Old Bike Troubles - Help!

T

TayskieLaine

Member
I bought an 82 Yamaha Maxim XJ650 and although she's beautiful I have very quickly learned with these old bikes comes repairs.

Right now she won't start, it turns over but it sounds like the engine is just not catching. After I first bought it it died and won't not start, much to the same way it is right now. I got the carbs changed and the was good to go for about a week. One morning it just wouldn't start again. Initially it would start and then die right away, even with the choke. Only to not even start now.

I have changed the spark plugs and ignition fuse. I would love to figure out this problem myself if I could, I'm determined to learn as much as I can about fixing my bike.

Does it sound like a fuel line problem or more of an ignition problem?
 
After trying to start it, pull the plugs. Are they wet? If so, it's a spark issue.

if not, fuel delivery problem.

How old is the battery? They can wreak havoc on trying to determine problems.
 
With my experiences with the old bikes and from what you said I think there may be a chance that you have a tank that's rusty inside and clogging up the lines. Three things you always check in a situation like this Fuel, ignition, air. Good luck

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Sounds like a weak battery.

If a new battery won't fix it, check the air filter. When I bought my '85 FJ600 I would foul my plugs once a week because the air filter was extremely dirty. The bike was quite hard to start and it was running way too rich.
 
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Since the bike ran good for a week after cleaning/changing carbs and now it's toast, I'd also suggest the tank may be rusty inside and the carbs are plugged up again. If your going to keep this bike, find a repair manual and pick up a cheap multimetre at CTC. Also if you've tried for awhile to start and failed, your battery may be low. You might want to pick up a float charger (not car battery charger) Welcome to the world of old bikes.
 
The bike has unfortunately won this time. I'm going to have to put it in storage and have a mechanic look at it over the winter. Living in an appartment building and having parked on the street for the summer I just don't have the tools and the space to start pulling it apart, combined with the fact the days are now getting colder too. But Im bound and determined to learn more about bikes over the winter, and hopefully be able to trouble shoot any issues next spring.
 
Matt Rain said:
Sounds like a weak battery.

If a new battery won't fix it, check the air filter. When I bought my '85 FJ600 I would foul my plugs once a week because the air filter was extremely dirty. The bike was quite hard to start and it was running way too rich.
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:confused:......
 
Are you giving it throttle right after it starts?

I need to hold the throttle open a bit on my bike, for a good 5-10 minutes after I start it, otherwise it'll die, even with the choke on.

My starting procedure in the morning is:

1. Full choke
2. Hit starter 'til it catches
3. Soon as it catches, give it some gas and keep it there. Turn choke off.
4. Wait 30 seconds or so, still holding the throttle.
5. Kick it into first and ride away, remembering to give it some throttle when stopping at corners/stops for 5-10 minutes.

Old bikes are finnicky.
 
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Matt Rain said:
Are you giving it throttle right after it starts?

I need to hold the throttle open a bit on my bike, for a good 5-10 minutes after I start it, otherwise it'll die, even with the choke on.

My starting procedure in the morning is:

1. Full choke
2. Hit starter 'til it catches
3. Soon as it catches, give it some gas and keep it there. Turn choke off.
4. Wait 30 seconds or so, still holding the throttle.
5. Kick it into first and ride away, remembering to give it some throttle when stopping at corners/stops for 5-10 minutes.

Old bikes are finnicky.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a weak/dying/discharged battery.;)
 
It's not! Prolly just a slight air/vacuum leak somewhere that somehow fixes itself when the bike is at operating temp.

I do need to charge my battery every couple months cause I take too many short trips around town.

If you haven't checked or charged your battery recently, Crappy Tire has the Genius charger line on sale this week. I just picked one up for a friend this morning.
 
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