1984 XS400 Maxim Oil Filter Install and Parts

[TonyB]

Hallo everyone, I am new to the forum and live in Oakville Ontario. Just purchased a 1984 XS400 Maxim and would appreciate some help regarding the oil filter. Drained the oil today and also managed to remove the oil filter cover plated despite the bolt head being rounded, seems typical from what I have read on the forum so far. My questions are as follows, should there be a spring between the cover plate and filter, the filter has a flat surface on one side and the plate on the other side has a depression where the gasket is located and the word "FRONT" is stamped on this side of the filter, what is the correct orientation for the filter install. The replacement filter that came with the bike seems to have really hard and rigid filter media, is this normal or just an old filter. Also is there a manual for this model on the Forum, the manuals I found on the Forum so far are for 1982 models and earlier and the oil filter and cover plate are different.
Thanks,
TonyB

 

[Lou Ranger]

Hi and welcome to the Forum.
Manual for the dohc is located in post #3 of the top thread in the "Garage" section of the Forum.

Before you go any farther, you may want to check out my threads and try not to repeat my mistakes.

The first posting on the first thread below has a diagram of all the parts which might help you with replacement. The 2nd thread below shows a cool set of round bolt sockets which go on sale regularly at CdnTire.

Whatever you do, DO NOT over-tighten that bolt on the Maxim filter cover Better to drip and have to re-tighten than crack the cover and drip forever.

http://www.xs400.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8626
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http://www.xs400.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8129
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[TonyB]

Thanks very much for your help Lou, much appreciated.........TonyB

 

[16VGTIDave]

I have seen a spring for the oil filter mentioned (possibly on ebay?), but have never seen it in person or in the manual. Maybe this was an update from the factory? Will have to remember to do some research...

I don't know how a round filter can have a front? Maybe "front" is Chinese for "top" / "up" or "bottom" / "down"? Due to the filter design, the filter media has to be rather robust.

 

[Lou Ranger]

... I don't know how a round filter can have a front? Maybe "front" is Chinese for "top" / "up" or "bottom" / "down"? ...

Well, it might be Japanese for top ...

More likely, the manufacturer labels them the same way as for filters that mount on engines where the flow is front/back instead of up/down like the dohc. I could never figure it out and simply copied the configuration in the parts diagram.

As to a spring, I never saw one on the dohc either, however, apparently there is one for the sohc filter. The manual mentions a filter by-pass valve, comprising a plunger and spring which is situated in the bore of the filter cover centre bolt.

 

[TonyB]

Hey Lou, any idea where I can get a oil filter cover plate and gas tank petcock.
Thanks,
TonyB

 

[Lou Ranger]

If by cover you mean the round, flat aluminum thing on the bottom of the engine, my best guess would be to look for a wrecked bike - either a Maxim or Seca - or a blown engine.

When I cracked mine, I could not find a single used cover anywhere in North America and Yamaha apparently stopped making them long ago. You never know what might come up on E-Bay though. But be careful not to believe a seller who isn't holding one in his hand and can verify that it is the round disc and not the clam-shell from the sohc or one of the XJ (550/650/750) dohc bikes.

I did have luck with having the cracked one welded, although it took a specialist 2 tries before it didn't drip with oil pressure. First time, he added material to just short of the smooth round centre hole - not wanting to have to do any precision machining. We thought high temp gasket seal might complete the seal. Didn't work, oil seeped out. 2nd time, he welded to the edge and did a rough buffing. The inside surface of the centre hole wasn't perfect, but one size thicker on the "O" ring sealed it just fine.

How bad is your cover - can you attach a picture to the thread?

 

[TonyB]

Unfortunately I left it at Canadian Tire while looking for an o-ring for it on Sunday, went back Monday morning an no sign of it, so mad with myself, what can you do. I will try scrap yards.
Thanks,
TonyB

 

[16VGTIDave]

Good luck. If you find an engine, you will probably have to buy the entire thing. It is rare for a yard to "part out" an engine, especially a running engine.

It will be easier, cheaper and faster to use the Kawi parts as detailed in another thread here.

 

[Lou Ranger]

Keep bugging the management at the CTC store, they should have set that aside for a customer's return.

Managed to find this on-line.
Awfully expensive for one small piece of aluminum, but cheap compared to a wrecked bike or a whole engine (not to mention the hassle of dealing with a huge, heavy lump) that is if it's really available from Yamaha now ...

http://www.yamahapartswebstore.com/...6512974/OIL-CLEANER/23MAXIM400OILCLEANER.html
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[doodsaibot]

Tony B., I highly suggest you go to that link that Lou found if you have no luck with the tire shop. That oil filter cover is NOT easy to find. Trust us when we say that. They only made the DOHC 400 for a few years so I doubt there are as many as the SOHC in circulation. And besides, those DOHC bikes are bullet proof so your chance of finding a broken one in a yard is slim to nil. Good luck, man.

 

[TonyB]

I called around to a few scrap yards and on my third call I found a filter cover, bolt, gaskets and petcock at Toronto Cycle Salvage on Lakeshore at Brownsline. Their shop has a huge inventory of parts and owner Ralph is extremely knowledgable, I highly recommend them for all used parts. Thanks to everyone for your input, I was very relieved to find the filter cover which seems to be in scarce supply.
TonyB

 

[Lou Ranger]

Wow, congratulations Tony. Rare and lucky find indeed. Nice too that it's so close to home.

Be real careful with this new cover. I couldn't believe how little force 11 ft.lbs is. My large torque wrench was set at 11 lbs but, unlike when one is changing a car tire at 98 ft.lbs., the signal the wrench sends @ 11 lbs. is almost imperceptible. I did feel the cover crack through the wrench and actually thought that was the wrench telling me I was at 11 lbs - probably more like 50!

Use a small box wrench and only use your wrist. All the best.