1. Some members were not receiving emails sent from XJbikes.com. For example: "Forgot your password?" function to reset your password would not send email to some members. I believe this has been resolved now. Please use "Contact Us" form (see page footer link) if you still have email issues. SnoSheriff

    Hello Guest. You have limited privileges and you can't "SEARCH" the forums. Please "Log In" or "Sign Up" for additional functionality. Click HERE to proceed.

What to do next. Priorities.

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by ericesch, Apr 4, 2012.

  1. ericesch

    ericesch Member

    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    St. Johns, MI
    To get my "new" 83 Maxim safe and ready I have followed some of the advice here. I have 1. inspected rear brake shoes for delamination ( new shoes looking good) 2. Installed rebuilt front calipers and pads. Changed all fluids (All looked clean but replaced anyway). 3. Serviced battery and checked alternator output at battery (14+V at 2k rpm) 4. Cleaned and greased all electrical connections (most were corrosion free) 5. Had new tires installed. 6. Lubed/adjusted all cables and linkages

    I have heard I should replace OEM brake lines but they are pliable and don't have any cracks or dry rot. (garage stored bike its whole life) is this really needed? I understand the risk but my wallet is shrinking fast.

    Should I replace any bearings even though they all seem to have no play?

    I am a little intimidated to play with the valve shims since there doesn't seem to be any valve noise. How critical is this? I've never had anything but screw adjustable ones or hydraulics. Should I attempt this as a first timer with shims or get help?

    My plan is to put a LOT of miles exploring Michigan this summer.

    Any and all advice will be appreciated.
     
  2. ericesch

    ericesch Member

    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    St. Johns, MI
    After reading the tragic minivan post about Captain America (RIP my brother) I WILL be replacing my front brake lines next. Thin wallet is nothing compared to breathing dirt.
     
  3. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    418
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    BT ALL MEANS replace your brake hoses. You cannot see any deterioration, it's in the inner liner.

    VERY. Quiet is actually NOT good. They should make a happy little clatter; silence indicates tight which is why we adjust them.

    You're going to want to learn this, it's not a "one time" proposition. It needs to be done very 5000 miles; and then the carbs will need to be re-sync'ed after any shims are changed.
     
  4. ericesch

    ericesch Member

    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    St. Johns, MI
    Thanks for the advice. I think I want to do it with someone who has done it before. Sounds a little more complicated than screw type adjustments. I'll also need to build me one of those YICS tools. I guess I'll have to order one of those 4 column manometers. Do the shims come in a complete kit with different thicknesses? (I'll correctly assume chacal has them) Oh well, there goes my food budget for the month. Who cares...I'd rather ride than eat anyway! LOL
     
  5. ericesch

    ericesch Member

    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    St. Johns, MI
    Hey Bifitz I would be willing to pay for a valve lesson. I live in cows pigs and chickens Michigan too.
     
  6. darkfibre

    darkfibre Member

    Messages:
    671
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    18
    Location:
    Perth, Australia
    Bearings? hard call, if they rotate freely its not a bad thing.

    Valves are different, they close up with wear, no noise is not a good indication of condition.

    Vales may cost a bit to adjust, but cost very little to check.


    Checking the valves should be considered preventative maintenance
     
  7. ericesch

    ericesch Member

    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    St. Johns, MI
    I'm putting her in my sisters garage as soon as I make the 100 mile trip back home from Kalamazoo. Geeesh you guys are making me paranoid even though I've been riding for 35 years. I now am worried my front brakes are going to fail and my valves are going to drop on the way home! LOL
     
  8. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

    Messages:
    1,878
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Saint Louis, Michigan
    *holding up a sign that reads: "Will work on XJs for beer" LMAO

    I can run down sometime and give you a hand if you need it.

    Just send me a PM and let me know.
     
  9. ericesch

    ericesch Member

    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    St. Johns, MI
    Hey tskaz I think my bike can make it "all the way to St. Louis" even without the valve adjustments. LOL Would love to bring some beer and pick your brain while working on my XJ. Let me know when you have some free time. If you'll help me recondition my carbs I might even figure out how to strap a pony keg on her.
     
