Author Topic: It was FREE so I took it!!  (Read 2745 times)

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Offline scooter1

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It was FREE so I took it!!
« on: August 22, 2010, 05:07:30 PM »
A guy at work had this old bike that he told me I could have for free, he had it for a while and didn't have the time to get it running!!
So her it is a 1978 yamaha 400....not too sure what model it is, the tag doesn't say....made in 6/78
Its missing the two side covers and the right hand controls the airbox and had a broken clutch lever.
When I got it home I took a closer look, the wiring had been messed with, so with a bit of time and some head scratching
I got it figured out and got it running!!

I got a replacement right hand controls and a clutch lever from a friend and changed the oil and fired it up!!!!
I do have a question when I press the start the I hear the solenoid click but it wont start, so I removed the starter and when I touch the the starter to engine it spins when I hit the start button, but when I bolt it back into place it wont work????
« Last Edit: August 22, 2010, 08:56:37 PM by scooter1 »

Offline fergie

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #1 on: August 22, 2010, 05:19:54 PM »
Its a xs 400 special
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Offline GammaFlat

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2010, 06:46:39 PM »
Congrats.  That's a sharp looking bike.  Not sure about your solenoid issue  ???
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Offline cb650

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2010, 06:58:25 PM »
Always liked them.  Never see any on the road.
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Offline jbrick28

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2010, 07:10:42 PM »
nice, and everyones favorite price
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Offline olc101

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2010, 07:44:03 PM »
SCORE!
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Offline Don R

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2010, 08:35:02 PM »
Score X2!
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Offline 754

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2010, 08:55:10 PM »
Make a tracker or cafe outa it.. You will be pleased to know the big Ducati rotors will bolt right up.. lots of take-offs around, but you will need to deal with the caliper..
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Offline scooter1

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2010, 09:14:45 PM »
Thanks guys....anyone have any info on the starter issue, it seems so weird I hit the start button when it is bolted in and nothing.....remove it and touch the starter housing  to the engine  and hit the start button  and it works ??? ??? ???

Offline Terry in Australia

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2010, 09:35:24 PM »
Freebies are great mate, well done! The XS400 was a heavy underpowered thing with no sporting pretensions, but a good work day hack. Yamaha had heaps of problems with starter motors in the 1970's, my TX500 (piece of sh1t) starter didn't work at all, and a mate of mine had an early Yam 1000 V twin that was "push start only". It could be a dodgy solenoid, a bad earth, or your starter motor might need new brushes. Cheers, Terry. ;D
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Offline Grnrngr

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #10 on: August 22, 2010, 09:45:06 PM »
I'd check the brushes...my 83 Virago was acting weird, sometimes would start no problem other times just a clunk like somehitng else was hanging it up and not turning over...2 of the 4 brushes were non existant, the other 2 were very thin, fell apart when I pulled the back off. Just looked at the rebuild kit on ebay, looks very similar...
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Offline seaweb11

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Re: It was FREE so I took it!!
« Reply #11 on: August 22, 2010, 11:14:07 PM »
+1 on adding another frame ground from the battery as Terry mentioned. The starters and grounds where crap back in the day with these as I am also finding out.
The Viragos on the road now all have had that extra ground added.  Well, the ones with good grounds do anyway ;)

Good luck and have fun learning a new bike, I know I am ::)