Newbie

Hey guys i recently picked up a 1981 xs400 and found this site to be extremely helpful so i thought id start by intruducing myself. Im Alex and like I said i stumbled upon a pretty dusty bike while driving on some backroads near my house and the owner was willing to take $280 for it. I figured it would be a nice project bike and that i would probably drop around what i payed for it in parts so it would be farely in-expensive. Here was the bike as i first bought it:


The owner claimed the bike still ran but it looked as if it had been sitting for quite some time. I decided not to try and start it but clean it up first and then give her a go. I started with the carbs cleaning them out very thouroughly then removed the entire engine from the bike and replaced all the gaskets. Then I did the easy stuff such as replacing the oil filter and changing the oil. Once I had the engine completed i painted the engine block a flat black as well as the two exhaust pipes up until the chrome. I also stripped the gas tank paint and wrapped it in a flat black vinyl wrap. Im currently waiting on some parts to fix a leaky petcock and then im going to try and start her up. My last problem with the bike is that the clutch has no tension and doesnt spring back then pulled on. I dont know too much about how the clutch works so I am having a difficult time diagnosing the problem with it. I noticed that the cable is frayed inside the clutch panel so i am wondering if i need a new cable. There is also a very small oil leak from the bottom of the bike that I dont know where its coming from but other than that she is in good condition.

http://www.xs400.com/threads/a-bunch-of-how-tos-in-a-thread.10715/

Welcome to the group, Looks like a good bike, Looks like the 1981 XS400H 4R5. The How to's should be helpful for a new join. Looks like you have some experience Good job on that!

Petcock problems -- I have solved it by doubling up o-rings, a small one, and the bigger one that came with the kit. here is a pic, and explaniation of how I came up with that solution.
http://www.xs400.com/threads/leaking-petcock.13131/#post-138608

My last problem with the bike is that the clutch has no tension and doesnt spring back then pulled on. I dont know too much about how the clutch works so I am having a difficult time diagnosing the problem with it. I noticed that the cable is frayed inside the clutch panel so i am wondering if i need a new cable.

Click to expand...

So you have already learned that there is minimum adjustment at the handle bar, the next place is under the drive sprocket cover. The spring is there. Where the spring connects to the clutch device. that hole gets worn out. take a look, and see how much life you have on that. You might have to pick up a new spring. pending on how damaged you clutch line is. These are pics I did when I adjusted the clutch screw.
http://www.xs400.com/threads/nuetral-and-5th-shift-problems.10687/page-3#post-110752
There is other good info in that thread. When we were talking about that thread, my cable lining started to get pulled out of the cable.

The small leak, I have one or two as well. I have been attempting to determine if the starter is letting oil to pass though the starter opening, meaning the gasket/oring is shot, or its coming from one of 5 orings/gaskets under the bike (oil filter oring, oil sump gasket, clutch rod seal, output seal, two circluar seals) Good luck

arfstrom said:

http://www.xs400.com/threads/a-bunch-of-how-tos-in-a-thread.10715/

Welcome to the group, Looks like a good bike, Looks like the 1981 XS400H 4R5. The How to's should be helpful for a new join. Looks like you have some experience Good job on that!

Petcock problems -- I have solved it by doubling up o-rings, a small one, and the bigger one that came with the kit. here is a pic, and explaniation of how I came up with that solution.
http://www.xs400.com/threads/leaking-petcock.13131/#post-138608



So you have already learned that there is minimum adjustment at the handle bar, the next place is under the drive sprocket cover. The spring is there. Where the spring connects to the clutch device. that hole gets worn out. take a look, and see how much life you have on that. You might have to pick up a new spring. pending on how damaged you clutch line is. These are pics I did when I adjusted the clutch screw.
http://www.xs400.com/threads/nuetral-and-5th-shift-problems.10687/page-3#post-110752
There is other good info in that thread. When we were talking about that thread, my cable lining started to get pulled out of the cable.

The small leak, I have one or two as well. I have been attempting to determine if the starter is letting oil to pass though the starter opening, meaning the gasket/oring is shot, or its coming from one of 5 orings/gaskets under the bike (oil filter oring, oil sump gasket, clutch rod seal, output seal, two circluar seals) Good luck

Click to expand...

Thanks for all the information I'll be sure to check all of it out!

Good find, clean for the money.

Hi Alex, and welcome to the Madhouse! (We all must be Crazy, about these bikes, so we swap tips and fixes, here in the Madhouse!)
So Welcome from an English member,(riding a Canadian impoted bike!)

Merlin

huh, i thought xschris bought all the 400s to be had in NY

Sesty said:

huh, i thought xschris bought all the 400s to be had in NY

Click to expand...

New york is a big state.

I do notice on that bike someone has cut about half the muffles off. If you want a good running bike either replace them or put on a new after market setup with matching head pipes.

Thanks guys I look foward to showing you my progress here is the bike now as it stands...