Tommy xs Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 when i bought my xs400 in 1982 I ran it on 4 star petrol or even 2 star if money was low. since I put her back on the road last year iv'e been using lead replacement additive by redex but finding it harder to find lately iv'e seen something on ebay that looks like three lead weights in some chicken wire, that you just drop in the tank, has anyone else used one and do they work. still got to refurb tank so meantime still using redex. but would appreciate any info thanks.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neversaydie Posted March 20, 2013 Share Posted March 20, 2013 Should be ok with unleaded,try the premium grades, higher octane Avoid fuel containing ethanol. Depending on where you live Total stations are not supplied with ethanol added. Try using the search function here for "ethanol" to find the list of stations 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy xs Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 Thanks for the advice been busy google ing and you do have a good point about the ethanol, i didn't realize it will cause so much damage to carb seals etc, also the year is fine with unleaded. the money iv'e wasted on redex over the last year could have had a good few more run outs with that, i will still put a bit in now and again just to cushion the valves cos the bike is running fine 31 years old must be doing something right ? thanks again I will take your advice and look up ethanol free fuel cheers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preload Posted March 21, 2013 Share Posted March 21, 2013 You can use any super 98 as its hasn't any ethanol in it at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator drewpy Posted March 21, 2013 Moderator Share Posted March 21, 2013 the japs designed their bikes to run on unleaded since 1974ish it was headed by the US regulators, their biggest market Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy xs Posted March 21, 2013 Author Share Posted March 21, 2013 thanks everyone, put my mind at ease first time i run on unleaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preload Posted March 22, 2013 Share Posted March 22, 2013 I see you have the last type of the 400 twins but I thought they were called XJ400? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy xs Posted March 25, 2013 Author Share Posted March 25, 2013 a lot of people say its a XJ motor cut in half. cos the XJ is a four not a twin but your right it was the last of the aircooled twins I believe it was introduced for the american market because the RD350LC was banned because of omissions noise mainly it was called the Seca 400 in the states ,it never became popular here because of the LC but i bought one after just passing my test on a XS250, seemed like the next step up at the time and i still have her today still going strong Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator drewpy Posted March 26, 2013 Moderator Share Posted March 26, 2013 and also called the Maxim with a 5 speed gearbox Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preload Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 You don't see many about these days I've always liked them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy xs Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 there's still a few about considering they weren't very popular. the only problem iv'e had apart from normal w/t was when she was only 18 months old, both the exhaust holed big time and because it was a new model at the time no one was making after market parts for it Yamaha was wanting £180 for their replacements (bike only cost £1284.00 new) I wasn't going to pay that kind of money for another 18 months so i stripped her down and put her in boxes under the stairs and their she stayed till i moved house 8 years ago, then with wonder of the interweb i found what i needed including another whole bike and my brother bought 1 to do up and got fed up with it so now i have 3. the Maxim as drewpy referred to is much rarer as i don't think it was released here but iv'e seen a few imports i never really liked the look of the maxim supposed to be the follow on to xs us custom but to me was plain ugley but to each their. I see you like the old two strokes do you still use them much ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obriens65 Posted March 26, 2013 Share Posted March 26, 2013 I have a 1982 TR1, same year as your XS400, and it runs just fine on regular unleaded. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy xs Posted March 26, 2013 Author Share Posted March 26, 2013 now that's a nice bike i was almost tempted to bid no one of those last week on ebay but couldn't really cos iv'e just booked to go to tt in may and i think the wife would have killed me if i spent the mortgage money again it looked just like that one did you get it on ebay ? oh and thanks for unleaded feedback I will fill up on premium unleaded next time out when all the snow has gone Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
obriens65 Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 I did get this one from ebay as it happens. Paid £1 per cc. Just had it serviced today and the garage couldn't find a single thing wrong with it, it didn't even need the air filter changed . It's only done 24,500 miles in it's 31 years (and I've got the MOTs to prove it) and it's running like a dream. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preload Posted March 27, 2013 Share Posted March 27, 2013 Yes I like 2Strokes but better at 4Strokes. I only finished the 350B last September then had electrical charging issues and by the time I had that sorted the weather had turned. Its got less than 200 miles on the bores. It was a full restoration ie. engine, frame, paint, wheels etc still got a few nuts & bolts too get zinc plated and thats it completely done Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy xs Posted March 27, 2013 Author Share Posted March 27, 2013 I did get this one from ebay as it happens. Paid £1 per cc. Just had it serviced today and the garage couldn't find a single thing wrong with it, it didn't even need the air filter changed . It's only done 24,500 miles in it's 31 years (and I've got the MOTs to prove it) and it's running like a dream. always liked the look of the TR1 nice & compact looking a still looks good today wish it was mine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy xs Posted March 27, 2013 Author Share Posted March 27, 2013 Yes I like 2Strokes but better at 4Strokes. I only finished the 350B last September then had electrical charging issues and by the time I had that sorted the weather had turned. Its got less than 200 miles on the bores. It was a full restoration ie. engine, frame, paint, wheels etc still got a few nuts & bolts too get zinc plated and thats it completely done never had a 2 stroke, my brother had an rd200 and that little thing was quick he was a spot in the distance when i had my XS250 have you got any pics of the 350B sounds good ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Preload Posted March 28, 2013 Share Posted March 28, 2013 Yes. Here you go. I've just altered the ignition to standard as I was running in at a lower state of tune for 200 miles. Its as close to standard as I think because I havn't seen another one in the flesh yet. There is a chap that has a few of them down south that are mint with zero miles on them and he said its very close to standard so that's good enough for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tommy xs Posted March 28, 2013 Author Share Posted March 28, 2013 you should put that forward for the YOC calendar cover in the bar iv'e not seen one before, looks superb everything you want in a classic yam. I'd like that in my living room just to look at Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator drewpy Posted March 28, 2013 Moderator Share Posted March 28, 2013 very nice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts