New 82 Yamaha XJ650 Owner

I would like to introduce myself the XJ Bike forum. My name is Curt Henry, from Minnetonka Minnesota. I have been riding motorcycles for close to 50 years, having owned bikes from a home made mini bike to a 47 HD Knucklehead. Currently own 6 bikes, 3 BMW's, 2 Yamaha's and 1 Suzuki. I am currently the Minnesota Airmarshal for the MN chapter of Airheads Beemer Club. I do all my own bike/auto maintenance and host bike related tech day out of our home.
Yesterday I took procession of a 82 Yamaha XJ650 from a co-worker of my wife. The bike was free and has not ran since 2009, when the past owner said that the bike transmission got stuck in first gear. The bike is complete and had been stored indoors. It appears to be in very good shape. 20,000 miles.
Plan for the bike. I have a high level functioning 12 year old autistic grandson that lives for anything with a gas engine. I have given Alex lawn motors and other small engines to play with, he takes them a part and puts them back together (no gaskets), the motors do start when he is done, even thou they oil.
I plan to work on the XJ with Alex and give him the bike for his 16 birthday, we have 4 years to get it running.

Thanks for reading Curt

 

Welcome to the group. It sounds like a great fun project for you and your son. Is it a maxim or a seca?

 

If its stuck in first gear, you most likely have a primary chain guide that is breaking up.

Search our site for the thread/instructions on " guidectony" so that you can fish the parts out througho the small window. Then things should at least shift, though you will need to disassemble and repair it ASAP.

You could also have a bent shifter fork, instead.....

Congrats in your find! Take care with everything you do, do everything , and you'll end up with a dead nuts reliable bulletproof bike that you'll fall in love with.

Btw, there are lots of members here who are right in you neighborhood.

Dave Fox

 

Thanks, I removed the cover on the shift side of the engine. I do have a broken primary chain guide. The chuck that was jamming the shift drum was too big to fish through the hole, I had the broken guide clamped using a long micro surgical clamp, could not find an angle that it would come out, ended up dropping the chunk and it disappeared somewhere at the bottom of the engine.
When the weather warms up I will pull the engine and split the cases.
The more I look at the bike the better it looks, other then the broken guide and a small dent in the tank, I can find nothing wrong with the bike. A fluff and buff it could look near new. I found in the compartment under the seat the owners manual, the tool kit looks to have never been opened.
The bike will need new tires as the one that came with the bike are ten years old. I am sure the carbs will need rebuilding.

Thanks again, I am glad I stumbled on this site.

 

You're gonna be just fine, I can tell

 

Just keep asking, listening, then following instruction and advice---- you'll have an awesome ride when you get it back in shape.

 

welcome to the forum, do be sure to spend some time reading up on the threads here...

http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/index.php?forums/xj4ever-supporting-vendor.23/

scroll down and start with the information overload hour.

FU