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New 400 owner with a few questions.

Discussion in 'Hangout Lounge' started by jtroto, Dec 12, 2012.

  1. jtroto

    jtroto New Member

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    Hi all,

    Picked up an '82 xs400rj on craigslist a month ago with 6400 miles on it. 7600 on it now and have only had to replace a cable and a few bulbs. Guy I bought it from does nothing but fixes up and flips old jap bikes as a hobby, and he did a pretty good job. What luck.

    I had a few questions though,
    I was planning on taking it on a long distance trip sometime in the next year. I've been riding for about 3 years and have all the gear to do a long trip with. It does just fine at highway speeds and I have taken it 80 miles in an afternoon. Good idea, bad idea?

    Does anybody know if they ever made those road-warrior style front fairing windshield thingies for the 400s? I have seen one on a '85 750, but I have yet to find one that will fit on the square headlight.

    Any chance of putting a turbo on one of these? :D

    Finally, the underside of the mufflers are really rusted. Does anybody know of some cheap mufflers that look like the stock ones?

    [​IMG]

    Thanks,
    -Joseph
     
  2. neronova

    neronova Member

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    For the exhausts, I can't really see the rust, but just because they are rusted doesn't mean they are done. I have had chrome pieces before that have had a ton of rust on them, but the chrome was still good underneath. Try taking them off and soaking them in vinegar overnight. When you take them out, wipe them immediately and the rust will wipe right off the chrome.

    Otherwise you could take them to a shop and pay them to re-chrome them. Doesn't cost too much, and the pipes look like they are in good shape.

    Included before and after photo of 1960's Chrome pedal bike rim I fixed up a few years back. They are before and after a vinegar treatment.
     

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  3. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Wanna bet? Chrome platers DO NOT want anything to do with USED motorcycle exhaust parts. There is too good of a possibility that oil and carbon deposits could "pollute" a tankful of about $3Grand worth of chemicals.

    Every plater I've talked to either said flat out he wouldn't touch used exhaust parts, or tripled the going rate.
     
  4. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Welcome aboard! There's a few of us here that have an xx400rj, too. I think there's three or four of us. I also work with a fellow that has one, and I also know of another that was for sale around here earlier this year.

    They are a fun little bike, though I wouldn't want to take it on a long trip. Good fuel economy, but very little power, relatively speaking.

    You'll find some interesting info regarding all of the 400's as you continue to read--I won't go into it all here as we have posted a lot about them over the past year or so.

    I'd recommend that you do your reading and what-not, and go through EVERYTHING yourself, just so that YOU can verify to yourself that EVERYTHING is ready and safe------brakes, tires, electricals, carbs, shims and clearances,mixtures, balancing, , etc........ EVERYTHING-----

    Not that I'm doubting the guy you bought it from..........but we have seen MANY people come here with a bike that "the previous owner did everything already, except I'm having a problem with "X" ", and have it turn out that the previous owner THOUGHT he did (or thought he could get away with SAYING he did) what was needed, only to find out that there is so much more that needs to be done first. OR, so much that has to be corrected first. Not trying to scare you, just trying to make sure you realize our position here.

    Again, welcome aboard! I'm sure you'll enjoy it here!

    Dave Fox......who has an xs400rj, too :)
     
  5. ktp1598

    ktp1598 Member

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    Looks like a fun bike. Maybe a little small for a long trip but I've seen people go state to state on smaller ones, so if you're comfortable, go for it! Send the pipes to Jet-Hot. They have a near-chrome (looks like polished aluminum) coating that looks pretty good.
     
  6. neronova

    neronova Member

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    Acid bath them first, or electrolysis. I have used both and they will leave stuff so clean its unbelievable. They take off a very thin layer of the surface metal, which takes with it all the carbon and everything else with it leaving behind bare metal. Its like they are brand new.

    If they wouldn't accept them after that for the normal rate, I would ask them what they do plate, sterilized hospital needles? I mean, if they wouldn't accept them after that, they shouldn't be chroming anything that didn't just come out of a class 100 (ISO 5) or better cleanroom and I would tell them to shove it where the sun don't shine.
     

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  7. neronova

    neronova Member

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    I have no idea why a picture of my new bike just got posted there, sorry.

    Is the picture in my Signature? Can I get it to not do that if it is?

    Again, sorry, sorry everyone!
     
  8. jtroto

    jtroto New Member

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    Don't appologize. Is that fairing for a square headlight? That is the type of thing I am looking for.
     
  9. jeff4995

    jeff4995 Member

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    The fairing does have a square headlight. It also mounts directly to the frame so you would have to make custom mounts if you could make it fit. The fairing was used on the XJ750RL's which were only available in Canada and Australia with only between 800-900 bikes made. Fairing was also used on the FJ600's but is still pretty hard to find one. Check Ebay as I managed to get one off there for one of my RL's a couple of years ago.
     

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  10. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Nero,

    I bet they wouldn't agree to re-chrome anyway. There's too many things at stake for them. it IS their job, and to risk the possibility of contaminating their solutino is something I'm sure won't happen. I know if it were my career, and someone asled me to risk dumping it, the answer would be no, and the answer would be no to syringes, too.

    Dave F
     
  11. neronova

    neronova Member

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    Yes it is for a square headlight, but like someone else pointed out, it mounts rigidly to the frame, and you need one that mounts to the handlebars/forks I think.

    If it was me and someone had acid bathed exhausts, I would chrome them, I would not fear for my job at all. If they have been bathed or put through electrolysis, I would eat off them. And I mean they would look brand new, I would tell the guy at the shop I just had them custom made, so they are brand new, never been used, and needed them chromed. There would be no way he could deny they were new. Like I say, if they wouldn't take them after a bath or electrolysis, they literally should not be chroming anything what-so-ever because it could ruin their chemicals. I understand if they were used and someone just washed them, but acid bathes and electrolysis will take metal off, and expose new metal. Its like sandblasting, but without removing as much material, its more like soda blasting, takes off a very thin layer of metal and doesn't cause pitting.
     
  12. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    Jtroto,

    There ya go.....looks like you got your plater. So, I was wrong. Send them out to neronova and he can acid bathe them and replate them for you!

    dave fox
     
  13. bigfitz52

    bigfitz52 Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    There is a misconception driving this discussion:

    The primary reason the platers I spoke to wouldn't touch USED mufflers or pipes was because there's no way to get them truly clean; or more specifically, to BE SURE they're truly clean, but for the following reason:

    Yamaha head pipes are double-walled. You cannot see or detect cracks in the inner pipes until they get big enough for the outer pipes to start blueing. If there are any cracks in the inner pipes, then there could be carbon trapped between the walls.

    Our original mufflers are quite complex assemblies, with an assortment of plates, baffles and tubes inside the "cans." Which are hollow and cut off from the exhaust gas path (or easy access.) Or are supposed to be.

    There is NO WAY to ensure either part (double-walled head pipe or multi-part muffler) is really truly clean inside if it's ever been on a running bike.

    And the platers are savvy enough to know this.
     
  14. hogfiddles

    hogfiddles XJ-Wizard, Host-Central NY Carb Clinic Moderator Premium Member

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    EXACTLY my point.

    dave
     
  15. neronova

    neronova Member

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    That makes sense. I mean, I still think it would be fine. If carbon can get in there, an acid bath or electrolysis should get there too, and clean it. But again, that is just my opinion.
     

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