snowsa
XS400 New Member
Hello,
Had my first motorcycle fall into my lap and have been wanting to get into auto repair as a hobby for a while. This site has been the most helpful spot on the net so far, so I've joined and would like to introduce my project.
I have a XS 400-J (pretty sure) along with an owners manual (one of the reasons I believe is it a 'J') and Haynes Yamaha Owners Workshop Manual. I'm equipped with an academic understanding of how cars, and by extension motorcycles, work and a willingness to take things apart.
The bike is in okay condition and after a little reading and a battery charge, I managed to get it started. I drive a Mustang with a stick, so I felt I could get it moving around the yard (no motorcycle license or experience yet...) and had a little success. I believe it was dying for reasons beyond the operator and thus found your site. I am under the impression from the previous owner that it and had trouble with the carburetor, so I spent the last couple of weeks reading and final removed it yesterday.
Here is my 4-step plan:
-Get it running and begin riding
-Any part I remove to help with the repair/tune-up, restore to the best I can
-Once operating regularly, restore untouched parts and cosmetic plates (plastic pieces)
-Completely dismantle and reassemble
Any help or direction anyone would like to share would be greatly appriciated. I have two main questions/concerns at this point. First, I have removed the carburetor and thought the inside would be somehow 'dirtier' inside but I don't know that how to clean or if this is even my problem. Second, many of the exposed parts have an old look to them (rusty surface, oil, age) and I know nothing about how to improve the look. Any threads you could send my way for a good into to these and other topics would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise I will continue to look myself.
Looking forward to being a part of this community.
-New Guy
Had my first motorcycle fall into my lap and have been wanting to get into auto repair as a hobby for a while. This site has been the most helpful spot on the net so far, so I've joined and would like to introduce my project.
I have a XS 400-J (pretty sure) along with an owners manual (one of the reasons I believe is it a 'J') and Haynes Yamaha Owners Workshop Manual. I'm equipped with an academic understanding of how cars, and by extension motorcycles, work and a willingness to take things apart.
The bike is in okay condition and after a little reading and a battery charge, I managed to get it started. I drive a Mustang with a stick, so I felt I could get it moving around the yard (no motorcycle license or experience yet...) and had a little success. I believe it was dying for reasons beyond the operator and thus found your site. I am under the impression from the previous owner that it and had trouble with the carburetor, so I spent the last couple of weeks reading and final removed it yesterday.
Here is my 4-step plan:
-Get it running and begin riding
-Any part I remove to help with the repair/tune-up, restore to the best I can
-Once operating regularly, restore untouched parts and cosmetic plates (plastic pieces)
-Completely dismantle and reassemble
Any help or direction anyone would like to share would be greatly appriciated. I have two main questions/concerns at this point. First, I have removed the carburetor and thought the inside would be somehow 'dirtier' inside but I don't know that how to clean or if this is even my problem. Second, many of the exposed parts have an old look to them (rusty surface, oil, age) and I know nothing about how to improve the look. Any threads you could send my way for a good into to these and other topics would be greatly appreciated. Otherwise I will continue to look myself.
Looking forward to being a part of this community.
-New Guy