armyofda12mnkeys

I have a fork dust seal missing on my 78 XS400, so decided to get rid of it, and install some fork gaiters instead ... and put on new non-rusty fork trim/badge and if got time, probably put in the steering stem bearings I hear improve handling this weekend (and of course at the end of this work, putting new fork oil)... I also bought some fork oil seals (yamaha part #1L9-23145-00-00) I was going to do it this weekend with some friends helping me out... So I had following questions... 1. Will the mikesxs xs650 fork gaiters fit the 33mm xs400 forks? 2. Should I buy any other gaskets (aka parts that are useless once they come off) if Im taking off the forks/steering units doing the work above? 3. and also what are the tapered steering stem bearing/seal set i bought (shown here) exactly replacing in this pic: Thanks!, Arian

Yeh it was about 10m. Doh, I feel like a idiot. Lucky i caught it quick before did some damage

Hmmmmm interesting, I didnt even think of the petcock... I'm not using the standard tank, I have two 1/4" NPT ball-valve petcocks operating each tube coming out of the tank (which then from the petcocks join into 1 tube with a Y adapter (not sure of terminology), and then i guess that tube then gets split up to each carb [bikes not in front of me at the moment and my mechanic did all the work setting it up])... I'll try to get some help doing the carb sometime soon [unless you think with those non-stock petcocks i definately need them turned to off all the time] ... for now, just putting the main petcock I use on off when parked (and other 'reserve' one always on off as its not really a reserve since its at same height as other petcock... used if other one gets clogged up). Hehe, I gotta post pics of my bike soon here, She's a looker. EDIT: I may be retarded, Im confirming with tank/petcock seller later today if I NEED to turn off petcock definately each time since got rid of stock petcock.

I turned my bike off and it started dripping and I turned off the petcock to stop it. I guess if I have gas coming out of the left airbox while not running, its a float issue on that side?, like maybe its getting stuck? or could it be something else? Anyway just wondering what could be issue and what parts to buy since I have to buy air filter elements anyway today (just got my bike back from my mechanic and I guess even though he ultrasonic-ed the carbs, putting it back together he prob didnt do the left float correctly?). Thanks!

Is there a huge advantage to Pod air filters over the stock? Also I remember someone saying Uni air filters end up better than the pod's for some reason on a recent thread here (forget the reason why)... My mechanic removed my filters so need to buy new ones. Think my 78 XS400 bike that i bought last year has a 2-1 aftermarket exhaust, guessing they are the Mac ones since they are only company I see making them. If I do install pod or uni, will the carbs definately need to be rejetted or it just will be '5%' off and air/fuel screw will be enough to compensate for that? Thanks!

Cool I may ask for one from him at some point when my bikes done

heh where did you get that Norton-like Yamaha sticker?, My bike will look like a Norton by the end I was debating putting silver Norton decals on it.

Eh Im not a huge fan of spoked wheels ... I love my Mag wheels and yours too , retro but 80s/Back-to-the-Futurific lookin, and reminds me more of my bike as an iron horse too with more metal on there haha ... Heres my bike a year ago P.S. what would be the approach to make old XS400 mag wheels look good? powder-coat them like below... saw this one on chrismejia xs500 blog: OR strip them entirely... I guess the stock mags come with a black paint? over the aluminum mag wheels (and thats the thin strips of silver on the wheel?)? So would be safe to use method #2 by stripping paint off and showing all aluminum or stripping the paint and take them somewhere to get them powder coated? not sure if theres a 3rd option for doing an all black wheel, ie. stripping and then painting over it (or would be better just to get it powdercoated black)?

Any good metric toolkits (not like the kind you have in the your saddlebag, but a more detailed kit)? Someone recommended this Crescent Toolkit for standard maintainance, but wasnt sure if was a good fit to classic metric bikes (specifically 78 XS400), It includes alot of SAE tools too, so wasnt sure what will give the most bang for your buck for motorcycle use ... http://www.amazon.com/Crescent-CTK170CMP-Mechanics-Tool-170-Piece/dp/B000LWAX2C Anyone got suggestions to help add onto this list?: It doesnt need to be a speciality kit as I already have or am sharing with my friend these items: Circlip internal/external pliers Cheap socket/wrench set (3/8 ratchet drive) [willing to upgrade if included in nice kit], 3 piece adjustable crescent wrench set Prob get a nice torque wrench separately (open to suggestions as i know there are different in/ft per pound ones, anyone know a good one to use that covers most bike needs? or need 2 to cover low torque and higher torque settings?), .... got some other crap me and friend share for general maintainance... Motion Pro Spark Plug Gapping Tool Bike Master Dual Reading Feeler Gauge Set - 32-Blade Combination Locktite thread locker, blue/red Clutch/Flywheel Holding Tool Flywheel puller Chain Riveting/breaker Tool Hydraulic Brake Bleeder Impact Screwdriver 1500 lift various engine/fork/brake fluids/sprays Heck I may just need a good set of combo wrenches if above is good enough, and possibly better socket kit, and general screwdriver bits. Our bike need any Allen wrenches anywhere?

