newbie to XJ's

Hi folks, I have just joined your website and forums after searching a few for info and hlep going forward. I recently bought a 1991 pre divvy XJ600 that is completly stripped to bare frame and all parts in boxes and tubs, she has been sat for about a 8 months in a damp shed feeling totally unloved and forgotten... nows the time for her to start a new life!!!

As a newbie a bit about myself, I use the handle Mavman am 50 ( just ) and have been riding bikes continually since I was 13 years old ( on the old quarry near were I lived in lancashire ). I was on the road at 16 on my Puch 50 that had to be put together and have stayed on the raod ever since. Rebuilt many bikes from CBR's, to Goldwings and get a buzz from them getting back on the raod doing what they should, breathing and riding the roads.

Hope you guys will help me when I ask some daft questions as I am litterally building from a picture and a haynes manual ( not much use really) so I am trawling the internet for pics etc..

Hope to speak soon
Mav

 

just re-read my post, apologies for the poor typing... Road ( not raod)
Help ( not hlep), literally ( not Litterally).

heck... not used to these computer thingies!!

 

its cool my typing sucks normally.
As for your bike- member Andrewlong (spelling?) would be a good guy to get in touch with, most of us are 80's models but there are a number of 90's here too.
no matter the decade bike you have Im sure you'll find everything you need right here.
If you could post up some pics it would serve your cause well.
Since you have already done the basket thing I'm sure you already know the basics of how to proceed but just for giggles I'll throw this out there
IF IT WERE ME
I'd bench the motor, make sure it rolls by hand freely and smoothly, make sure the cylinders are clean and clear and compression test it
After I knew about where I stood with the plant, Id get to work on a rolling chassis and renew everything
Just me---

 

thanks for the welcome note, already teasted the engine, on the bench, ran OK a little lumpy but put that down to a poor feed and air intake not right.. no major knocks rattles and scrapings, seems to back up the genuine 27,000 miles ( have every MOT back to first one in 1994).
I have now stored it with aspray of esy start in the cylinders to prevent seizing and have removed the plugs and covered each of the exhaust and plug holes with some oil dampened rags to prevent moisture ingress.
will post some pics, just put the front forks on and just about to put the cleaned up swing arm and rear shock back on..

mav

 

well done! yeah AndrewLong is who you need to get in touch with, it is a seca 2 isn't it?

 

that I wouldn't know mate, I am not up on the names or titles of the XJ's.. all I know is it is pre diversion an probably one of the last XJ600's registered. how would I identify it as a seca 2? ( and what does Seca mean? )

the main yam's I have had have been a lot later ( YZF600 thundercats).

spent most of my time around rebuilding GL1100's, CBR600, and anything else that was in a box or needed a complete rebiuld. I am a bit old fashioned in my bikes, don't really want to much to do with loads of electronics like chipped ECU's etc. that you find on the newer stuff,

mav

 

Hi Mavman,

Your bike is an XJ600 which was sold as an FJ600 in the states but for only 2 years - I think '84/'85.

I owned an XJ600 but foolishly sold it - although it keeps coming up on ebay.

In the States "Seca" was used instead of XJ550 and the later "Divvy" is called a "Seca2".

Add your location to your avatar and open a gallery so we can all see your progress. I hope your rear shock is ok - I had to replace mine and the absolute best price was £130!!

The 600 isn't a bad bike although mine was in a bit of a poor way with many bodges by the previous owner - have a look in my gallery.

Welcome to the site,

Mark

 

Welcome to the site Mav.

If you put your bike in your signature and use the location feature in your profile it would help us out.

For instance, if you live in the UK or in Aussie Land, it would be easier for us to find you parts locally, instead of paying an arm and a leg for shipping.

Have fun putting her back together. And yes, we love pics, even if it's just boxes of "stuff" right now.

