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Engine won't turn over after changing friction plates.

Discussion in 'XJ Technical Chat' started by Joseph Robinson, Sep 8, 2017.

  1. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    I have a 1980 xj650maxim. About 2 months ago I got into an accident, and luckily me and the bike came out ok. I've been repairing it bit by bit, and while doing a test drive I noticed the clutch would slip pretty badly. I got it home, layed it on it's side carefully, and opened the crankcase. I had it under a carport and left it covered so nothing could fall in. I ordered new friction plates, waited about a week on shipping, and just put them in today. After slapping everything back together I stood it up, put in the key, hit the start button and it acted like it was locked up. The starter would engage but then the lights went dim and the engine wouldn't turn. I feel like it could be something to do with laying on it's side, or improper clutch plate installation. Any help is appreciated.
     
  2. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    Tonight I'm gonna leave it sat up and let it be, as I'm out of daylight, to see if that helps
     
  3. k-moe

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

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    The first thing to do is check the battery's state of charge, and electrolite levels.
    Since you had it on it's side, I'm betting that you have battery acid that leaked out (assuming a wet-cell battery) and a dead battery.
     
  4. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    Well I took the battery out beforehand do I don't think that's it. Forgot to mention that
     
  5. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    did you line up the dot on the pressure plate with the dot on the basket?
    how about springs? did you replace them?
     
  6. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    Did both.
     
  7. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    getting complicated now :)
    can you start it in neutral? then squeeze the lever a few times while it's running. sometimes that will break the plates loose
    the new plates might just be stuck together
     
  8. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    starter filled with oil? cylinder filled with oil? remove spark plug cylinder1

    did you soak the friction plates in oil first?
    clean the clutch plates?
     
    Last edited: Sep 9, 2017
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  9. Jetfixer

    Jetfixer Well-Known Member

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    Did you soak the clutch plates in oil before you installed.? Your clutch arm may not be adjusted right and clutch could be engaged ? Can you roll bike in neutral? Sorry xj550h beat me to punch
     
  10. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    It will roll in neutral, but it won't turn over.
     
  11. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    Yes. Maybe, but it should start if it's in neutral with the clutch engaged.
     
  12. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    I'm gonna look today to see if oil is in the cylinder. That's what I'm fearing. I'd hate to have a hydrolocked engine.
     
  13. k-moe

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

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    I'm still going to recommend checking that the battery is good. It takes all of 30 seconds to do.
     
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  14. XJ550H

    XJ550H Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    charge your battery and check the connections clean and tight
     
  15. Polock

    Polock Well-Known Member

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    well the good news is, it's not your clutch. the bad news is, it's not your clutch
     
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  16. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    I have a 1980 xj650 maxim. It has an intermittent short that prevents it from starting. It'll blow the it fuse for the indicator lights (nuetral, turn, oil, brights) and blinkers first, and if bypassed, will blow the ignition fuse. Wanna fix this before I ride it again because I could be stranded from this. Any ideas where the short could be coming from? I have in line fuse instead of a fuse box btw.
     
  17. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    To everyone watching this, it was oil in the cylinder. It shot out like a rocket and it turns over now. Now I have an electrical problem to solve. I have a new thread on this.
     
  18. k-moe

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

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    Merged. Oftentimes seemingly unrelated problems are related. Vital information is left behind when you start a new thread.
     
  19. k-moe

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

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    My first thought is that there is a bare spot in the harness (likely near the splices for the inline fuses) that is contacting the frame, or another wire.
     
  20. Joseph Robinson

    Joseph Robinson New Member

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    That's what I'm going to look for. Nothing obvious so far.
     

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