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getting xj tomorrow

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by cruiserlover, Jan 31, 2018.

  1. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    I know these arent valuable bikes.I am buying this old bike to have something to do.I like messing with them.this is 4 carb dual overhead cam inline 4 with horizontal split cases it appears.I was amazed how cheap parts are.The suzuki gs 1000 i did about 10 years ago-take off the valve cover.loosen the head bolts, on an on.On the suzuki the exhaust cam had EX on it.They were chain driven.The timing marks for tdc were inside the right forward round cover,same side as crank and ignition.Are these points or breakerless? The chain had to be 20 pins from a mark at about 1 pm on intake.A visegrip was used or c clamp to compress the valve springs while cam cap bearings were installed. The plastic cam chain guides were a real pain.The cam chain tensioner was mounted on the back of the engine.Its screwed in tight then backed out 1/2 turn.Is the xj similar to this?
     
  2. cgutz

    cgutz Well-Known Member

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    Can't comment on your specific questions, but you can get really good advice on this forum. Searching this forum may also turn up how to's and information.

    Post your specific bike year and model to get accurate information. For example, I don't believe checking and adjusting chain tensioner is uniform across the models.

    This site has good information on "first things" about these old XJ's for safety and good running.

    Safety
    - check brake lines and rear brakes. If the lines original, replace, they only had a 5 years life expectancy. Rear brake shoes were known to delaminate over time.
    - first thing before you try to tune: verify valve adjustments are in spec. Seems to be a neglected item over the years, even though checking and swapping shims is easy, even for a non mechanic like me. It seems out of spec valves will mask or mimic other tuning issues.

    Good luck. XJ4ever in the top right link on the site is your best source for parts. You will always get the correct part, and you will get support on how to install the part from the seller.
     
  3. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    glad you found us what bike is it you are buying?
     
  4. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    thanks for the inputs.I will try to find xj4ever. I really dont now what model.The 2 crummy pictures didnt make it clear plus i dont know these bikes.It appears to be a 650 or 750.Maybe a special.I go get it in oklahoma tomorrow.About 2 hours each way. The technical section here is really good. The xj history is amazing.I never knew about them before now.If harley hadnt invented the evo the production life of the xj would have been much longer.
     
  5. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    as stated here the valve adjustment is usually not done.The entire performance depends on it.I hate dealing with shims.
     
  6. k-moe

    k-moe Pie, Bacon, Bourbon. Moderator Premium Member

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    Welcome aboard.
    Start your homework by reading the links in my signature.
    XJ shim changes are easy (excepting the Maxim-X).
     
  7. 78dave

    78dave New Member

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    I have been working on an 86 XJ700S and indeed this is the place to gain info. Many great resources here and XJ4ever is your source for parts. Mine was low mileage at 13K and housed indoors so much of the crud was not there. Carbs were not so bad. Get a float measuring tool, JIS screw drivers and look around to maybe borrow a motion pro synch tool and colortune. I llok forward to riding mine soon.
     
    Jaybird428 likes this.
  8. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    Having worked on some of these terrible jap screws before i bought some jis screwdrivers some time ago. The float measuring tool I never owned.I can see how that would help.I have not done much with carbs.I know the screws holding parts together on them are junk.I also would never use a kit jet as long as the originals look ok.
     
  9. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    well,guess what.The guy calls me and said he is sick.We cant meet up for a few more days,he will let me know.I might as well start looking for a different bike probably.Hopefully it will work out.Of the UJMs the gs,kz,and xj seem to be the best.The cbs were the most popular but i hate the way the heads are bolted on.
     
  10. Jetfixer

    Jetfixer Well-Known Member

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    Welcome , these are great bikes, but in many cases the P.O. may not have given the bike the love it deserves . Unless the P.O. has ripped out the stock airbox :)mad:) and put PODS on :( if it still has airbox DO NOT take it out ...these carbs are CV(constant velocity) and do not work so well with PODS and you have to experiment with jetting and a host of other problems . Make a list of items that should be at first order make it SAFE ( brake hoses,pads/shoes ,caliper rebuild , flush brake system , check tire date and tread more than 5 years replace, battery age ) Keep us appraised of what you decide .
     