  10. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

    Messages:
    1,878
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Saint Louis, Michigan
    We can set something up.

    I probably don't have the shims you need, but you need to check clearances first so you know which ones you need.

    Got all the basic tools, plus a couple of fancy ones. Torque wrench, colortune, hold down tool, etc.

    Depends on what you plan to do as to what parts we'd need.

    Minimum for valves:
    Gasket
    Donuts

    Minimum for carbs:
    Spray carb cleaner
    New bowl gaskets if you haven't had them off and replaced.

    If you want to do needles and seats, etc. it would be good to have them all at the start.

    Not encouraging you to ride with old brake lines, but if you want to do it up here we can do those too.

    FYI, when you buy new lines make sure you get banjo bolt crush washers too.

    We can make a list and then decide a time when you have the parts.
     
  11. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    418
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    Did you find this? http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14827.html

    And Part Deux? http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=29209.html

    I've done everything I can to make it as painless as possible.

    There isn't a "shim kit," unless you want to drop a whole wad of cash. You usually end up needing multiples of the same size, and there's NO WAY to tell what's in there until you "read" them.

    Valve adjustment IS a part of preventive maintenance. Like I said, if you plan to be putting some miles on this bike, you need to get this one down; you'll be doing it every 5K.
     
  12. ericesch

    ericesch Member

    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    St. Johns, MI
    For me every 5k will be every season. The links were very informative but I still want to do it with someone else with experience for the first time. This is my ONLY vehicle. Me not mechanic, me very intimidated. me speaking like caveman, me not know why.
     
  13. pbjman

    pbjman Member

    Messages:
    352
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    16
    Location:
    Algonac, MI
    A very Michigan thread!
     
  14. skoster

    skoster Member

    Messages:
    88
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    Edgewater, Maryland
    That's very cool that you're willing to go down there and help, tskaz, I don't have anything to add to the discussion (sounds like you're on the right track there, Eric), but I wanted to throw some props for being generous.
     
  15. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

    Messages:
    21,283
    Likes Received:
    418
    Trophy Points:
    83
    Location:
    Rural SE Michigan 60 miles N of Motown
    All the more reason to get after the valve clearances right away before you start having real problems.

    The checking process is relatively simple; go back and read the how-to but stop at actually extracting and reading the shims. All you need to do to check the clearances is pop a couple of covers off and get in there with your feeler gauges.

    That way you can at least head off disaster if a couple turn out really tight.
     
  16. ericesch

    ericesch Member

    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    St. Johns, MI
    Will be checking the clearances this weekend to see what shims I need. After closer inspection yesterday I am pretty sure my brake lines are not the original ones. The red printing is not faded at all. They look to be in great shape although I have no way of knowing how old they are. Either way I will replace them before summer with some high grade ones. No sense in taking chances. The last time I owned a bike built in the 80's was IN the 80's. My goal is to go through everything head to tail before I start putting on serious miles. There is someone here in St. Johns trying to sell an 82 maxim in not nearly as good condition as mine for $1500 (mine was only $1100 and looks and runs like new and is the cool Midnight variety). If I can get him down to a reasonable price ($500) I may just buy it as a backup parts bike.
     
  17. ericesch

    ericesch Member

    Messages:
    85
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    6
    Location:
    St. Johns, MI
    Just discovered the numbers on the brake lines contain a date code (thanks to casual reading in this forum)
     
  18. tskaz

    tskaz Active Member

    Messages:
    1,878
    Likes Received:
    17
    Trophy Points:
    38
    Location:
    Saint Louis, Michigan
    Thanks for the props, but not a big deal.

    He's only 30 mins south.

    And besides, that's what we're here for is to help each other out.


    E,
    If they turn out to be new enough that's great that someone knew enough to replace them.

    Should still bleed them though, got plenty of brake fluid.
     

Share This Page