My xs 400 (first time bike owner)

[DCornelius]

Well, title kinda sums it up.

Im 21, married and own a home. Wanted a damn motorcycle, didnt care much as to what I got, as I was on a budget. I was going through 4 Craigslist cities looking for a bike between $400 and $600 that had a title.

Long story short, i emailed about 2 dozen people, and the one person that emailed me back was selling a 1981 Yamaha xs 400 for $200. I was able to make the purchase and am very excited about it

The previous owner claims that the bike needs a new battery, and some carb work (i think he said a CV boot?)

He did start it, using jumper cables and spraying lubricant or something.

I am not very savvy... actually I dont know anything at all.

So, tips, suggestions, places for cheap parts... all welcome.

[Ebola Monkey]

Welcome to hell.

I'm in my 30's home owner, just bought an 82 xs400 for my wife. I ride an 04 VStar 1100 myself.

What he sprayed was starting fluid. It's mostly ether, and as long as you have some kind of spark, ANYTHING will run.

I'm going to give you a HUGE shortcut.... I'm going to give you everything I've found for myself. I've been through the electrical, and fuel delivery system, but won't claim to be am expert on either.

Some I've found here, specifically from drewpy, and yamagod. Some, I've found elsewhere on the web.

Carb wise (which you need)(most likely jets, fload valve, diaphragms, carb holders):

Jets, and such:Mike's XS

CV boots (diaphragms): Ebay

Pod Filters, carb holders, and much more: Ebay

O-Rings (you need them): Here

I promise to post more tomorrow, but I'm VERY tired right now. The links I gave you should keep you going for now.

[exess4]

Here is a link not for the faint-of heart, really downright DISheartening unless your heart is in it. For the $600 you might have found something 3 times better and prob at least 1/3 the work. But that is the fun of it (if your heart is in it), and In this link the first response, 'macmac' is informative yet still,, , The work is half the fun and will make it all the more rewarding for yourself. And when you break down sometime you'll know what to do, like McGruber, er McGyver. And welcome to this club, I've found it to be best possible place for XS400 owner - and more Get er goin and post plenty of questions. Make sure to use the search engine bar at upper right effectively and often, you'll find alot.

http://forum.motorcycle-usa.com/default.aspx?f=21&m=478680&g=478732#m478732

[exess4]

For a more positive outlook and plenty of advise read all of this thread.

The owner (manic Salamander) has a '77 but you'll experience similar.

[HoughMade]

That will be a fun project. XS400s are great first fix up bikes. The engines and trans. and pretty bulletproof so when you get the carbs sorted out, it will probably run decent. Sure you'll have to change out the fluids....actually fluid- oil. Check the points and clean them. Replace the plugs. Adjust the valves. All this is pretty easy. Just get the factory shop manual (available free here somewhere) or a Haynes and you will be fine. When you get that manual, just go through all the normal maintenance items and don't buy new parts on speculation- only by what you absolutely need!

As for the carbs, they are really pretty simple. Knowing what I know now, I would just take them off, completely disassemble them (keep track of everything, especially the little bitty ball bearings that hold the enrichener rod in place- you will know whay I mean when you take them apart), and boil the carb bodies in vinegar water or lemon juice water for a couple of hours. This will remove everything from the passages about as well as ultrasonic- and cheaper. If you do this, turn the carbs into a different position every 20 minutes or so.

While they are apart, order the parts you need after you have inspected and cleaned them. Don't order based on what the seller told you- see what you need for yourself. I made new float bowl gaskets myself and did not need any other carb parts- just a good cleaning. I have read online that small holes in the carb diaphragms can be repaired rather than replaced.

Take heart! You can do this. Here was my winter spring project...and the smooth running, start on the first kick every time result (was sitting still for over 10 years before I got it). I didn't have paint to deal with, but that just gives you options to exercise your creativity!:

[exess4]

I've read that one and pasted part of it in notepad for future 'carb' reference vinegar ultra

So, tips, suggestions, places for cheap parts... all welcome.

Finding best or cheapest location for parts may depend on which parts specifically.

For carbs e-monkey mentioned Mike's XS for fit on same carbs (even if website mostly for the XS650).

Drewpy has mentined Sirius Consolidated Inc. which is great, decent prices, the carb flange should show here. also another one.

Plenty of parts sites will show the blow-up view which always helps to see entire assembly of what goes where. I like this one for that: Kahuna because it opens the Blow-up view in seperate window by clicking 'Large Image', then can print out also if necessary.

One thread in YOC mentions 'cheapest gasket set' Parts'n'More

More parts . . .

Motogrid

NW Vntage

Old Barn . . . . .and the list goes on.

Also highly recommended to have part # handy when going to dealership.

Ymaha OEM

(I remember seeing a link in one thread for a comprehensive listing of parts/#'s, can't locate it)

From Sirius site

Name YAMAHA XS400 SPECIAL INTAKE CARB HOLDERS

Part No. 11-6110

Model XS400 SPECIAL

Price $ 49.99

Year SEE DETAILS

Status IN STOCK

NEW YAMAHA INTAKE CARB HOLDERS PART # 11-6110

If you have a question for best place for cheapest parts, try starting a post with whichever exact part maybe - such as cheapest gasket shown above.

I have a question of my own, speaking of cheap parts; Are these mufflers at JC Whitney, complete total s@#&, or what? ----nevermind, (follow the rules - new topic - start new post).

[DCornelius]

Thanks for the info, and support.

Just bought the new battery, gonna be putting that in tonight, hopefully gonna be getting the spark plugs after work.

Decided it would be best to at least slap some paint on the tank to prevent rust. Someone mangled the tank with some kind of power tool, and its gonna needs lots of bondo work (or just a new tank...), but heres what it looks like with some black (spray) paint.. (and a better camera lol)