[fireitup]

Hi to all, I just found an 82 yamaha maxim for sale. i want one for a parts bike. This bike has been stored for 7-8 years. would parts be any good. Like the starter, engine, etc. also my bike was on the ground this morning. it is windy out here and it has been windy before but the bike has never gone over. could the wind take it down? broke my brake lever now i can't ride. fireitup

[voodoochild]

If it was as windy up there as it was down here today I don't see why not. The gusts were very strong. Good luck with the brake lever. Don't know about the stored bike. I would be leary of certain parts....If the motor hasn't been turned over for that many years, chances are the inside of the cylinder walls are rusted. I doubt the carb would be of much use either. Alot of times mice will get into the airbox and build nests inside the carbs. It happened to me on my Yamaha. Take a good look at what parts you think you would be using before purchasing the bike. Again, good luck! Sorry I can't be of more help.

[kenfuzed]

For me it would all depend on price. Most parts could probably be salvaged with enough cleaning, but there's no way I'd ever kick over a motorcycle engine that had been sitting that long. While it may start initially, the sludge would quickly clog all the passages and pump and starve all the vital parts of lubrication. It's tempting to want to start the thing when you first get it but RESIST. Better to tear it down and see what you are dealing with than risk having it sieze. I've bought a few motorcyles (and cars) that were sitting in storage and after some work they all worked fine. The seals, diaphrams, etc in the carburetor could be shot but better to find out on the bench than having it hose you in gas out on the road.

[fireitup]

Originally Posted by voodoochild

If it was as windy up there as it was down here today I don't see why not. The gusts were very strong. Good luck with the brake lever. Don't know about the stored bike. I would be leary of certain parts....If the motor hasn't been turned over for that many years, chances are the inside of the cylinder walls are rusted. I doubt the carb would be of much use either. Alot of times mice will get into the airbox and build nests inside the carbs. It happened to me on my Yamaha. Take a good look at what parts you think you would be using before purchasing the bike. Again, good luck! Sorry I can't be of more help.

It was very windy here the night before last. So it did take down the bike. i had a cover on it too. Blew it over from the kickstand side. Some wind. Rather it be wind than to think someone did that. The guy wants 350 or best offer for the used yamaha 82 maxim. I wanted it for certan parts. Like the name emblem on the gas tank. Mine is messed up on one side from dumping it. The side covers foot pegs, plus just to tear it down to learn from it. With hopes of carburator possibilities etc. So thank you for the advice. fireitup

[fireitup]

Originally Posted by kenfuzed

For me it would all depend on price. Most parts could probably be salvaged with enough cleaning, but there's no way I'd ever kick over a motorcycle engine that had been sitting that long. While it may start initially, the sludge would quickly clog all the passages and pump and starve all the vital parts of lubrication. It's tempting to want to start the thing when you first get it but RESIST. Better to tear it down and see what you are dealing with than risk having it sieze. I've bought a few motorcyles (and cars) that were sitting in storage and after some work they all worked fine. The seals, diaphrams, etc in the carburetor could be shot but better to find out on the bench than having it hose you in gas out on the road.

Thank you for the advice. Because if i did purchase it the first thing i would have done was try to start it. The guy sent me a picture of it. An honest one. It has leaves on it and it looks like its been sitting for a long time.. cleanable though. I just priced out brake levers for example and they want at least 50 - 70 dollars for them. I definitely would not now consider that bike for starting and riding. Just for parts and tear down for an educational tool. thank you for the advice. Even the turn signals the wiring in them is probubly all crappy. but the signals themselves are original. Mine have been replace so many time from dumping the bike that they are whatevers. Now the signal is messed up again from the wind. Oh well. Thanks again . I have to ponder now. fireitup.

[chucktx]

i think you have the right idea.....it would be a good learning tool and sounds like you may have some salvagable parts.....offer him a couple of hundred for it and see how it goes............good luck and keep us posted.......
chuck

[Texas Road Glide]

agrees with chuck, offer him a couple of hundres for the bike, after all it has been sittin this whole time.........i bet he takes it just to get it out of his yard,
lets see now 50 bucks for the levers, 25 bucks for the emblem, 175s buck to tear it down, an maybe learn somthing................priceless!!!!!!!

and when you done stripping and playing and it looks pretty bare,
drop the remains off your local wal-mart parking lot........smirking did i say that, cause you know some poor ol guy walking by.....will say i can fix it or recylce it, as he puts it in his cart thinking to himself what a find!!!!!!!
i know iknow......bad texas bad texas.......hanging head in shame

[Folsomjack]

Even here in California, a bike that has "been sitting, but ran good when I parked it" is a question. Check the price of Carb parts ,seals etc and either commit to pay the price in time and money or buy one that is running NOW. Regards, Jack

[fireitup]

Thanks for your reply, The mechanic that is working on my bike right now told me that carb parts for the maxim 650 are hard to come by. With so many varibles with the purchase of a older used bike its best i try to find one that has been running. God knows they made a lot of the 650's in '82 so best i try to find one that has less miles and has been road worthy in recent time. Is the best way to go, I feel. Thanks for your advice. fireitup.