Looking for diy videos for xj700 maxim x 1986/85

Interesting. I wonder when Yamaha lowered the torque values, and why.

The thread count and pitch will give you the original length of the threaded portion. A 24 thread bolt with a 1.0 pitch will measure 24 mm from the bottom of the bolt head to the peak of the last thread.

 

Is it possible for you to take a picture or your book and were it states that the starter bolt is supposed to be 7.2 lbs. I sure would appreciate it?
Curiosity is getting the better of me, currently thinking is there a way to contact Yamaha directly to verify the reason behind the two different Ft. Lbs. requirement?
In regards to the thread pitch and amount of threads your ratio is the same for any of the bolts?

 

I'm going by the XJ750 manual. The lower cases for the 750 are made from the same alloy as the 750X/700X, and the fastener size is the same.

 

even more curious now, maybe they were thinking that the starter may be under more torque by those extra 50cc? Unless the individual who designed that part of the bike is still alive and can be contacted we may never know.
Its' a conspiracy to boggle our minds and spend hours looking for an explanation in the vast expanse of the world wide web!
Or a subliminal way of getting us XJ Yamaha owners to keep in touch in forums and such.

 

Last week while I was surfing the YouTube channel I came across a video on cleaning pistons and such. Went like this basically get a bucket that can hold all your pistons should be that hard just don't use your wife's flower bucket she may get upset if you get caught. Fill it with very hot soapy water about a third or enough to cover pistons and then spray half a can of break clean in with it. Let set for 15 minutes or so depending on the amount of carbon build up and use a soft bristle brush and your done. Do it outside unless you want a buzz and a headache.
Look like it worked good So I just tried it out on my pistons and it worked great all the carbon in the ring areas just washed away well almost all just a smidgeon here and there but better then they where.
Also after removing the valves and carefully removing the valve guide seals the head assembly is sitting in a bath also. Since I had a few people strongly suggest that I do a better job cleaning the lapping material my paranoia got the better of me and now just waiting for the clean up.
Going to also use that blue marking stuff and get a real good look at the valve seats to make sure I have a complete seal.
All this in between playing with the grandbabies (4) They reminds me to have fun in life and not get stressed out so much over work and school.
And there is the dinner bell

 

another short blip of progress on XJ rebuild

 

valves seated properly and verified by blue

 

JUST VENTING!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I am about fed up with this Company called Yamaha Parts Monster! I have checked my order and now it is 9 days overdue. What is frustrating is that they were quick to charge my account, as in the very next day and still I have no parts. I have called e-mailed several times and no response. What gets me is the lack of response! If they would just contact I would be alright. I understand that things happen running a business yet being available for your customers is paramount in maintaining a good repose and getting more business this or what I am experiencing now is not what I would call good customer service.

 

That sucks. Contact your credit card company and persue a refund.
Most places don't keep anything for any XJ in stock, so the order from the supplier is made when you order, and then you wait for the ship to come across the ocean.

Chacal man. Chacal. Start a conversaion.

 

I feel your pain. I went through a similar event with some Yamaha on-line vendor (think they had something about Boats in their name). Did that once - never again.

Chacal. XJ4Ever.

 

I have ordered parts from Chacal before and everything worked out just fine.
I was just trying to keep the cost of this project down. Sometimes it is better to suck it up and work with a known supplier. Lesson learned now I will contact CC company on Monday and get the ball rolling on a refund-
Thanks for allowing me to vent.

 

I have been reading a lot of posts about replacing the fuse block on the xj series bikes. Does anybody have a good picture or reasoning behind the swap?
If fuse block being swapped, to what?

