Hi everyone my first questions/post.

I just bought a 81 XJ 650 from a body shop owner in my home town for 500$ and have been working on it for about 2 weeks now and just got it running dependably. MY questions are I really like the overall looks of the bike except the seat. are there any better looking seats for the XJ out there or is there a way I can reconstruct mine and get it looking better.

Also What is a good way to polish and clean the engine block?

 

Congrats on the new acquisition, and welcome to the forum! You'll want to update the fusebox ASAP, for continued reliability.

To address your questions, ... well, I'm not gonna be much help, so I'll just defer to others. I'm more the "don't care how it looks as long as it runs good" type.

 

I have never used this place, but ran across them while looking around to find what oil filter I should get. I am not so concerned about brand, but as I can't really see what I need to get without taking the filter off, I am looking around for something that says an 82 XJ550 needs this oil filter.

Seat Covers for our older models:

http://www.oldbikebarn.com/motorcycle_p ... 10&Start=0

That should be the 650 even. Congrats on the bike.

 

yeah the bike had a brand new seat with it when I bought it I just think its ugly. also the bike already has a new fuse block. the guy also put a pretty nice ghost flame paint job a few years ago.

so no one knows how to polish that engine block?

 

dennis kirk has a good looking king/queen look online and put your bike in the right hand frames and look for seating

 

Just about any upholstery shop should be able to fix up your seat however you might like it to be. From just getting the seat recovered, to custom molding the seat foam to your specs. There are a variety of materials that can be used for the cover and be weather resistant. A stock cover runs $50-100. I'd expect a custom cover to run around $100+. Figure any foam work to run another $100. So expect to pay $200+ for a custom seat with foam and cover, but that's just my guess. As long as they have the seat pan to work with then they can pretty much make it however you like.

 

I hated the seat so much on my 750 Maxim ... I popped-out all the staples and started in on it with a Ginsoo-type knife.

I took the Playground Slide, put-you-on-the-tank at every light -- slope out and contoured the sides and back to give my largeness a more comfortable seating arrangement.

The OEM form isn't too hard to cut and shape.

Take a magic marker and mark-out the way you want it to be.
Make the rough-cut with a serrated-edged knife.

Finish the project with some Extra-course sand paper and do any "Sculpting" with a angle grinder.

The grinder has to be used with an artists touch. It's a great tool for making the Back rest section.

 

Timetonut, if you're still looking for a filter and need a number, see this page at WixFilters.com. My bike uses # 24934. CARQUEST, NAPA, or Uni-Select should be able to hook you up with a good quality Wix filter.

 

Use the stuff that the AIRSTREAM Trailer People use on those Classic Aluminum Trailers you see that look like FunHouse Mirrors when you get close to following one.

Whatever that stuff is CLEANS Aluminum to it's Shine.

There's also some stuff that Trucker's use that wipes on and cleans to the bone.

If you get hooked-up with either of these two products and it works out ... please let me know.

In the mean time ... here's an "Old School Recipe"

One Cup Dawn Dishwashing Detergent
Two Cups Lestoil
One-half Cup Clorox Bleach
One Quart of Distilled Water <~~(Important)

Stir slow.
Spray Bottle.
Warmed-up engine.

Spray all over the Engine. Shoot stream into nooks and crannies.
Keep the Engine wet with the Cleaner for 15-Minutes.

Rinse.
Clean Machine!

 

and I dont even have to use clothes line rick? haha just kidding thinks for the tip!! I knew there had to be some kind of secret to keeping that aluminum clean. As soon as i get a chance Im going to post a before picture up for you guys thanx for all the help.

 

That recipe just cleans.

I;m looking for the stuff that will add a shine to the block cooling fins.

 

Thanks for the tips for this "off topic" help note. The item number was perfect even if I had to look it up again the long way. Now if I can only get a WIX dealer to not be so frightened of the Philly city limits.

Thanks

 

Timetonut, seeing as how I work for them, I'll give you the CARQUEST part number for that Wix filter. It's 89934 (same filter, different part number). Here's a link to several stores (20 to be exact) around Philly. I can tell you the NAPA number should be 4934, but you'll need to verify that with them if you go there.

 

The CarQuest on Girard is way closer than any of the WIX dealers from their website. Thanks for being so on top at any request people have had. I can probably hit that after work.

Jon