 

Sorry Mavman, didn't mean to create confusion. I forget about the bikes having different "names" here at different times.
seems you are moving along nice though
and please forgive poor manners...Indeed welcome aboard

 

Hi Guys, thanks for the notes so far, I don't normally join forums so all the techie stuff is slightly alien to me,hopefully I have now got my location on (lesson 1) and added my signature with a few details (lesson 2), even found out what an avatar is (lesson 3) and just learnt tha my pics are too large to add so will retake and scale down so i can show process (lesson 4)

It looks like all the parts are there for the rebuild, will need to get some new gaskets, bearings and lubes just to be on the safe side, but all paints etc are in hand with the pre-requiste cleaning and degreasing materials to create a clean sound base.

Will try to set up an album of photos when I find out how to (lesson 5).

mav

 

album set up... let me know if it can be accessed when approved, also pic attached hopefully lesson 5 learnt and actioned.
mav

 

Looks like you have a decent start there!

For gaskets/parts/etc. we have a resident part source. You can view the catalog by clicking the XJ4Ever logo at the top of the page.

Len is THE expert when it comes to XJ parts. If you have a question about a specific part you can PM (private message) member name "chacal" and he will answer you usually within a couple of hours.

Any other problems you can ask on here or do a search and we'll have the answer for you as soon as we can.

 

Looks like you have a good start on it. I am sure with all your experience with bike you should have no problems piecing it all back together.

For reference info on parts you can check the yamaha site for part diagrams. Just look under the 84-85 FJ600 section.
http://www.starmotorcycles.com/partview ... px?ls=star

Any parts that you might need should be availble through XJ4ever in the banner link at the top of every page. You will also find more info than you ever wanted to know through the same link.
http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewforum/f=23.html


Ghost

 

What does the VIN sticker say the date of manufacture is?

Welcome to the forums, glad to have you.

 

Hi andrew, thanks for the reply, the VIN shows the year as a 3KM which relates to 1991 / 1992 ( mine being a 1991) I have attached a pic from the book that confirms what is on my bike.

I have also added a pic of the refurbed swing arm and rear shock fitted today as a progress update.

mav

 

Welcome to the site, all the info you need and more can be found right here!
What part of Lancashire are you from?
All the best
Al

 

Welcome to the forum, from reading all the posts I'm certain you will be a significant contributor.
Cheers, Graham
When you said you had a Puch on the road at 16, reminded me of my first (legal) ride when I lived in Haydock. I thought I was king of the road wearing an old "Pudding Bowl" cork lined helmet whilst riding this mighty beast:

 

Wicked Graham, exactly the one i had ( excpet mine was orange ).. I remember having to fix the tube from the miniscule carb, it had cracked and needed replacement, I couldn't afford or find a new one so I repaired it with Araldite compound.... lasted well.

Hi Al, I was born in Bury then moved to bolton and on to Little Lever, finally arriving at Helmshore before moving to the North East (Stockton )

Just started work on the rear wheel, removing years of Old chain lube and crud, ( it's actually protected it well). when i get some pics and an update i will post it.. struggling to undo the rear disc bolts at present.

happy new year to one and all... back to work in two days.

mav

 

Hi mav; good luck on the Diversion; it looks like you're off to a really good start. What I noticed from the pics of your stripped frame is how similar it is to the XJ550R (Seca) and FJ600 from the '81~'85 era.

Old chain lube is your friend, as you're discovering. It's just one of those old friends you have a hard time getting rid of...

As for first bikes, check my sig and then ask Wiz what he was puttering about on at age 16.

Good to see you onboard.

 

Welcome!

Just something that I have always found to be easier in terms of posting pictures, If you make a photobucket/flickr/etc. account, and then you can just put the code in your post, and then the pictures can be full size, and you don't have to worry about downsizing them. As well as that also allows us to see them bigger as well.

Have fun with the project!

 

They are the same bike! We had the XJ600 until 1992 when the "Diversion" was produced - SecaII to the States