1983 maxim xs400 won't start

[Ptgirl]

Have a 1983 yamaha maxim xs400 that won't start. It was running fine then all of a sudden it would stall restart then stall not it won't even make a noise when u try to start it. Checked battery, made sure no loose wires. Lights work when try to start but nothing else. Running out of things to try.

[JimR]

Have a 1983 yamaha maxim xs400 that won't start. It was running fine then all of a sudden it would stall restart then stall not it won't even make a noise when u try to start it. Checked battery, made sure no loose wires. Lights work when try to start but nothing else. Running out of things to try.

are we talking a dohc XS400 twin or something else ... if it is the twin .. check the fuses first then go for the CDI box

[drewpy]

or faulty stop/start emergancy switch

[Ptgirl]

How would I know if it's a dohc? New to motorcycles. We did check the start/emergency switch.

[kindest]

definitely sounds like a fuse.

is it getting a spark?

even if the fuse is ok the panel and the wires going to it are really touchie on old bikes I had to replace my whole fuse box.

[Ptgirl]

It's nit getting a spark. On the fuse box there is only 3 fuses but room for more should there be fuses in all the slots?is there a way to check the fuse box before replacing it?

[JimR]

It's nit getting a spark. On the fuse box there is only 3 fuses but room for more should there be fuses in all the slots?is there a way to check the fuse box before replacing it?

does the bike look like this one ?

or like this one

if it looks more like the top image you may need to get one of these

[Ptgirl]

Ours looks like the bottom bike

[JimR]

Ours looks like the bottom bike

Ok ... sounds like you have the older SOHC bike rather than the newer DOHC bike .... 1983 was about the time the design switched (in the UK) and shops could hold older stock and have the title a year or so later than manufacture. Assuming the earlier bike (from your recognition of the images) you have many things to check ... which have to be checked in the right order (if you do not check in the right order you may have a miss diagnosis)

This may sound silly but do the following :-

1) Battery Voltage =< 12 volts but >13 volts

2) Valve Clearances

3) Compression test (Wet & Dry) over 100 kpa but less than 10% difference between the figures

4) Vacuum pipes from the fuel tap & fuel tap itself

5) Carbs Cleaned

6) Wiring from the CB points to the rest of the ignition circut

but in real terms check electrics,carbs & compression if you have all of these it should run .... but I guess new bike owners tend to over complex the problem .... let us know how you get on

[kindest]

It's nit getting a spark. On the fuse box there is only 3 fuses but room for more should there be fuses in all the slots?is there a way to check the fuse box before replacing it?

confused. does it look like a fuse should be there and fell out? if the main 20amp fuse is missing it won't start. at least that is how it works on my 80 xs400

[Elizabeth_I]

WOW It looks amazing:)