New purchase 82 550 SECA, 6 years stale

I have owned many Yamaha bikes (XJ650,XJ750,XJ1100, 83 XV700 and 83 Virago 750) and now the 550. I bought it for $500 and a yard cleanup. I recently picked up this 1982 550 SECA with 14K in Portland, OR with an old Oregon plate with tags expired 6 years ago. I suppose it would be appropriate to go through the carbs as I am paticulate when it comes to wrenching. Here is what I have to work with: rusty muffler on the left side eaten all the way through and near the start of the muffler, bad battery, seat "beat", dry-rotted tires. I have installed a gel battery and drained the smelly gas. The tank is clean inside and out . I got a dark yellow gas color with a few drops of oily looking beads in it on carb Number 1 and a little touch of mud when I took the bowl drainplugs all the way out. There was a definate stench to it.

 

It's not an '82 (although that's when it was made.)

That's an '83, like mine:




Cracks in the intake manifolds are common, and nothing to worry about if they don't go all the way through.

Looks like a good starting point, it's all there at least. You've got some work to do is all; it's worth it.

 

I am glad you pointed that out. I thought there was a mistake on the title. I just learned something thanks to your comment. I am waiting for a CD on Yamaha bike repair to get here before I start my first carb pull. I was curious if the bike might start with fresh gas.

 

Went ahead and tried to start by flushing carb bowls with new gas and tank. I also seperated the air filter and ended up with carbs 1,3,4 overflowing gas out towards the airfilter so the floats are sticking. I will have to go through with carbs, no doubt.