1982 XJ750 Seca - Ongoing

I'd like to start a thread for my bike and not have to keep going to the thread of "Performance Degrading" as she's running fairly well now...

And I'll stick with this thread from now on so people can see what's been done so far:

• Bought at 9900 miles
• Currently 12000 miles
• A few oil changes
• Played with the carb levels a lot until hogfiddles did a complete rebuild for me.
• Already has SS brake lines
• New (to me) headers and collector and all exhaust gaskets
• Valves checked and one shim changed
• Synched all carbs
• New valve cover gasket
• New carb-engine intake boots and gaskets, vacuum port covers.
• New Petcock
• New plugs of course
• Rebuilt starter
• Drain and fill final drive
• Fixed a few fuses and have a blade type block I'm looking for time to install.
• New rear tire, front looks pretty new from PO
• Inspected rear brake shoes / mechs when wheel off for tire.

Planned next

• Got my colortune and going to play with that and resync in coming weeks

So on to my first question:

1. When doing the exhaust I'm still not to my happy place and I still hear just a little bit pop-pop at high speeds. When replacing gaskets I got a fair amount of rusty pieces of baffle / screen / whatever falling out of and rattling around in the mufflers so I don't think she'll ever sound as smooth as I want. Is there an aftermarket muffler for the Seca 750 that's as close as possible to the original?

Thanks a bunch....

 

emgo shortys or sportster mufflers are a common choice

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/emgo-muffler

 

Any tips on mounting them? Doesn't look like they have a tab on there....

 

I put Harley slip on muffler on my Seca. I got a 2 inch wide steel and drilled the holes and connect it to the rear foot peg mount. You can buy proper hangers but being this is a temporary measure I went this route.

 

Add to this bike:

Replaced fuse box

 

Hearing a "clunk" or "click" depressing front brake... no performance change and no leaks, nothing appears loose.

Thinking calipers freed up on slide from regular use? Or brake shoe almost gone?

Guess I'll have to open it....

 

I have been having that happen recently please let us know when you find it. i havent got time to rip it apart to check just yet

 

Did you tear down the forks for inspection?

 

I have not.... but I hear it when stopped too so it's not play in the forks.

It sounds like either the shoes hitting the disc, or the caliper piston hitting the back of the shoe... do the shoes clip into the pistons like on a car? Maybe the tang(s) have broken off.

 

As far as I know they do not clip into the caliper piston like you're thinking

 

The pads have anti-rattle springs that clip to them, but the pads run on a retaining pin.
Each caliper is made of two parts, that slide against each other, and there are pins that the halves run on.
My suggestion is to dissasemble the calipers and check for worn pins, as well as replace the piston seals if you have not already done so.

 

+1
The amount of stuff you will find in those brake will surprise you. Spiders, bugs ect... in there. I used a heavy duty rag in between the pistons and then put air pressure to the open banjo hole. Just take your time and watch your fingers, once the piston lets lose it could pinch a finger. Some us a grease gun as that would do the same but slower and more controlled.

 

Yet another noise:

I'm hoping to do an oil change this afternoon and finally get a look at those front brakes... but in the meantime I'm starting to get another mystery noise.

It used to only be after I was riding for a good hour or more, but now occurring almost all the time. It's when decelerating or more like when you are still in gear but going slow for that gear so no load on the drivetrain... think 20-30 mph.

It's a rattle sounds like in the drive shaft area or maybe even more forward in the gearbox / starter clutch area. I mention the starter clutch as it sounds like the rocks in a can sound people describe but it's not when starting the bike... it's gliding on the road. I'm thinking check and grease driveshaft but thought I would ask...

Thoughts?

 

check your u joint

 

Mmmmm...sounds probable... thanks

 

currently a used one on ebay 28$

 

I had to replace a final drive gear on a goldwing when the teeth got warn. After I replaced it the clunking stopped.
Don't most shaft bikes have similar final drives ?

 

Well, I drained oil and checked front brakes last night... plenty of pad left, all clips are there, and pistons and pads are free to move in holder and on slides... so I think it was correct to say the free pad (The one not on the piston) had free'd up from finally getting frequent use. I could cause the same "clunk" I was hearing by tapping on the free pad to seat it against it's holder.

Output drive check out next....

 

yes