This is really getting out of hand.

As many of you have been reading (and helping significantly I might add) I'm trying to breath life into an '83 XJ Turbo. So far I have the engine out and have purchased another engine\tranny on eBay for $100.

Well, I just can't help myself. This came up on eBay:

'82 XJ650LJ

I didn't sell and I was going to just forget about it. Curiousity got the better of me though so I contacted the seller. He agreed to sell it to me for $375 cash. I just couldn't say no. It has the seat and fairing parts that I need and I just happen to be in the area this week. I'm leaving tonight for the US Grand Prix at Indy and Akron is only about 50 miles out of the way.

Now, I have two complete bikes and an extra engine. If I can't make one good bike out of that, I'm a pretty hopeless mechanic!

If nothing else, this thing will give me a good idea of how to put everything back together. Beats the hell out of the blurry, little pictures in the manual!

Hopefully, I'll be able to get both bikes running. The guy tells me that he just stopped riding it a few years ago. Nothing was wrong with it at the time. I'll assume that the carbs need cleaned and that it needs a battery. Whow knows? If nothing else, I'll have a good supply of spare parts!

This has to stop. I'm running out of room, not to mention money!

Greg

 

Yep, you're nuts! But it's a healthy kind of nuts. 8)

 

And the hits just keep on coming!

I was trying to figure out how I was going to fit this Turbo, an engine, a weeks worth of camping gear and two jack russells in my Ranger.

So I was looking at the Turbo pics again and noticed that the guy mentioned that he had other stuff for sale. I checked and nothing was still active. So I look at the completed items and he tried, usuccessfully, to sell a 3 rail motorcycle trailer. It looks a little rough in the pictures, so I called him and asked about it. He says the tires are good and the lights all work. He's even going to throw in a lube job on the bearings. $125. Sold American!


My shiny new trailer. Well, my new trailer anyway.

 

I'm almost green with envy, the gran prix and a new bike? you must be living right.

 

You lost it long ago - you're only just realizing how bike crazy you are.

The symptoms vary - but the madness remains... I caught myself laughing in my helmet like a giddie fool the other day. I was having such a blast on a deserted road. Happen to you? Wait till the turbo kicks in...

 

Hey Welder, I still have two extra tickets! Going cheap! Great seats! You know you want to do it!

Greg

 

Um, wouldn't it be easier to fix up this new bike and use the old one for parts??

 

Trailer? At that price you'd be a fool not to snatch it up!!! Especially with all the bikes your toting around! Don't forget to grease up the bearings before you take off on it. Found one too many trailers I've used with dry axles. Excellent scores, each of them Geebake! I'm glad they went to someone who could appreciate them and give them the care and attention they needed. I agree with Mac, you should prime one out and keep the other for spare parts (they obviously don't grow on trees anymore).

 

That trailer is so paintable. 8) Not much rust and eve if the fenders are dented, replacements are cheap. I would have bought it just as fast. Sand, prime and paint to my favorite color, Blue!

 

Woot,

I was blasting through some tight corners the other day on my Seca and couldn't help but let out an evil cackle as I redlined and shifted out of the last turn. It was awesome. So no, you're not the only one who laughs and talks to themselves inside your helmet.

 

Well, I've finally returned from Indianapolis.

Got the engine. Got the bike. Got the trailer.

Mostly good news.

The engine looks great. I'll be ripping into it shortly.

The trailer was a little beat and has some issues. I had to stop along the way and buy two new wheels and tires. The rails are way too narrow. The rear tire on the Turbo wouldn't fit well, but made the trip. I'll be adding a wider rail shortly.

The bike is in OK condition. Not quite as good as I'd hoped. Most of the parts on the bike have one issue or another. The guy tells me that it ran fine two years ago and then it just sat. From his description of the bike, it sounds like the turbo works we'll see. No keys which is a drag. Guess I'll be doing some drilling.

Mac, I can see your point, but there are several reasons I want to get my first Turbo going instead of this one. Mine is an '83 and therefore has some upgrades. Beefier forks, larger gas tank etc. It's also a bit rarer than the '82s. Also, the '82 I just picked up has a salvage title. No idea why but I suspect it would be harder to deal with.

At the moment, there don't appear to be many parts I really need from the '82. Maybe I'll be lucky and be able to get them both running.

Oh and the Grand Prix was fantastic! At least if you're a Ferrari fan!

Greg

 

geebake, don't drill the locks....... look under the ignition housing for a key code, with that code a lock smith can make you a key!

The other possibilities would be to remove the ignition or one of the other
locks and take the lock to a lock smith to have keys made.

Once you drill them you have to replace them!

 

I had lost the keys to my 86 max and a lock smith made them for me all I had to do was take him my helmet lock.

 

I appreciate the advice. I would try that, but the knucklehead I got the bike from already 'adapted' the ignition to work with a screw driver. The other locks appear to be damaged as well.

I haven't had any time to work on this yet, but my primary concern is to get the engine\tranny situaiton straightened out. I've been reading and re-reading the manual concerning splitting the cases. Though it looks daunting, I belive I can handle it. The remaining question is just how far to go. I really want to take the heads off so I can paint them. It looks like if I do that, I will have to remove the timing chain and adjust the valves. Some say that valve adjustment isn't too bad, but I've never done it so I'm a bit nervous.

Someone told me that I can't remove the main shaft in the tranny without removing the pistons. Anyone know if this is true? It doesn't look like it to me, but I obviously don't know what I'm talking about. It looks to me though like if I remove the generator and starter, I should be able to get to the tranny without touching the motor. I am probably missing something obvious.

Here's another question for you experts. It sounded to me like my starter was starting to go before I disasemmbled everything. I now have two other starters, but I don't know their condition. I was thinking that it might be wise to rebuild this starter just to be sure. Anyone know where I can get a starter rebuild kit?

Thanks as always,

Greg

 

You needn't pull the pistons to pull the main shaft in the tranny, they are not connected in any way. Of course I'm curious now as to what the transmission main shaft is on this bike. The pistons are attached to the crankshaft, the gears ride on two separate shafts (geared to one another as needed), I'm puzzled. You could check with Parts-N-More for starter parts.

 

Geebake, whatever your manual says to do is probably right. In my experience, I have only run into a few times where those manuals are incorrect.

It seems like some of the time, they go a little overboard on what parts you need to remove to service the engine. This seems to be the majority over removing too little.

Now, the Yamaha manual that I have is an exception. It is a piece of CRAP! For the valve adjustments, coil removal, and coil check, I got bad info! The oil change section was suspect too. I need to just go ahead and buy a Clymers.