 

The fuse clips get brittle, crack, and stop transporting the magic pixies.
You can replace the fuse clips with new, or swich to the more reliable ATC fuses.
HOW TO: Install an aftermarket fuse box

 

that looks like wonderful work there.
My concern is that the only fuse that I have under the seat is one 30 amp fuse with big red wire going into and out.
The remaining fuses are located above the ignition switch. These are accessed through a one piece plastic cover held by four little screws and the bottom two are a pain in the rear to get out as well as the flippin cover. LOL no for real the cover case is a very tight fit.
All fuses are of the blade type, couple tens, one fifteen think that's about it. Will check when I get home and take a picture.
Overall what I am finding is although a majority of the XJs are pretty much the same there is a difference once you get to 85 and 86 maxim x's.
thinking I may start a thread specific to those years and the differences as I am going through the process of rebuilding parts of my bike at this time. Could add things as they come along to enhance mine and others knowledge along the way.
not sure if it would fly with the moderators though or the overall supreme commander of the site.
Any thoughts or ideas ?

 

OH ya. you have a later bike. You don't need to do a thing to the fuses or fuse holders.

 

Man I almost feel offended as if I don't belong here LMAO

 

LOL, not too many of the water cooled bikes out there, and I really like the blade fuses that come stock with our bikes. Besides the way the valves have to be adjusted, I like the water cooled bikes. Back in 2000 I had a Xj750, did the iron butt on her, I was sore for days.

 

I would have to agree I took my bike down from Oregon to California a 5 hr. ride and had no problems. Oddly enough when I got to Klamath Falls CA. I pulled in to get fuel and low and behold there was another xj700 x so I talked with the couple on it and they scored. Apparently his boss runs some kind of salvage company and this guy got the bike for 150.00 with only 3,400 miles on it and it looked like it had been garaged the whole time. Also had the high back rest.
Here in Medford and the surrounding area I have seen other XJs but I have only seen one X going in the opposite direction and if I had the time I would of chased him or her down for a chat.
This is what I really like about the bike is that you do not see very many so people look and stare trying to figure out what it is LOL.

 

polishing the aluminum engine guards.

 

You guys and your fancy schmancy new bikes!

 

engine guards painted and polished-

 

My bad about the double video

 

Finally got a response concerning my parts
Dear Sir,

Thank you for your inquiry. We apologize for the delay in your order status. After looking at the specific order items that you have requested, we did have to get the piston pins directly from Yamaha. Yamaha has these 4 pins on a quality control hold until the 1st of March. We can send the other items that you have ordered to you immediately and the 4 pins when they arrive from yamaha at no charge to you. Again we apologize for any inconvenience that this may have caused.

best regards

My response albeit on the verge of (UCK U, U fu IN Btds)
Really and when you say YAMAHA are you talking about in JAPAN?
I have to realize that things happen when running a business and that I can't justify a poor report over one incident for this company. However, I did mention that it would behoove them to work on their cross referencing of orders so that anytime this happens an e-mail is immediately sent to the buyers, as this would increase customer confidence.

I am still pissed though and it is very difficult for me not to become the crazed 16 year old that would lash out verbal profanities through the phone system as at the time when I was 16 there was no internet.

Guess I got some more to practice polishing and painting the bike.

 

I can appreciate your stance on not being notified, but consider the following.

Yamaha MADE new wrist pins for YOU. There's not many large companies that are still willing to make new parts for a 30 year-old product.

 

Indeed and for that I am grateful!
Also the idea of exploiting e-bay and other sites for bits and pieces here and there I should have enough spare parts to build a whole bike as a back up over the following years- LOL.

 

Was just over at the POD discussion thread and what came to mind is that shortly before my bike broke I noticed that I could smell fuel when I started the bike up. I didn't think it was a big deal. I must have been mistaken or is there someone who has a reliable answer to this question.
On another note I came across other tools that I thought I would never use-
2 vacuum gauges Lrg. in diameter small tea plate. I'll post picture after I get home. My question is can I use these to set the adjustment for the carbs?
What would be a good tool to have when it comes to setting the fuel air mixture?

 

Are you thinking that the fuel small was the start of a hydro lock? Not too sure how bad the XJ's are but some other bikes are really bad on the fuel getting into a cylinder and then locking the bike up do to hydro lock.

As for the smell, many here on the forum have said open your oil fill cap and see if you smell gas, if you do then it is likely that you will need to set your floats. Gas is making it's way into the oil from your carbs overflowing when sitting. I know most of the bikes have a petcock that is suction started so this does not happen. I know it happens a lot on the Bandit1200's.

