New XJ 11 owner

[Vaughn]

I bought a 82 XJ 11 Maxim last night with 40,000 miles on it. I will need to find an owners manual and maintenance and repair manual for it.
I will be putting new tires on in a couple months. What are some good recommendations. That 130 sure is close to the drive shaft housing.
It has a oil leak at the top front on the overhead cam. Will I have to put new gaskets on. I don't want to touch it without knowing what the torque specs are first. It has a Slipstreamer windshield on it with mounts incorporated into the mirror stems. I want to lower the handlebars some for comfort. Doesn't look like there is much room it will go. My last bike was a 79 Goldwing. Sat totally different. Seat height to handle bars was just right for me.
Thanks,
Vaughn

[crazy steve]

I bought a 82 XJ 11 Maxim last night with 40,000 miles on it. I will need to find an owners manual and maintenance and repair manual for it.

Welcome! For the manuals, go to any post (use the search function above in the header) by Catatonic Bug; he has a link in his signature for a FREE download....

I just hope you're not dial-up challenged!

[CatatonicBug]

Welcome to the forum! You can get a service manual from the link in my signature. The valve cover gasket can be replaced with RTV, so no need to try to purchase the actual gasket. The tires are normally rather close to the swingarm, so no worry there. There are TONS of threads on this forum about what tire is the favorite, so do a search and plan on several days of reading!

This is definitely the place for information about these classic bikes, so ask any questions you might have, and be sure to post some pictures so we can follow along with your progress!

[Vaughn]

Thanks for the info, Vaughn

[cruiser]

The XJ has adjustable handlebars to change horizontal and vertical positions. Once you've downloaded the manual, check page 2-23 for complete adjustment procedures.

[dbeardslee]

It has a oil leak at the top front on the overhead cam. Will I have to put new gaskets on.

Like Bug said, you can use RTV to seal it, but you only need about a 1/16" bead. Anything more than that and it's going to get a little messy. You want to apply the rtv to the head, not the valve cover - tends to get scraped off when you put the valve cover back on. Torque spec is 7.2 ft lbs, or 186.4 inch lbs (depending on your torque wrench) on the valve cover bolts.

And, oh yeah - welcome to Ch11!

[KA1J]

I'm glad to know only RTV is needed to seal the valve cover gasket, I'm going to check the Shims on the XJ11 this weekend and I forgot to add the Valve cover gasket to my order for carb parts. I have no RTV at the moment, is there a good brand to get that won't be a bugger next time I go to check shims in 5,000 miles?

FWIW, I ordered the parts from Len "Chacal" at info@xj4ever.com at XJbikes, paying by paypal. The order was out the door within 20 minutes of my placing it. Talk about perfect shipping, couldn't ask for better service than immediate!

[justme1100]

Check this out

Lots of info on this site.http://www.ringler.us/xs1100/XJ1100ServiceManual.pdf

[motoman]

KA1J........visit your local auto parts store and get a tube of high-temp gray silicone using a thin film on cleaned top of head. Remove and clean cam-end plugs and recesses and do the same there before re-installing valve cover.

[lancelot455]

Post some pics of the bike(We like pics). I'd like to see what it looks like with the slipstreamer on it. I just bought one for mine and won't be installing it till spring.

[Yahman]

Post some pics of the bike(We like pics). I'd like to see what it looks like with the slipstreamer on it. I just bought one for mine and won't be installing it till spring.

Here's mine when I still had the Slipstreamer on it.


Closeup of the mounts.


Sorry for the hijack.
Larry

[lancelot455]

Here's mine when I still had the Slipstreamer on it.


Closeup of the mounts.


Sorry for the hijack.
Larry

That's the same one i bought but the mounts are different. They screw into the mirror mounts then the mirrors screw onto the mounting adapter.

[KA1J]

KA1J........visit your local auto parts store and get a tube of high-temp gray silicone using a thin film on cleaned top of head. Remove and clean cam-end plugs and recesses and do the same there before re-installing valve cover.

Motoman... Thank you.

[Cobia]

For a more compact installation of the Slipstreamer on my XJ, I used the holes you see immediately below where Yahman installed his support brackets/clamps. You get access to the back of the handlebar uprights by taking the cable cover off. Then I basically bolted the cylinder with the stud directly to the handlebar uprights with a nut and washer under this cover. By the 'cylinder with the stud" I'm referring to the one used for the windshield posts/standoffs, and that serves to tighten the clamps to the round handlebars.
I have the 16" Slipstreamer, don't know if you have the 19" one, and this setup provided the correct angle (in line with the angle of the forks) for my installation.
I hope I didn't mangle this explanation too badly. I know a picture is worth a thousand words but my J is undergoing restoration and I hadn't taken a pic with this setup.