  11. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    Having dealt with 3 gs bikes, and 3 4 cyl goldwings I know the troubles of which you speak.Also 2 83 ventures. Anyone foolish enough to run pods deserves all the crappy running and constant rejetting they will have to do.I bout 1 xs 650 that the tires were almost new,but hadn't been ridden on for 18 years.Wear dates is the tell all. Another generalism I came up on my own, well 2 actually,the first is Old bikes keep coming up with new problems.Second in regard to owning one of these and your future dilemma, it comes down to 3 choices.Pay a bank, pay a mechanic, or fix it yourself. Anyone here interested in my list of do not buy disposeable bikes let me know. There are several.
     
  12. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    One question, there are a couple radians for sale here.They are a partsbin but called yx when they are really xj.part vision,parts yz,parts fazer,but really an xj stepchild sort of.They look like a good bike.
     
  13. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    I go to oklahoma tomorrow to get a different bike.An 82 650 maxim.He was trying to change the rubber carb manifolds and broke off some of the bolts as they go into the head.Not sure how i will get those out.
     
  14. Chitwood

    Chitwood Well-Known Member

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    Not too difficult in my opinion. Can you weld? Know someone who can/has a welder? Mig welder is what I'm referring to. Weld a bit to what's left of the bolt, let it cool for a few minutes and gently begin to rock it back and forth and it will eventually turn right out. There are other methods but I prefer this one the best
     
    Timbox likes this.
  15. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    thats a great idea.I have a friend that is a great welder.I will get his help on this.
     
  16. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    got the second bike yesterday.I have to decide which one is going to be the parts bike.The frame number does not appear to be any model so far.It is hard to see even with a flashlight.The vin is hidden by a chrome front piece on the neck.the frame # looks like 10m-003930
     
  17. Timbox

    Timbox Well-Known Member

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    CL, welcome to the board, you are busy getting two XJ's way to go! Sounds like you have been a wrencher for some time and know your way around a bike. Like K-moe above said, read through his links and that will save you lots of time.

    Take the carbs to "Church' to be sure they are ready for the bike. It will take some time and you will need some new rubber for the Throttle bodies but so worth it. I played with mine for some time before doing it the "church" way and the bike ran wonderfully.

    If you need any parts other then your parts bike Len from xjforever will hook up up, will always get the correct parts you need to you supper fast. Link on top right of page.

    With any of the older bikes go through them well, safety of mechanical and then the electrical. The brake shoe on the back needs to be looked at to make sure it is not separating, some nasty stories about that happening to a few.

    As for the valve specs the air heads are not bad at all. Just read up on what to do and dive in. If it gets to you, back away from the project for a day or so and come back to her. Looks like you are in TX, so i am not too sure how your weather is for riding yet.
     
  18. cruiserlover

    cruiserlover Active Member

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    Thanks timbox.I am going to persue the 1100 frst.I didnt even know it was an 1100 till the forum identified it.My 650 will need a new head.I found them on ebay for 50-85 dollars.Plus the guy only had like 2 of the headbolts.I will put that bike on the back burner for right now.The xs11 is complete,only thing missing is the sidecovers.I think either someone here or ebay might have some.But first thing first.Get it running.See what i have to work with. As far as weather it was 71 2 days ago, and 27 this morning.Next week it will gradually warm up to 68.I dont have a bike to ride so getting one going is a priority.Spring is coming soon.I would love to go to south carolina late this year for the yamaha rally.I live in denton texas, near dallas.Maybe there is a rallycloser.Specific to old bikes,particularly yamahas.VJMC never has anything in texas.
     
  19. nablats

    nablats Member

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    regarding pod filters, andy`s motorcycle obsessions on you tube seems to rate them ?
     
  20. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    if you want to put pods on your bike first bit of advice is to spend 140$ on a good set not the cheap 40$ pods.

    next thing you have to do is spend 1500$ on the proper carbs to use with the pods. link to carbs for xj650
    http://www.keihin-fcr.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=127_157_154_175

    I have a podded 750 cold days runs good at low rpm hot days sputters a lot. wont go much over 85mph great bike for running around town pulls great good acceleration to a point . got myself an airbox to install in it. the throttle response is just not there when i need it with pods.

    my clymers manual has a chapter on getting more performance from the xj suggests cams then slide carbs and pods.

    so do this get your bike running as well as you can in the stock configuration put it through its paces and the go to pods


    andy has slide carbs on his 1100 watch the video 1minute and 40 seconds into the video then at 8min 10 sec he says it will never run as good....
    http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/threads/good-information-on-pods-vs-airbox-thanks-sybe.113331/
     
    Last edited: Mar 11, 2018

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