 

In regards to your first statement about fuel getting into the oil through the petcock-as with most xj700's X mine is vacuum operated.


Not sure I was thinking the smell of fuel was coming from the exhaust when I started the bike, like it was getting to much fuel.
I am going to look at the plugs that I pulled and take a picture and some opinions of what might have been going on.
One thing I am sure of is that when I took the head apart there was a lot of carbon in the cylinder head like way more then I would have expected. I could almost just flick the pieces off with my finger.

 

Either.

1. float levels set too high.

2. Pilot jet too rich

3. leaking float needles/seats

The petcock would be a contributing issue. Fuel can't overflow the carbs unless the float needles aren't sealing. If the vacuum diaphram in the petcock has a pinhole that will allow gas to flow down the vacuum line and directly into the cylinder it's attached to.

 

When I pulled my head I too had lots of carbon, (700X) but the PO also had 115 mains in a stock setup. I am guessing that is why mine was so bad. It could be that both of our bikes are up there in miles as well 40K when I picked mine up.

K-moe is very good at this...I would stick with his guidance.

 

Let me start this off by saying I am going to go over everything I have done to or had done to my bike since I was gifted with such a treat for my first bike.
Batteries-
First day- New Battery
2nd or third year- New Battery


In retrospect even when I was running the original air box then to the pods my bike has NEVER been easy to start ( avg. Cold temp here 32). The colder it got the harder it was unless I left the bike covered in the garage with a moving blanket and a shop light (ones that put out a lot of heat) under the engine. Then the bike started right up. If not I had to sit and throttle the engine off and on to get it to run and then when it did start it was like barely any throttle applied or it would die. Usually the time to have smoke before I could actually release the throttle and she would idle on her own.
Not sure if this is relevant just more information about my bike.

I am listening to you Mr. Moe, pardon me while I pick myself up off the floor laughing at the Mr. Moe comment as if I just stepped back in time (Larry, Curly and Moe) I would assume that you get the relevance.

I would like to narrow this topic for a moment to as why would my bike be so hard to start?
I have seen other cold start videos for the XJ-X in close to zero temps and they always turned over a couple of times and fired right up.
As mentioned before mine has never done that. From the beginning of my ownership, carbs supposedly rebuilt or thoroughly cleaned and adjusted by a motorcycle shop, before and after the pods were installed. 2 time being rebuilt or at least that what I thought was being done/ they replaced the fuel rod that runs along the bottom of all four carbs.

I all ways had this sneaky suspicion that the valves not being adjusted correctly had something to do with it. My thought process at the time was if they (valves) were not closing all the way this would allow a lot of blow by-no compression. no smoke either, ever unless you want to include the white smoke from warming up in the cold.
So when the weather was warm everything was expanded and thus creating a complete seal and starting right up. example would be going for a ride then eating lunch and jumping back on the bike and fires right up. The colder it got the harder it got to start, more starter turning time.

One last clue- shortly before I had this mechanical break down I had noticed that the bike was getting harder to start do to what I thought was mainly the decreasing temperature however I noticed that I was getting fuel leaking out the pods when I was trying to start her up- my first thought was that I flooded the bike and then would proceed turning her over with no throttle actuated till she started to catch.

I am not trying to ramble on I feel better if you got a better idea of what may be happening/cause.
As my instructor mentioned many times We technicians are detectives and have to decipher what the engine or person is telling us to solve the case.

 

Not really XJ related My wife just informed that we have two water leaks in the front room! Crud when I bought this place they told me we had 15-20 years before I had to worry about the roof. As life turns I must go and save my family lol
Hopefully it will an easy fix till this summer when I can do it correctly tonight just a quick yet thorough patch job while it is still raining of course.

 

Couple things; fuel leaking out of pods is bad, i believe the only way this happens is if the float levels are incorrect and/or the float needles are not seating proper.

