XJ 650 maxim J

[rdmcguy]

middle drive drain plug

If you look at the Yamaha factory manual... fourth printing Sept of 1984
second chapter page 17 #2..a through d you WILL find the drain plug location.
for the middle drive.
I believe it is at a lower point on the cases than the drain plug beneath the oil filter.which is why it exists.
I have had no issues as far as potential stripping.
Most of us here understand that we are not tightening lug nuts on locomotives..lol
Joe

[Schming]

If there is a separate drain for the middle drive then that would mean the engine oil is not involved in the middle drive and thus it must have its own well and drive oil...

The area in question does fill from the crankcase, with motor oil.
It's situated in a way that doesn't let it drain from the oil pan drain plug, but there is such a small amount in there,it really isn't worth worrying about, unless you have the pipes and collector box off, and are as anal as me. The plug is just about impossible to get to, as seen in the following pics, using some choice words, I just took:

At the end of the pencil is the plug, with a 12mm head. The bolt with the #8 is the left side collector bolt. The wire harness goes to the left side engine, timing cover.



And a little further away looking under the right rear foot rest to the left:



This pic you can see the MD reservoir area:



And this next pic made me glad I took the rest:



Deep in there you can see the frame has a rust hole.

Everything happens for a reason

[mack]

Thanx

for the effort. I'm convinced that I will do the seafoam thing, now. Maybe next winter I think I may be pulling the head off to work on the valves for this guy. At that time the pipes will be off and will afford a bit more room for me to work in there. I'll give it a proper drain and flush at that time.

[Schming]

Hi Mack, here's a thread, courtesy of our brother site XJ Bikes.com, you may want to read, that may or mayn't help you make a decision on the MD drain plug.

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/...e/start=0.html

[jwhughes3]

Hi Mack, here's a thread, courtesy of our brother site XJ Bikes.com, you may want to read, that may or mayn't help you make a decision on the MD drain plug.

http://xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/...e/start=0.html

Haha! Thanks that was funny....especially this part:

Take a Black Magic Marker and open the Haynes Manual to the Section of the Manual that says that you need to change the Middle Gear Oil.

Black it all out.
Forget about it!
Relax.

John

[madmax-im]

Thanks for the info Schming..learnin new stuff everyday!

[mack]

Petcock

I'm not at all happy the petcock on this thing. There is no off position and we all know that the vaccum diaphrams fail.
So what petcocks are you guys using. Does Mikes XS carry anything that will fit and has an off position?

[tcoop]

I do not know if there is one with an off position. What I did with mine is got an inline shutoff valve for a lawn mower that I got from O'Riley's.

[jetmechmarty]

I'm not at all happy the petcock on this thing. There is no off position and we all know that the vaccum diaphrams fail.
So what petcocks are you guys using. Does Mikes XS carry anything that will fit and has an off position?

Mack,
I respectfully disagree with you regarding the reliability of Yamaha's vacuum shutoffs. My XS650 has one that has been functioning perfectly for over 30 years. That being said, does the XJ petcock bolt spacing match the XS1100 standard? If so, Mike's XS has a manual replacement. 20-0019 is the Mike's part number. The mount holes are 46mm center to center.


Parts N' More sells a universal petcock.

The also have adapter plates in every size.


Link: Parts n' More

[Schming]

X2^^^^ my XJ 750MK petcocks have been good since '83
A thorough rebuild is all they'd need.

[mack]

Thanx

I don't own this bike. It belongs to an elderly gentleman who just started riding last summer. We met at a gas pump and was telling me about having problems with it. I said I'd have a look at it over the winter, if he wanted to leave it with me. Since i've worked on it I found a number of things wrong and that it had been through a fire. I'm fixing it up for him so it will be reliable as he is close to 80 and wouldn't hold up to a long walk. I think it's cool he chose riding as part of his bucket list. Anyway, I'll councel him on the petcock and what to do if he smells gas or see's a puddle on his garage floor. There is not too much room under the tank for a large replacement petcock or an easy to get at shut off, so I think I'll just leave it for now. Next time I go dumpster diving at the local bike shops I'll be looking for one.

[mack]

Gentleman

I'm trying to talk him into joining us at the XS north rally in the summer. He is a colourful character. He should fit right in.