steveralls

Did you try googling ?? http://www.raask.se make them XS400 sets XJ400 sets

The XJ400 is a 4 cylinder sports tourer similar to the XJ550 I would doubt that the XS 400 rear sets would fit straight on. Steve

The piston should be a light press fit into the cylinder, ie with three or four fingers. It is common for corrosion to build up under the O ring in the cylinder, this can cause the piston to go tight or even sieze. The corrosion can be cleaned out using a wooden ( not metal ) scraper. Insert a new seal lubricated with hydraulic grease and preferably a new piston. perished hoses can also cause a mushy feel but from what you say I'd check under the seal - unless you've already done that.

Hi everyone, finally got the bike done, just a few bit to tidy up now....roll on summer http://web.onetel.com/~sralls/xj550/DSCF0031.JPG http://web.onetel.com/~sralls/xj550/DSCF0033.JPG Can't post to the gallery anymore for some reason... Steve

Starter motor brushes ? A quick check with a good battery & jump leads, neg to ground on the engine, pos to the starter side of the relay, if the motor turns thats OK Bad solenoid? ( it may click but the contacts inside may have burned out ) Check by using a jump lead to connect both terminals ( bypassing the solenoid ) - if the motor spins up the solenoid is bad Check the fuse contacts and any earth leads - a bad connection can sap a lot of power due to the high resistance

Hi, you could try these people http://www.cyclecolor.com/id33.htm Steve

I believe Yamaha only used metric fine on M14 and above

Jeans and high heels ! I saw a girl on the back of a bike this year, flip flops and a bikini .....made my teeth curl at the thought of what would happen in a smash. Oh and that picture of the road.....try cutting it down to half it's width, add some bumpy tarmac repairs, hedges either side, some manhole covers on the cornering line, smear it with mud and cow shit and that'll give you an idea of British roads. How they do the speeds they do at the IOM I'll never know. Steve

Have you tried new plugs & caps ?

I bought a very tatty but complete one off ebay for £200 last year ( cost me a £1000 to titivate it ! ). I've seen really good ones with low mileage and they've gone for around £600 - 700. They are not collectors items really - best to keep it and ride it !

I have recently developed a squeal when I apply the front disc brake. I fitted new pads fitted and it started after about 500 miles. I have washed the bike and this seemed to cure it but it came back after about fifty miles. Any thoughts anyone?

Thanks Drewpy, I'll check the head bearings in case they have 'settled', bike has just been rebuilt. I may try a heavier grade oil, see if it helps.

Dream bike, oh god, where do I start..............I love the oldies meself MV Agusta 750 America Benelli 750 sei Laverda Jota 180 DBD34 GS and that's just for starters.........

I've just rebuilt the forks on my bike. The stanchions have been rechromed, new seals fitted ( teflon bushed retained ) and the correct amount of SAE10W oil used. The forks were reassembled as they came apart. There is no play in the fork legs and they are free to move up and down. The problem is that when I hit a bump in the road or go over a ramp, there is a knocking from the front end which wasn't there before. It doesn't affect handling at all but I am a bit concerned. They also tend to be a lot softer than previously, bottoming out under heavy braking. Anyone any idea what is wrong ?? Steve

You could try ebay. There's a few XJ550's being broken at the moment.

Steve, 45 yrs old, live in Oxfordshire, England. I have a Royal Enfield 500 and a 1981 XJ550 which I bought in Nov 07 and finished rebuilding last week, had it MOT'd on Friday and went for a 20 mile ride this morning without any problems. Today I will mostly be wearing a big grin In the past I've had :- '79 RD250 '80 RD350LC 1981 XJ550 '76 TS250 '61 BSA B40 '68 BSA Starfire '62 Triumph 650 Bonny Chop '65 BSA A65 '62 Triton 650 '84 Kawasaki Z750 turbo '87 Suzuki LS650

You could try calling Yamaha, I did and they were very helpful - I found out my '84 XJ550 was in fact an '81 model. http://www.yamaha-motor.com/ Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA 6555 Katella Avenue Cypress, CA 90630 Sales, marketing and distribution of Motorcycles, ATVs, Snowmobiles and Race Kart Engines. Customer Relations (800) 962-7926 Steve

Many thanks Dave, I didn't realise the adapter could be dispensed with. Steve

I am trying to obtain a new oil cooler, the hoses and fittings for an '83 XJ550. For some reason these are not shown or listed in the spares catalogue. Can anyone help ? Thanks Steve

I am trying to obtain a new oil cooler, the hosed and fittings for an '83 XJ550. For some reason these are not shown or listed in the spares catalogue. Can anyone help ?

I have tapered roller head bearings on my XJ550. The outer race is a smaller diameter than the headstock internal diameter, as a consequence there is no land showing on the outer race to drift them out. I have tried heating the tube and bashing with a mallet but they won't 'fall out'. Has anyone any ideas for removing the outer races ? Thanks Steve

Didn't Yamaha make guitars ? I have a very rare Chaser acoustic / electric and an XJ550 Guitars won't fit on my rack no matter how many bungees I use....................

I have an '84 XJ550 frame/engine number 4V8005136 Is it possible from this to tell which model it is ? ie H/J/K/R etc ? Steve

I started with an RD250, bought one of the 1st RD350LC's in 1980, moved up to an XJ550 which I had for a few years and did many pleasurable miles without fault. I've had loads of others makes since but I then took a 17 year break from biking. I went to the Stafford classic bike show and seeing loads of Jap bikes, which are now classic by virtue of their age, I got the bug....and started thinking about my old XJ. I have just bought an old '84 XJ550 with the intention of restoring it to original ( maybe without the original exhaust system for now...costs over £1000 new ). I am finding it hard to get some parts though !

Many thanks Dave, this is being stripped down and restored so I'll have a look at the stand mounting points when I get that far. Steve