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Newb Mistake Tip Over Recovery

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Keepit80s, Jul 24, 2017.

  1. Keepit80s

    Keepit80s New Member

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    So I get my 82 Seca 750 home at 1am and like a child, struggle to get it off my truck for an hour. When I successfully get it down I finally let myself breathe and it slowly falls on its left side. Yay! I'm officially a motorcycle owner making the most predictable mistake. Now I cant get it to turn over. Here are the clues and indicators for any bike doctors to help me diagnose and repair.
    -Ran fine when I bought and we ramped it onto my truck.
    -Turned over and ran when I removed from truck but clutch was tight so i stalled out twice before dropping it.
    -Small pool of gas below bike after fall.
    -Muffler above straight stand on left side now loose.
    -Choke feels as though there is minimal play, can only rotate about half-one inch but I only started it a few times and I may just be misremembering or unfamiliar with how far it rotates.
    -Killed battery trying to start.
    -Left truck on while jumpstarting and now neutral light is out.
    -Neutral is now hard to find.

    Please dont shake heads for too long before responding to post. I'm a truck and car mechanic but bikes are just a little trickier so far. Done a lot of pre-research before buying but it just goes to show that experience trumps all.
    Been very busy at work so Ive had little time to tinker or google solutions. So far all Ive found is that I shouldnt have left the truck on, neutral may be fixed by moving bike a little to find gear, and I should try turning petcock to prime before starting again.
    So any advice is greatly appreciated, links, etc. Insults arent welcome but expected. Hoping for advice on jumpstart procedure with car battery, priming procedure, and what to do when you tip a bike.
    Thanks!!!
     
  2. hogfiddles

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

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    It happens, you just have to figure out the issues to correct. It's not the end of the world.

    1. Check every point where the bike would have touched down.

    -handlebar.....check the hand control to see if the bottom is jammed with dirt;check to see if the cable is kinked
    -shifter pedal....check to see if it's maybe rubbing against the shifter cover
    -can't start.....most likely due to flooded carbs--pool of gas indicates that, too.
    -loose muffler....probably just need to tighten up the clamp and mounting bolts
    -neutral light...check the wire, also, your pedal may be jamming up a bit, so that's why also said to check if it's rubbing the cover

    Check and report back
     
  3. Keepit80s

    Keepit80s New Member

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    Will do thanks for responding so quick.
     
  4. Stumplifter

    Stumplifter Well-Known Member

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    Do Hogfiddle's stuff first, then consider this:
    Fuses. Jumping with truck running could have blown something.
    Battery voltage and connections... just 'cause. Batteries can be weird sometimes.


    I once moved my bike out of the garage, positioned on the right hand side of bike. The side stand must have dragged and flipped itself up, went to let go of the bike and... just like you a gust of gravity took control and she went down on her left side. Fortunately no damage was done AND no one saw me do it!
     
    JeffK and Jetfixer like this.
  5. hogfiddles

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

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    Stump.....
    No pics- it didn't happen
     
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  6. hogfiddles

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

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    I've never had a problem jumping from a vehicle, running or not.......
     
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  7. JeffK

    JeffK Well-Known Member

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    So Keep....get it running yet? I hope that you did and you are out riding instead of posting on a forum!!

    jeff
     
  8. jayrodoh

    jayrodoh YimYam

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    First time I read this I was picturing Dave jumping from his car in the driveway. We need video Dave
     
  9. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    I've had my XJ550 32 years. Only dropped it once, during the first month....Knock on wood.

    I was seated on it, started to lean it over to the side stand. Halfway down I realize the side stand was still up, but it was far enough along the best I could do straddling was lower it slowly. Immediately picked it back up. No issues other that a bit of gas out of the carbs. Glad I had bought engine guards.

    Did you get it running?
     
  10. hogfiddles

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

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    No, I was standing still when I got mine
     
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  11. Keepit80s

    Keepit80s New Member

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    Thanks for all the responses! Finally had some time last night to spend with this beauty. Luckily, a guy I work with has the same year Maxim and after five minutes with his bike I got all the baselines I needed to get mine started. The fall caused a few things I didnt notice or might have just brought my attention to them. Please forgive or correct my terminology if you feel the need. I know these forums thrive on accuracy of information.
    1. It caused the petcock to open slightly and the hose from the filter to petcock now leaks a bit when not in the closed/off position.
    Fix: Keep closed. Will replace/fix for good soon but it's not really necessary at this point.
    2. The shifter pedal was bent enough that I couldnt upshift or neutral shift because it was hitting the horizontal mechanism/lever that it operates.
    Fix: Straightened by prying off of adjacent metal housing(transmission?)
    3. Somehow the choke cable kinked up.
    Fix: Remove choke lever on left handlebar, remove cable. Remove cable at choke lever on carbs. I didnt have a cable lube tool so I sprayed a little pb blaster, worked the cable back and forth with pliers, dropped some lucas oil on the cable, worked it some more, hit myself in the lip, worked it some more, reassemble. Not buttery smooth but choke is now operable.
    4. Switch labels have all worn off.
    FIx: Try different combinations.
    5. Battery won't hold charge.
    Fix: Start with charge from my car while car is off. Still need to check fuses and electrical setup as someone has already been messing with the harnesses- horn doesnt work, front blinkers dont blink, rear blinkers dont work,tail light/ brake light does not brighten.
    6. Bike shuts off when shifting from neutral to 1st.
    Fix: Recover from tip over trauma and put kickstand back up so the shutoff doesn't engage.

    Im pretty sure these are the answers to my problems but input is appreciated. The results were a 100 yard ride at a windblowing 10 mph before a uturn shut it off. Progress is progress. Hope this helps other beginners and I will update as I go.
     

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