Author Topic: Yamaha XJ600S Seca II - Problems (Read 18883 times)

bzr · « **on:** September 08, 2008, 06:44:02 pm »

So I just bought a 1997 Yammy Seca II with 18,000 miles to learn how to ride on while I finish my CB550F project (pics coming soon, I swear). Paid 1200 for it (including helmet) and took it for a spin that afternoon.

Of course, in my typical "ambitious but rubbish" style, I took it up a hill and ran out of talent. I ended up stalling it 5 or 6 times. $:-\$ And on the 7th time, it wouldn't start up again - it turned over barely, but just made a clicking sound. I ended up having to push that thing back to my house over a mile, which is pretty embarrassing in broad daylight.

Anyway, it won't start up now at all, the headlight lights up but it makes a clicking sound from under the seat. I tried to jump start it today but to no avail. The hill I killed it on is pretty far from where I can bump start it. So I'm assuming it's a problem with the starter that the

PO didn't mention...

I have a friend's father coming by on Sunday to take a look at it. Afterwards I'm gonna call a local MC shop and hope they make house calls. Think you can beat both of those to the chase with some advice?

/fail

bzr · « **Reply #1 on:** September 08, 2008, 10:29:35 pm »

Oh, and...I'm starting the bike in neutral, holding down the clutch, and every time I thumb the starter button the oil light turns on. I can't see the correlation here but maybe you guys can.

Shenanigans · « **Reply #2 on:** September 08, 2008, 11:08:18 pm »

Whats the voltage at the battery?

edbikerii · « **Reply #3 on:** September 09, 2008, 05:42:16 am »

Classic symptoms of dead battery. I had a 97 myself (I bought it new), and those bikes are absolutely bulletproof. I put well over 30K miles on mine without a single problem (other than crash repairs). Nice purchase.

bzr · « **Reply #4 on:** September 09, 2008, 03:14:52 pm »

If that's the case, then anybody in the Syracuse area want to come by and help a brother out?

(No, really...please? Shoot me a PM, I'm free all week/weekend.)

Shenanigans · « **Reply #5 on:** September 09, 2008, 04:34:14 pm »

I happen to be in syracuse for a bit. PM me and I will come help you out the best I can.

Shenanigans · « **Reply #6 on:** September 11, 2008, 01:38:56 pm »

So you ever get the charger?

bzr · « **Reply #7 on:** September 11, 2008, 10:34:57 pm »

It's shipped already, going to arrive tomorrow. I'll try it out tomorrow and let you know how it works out.

bzr · « **Reply #8 on:** September 16, 2008, 06:47:19 pm »

So I finished charging the battery with my new (waterproof!) Battery Tender, and nothing blew up in my face or scalded my eyeballs out. Tried to start it up again. It turned over and started...but when I gave it some throttle it died instantly. I tried it again and I had to hold the start button down after it turned over, but had to keep it held while the engine was half-idling, half-still trying to get a spark, apparently. So, dead battery, and I'll have to shell out some cash and a ride to the nearest Advance Auto Parts for a new one...unless you guys think it's something else.

God, I hope it's not the starter...

Shenanigans · « **Reply #9 on:** September 16, 2008, 07:00:12 pm »

Since the health of the battery is proportioned to how well it can turn over the starter. Its probably the battery. That bike, unless the PO abused it, is not very likely to have starter problems. It looked in good shape to me.

edbikerii · « **Reply #10 on:** September 16, 2008, 07:01:11 pm »

How old is the battery? If you don't know for sure, then yeah, just replace it. I got the AGM type for not too much at Pep Boys.
Doesn't sound like the starter, since it turned over and started!

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but are you using the choke? Also, this bike has a vacuum activated petcock, so it won't run unless there is sufficient engine vacuum to the petcock to keep the fuel flowing. Try putting the petcock in the "prime" position (IIRC) for a bit before you start it up to make sure you are getting enough gas. Once running, return it to the normal position (RUN?).

Maybe another dumb question, but are you sure there is enough gas in the tank? When I was a total newbie, I watched the previous owner pour some gas into the tank and start the bike. I made the deal, and then went to get plates for the bike. When I got back and tried starting the bike, it cranked but wouldn't start. I tried and tried, but nothing. Turns out that the jerk PO had drained the gas back out after the deal was done and I had left.

Sorry if these questions seem silly, but some newbies to bikes just don't know these things. I know that when I bought my CB550 all those many years ago, I really didn't know how to operate a choke or a petcock, and then when I bought my Seca II, the vacuum petcock was totally different.

