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Well, I'm gonna start by letting you all know, I'm gonna ask silly newbie questions, LOTS of them 
I'm moderatly mechanically inclined and have done some work on my car, but my motorcycle knowledge is very limited (I only just found out what a petcock was)
Well, the story:
I have always loved bikes they are gorgeous, and symbolize freedom, I have finally jumped in and bought one. I am a college student so money is precious, so a low cost was primary in my shopping. I am a big guy, I have been told to enjoy my bike I would need a bigger than normal "starter" bike. I found it in an '82 XJ1100 Maxim. truthfully, one of the most beautiful Japanese Cruisers i've seen. (HD's are too much $$$)
Now for the technical.
I was told up front 1st gear is shot. I was told it ran good until i got there (that might be true, who knows.) Other than those two things its great!
LOL
first off the gears... His solution to no first gear was merely doing 4k RPM drops into second.. now from what ive read about second gear problems this has most of you cringing. When I saw him do it i did too...
Never the less It came with a second motor and trans and two boxes of extra parts. This gave me the parts i should need, he showed me all the gears (the lower set was out of the spare tranny) all the teeth looked good and the little (dogs?) the three thick teeth he says round off, were pretty crisp and sharp edged.
My step-dad was with me, he claims its not hard to start in second as long as you roll into it smooth and slowly (Not pounding it) He is an old HD man so im not sure if thats as easy as he claims on this bike.
For now, I am just trying to get it to idle and run, then i will start the great task of getting into the tranny.
As for the IDLE:
When i got there he said it runs good, and smooth. He starts off by spraying something I late found to be ether into the airbox. it starts right up but he bounces on the throttle to keep it going. He does the stupid move with the second gear and takes off. It chugs in second at a corner and it dies. he cant get it to restart without the ether, he runs back gets it and runs off to start it and brings it back... now I have it home, and i don't use ether or any additives, it will not start.. I can get a few rounds but not an idle. Playing with the choke I have gotten it to fire more readily but still no idle. Now on top of this, when he showed me the petcock settings, he seemed to be completely backwards. what he thought was off seems to me to be prime. (I have drained the tank today and found the correct setting to be the opposite of the little handle [after unscrewing the rear petcock screw, more gas came out when the handle was up, than any other position, which to me would be "on"]) If you are still reading could i get a reply if this is 100% right.
My step-dad, thinks my next step is to get the carbs out and clean them, especially since the guy i bought it from said all he did was take off and clean the outer two bowls (he also only thought there were 3 carbs... im not sure he knew anything about the bike)
If I could get a little input that would be the best, you guys are my best hope of getting this bike on the road.
I have printed out the article by Maans Smit on how to remove and clean the carb, so im gonna follow that starting tomorrow, unless I get a hold on from someone telling me to try something else first.
Thank you again for reading my enormous post, but I know Forums are difficult if you do not have all the information so I try to be as informative as possible about my questions.
thanks again in advance!
I'm moderatly mechanically inclined and have done some work on my car, but my motorcycle knowledge is very limited (I only just found out what a petcock was)Well, the story:
I have always loved bikes they are gorgeous, and symbolize freedom, I have finally jumped in and bought one. I am a college student so money is precious, so a low cost was primary in my shopping. I am a big guy, I have been told to enjoy my bike I would need a bigger than normal "starter" bike. I found it in an '82 XJ1100 Maxim. truthfully, one of the most beautiful Japanese Cruisers i've seen. (HD's are too much $$$)
Now for the technical.
I was told up front 1st gear is shot. I was told it ran good until i got there (that might be true, who knows.) Other than those two things its great!
LOLfirst off the gears... His solution to no first gear was merely doing 4k RPM drops into second.. now from what ive read about second gear problems this has most of you cringing. When I saw him do it i did too...
Never the less It came with a second motor and trans and two boxes of extra parts. This gave me the parts i should need, he showed me all the gears (the lower set was out of the spare tranny) all the teeth looked good and the little (dogs?) the three thick teeth he says round off, were pretty crisp and sharp edged.My step-dad was with me, he claims its not hard to start in second as long as you roll into it smooth and slowly (Not pounding it) He is an old HD man so im not sure if thats as easy as he claims on this bike.
For now, I am just trying to get it to idle and run, then i will start the great task of getting into the tranny.
As for the IDLE:
When i got there he said it runs good, and smooth. He starts off by spraying something I late found to be ether into the airbox. it starts right up but he bounces on the throttle to keep it going. He does the stupid move with the second gear and takes off. It chugs in second at a corner and it dies. he cant get it to restart without the ether, he runs back gets it and runs off to start it and brings it back... now I have it home, and i don't use ether or any additives, it will not start.. I can get a few rounds but not an idle. Playing with the choke I have gotten it to fire more readily but still no idle. Now on top of this, when he showed me the petcock settings, he seemed to be completely backwards. what he thought was off seems to me to be prime. (I have drained the tank today and found the correct setting to be the opposite of the little handle [after unscrewing the rear petcock screw, more gas came out when the handle was up, than any other position, which to me would be "on"]) If you are still reading could i get a reply if this is 100% right.
My step-dad, thinks my next step is to get the carbs out and clean them, especially since the guy i bought it from said all he did was take off and clean the outer two bowls (he also only thought there were 3 carbs... im not sure he knew anything about the bike)
If I could get a little input that would be the best, you guys are my best hope of getting this bike on the road.
I have printed out the article by Maans Smit on how to remove and clean the carb, so im gonna follow that starting tomorrow, unless I get a hold on from someone telling me to try something else first.
Thank you again for reading my enormous post, but I know Forums are difficult if you do not have all the information so I try to be as informative as possible about my questions.
thanks again in advance!
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