Mess of a bike

Hey I just got a 1981 yamaha xj750 seca barn find and the previous owner unplugged everything kept half the electrical parts. And let's not mention how seized that rear brake is my oh my. Where the heck do I find parts for this if I don't even know what exactly is missing. Plus this is my first project bike so I'm just generally a novice. But I'm not going to give up on it like the last 3 owners. Despite the anger from my parents. I just want to do my thing. But idk where to even buy parts besides ebay.

 

Welcome to the group! Pretty sure you will find everything you need here, there's a lot of real XJ enthusiasts on this site that have parts and there is also Len aka Chacal that runs an XJ parts business that will have almost enough stuff to build a bike from scratch. Post up your questions in the tech forum and put some wanted ads in the For Sale, Trade/Swap, Wanted section.

 

Ok thx

 

Get a manual, it will have wiring diagrams, etc.. This site has parts diagrams for most Yamahas https://www.cmsnl.com/yamaha-motorcycle_model16707/

 

You want to check the engine compression first before you buy parts. Does the engine turn over on the starter?

 

no idea nothings plugged in and theres no battery i assume its because of elitrical problems it sat. i need to get a battery and find out.

 

but i need to figure out the rats nest. i dont know if i can start off the solinoid either bc theres no key. Despite it being a new aftermarket key fob. Idk what this bikes been through but its alot

 

show us some pics and we can see what your into.

 

Agreed, by the looks of this bike I would verify if it is seized or not.
Seriously, I can see you spending another $1500, and then you'd have a $700 bike.

My advice - If the gas tank is not rusted through you could sell that. $150
The Chinese clip-ons - $50
seized motor - $50
carbs - $50
TCI - $30

There's potential to get your money back.

 

No tanks straight rusted

 

I'll get a battery and see what happens. But my parents are trying to get rid of it so it's gonna go sit on a friend's property hopefully if not. Then my mom's just giving it to a colleuge. Great just great. Thanks for the advice yall. I'll be back if not this bike I'll get another xj. Wish me luck

 

you don't need a battery.
Remove the LH crank cap and try turning it over with a 19mm wrench.
You will need to verify it is in neutral, you mentioned the rear brake is seized so that might not be easy.
Beware the crank cap screws will likely be very stubborn and might require an impact driver to loosen off.

 

Oh OK thx.

 

Also remove the spark plugs temporary and turn the crankshaft as indicated above anticlockwise. Put the plugs back in afterwards to keep dirt out of the cylinders.

 

Okie

 

Oh dear.. someone with even less skill than imagination tried to make a 'Bobbler'*, by sawing off the back of the frame - the pillock.
Hopefully you can get it running without too much hassle. The key bits (TCI, Coils etc..) are there but you might find it costly to get back to original conditon if that's your plan.

* Yes I know the 'correct' term but I prefer this one - makes me less angry.

 

Someone started a generic Cafe racer build so I think ima do that. I hate bibblers as well

 

Oof, sorry but that is a rough start. I've seen worse brought back to life but you have a lot of work to do there. Appears the main wiring harness is missing unless you have a box of parts that came with it. Not much you can do without that.

That thing has definitely spent some time outside, as others have mentioned you need to see if that motor will even spin. If it sat outside in the rain without an airbox you are going to have major issues with carbs and possibly motor.

No need to buy a battery, it won't do you any good with the shape it's in at the moment.

 

Yes good spot. Fingers crossed you can find it or buy a replacement, making one from scratch with the right connectors would be a proper ball-ache, and no mistake.

 

Well all things considered the more of a "ball-ache" the better story telling. And mor qualified for my senoir project it becomes. If all else fails. I've got a good frame for a rat bike. Maybe

 

Oh yeah I figured out the brake. The "tension nut" or whatever was too tight so it was making constant friction I was able to shift through all the gears. I can't get the clutch to engage though. well I'll add that to the list. It goes through all the gears. Is it possible to get the motor to turn over by putting it in 1st and rotating the rear wheel or is that too much mechanical resistance for me to rotate. Or bad for the clutch system if I can't engage/disengage the clutch?

 

Clutch plates could be stuck together with the bike not running for a long time. It's easy to fix that. Or the cable could not be adjusted correctly. You can try turning the motor over using the back wheel with the transmission in gear. But better to put it in neutral and use the spanner on the end of the crankshaft to rotate it anticlockwise. Selecting all gears is good too because the alternator/starter chain guide should be in good condition.

 

Thx I appreciate the help and guidance. Yall area king this process a breeze

 

It won't damage the clutch at all.

 

So I grabbed the impact and set it to the lowest tourqe setting and proceeded to strip most of the screws. Not being able to approach it from the crank I decided to put the bike in 1st and try to turn the motor that way. It worked only when dragging it around under its own weight. And not very well. So I put it on its center stand to go inside and do some research and low and behold when I put it into 5th. What I thought would be the toughest gear, turned when I rotated the wheel by mere chance i learned that it requires more tourqe to rotate a lower gear. Well now I know. Also this is great it means that the motor isn't seized. You know what's even better. I could feel rhe resistance of compression and hear the motor sucking air I'm so giddy. Today I just learned this bike sat because of electrical problems. Hence the after market ignitor, and missing fuse box. Or they where going to turn it into a bobber. Which as others stated explains the chopped frame which my novice brain didn't even notice. So this bike right here is here to stay. And my parents can't do nothing about it. I got a buddy who says he might be able to hold onto it. And if not I live next to the woods. And there's an abandoned property down the road as well. I'm going to fight my parents tooth and nail to keep this as my senior project. Thanks for all the help and advice guys really appreciate this community that I can't belive has been so patient and open already to such an idiotic novice. Today another street squid joins the 2wheel club thx everyone.

 

We were all novices at one time. I am still learning.