You have no idea what condition your carbs are truly in if someone else 'rebuilt' them.
Can I get an Amen?
http://xjbikes.com/forums/threads/in-the-church-of-clean.14692/

P.S. Don't trust the cold start videos, we have no idea what occurred prior to the record button being pressed. If you don't see it live in person it never happened.

 

Trust but verify is the key to remember.
Its a damn shame how our society has declined that we can't believe people these days. Not that it a new thing just more prevalent.

 

although I will be doing the carbs myself I am continuing on with painting the motor and various parts that need attention.
I am going to contact K&N in regards to what they recommended for the jets after the pods have been added.
Also put an order in for a complete rebuild kit-
Then I will know for sure that I have done the job correctly.
Thank you for the link to the house of clean.

 

My xj700 x jug painted and clear coated- waiting for reassembly
Now on to the next piece that would love some attention also-

 

Does anybody have an idea in regards to clean out the block of oil and some coolant. Like very little coolant yet I can see some spots here and there when I look down through upper area to the lower?
Kerosene maybe\
Diesel-think this would cause the gaskets to fail actually.
Marvel mystery oil
oh and how to do it would be good to n=know as well.
Geez when I started this I never imagined that I would be going down the rabbit hole

 

Regarding your rabbit hole:

http://www.xjbikes.com/forums/index.php?threads/xj-parts-catalog-section-a-introduction.44644/

The last part, waaaay down at the bottom, is an article on the cost of ownership for a vintage bike. It gives you an idea of how far this hole goes.

 

Tried out the GoPro 4 nice clarity of picture but the volume/recording not to good-
learning by trial and error, It is all good.

 

Yes in deed I have I have read this article prior to this rebuild as I am not surprised at the cost or time actually. I am glad that I am not having to have the parts custom ordered or made.
I at least don't have a monthly note to pay. Only maintenance and when something breaks or fails and this I can live with.
Besides I like it when other riders come up and ask me questions about my bike as it is rare that they have seen one- that is an Xj700X, usually some are like is that a virago and I have to laugh inside and explain the differences.
Or go into how this was a thumbing of the nose to Harley for the illegal embargo they had during the 80's at least in my opinion.
What I have noticed though is the more shine I give to my bike the more I find myself going remember this is a daily rider so not to much or I will be spending more time polishing then riding. LOL

 

Just flush the water jackets with...wait for it....water. Use carb cleaner or another light solvent to clean the old oil out.

 

Kinda expected such a response, water lol. Thanks I got a good laugh at myself for such a silly question.

 

The only silly question is the one not asked.

 

I think this is the right one this time.
Camera GoPro 4 Silver
Picture really good
Sound not so good

 

Just ordered the lower rebuild kit from Chacal 7-10 days no worries here.
Finishing up the valve cover with painting.
oh and the head, this is taking longer due to I am having to paint it twice from different angles to get a uniform coverage of all the nooks and crannies.
next will be the clear coats followed by reassembly of the valves. If this goes as planned I should be done with the painting and the wrist pins and rings should here which will allow for the rebuild to begin.
I do realize though even with that I am still going to have to recheck the valve clearances and order the appropriate replacement shims then maybe I will be able to start her up.
I was thinking of doing a video-like a for real one the actual first start, not one where you have started it then shut it off and do the fake video-
Going to keep it real!

 

review of the valve spring compressor I purchased off of Amazon.
and a couple of oddities thrown in for good measure.

 

Here is a good question that I am pondering?
I received my new to me valve and cam assembly- My new learning experience is none of the valve buckets were actually inside their corresponding holes. What I am left with, what can I do to freshen them up knowing that they are probably not going back into their regular homes. This also goes for the shims even though I am probably going to have to replace most of them anyway to attain proper valve clearances.
Also on that note what could I do to get rid of the previous wear marks from where the cam rides.
Please any suggestions or prior experience would be greatly appreciated.
Ah I'll do a short video to show exactly what I am talking about-

 

It is good to realize that I am getting better at this forum stuff lol.

This video is in response to my post #97

 

modified piston ring compressor

 

Does this sound like the valves are in need of adjustment?