I am not sure. The pipes look old and the guy i bought bike from didnt do anything on it. Unless Mac made these exhausts 10 years ago. .... Yeh i was thinking about getting cool mufflers like reverse cones, or peashooter or maybe british silencer style, and putting them on. Wasnt sure if i want a 2-1 with a 1 muffler still or get 2 new headers with 2 mufflers (where can you buy just chrome headers for xs400?, Ive only seen them sold in kits like the Mac exhaust kit). Cool, i saw that link before and also the link you mentioned for the wrap... Would you use the 1" or 2" thick wrap? Also what color would you do for a all-black cafe bike? black or tan? Thanks, Arian

My exhaust is a black 2-1 pipe, looks kinda crummy but dont got the money for a new one till next year... Saw some cafe racer and bobbers used exhaust wrap for a badass look on the headpipes, but I heard different views on the wrap itself... positives/advantages: Some claim it moves heat faster away from the engine, which is good to keep engine cooler?... or having wrap keeps less heat around your legs area+leather chaps someone mentioned haha?, so protects against yer feet gettin burned (my feet never touch headpipes hehe, but i guess some do, prob one CL 350 pipes with crappy gaurds hehe). negatives/disadvantages: Others claim it makes the exhaust hotter, bluing the pipes which you wont see until take off the wrap. Or even cause further problems with the bike (I'm not sure how but I read "tape and wrap will burn and cause ignition problems that are hard to fix.") Those people seem to recommend to just use high temp paint on the headpipe to cover up any ugliness. Any opinion?

cool, btw Coker told me the 3.5 x 18" to them that my xs400 manual recommends in their system = 350-18... http://store.cokertire.com/350-18-firestone-deluxe-champion-blackwall-tire.html hehe, might be tempted to buy one next season.

My friends bike has same issue. I'll have to figure out whats wrong with it, and post back here on solution.

wow nice tires... sorry to hijack the thread, what Coker tires would work with a 1978 XS400E cafe style? The rear fender is gone btw... I read the manual saying each tire on that bike is 3.5 (cross-section?) x 18" diameter i think, But most of the tires are all larger than that. (Not sure how to buy tires if anyone can enlighten me lol)

thats might be http://myworld.ebay.com/speedmotoco. I ordered alot of cafe parts from that ebay shop. P.S. I got new turn signals installed on my XS400, and now the signals dont blink at all anymore, so I'll be referring to this thread to try some things. The self-cancelling turn signals feature never worked on my bike so once i get them to blink again, maybe I'll just buy a new self-cancelling unit that handles this.

Hey guys, http://www.davequinnmotorcycles.com/07BLKABC.gif So Slimline style is #1 and Wideline style is #3... Is there a functional difference with them? Otherwise i may just get the wideline, not sure but think it would look good on a cafe bike (seems like everyone uses the slimlines though). Thanks!, Arian

I have an AGM part #61-2026 from mikesxs.net on an 78 XS400. works much better than one i had before. here is what mikesxs said when i asked: "If your bike had a 12n12a4a-1 battery then our battery will interchange ( check dimensions and post polarity positions and note the AGM battery has No vent.)" Think i looked up and that was one of two batteries the late 70s XS could take (think other one was Yuasa YB12A-A) so i bought it and been using it since. PS think that same part is also on partsnmore.com

partsnmore has cheapest gasket set @ $45.00 (ebay may have it, but i usu see it at a premium there): https://www.partsnmore.com/cat_index.php?model=xs400&category=engine

woh, cool nice to see whats officially recommended... I might buy it, 45$ though... the flywheel puller is just 9$ if can figure out if its a standardized size used on other bikes. know if its 27mm or 24mm?

I think its 27mm since most Yamahas have 27mm but i just wanted to be sure. I have a 1978 XS400E if it different than rest of Yamahas.

awesome thanks... i also noticed the site you posted looked like the Yamaha Parts website... and saw they get their stuff from them... so i googled the part number... and saw some listings in Google Shopping area... and also ebay. Found another part i needed based on this search method that you helped me perfect haha... Btw this site that showed up in google shopping results also looks like Yamaha Parts storefront but is cheaper than the site you sent + Yamaha Parts. http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/1978/XS400E/CYLINDER HEAD CYLINDER/parts.html check it out

think my mechanic said it was 4 round things somewhere on the engine, and one of them was kinda broken off and almost ghettoly put back on, think the threads of it were bad so had trouble putting back on... not sure if that helps Think he may have called it a 'valve cap' too.

My mechanic said i needed a 'rocker cap' since it looked like broke up and previous guy just glued it back on somehow. Not sure what this is or where to get one. I have a 1978 XS400 Thanks!

Hey drewpy, you got a 78 xs400, so assuming you know what it is . P.S. i was looking at some tools I may need in future to take apart my engine, and split/put back together the crankcase, (currently opening my friends old 85 Ninja engine and realized I may need the following tools for splitting his engine and later my own XS engine), I was wondering if you have used any similar tools on yer XS400 engine, or you would use a nonspecialized tool for each of these operations: Tusk Clutch Holding Tool Tusk Crankcase Splitter/Separator Tusk Crank Puller/Installer Tool Tusk Flywheel puller (comes in 24mm and 27mm, not sure which to get since my mechanic currently has my manual )

My bikes in the shop and had some rear brake issues. So I wanted to research it a bit... I saw on bikez.net that my bikes has a 'expanding' rear brake... not sure what that means... i was just curious what kinda system my bike has. I think there is a fluid container thing on the right side of the bike near the back, so i assumed before it was disc, but not sure anyway since i saw the words 'expanding brake'. Thanks!