I've got myself a project and it seems you guys are gonna be my friends.

First off. My god there's so much information here. Gonna take me a long time to get through it all. But why I'm here. My neighbor just gave me a bike. Apparently he found out I used to ride and told me "It's yours if you want to clean it up." So I've got myself an 82 xj750 maxim that apparently ran in 03 when he stored it so I'm hoping it's not too much to get going. Just be ready for lots of stupid questions on my part, but I hope I can read enough from previous threads to not need to ask them. So first stupid question. Where can I find a tank for this thing(he sold it a few years after storing) and how much should I expect to spend?

 

First off, welcome.you have come to the right place.helpful knowledgeable friendly people here go look in for sale/Wanted for the tank. there is also a eBay link.now go get that bike running because they are more fun that way. BTW.nice bike

 

Thank you. I hope to turn it into a much nicer bike. Seems to be in pretty good condition, but we'll see once that tanks put on. For now I'm planning on cleaning up the carb over the weekend and I've got some break pads and shoes on the way. Kinda want to know where I stand mechanically before I start putting the polish on. Anything I should look out for while I dig in? Common problems to keep an eye on?

 

you can make an axuliry tank to test and tune untill you find the tank you want I use a lawn mower tank install a 5$ petcock and in line filter good to go. you will need it when you sync the carbs and color tune them
40$ to 200$ for a tank


axulirry tank for 34$

 

OK I am new to the site and not computer savvy,so someone please show this fellow to the information overload hour and the church of clean.the best carb tutorial I have ever seen.before you begin reading get the oil out of that bike.its nasty and and half of your clutch is soaking in it. I do something most don't,I have an old electric griddle I slide under the motor.and heat it up abit, keep an eye on it if the motor is really greasy (fire is hot) but warm oil moves better. if you're married don't take the one out of the kitchen,trust me on this...

then take out spark plugs and spray some kind of lubricant,I like PB blaster down the cylinders.now go read

 

Spend some time, if you haven't already, reading this thread...
http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/the-information-overload-hour.27544/

I would hesitate to use WD-40 or PB Blaster down the cylinders as they can remove the engine oil on the cylinder walls and piston rings. If anything take an eyedropper filled with Marvel Mystery Oil or two-stroke motor oil and squirt it into each cylinder just to make sure there is something on the walls, understanding that this will create smoke once you fire up the engine and will likely foul up your plugs. Tons of opinions on this, fact is unless I have removed the cylinders for honing I typically allow the oil pump to lubricate the cylinders normally.

 

Well,as he said it last ran in 03 I would guess the cylinders are probably pretty dry possibly even stuck. But if I was wrong I can accept that. I aways take out the plugs and put some kind of lubricant in and spin the motor with the plugs out.as I said its what I do.and I don't use wd40 for anything.I think it's a crap product.

 

I don't want to come off like a know it all. Because I'm not. But when I go to work on an unknown motor (not running) I don't worry about starting it until I know that there is nothing already broken or not tightened down I always remove both sides stator and clutch and have a look I have found extra bolts, jumper wires,allen Wrenches.you get the idea.you really don't know till you look so the entire time this is going on I have lubricant working on dry rings and bores.and you are right it will smoke like a freight train when you start it but you were going to swap out those plugs any way right?like I said this is how I do it nobody else has to

 

You already have another forum going......ask your questions there----that way everything stays concise.

 

Oops sorry.......
..

 

Not you, Steve....... The OP.

 

Thank you ,But I accept guilt by association

 

I'm a little confused, but oh well.

 

As I said there,
be done to get it running.

Copied from your "wanted" forum...[Given a bike and this is gonna be the first piece needed to figure out what needs done to get it running. Let me know if you have one available and how much it's gonna hurt my pocket.]

My reply was....

Find out if:

-Compression is high enough
-is there spark at all 4 cyls?

Then go from there.

Here's a link to your own thread if you forgot it was there....

http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/82-xj750-maxim-tank.83120/

 

Hey festus,you probably should start over in xj tech or xj modified forum I think the hang out lounge is more of casual conversation type of thing I schould have told you that.my bad. I'm new here to and still learning.