1982 Yamaha XJ650 Seca Project

Stock 11/18/2004

The previous owner tried to replace the head gasket because the cylinders were leaking oil. In the process the gasket was damaged further and he never figured out how to remove the head. I'm just hoping that the deck surface of the head and cylinders are OK and I can just change the gasket to get it to run.

I'm just trying to get this thing running so I can learn to ride.

  1. Stock Side

Head Gasket 03/08/2005

Well, I may be screwed. After I assembled the bike back from the collection of bolts and pieces, I tried to start the bike. I could immediately hear compression leaking from the side of #4 bank. So I rolled the bike into the Chopper Shed and proceeded to tear the motor down to replace the head gasket.

Note: if you are ever offered a bike for a good deal because the owner tried to fix a problem but never followed through with it, decline the offer. After tearing the top end down I discovered why there was such a compression loss. On both #1 and #4 cylinders there is HEAVY gouging in the deck of the cylinder head and cylinder block.

I'm not sure if i should try to fix this, get another motor, or sell the bike for parts at this point. It's too bad too; I really liked this bike and wanted to learn to ride with it.

  1. Getting started
  2. Tank removed
  3. Exhaust removed
  4. Carbs and chain tensioner removed
  5. Cams removed
  6. Cylinder head removed and head gasket was trashed
  7. Cylinder head (top view)
  8. #4 block gouging (with head gasket)
  9. #1 block gouging (with head gasket)
  10. #1 and #2 (top view)
  11. #1 block gouging (close-up)
  12. #4 block gouging (close-up, front)
  13. #4 block gouging (close-up, right)
  14. #4 cylinder head gouging
  15. #1 cylinder head gouging

Fresh Parts 03/31/2005

I found a set of cylinders and cylinder head on eBay. I waited until the auction was over and no one bid on them. So I offered the seller $20 and $25 for shipping and they arrived today. Now I need a gasket set and I'll be ready to go.

  1. New/Used parts
  2. Cylinders
  3. Cylinder Head
  4. Side view

Painting Fresh Parts 04/03/2005

I started to clean up the replacement parts and paint them. I'm actually taking my time with this; very rare with me.

  1. Masked cylinders
  2. Painted cylinders
  3. Detail of paint on cylinders

Sold 06/03/2005

Bah, I gave up and sold the bike. I have too many projects going on right now.