it click when you hit the button.

 

You're not leaving the key in the "ON" position by any chance, are you?

 

yes, i leave the key in the "on" position....as in straight up. Is this wrong?

I had it in the "on" or straight up and down position all last night while riding it too.

I have some pictures to show what's going on, but not sure how to post them...

 

I think he means in the ON position when you are not riding it. (If you use the engine shut-off switch to turn the bike off). Or in the position that leaves the rear tail light on with the steering locked.

 

The bike also has a "park" position on the key switch. That position leaves the tail light on and will drain the battery in short order.

 

Doesn't get any clearer than that.

 

If you were able to start the bike by just turning on the key and not pushing the start button it sounds like you either have a short somewhere or your start button is stuck pushed in. If this is the case, you would probably have drained your battery and also may have burned out the starter. I really hope not.

Another possibility is bad gas. How old is the gas in the tank? If the bike was started with old gas all kinds of junk could have clogged up even freshly cleaned carbs.

 

How can I unstick the start button? I am able to start the bike without having to push the start button 8 times out of 10. I just got a new battery for the bike and wouldn't want to drain it.

The start button on the bike is pretty easy to push and pull...somebody said to open it up and clean it out. Just wondering how to go about doing that....

 

Undo the screws that hold the throttle grip mount to the bars. The housing splits and access is right there. Be careful that nothing falls out, it shouldn't. The start button is replaceable if you need to. The kit comes with the button, spring and contact. It is available from Len at XJ4Ever.

Check the wires for bare spots. All the switch does is provide a ground for the start solenoid. If there is a bare wire it can ground through the bars.