Quote from: bzr on September 16, 2008, 06:47:19 pm

So I finished charging the battery with my new (waterproof!) Battery Tender, and nothing blew up in my face or scalded my eyeballs out. Tried to start it up again. It turned over and started...but when I gave it some throttle it died instantly. I tried it again and I had to hold the start button down after it turned over, but had to keep it held while the engine was half-idling, half-still trying to get a spark, apparently. So, dead battery, and I'll have to shell out some cash and a ride to the nearest Advance Auto Parts for a new one...unless you guys think it's something else.

God, I hope it's not the starter...

bzr · « **Reply #11 on:** September 17, 2008, 05:44:16 pm »

Quote from: edbikerii on September 16, 2008, 07:01:11 pm

Sorry if this is a dumb question, but are you using the choke? Also, this bike has a vacuum activated petcock, so it won't run unless there is sufficient engine vacuum to the petcock to keep the fuel flowing. Try putting the petcock in the "prime" position (IIRC) for a bit before you start it up to make sure you are getting enough gas. Once running, return it to the normal position (RUN?).

I filled the tank last week, thought about that too. Today I tried it with the petcock in all three positions, still nothing.

I'll see if I can bum a ride to the nearest Advance Auto Parts for a maintenance-free YTX9-BS.

Sporkfly · « **Reply #12 on:** September 18, 2008, 06:39:57 pm »

It really sounds like the battery. Let us know how that goes!

PS: Pics?!

edbikerii · « **Reply #13 on:** September 18, 2008, 08:16:14 pm »

I don't know how you are so patient!!! I would have been to the shop imediately! I'm excited to hear that you got that bike running!

Quote from: bzr on September 17, 2008, 05:44:16 pm

Quote from: edbikerii on September 16, 2008, 07:01:11 pm
Sorry if this is a dumb question, but are you using the choke? Also, this bike has a vacuum activated petcock, so it won't run unless there is sufficient engine vacuum to the petcock to keep the fuel flowing. Try putting the petcock in the "prime" position (IIRC) for a bit before you start it up to make sure you are getting enough gas. Once running, return it to the normal position (RUN?).

I filled the tank last week, thought about that too. Today I tried it with the petcock in all three positions, still nothing.

I'll see if I can bum a ride to the nearest Advance Auto Parts for a maintenance-free YTX9-BS.

bzr · « **Reply #14 on:** September 24, 2008, 06:12:32 pm »

So I walked the 3 miles to the nearest Advance Auto Parts, battery in hand, and bought a new one. It's a generic MF 12-volt sealed battery that was apparently made by some company called EPM and was the only one they had in stock. "Ready to install", it said on the side. So I installed it, fired it up again, and...nothing.

Same problem as before. Barely turns over, headlight lights up, etc. I played with the choke and petcock settings; when the latter is in the regular position and the choke is applied, the engine revs to 2500RPM and down again when I apply the throttle.

Any ideas, again? Oh, and pictures coming soon when I can find some time between classes.

edbikerii · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2008, 07:46:07 am »

Are you sure that that shop charged the battery up for you FULLY? If a battery is used without an initial full charge, it can never utilize its full capacity, and its life is significantly reduced. Find out whether they actually put it on a charger at the shop (probably not).

How long are you letting it warm up once started, before you start applying the throttle? Let it run for a good five minutes. If all is well, the idle, with the choke applied, should rise over a few minutes to about 4K RPM when it is fully warmed up.

Drain out any old gasoline in the tank, burn it up in something else, like your car. Look for any debris in the old gas like rust flakes from the tank. Buy a can of SeaFoam for the gas tank, follow the directions on the can using fresh gas. I actually use it much stronger than the directions, but that's a risk I'm willing to take, and you may not be. SeaFoam will take some time to loosen up any varnish (old gas) deposits in the carbs, and you may have to run a few treated tanks through to really get her to wake up.

Quote from: bzr on September 24, 2008, 06:12:32 pm

So I walked the 3 miles to the nearest Advance Auto Parts, battery in hand, and bought a new one. It's a generic MF 12-volt sealed battery that was apparently made by some company called EPM and was the only one they had in stock. "Ready to install", it said on the side. So I installed it, fired it up again, and...nothing.

Same problem as before. Barely turns over, headlight lights up, etc. I played with the choke and petcock settings; when the latter is in the regular position and the choke is applied, the engine revs to 2500RPM and down again when I apply the throttle.

Any ideas, again? Oh, and pictures coming soon when I can find some time between classes.

