xj700n starter grinds swapped starter still grinds

i get this chopping noise if i hold the starter button long enough switched the starter still did it also my clutch slips is this my oil causing it? 10-40 synthetic valvoline motorcycle oil

 

Pls list your bike details in your signature. If no evidence clutch has been refurbed in living memory then its probably due for a rebuild...(after you have confirmed the cable is not binding). How long have you owned the bike? How long are you holing the starter button for?

 

got the bike 2 months ago it had been sitting outside for 2-3 years it always starts on just a touch of the button

 

Start by changing the oil. 20W50 non-synthetic motorcycle oil.

10W-anything in XJs is for cold weather.

 

Hi im scared I've heard oncd you go synthetic you never go back. how cold weather cuz its startin to get cold now 50
degrees I have 18,000 miles and 150 in every cylinder

 

use the right weight oil! and these bikes just plain don't like synthetics. and cold is regularly running in the 20's I believe. not at home, can't look it up....

 

"Cold" means it stays below 40F most of the time, and for that Yamaha recommends 10W30.

But use a non-synthetic, motorcycle-spec oil.

 

Thanks Fitz! Is there anything you don't know?

 

ALL SORTS of stuff. Which is why I have reference materials.

 

That is a rumor that has no bearing on reality.

 

will it run different like engine wear more when i race the bike or just in general if i switch to non synthetice motorcycle oil like run hotter? i ran the same oil in my dads 1985 maxim x 5valve and never had a problem

 

The problem (in general) with synthetics is that they're literally "too slippery." At least for certain older mechanisms.

Truth be told, some of these bikes can get away with running semi-synth or full synthetic motorcycle oil; but a large majority of them cannot. The starter clutch is usually where the issue arises.

So to eliminate it as a cause of the problem, we're recommending a switch to conventional oil until you have it sorted out. Obviously, if you change the oil and the problem goes away, then there's the answer.

It also might not. But it needs to be eliminated.

Per Yamaha, oil/temp specs: 20W40 from 41F up; if it's truly cold (32F) then 10W30 which can then go up to 59F. (Not above.) If you're riding in generally above 40 temps, stick to 20W basis weight oil. Since 20W40 is hard to find, you can run 20W50 with no issues.

Now back to the heart of the problem:

Keep in mind how the starter clutch works: it relies upon the "overwhelming" force from the spinning starter to cause the rollers to "grab" the inner piece. If the starter isn't spinning with enough "oomph" it will cause your symptom.

There are other possibilities besides the starter itself; the original solenoid on these bikes has mechanical contact points inside it. If burnt/corroded it's very possible for them to carry enough current to spin the starter (any starter) but not to spin it with full force. Are you still running the original solenoid?

What shape is the big cable from the solenoid to the starter in? Any green corrosion inside the sheath? Is the new starter NEW or just eBay new-to-you?

 

yeah its everythings original and that starter motor is from the other maxim x motor i put the original starter back because the problem still occured anway also when i got the bike the color of the oil in the window looked brand new it also did it with that oil in it and the clutch also slipped the same i dont know what kind of oil it was. My dad had a candyapple red xj700n maxim out of the showroom in 1986 it was a leftover with 1500 miles he said he put straight 40 weight oil in it and after that it smoked when he first started it he raced it alot too outran a cop at 120 mph with his friend on the back

 

All of which has absolutely nothing to do with the problems (if any) with your bike.

Put the right oil in it and get back to us.

 

does anyone know if I can put the maxim x clutch in the aircooled model 700

 

Dunno. Compare them in the parts fiche: http://www.yamahapartshouse.net/oempart ... ycle/parts

 

no. they are completely different.

 

The XJ700 air-cooled and water-cooled models use the same clutch components except for the springs.....they are stiffer on the water-cooled models, but will interchange.