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Author Topic: ghost starting issues. 1983 YAMAHA XS400K  (Read 1914 times)

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Offline flybox1

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ghost starting issues. 1983 YAMAHA XS400K
« on: April 10, 2009, 01:41:03 PM »
Well.  i picked up this 23k mi XS400K MAXIM free from a buddy of mine a while back.  He was relocating to Cali, and was not going to take it.  I couldnt pass it up...poor thing. ::)

Its been parked, untouched, in my garage for months, and now that my '73-350F is roadworthy, its time for my next project. It has a dent on the R side of the tank, missing a side cover, and the rest is in need of a good bath/tuneup/gen. maint.  pretty simple stuff.

Anyway.   I got the battery on the charger for a few days, and its in good order. Placed it in, and went to connect.  SPARKS!!!!....and the thing starts cranking.  NO KEY in and the IGN is in the OFF position.  NOTHING.
The thing wont stop turning over. 
PO mentioned that the only way he could get it started, was by jumping the starter solenoid.
I need a place to start.
What, in order, are the things i need to look over?
I have a MV, but little experience using it.

Thanks fellas!

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'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mine…"

Offline kirkn

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Re: ghost starting issues. 1983 YAMAHA XS400K
« Reply #1 on: April 10, 2009, 01:49:11 PM »
Follow the battery (+) cable to the starter solenoid.  Follow the other big cable out of the solenoid down to the starter.  Make sure all is well all along those cables.

Follow the two small wires out of the solenoid.  They should go one to the starter pushbutton and the other to either power or ground (I'm not sure how that model Yamaha is configured).  Make sure the fellow hasn't spliced in his own manual starter switch.

I owned a bike one time where the previous owner had spliced in his own toggle switch to activate the starter solenoid.  And it WASN'T a pushbutton, it was a TOGGLE switch.  If you didn't manually snap it back, the starter would just stay energized...   sheesh.   ::)

Neat little bike, all the same.

Good luck,

Kirk
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Offline DCopp

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Re: ghost starting issues. 1983 YAMAHA XS400K
« Reply #2 on: April 10, 2009, 05:38:43 PM »
I have two of those 400 maxims...here is a simple wiring diagram I made to ditch all the electronic gizmos that aren't necessary!  and here is a link to the service manual too
http://singular.org/~gary/bike/Maxim400/yamaha%20xs%20400%20seca%20%2782%20-%20service%20manual.pdf

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Offline flybox1

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Re: ghost starting issues. 1983 YAMAHA XS400K
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2009, 10:08:26 AM »
AWESOME!
Thanks guys, i appreciate all your help!
will try to sort this out this week.

fb1
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'78 750K (F3 engine) PD42b's, Modified airbox w/K&N  filter, 40/110 jets, 1 needle shim, IMS@ 1 turn out. Kerker + Cone 18" QuietCore

Past Bikes
1974 550K0 (stock), 1973 CB350F (stock), 1983 Yamaha XS400K (POS)
77/78 cool 2 member #3
"Knowledge without mileage equals bullsh!t" - Henry Rollins

"This is my CB. There are many like it, but this one is mine…"
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