Yamaha xj550 fix up

[wysh]

Hey everyone
well this is my first actual post and as some of you might already know i own a 1984 yamaha xj.
im looking to fix it up and get it back on the road legally


so i brought the bike about a month ago as is for 300 dollars bargain right ?
well i consider it to be anyway :yes:

so as you's all know 300 dollars for a bike like this is quite cheap and i got it cheap for a reason it has a few problems :facepalm: for one i have to charge the battery every second night or so, and sometimes when you start up and go to take off not much taking off really happens and neither front or back brake work at all also i have a gas leak aswell :shit:

the electrics are all over the place and im not sure if the front light works or not the bike is not road legal at all as you can tell by all the issues im having with it

i am a recently new rider and dont know alot about bikes but i dont wont to let go of the bike can anyone give me a place to start from in my fix up i will post pics of the bike when i get a chance

ANYTHING WILL HELP
THANKS
WYSH.

[Maha]

And Have I got a deal for you! ...I have an XY600 here for sale, morph the two together and you'll have one mint bike, yes indeed, chances like this dont come around every day. The bike has a new rear tyre, reconditioned clutch, brand new seat, newish chain and sprocket, venture pack rack, the tank has been rust proofed and sealed but wait, theres more, we also have a venture pack full of spare parts.

[NinjaNanna]

This will be worth a million bucks to you then...

http://www.dansmc.com/mc_repaircourse.htm

Personally, I'd start with the brakes, then the gas leak, then the battery charging problem, then the general electrics.

Good Luck and keep us posted with your successes and victories.

[Latte]

http://thekneeslider.com/archives/2010/01/07/yamaha-maxim-transformed/

[wysh]

alot of work to be done.
alot of rust i dont think it can be done gotta prove myself wrong





234066234065234067234068234069234070

[NinjaNanna]

looks to me like that bike will teach you heaps.

Resist spending any money on cosmetic things (like indicators and headlights :shutup:) until you sort those brakes out.

As for rust, there's nothing in the photos that would concern me.

[NinjaNanna]

was the rego put on hold for this bike? If it wasn't and you need to go through the re-vinning process, it might turn out to be that this project just isn't worth the overall cost.

Sure it would be a great learning experience but $$$ wise it could end up being a total pit.

Look at these to compare your estimated finished project against

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Classic-vintage/auction-351954867.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Cruiser/auction-357201878.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-360014221.htm
http://www.trademe.co.nz/Trade-Me-Motors/Motorbikes/Motorbikes/Sports/auction-359209552.htm

[neels]

for one i have to charge the battery every second night or so, and sometimes when you start up and go to take off not much taking off really happens and neither front or back brake work at all also i have a gas leak aswell :shit:

the electrics are all over the place and im not sure if the front light works or not the bike is not road legal at all as you can tell by all the issues im having with it To be honest it doesn't look to bad, mostly cosmetic stuff that won't affect how it works. As above, if the rego is dead you're up for about the price you paid for the bike to get it on the road again, that's before you spend any money fixing it.

I'd start with the fuel leak because it's the most annoying when working on other stuff. Just have a good look around to figure out where it's coming from, most likely suspects are the fuel connections to the carbs or a sticking float valve overflowing fuel.

Battery is most likely stuffed, don't buy a new one until other stuff is sorted unless you need to as they die from sitting around not used. If the voltmeter still works and the bike runs check if it goes up to around 14V when you rev it, if it does it's probably charging ok.

Front brakes are possibly seized from sitting, you may get away with stripping and cleaning, otherwise you're up for a recon of the master cylinder and calipers. Rear brake is mechanical so some new shoes and a clean should sort it, cheap and easy.

To get it running a good start would be to strip and clean the carbs, they're a bit of a shit to get off but pretty easy to dismantle and clean, just keep all the bits for each carb separate and be careful undoing the brass bits inside as they break easy.

Electrics are pretty basic, if you have a wiring diagram and a test light it shouldn't be too hard to sort out, if you haven't pm me your email address and I'll send you a manual.

[Kickaha]

xjbikes.com has all the info you need

Got a frame number? as far as I am aware they didn't build them in 1984 as they were doing the XJ600 by then

They're a very under rated middle weight bike from that era

[wysh]

hey guys,
well aint been on for awhile been busy busy and i have sorted out the brakes problem both front a back going perfectly

the gas leak im 99% sure it was from the carbys have since then clean them out and woah i tell ya the feel of the bike now is insane and it just keeps getting better i love it

my most biggest problem was the battery charging problem well the battery is fine and i didnt want to get to indepth and find my self stuck with no way out so i ask around a few mates and got connected with this guy where the bike is currently he said its possibly the generator or alternator so i said
hey heres a 12 pack and left the bike with him

well thats whats been going on so far thanks everyone for all your help

[Kickaha]

so i ask around a few mates and got connected with this guy where the bike is currently he said its possibly the generator or alternator so i said

Most likely alternator brushes as nothing else much goes wrong with them

Eurodave on here has moulds to do a right hand sidecar in fiberglass as they are quite hard to find

what parts do you need, I have a few lying around although most will be as cosmetically challenged as yours

If you don't mind what is the frame number or engine number? curious about the "1984" as I thought they stopped building them before that

[wysh]

nah dont mind at all mate
ahh where do i locate the frame name or engine im curios too

[Kickaha]

nah dont mind at all mate
ahh where do i locate the frame name or engine im curios too

Engine number on the right hand side by the engine breather near the clutch arm and frame number on the steering head behind the headlight

[wysh]

5f9-co1498
let me know where it gets u :D

[Kickaha]

5f9-co1498
let me know where it gets u :D

5F9 dates it as a 1981 XJ550RH

COUNTRY: OCEANIA

MODEL NAME: XJ550RH
STREET NAME: 1981 XJ550
MODEL ID CODE: 5F9
FRAME ID: 5F9
SERIAL NUMBER STARTS AT: 000101
NOTES: styling and features the same as US Seca model, has dual front disc brakes

more model info here
http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=14577.html

[blackdog]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmin5WkOuPw