Gnash

I put on a new "gasket" deal. It's the rubber part with the 4 holes in it under the valve. That didn't help. I put a fuel cutoff valve in line. It's working. I'm getting a couple drops overnight leaking out of the valve. I'm gonna rebuild the whole thing or find another one. thanks

All is well! The starter was cooked. I am so lucky to have found a boneyard about 80 miles from my house! They must have had 10 83 xs 400 maxims!!!!!!!! This guy has a couple thousand bikes laying around!! Anyway I found another starter, that looks brand new, for $65. It started right up and doesn't drain the voltage. Problem solved. It's also good to know I have a place to find a TCI, voltage regulator or some other hard to fins part close by.

So, I sold my 83 xs 400. The guy rode it around town all day before buying it. After he gives me the money, he rides it home and a few miles down the road, the bike dies. He flooded it and couldn't get it started. He cranked on the starter for a long time until the battery died. I showed up with a new battery, cleaned the plugs off, PUT SOME GAS IN IT, and started it. Now my stater is toast. It will not crank at full speed. I took it apart and found some windings "welded together" inside. After I got the bike started the first time, I would ride for a few minutes then the bike would just die while riding. Would this starter be a "dead short" now, and cause the bike to die? I'm assuming it's not letting the charging system keep the voltage up. I have spark, but now I can't even get a full crank with a new battery. I had never had to crank on the starter like this guy did. This is a new symptom. I gave the guy his money back after I started the bike and it sounded cool, as far as a knock or anything. He will buy it again after I get it running again. I'm putting a new starter on in a couple of days. Any thoughts?

It wouldn't stop the leak? I just need to keep the gas from flowing while the bike is not running. Right now, I'm taking the gas tank off every time I ride!

My 83 xs 400 DOHC Maxim has recently developed "Petcock Incotinence." It just drips out with the valve set to the on position. It normally doesn't leak anything. The petcock has res, pri, and on. None of these posotions are "Off." The on position is off when the bike isn't running. It set overnight. I came in the next morning and I must have leaked a half a gallon onto the floor. It's filling up the carbs too, leaking out of the intake side and filling up the cylinders. Some gas got onto my NEW backtire and formed a bubble on the tire. I am so pissed. Anyway. Is there a quick fix for the valve? I want to put a "Shut-off" valve after the petcock and in front of the filter. Will this hinder performance? It seems like my only option without putting in another petcock. Thanks

You can actually get to the air mix screws with the carbs on, through the airbox. It's a bitch, but once you get a flathead on the slot your in. I start at 1 turn and go from there. Between 1 and 2 turns. I have never adjusted past 2 turns. Man, the floats are a bitch. I actually have a friend who adjusted those for me with this carb tool that looks like a couple thermometers for two carbs. I could never get it right by just guessing by bending the tab on the floats.

I'm not sure where you live, but I found Castrol MOTORCYCLE oil at Orielly's in my very small town, here in Missouri. Just go to your local auto parts store and you should find some. Be sure and mention 4 stroke oil.

Can you fit two carbs in there, or do you seperate them to fit? I've got to get one of these!

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Nice! I was having issues like this until I cleaned the carbs again and put a fuel filter on.

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AHA! So, less teeth=higher speed! Got it. I want a 17 or more for front sprocket or less than 35 for back!

Thanx for the link, Rascal! Reading now.

I think it will have plenty of power for me. I'm 180lbs. If not, I can go back. I would like to get the bike to rev 4 grand at 55. It just seems like it would be a pretty easy mod. So I have a 16 tooth sprocket now. Should I try a 17 or 18? Will I need a chain with more links? I have 100 links now.

Whoa! You mean the 45 tooth sprocket is smaller than a 35 tooth?! I just assumed the more teeth=bigger diameter sprocket. Did you need extra links for that 1 tooth in the front, Drewpy? I'm really confused now.

Does anyone have experience swapping out sprocket sizes? I want to put bigger sprokets on my 83 XS400. I have stock 16 tooth and 35 tooth sprockets now. I'm rapping 5000 rpm at 55mph. I don't neccessarily wan't to go faster. I just want to run lower rpms at 55mph on the highway. I'm thinking of just getting a 45 tooth rear sprocket from an XS550. Will this sprocket fit on my XS400 wheel, or will I need an xs550 wheel too? My stock chain has 100 links. I'm thinking I will need 104 links, since the xs550 has the 16/45 combo and 104 links. I have found the proper chain and sprocket on ebay for a good price. The listing ends in 1 day. I have also found an 83 xs550 rear wheel with a real good tire, if I need the wheel! I'm putting new tires on my bike next week, so this is the perfect time for the sprocket swap. Thanks.

On my 83 maxim, you have to take the seat off to get to it. Right at the front of the seat area on the frame.

Hey all. I need to find a manual for my 83 XS400 DOHC Maxim. I have the 82 manual from this forum, but I need to know specs for my year. Thanks!

Nice bike, Chicken! I thought I had the wrong handlebars on my bike, but you have the same. My problem with those bars is, the plastic piece on the throttle cable under the grip will break easily if the bars are turned to the right. DON'T TRY IT, if you think you don't have enough clearance from the tank! I was thinking of getting a taller set of risers for mine, or taller handlebars, before I put my new throttle cable on. My bike was painted over a couple times before I bought it. It's original color is red! When I bought the bike, it was blue. I just used a can of black Krylon on the tank and side panel. The tank has a ton of bondo on it. I'll paint it proper during the winter. It's missing the right side cover. I have the battery cover, but that right side cover that covers the battery cover has been hard to find. I need to find the proper front fender too. Here's a pic of mine:

Thanks all! We have WD-40 here, and the carb cleaner seems to work pretty well. Sean, I am replacing the crank and rods, and rings. The motor has spun a rod bearing. I will probably leave the top end alone, other than cleaning.

So, I'm rebuilding the engine on my 81 Honda CM400C. I want to clean the carbon and what not off the valves with a wire brush, and clean the inside of the cases. The manual recommends using a wire brush and solvent. What type of sovent should I use? I have engine degreaser for removing sludge on car engines. Will this work on the valves or is there a special solvent I should use? Also, will the "degreaser" be fine to use on the aluminum motorcycle engine? What should I use for the aluminum cases? Any engine cleaning and rebuilding tips would be appreciated! Also, while I have the frame nearly stripped, I will have new brakes pads, sproket, chain and new tyres put on. What do y'all use to just clean stuff without damaging electrical, rubber and plastic parts? Thanks Shane

Right on, Drewp! I have the 82 manual for the 12R. I knew it just had to be a 5 speed, but the 82, and so many other years have the 6 speed. I have to get my mitts on that 83 manual. They made some serious changes in those 2 years. I even wonder if I have the right oil (20W40) in the engine now. Thanks again!

Yeah, it's 1 down, then up to neutral, and then 4 more gears. The top gear is about 5700 rpm at 60mph. I have the 82 manual, but I should track down the 83 manual. It seems that parts are very hard to find for this bike, with the manual being the rarest.

Oh yeah. Everybody is buying up bikes right now. Before I found my xs400 for $175, I found a 500cc Ninja for $500! I called the dude on the first day, and on the way over to pick it up it was sold! Same with a '73 Honda350. The guy only wanted $250 fot it. It was about 40 miles away from me. I get in the truck and drive there, and in the time that I called the guy and arrived the bike had sold!! I say, if you really like the bike, buy it before it's gone! I think, any running motorcycle is worth at least a grand! Just offer him $1000.