ColinMc · « **Reply #16 on:** September 25, 2008, 08:17:36 am »

Even if it's "Ready To Use" you really should trickle charge any motorcycle battery overnight before using it. 2amp works fine. If you have a voltmeter check the voltage at the battery, I can almost promise it's below 12. Get that new battery nice and fully charged and then try again. If that still doesn't help then you need to track the problem.

Does the oil smell like gas?

bzr · « **Reply #17 on:** October 02, 2008, 01:37:07 pm »

Good news, everybody...IT WORKS!

Finally got around to sorting my bike out. Tried starting it in front of my friends, to no avail, and naturally they laughed about it. After they left, I realized that the kickstand was down and the kill switch wasn't letting it start. :bangin: So I took it off the stand, put the choke on, let it rev for a few minutes, turned off the choke, and took it around the block for an hour. And it's alive!

And I only stalled it twice.

Here it is in all of its glory:

Thanks for all of your help, especially Chris (Shenanigans) for going out of his way and coming over. If you don't mind I can post some pics here of your bike with mine. I've definitely appreciated it.

Shenanigans · « **Reply #18 on:** October 02, 2008, 03:27:21 pm »

Glad to see it started, I would have never realized that a lot of bikes have a kickstand safety feature. I don't mind the pictures being posted at all, go for it. Now get riding!

edbikerii · « **Reply #19 on:** October 02, 2008, 05:50:36 pm »

The kickstand safety switch should only stop the engine from running if the bike is in gear. Seems like you need to figure something else out there. You should be able to start and let the bike run on the sidestand as long as the trans is in neutral and the kill switch is in the "run" position.

Anyway, I'm glad to hear that you got it running one way or another. I love those bikes, and still miss mine.

bzr · « **Reply #20 on:** October 02, 2008, 06:47:21 pm »

Quote from: edbikerii on October 02, 2008, 05:50:36 pm

The kickstand safety switch should only stop the engine from running if the bike is in gear. Seems like you need to figure something else out there. You should be able to start and let the bike run on the sidestand as long as the trans is in neutral and the kill switch is in the "run" position.

It was in first gear at the time, I forgot to mention.

edbikerii · « **Reply #21 on:** October 02, 2008, 07:34:15 pm »

Then it is a good thing you've got that safety switch, or you'd be fixing some plastic right now!

Quote from: bzr on October 02, 2008, 06:47:21 pm

Quote from: edbikerii on October 02, 2008, 05:50:36 pm
The kickstand safety switch should only stop the engine from running if the bike is in gear. Seems like you need to figure something else out there. You should be able to start and let the bike run on the sidestand as long as the trans is in neutral and the kill switch is in the "run" position.
It was in first gear at the time, I forgot to mention.

bzr · « **Reply #22 on:** October 09, 2008, 08:32:00 pm »

So I've been riding it for a few times now. (God, is it fun!) But I hate having to turn on the choke every time I start it up. It wasn't even that cold today, about 72 degrees out. Hell, there were people playing Frisbee shirtless.

Think I need a tuneup or something? Or something simple like adding more gas?

ColinMc · « **Reply #23 on:** October 09, 2008, 09:19:59 pm »

Even in warmer weather, it's not odd to have to use the choke to start any bike if it's been sitting for a few hours or longer...varies from bike to bike. I know my FZ750 was pretty cold blooded like that, after sitting for more than an hour or two i'd have to use a little choke just to start it up. My 250 ninja is the same way...my cb750 doesn't run yet lol. My Norton only needs choke if it's been sitting overnight or longer, BMW same deal...

edbikerii · « **Reply #24 on:** October 09, 2008, 09:21:46 pm »

Well, it really shouldn't be such a burden to flip that handy little lever.

That bike does have a reputation for being "cold blooded" and requiring a few minutes to warm up. However, you can fix it by drilling out the brass plugs on the carbs that cover the idle mixture screws and richening up the idle a bit. I did that myself, and found it to be a nice improvement. I think you've got to take off the tank, use a tiny drill bit, then screw in a small screw, then use a vise-grip on the screw and just pull the plugs out. Don't bother putting them back when you are done adjusting.

On the other hand, it is pretty easy to screw that up and accidentally drill through a screw or something, so you might want to ride the bike for awhile and enjoy it before you start tinkering. Just use the choke and enjoy.

Quote from: bzr on October 09, 2008, 08:32:00 pm

So I've been riding it for a few times now. (God, is it fun!) But I hate having to turn on the choke every time I start it up. It wasn't even that cold today, about 72 degrees out. Hell, there were people playing Frisbee shirtless.

Think I need a tuneup or something? Or something simple like adding more gas?

News:

Author Topic: Yamaha XJ600S Seca II - Problems (Read 18883 times)