chezxjr

Good morning John, One thing you could also check is what tyres are fitted? Dont get to use my `Cat so much ('98 with 5500miles), but have always had problems when fitting new tyres - basically by the time I need a new (usually rear), the model of tyre has been superceeded and so have a mix'n'match set up and the `Cat hates that! Handling is pretty dreadful to say the least when mis-matched pairs are fitted. The bike is on its second front and third rear now, but only when I managed to get matching pairs again did the bike start to behave again like it was new. JFYI; current tyres, latest Dunlop Sportmax, (pressures 32psi front and 36psi rear), suspension set up is bog standard, and Im a 5ft6 and 12stone shortarse Hope that helps? Ride free, Chez

I have both '91 and '94 models of XJ900F`s and heres what Ive found (which may, or may not help!)... The older '91 model is used in all sorts of weather (97,000 miles) and one of the main problem areas Ive found is the wiring behind the headlamp unit. Water gets in and the joints tend to corrode to the point where they break apart - this has caused many small problems over the years but the XJ`s wiring diagram is pretty simple to read and the cure is just to just make off the terminations again with new crimp lugs. Over the years, another problem area is the wiring loom that goes to the ignition switch - due to the amount of movement this cable suffers, its easy for one of the leads to break along its length (Sod`s law its in the middle somewhere), but using a multimeter (or simple circuit tester of some kind) you can track it down and repair as required. For the CDI unit, you should have +12v on the red/white wire going to the CDI (when the kill switch is on and ignition on) - check also that you have a good earth connection which should be a black lead. Ive had problems with CDI`s but always intermittent and caused the bike to run roughly, altho never failed completely on me so was always able to ride home. BTW, are you grounding the spark plugs when theyre out of the engine to "see" the spark? As for the dash lights; there is a blue wire coming from the ignition switch which should have +12v on it, or check the blue coming from the right hand switch cluster - there should be one there too (fed from ign sw, and then goes to the meter lights). As with the CDI unit, the fault could actually be a bad earth connection, so check those out too. Hope that helps? Ride free, Chez