1982 Yamaha XS400 Seca is hard to start

[@JCorbinPhoto]

Just in case I wasn't clear enough in the video, with the airbox hooked up it would not start at all. The only reason I took the airbox off was to cover the intake on the carb, which is the ONLY reason that it would start. This has been an on&off issue for months. Some days she'll fire right up and other days there is nothing I can do to make her start.

[@skatesneakerlover]

I had exactly the same problem with my XS400. Electric start would do nothing at all. Carb boots and airbox on or off had nothing to do with the problem. 4 different bike shops had it, still nothing. Then an old timer said to me, fill the tank full and add 2 full cups of diesel to it. Ride it hard and rev it hard into the red as often as you can. Not even 2 weeks later of daily use it was literally brand new. Not even 2 sec's of starter and it would be running and running smooth. Was very gutsy on the throttle too. Whatever it was that old timer knew - it worked for sure!!

[@JCorbinPhoto]

I discovered that the guy I bought it from that had "refurbished the bike" had done none of that. I had to pull the carbs off, soak them in cleaner for days, then reassemble. On reassembly, I noticed two things: 1) the carb boots were very stiff and needed replaced (no replacements could be found so I used rubber plumbing from home depot) 2) A grounding strap was loose and allowing some contact with the frame to the ignition box, but not enough to be consistent. I re-homed it, and the bike ran like a champ. The bike ran so well that someone decided to steal it, and then wreck it. I no longer have it. :--(

[@wingtang1180]

I bought a black seca400 new from a N. Cal. Yamaha dealer in the mid 80s. Lol

[@mariz699]

Mby someone can help me? Idc how to install and wire up starter rele with battety and all that wire up too on Yamaha xs400 1985 seca

[@maximx1933]

dude the reason its so hard to start right now is becausse the air filter isnt hooked up giving it more air making it run more lean and thats also why the engine revved up or stalled when you sprayed the starter pray near the carbs hook up the rubber manifolds back on the carb going to the air filter and it will start right up and should run normal also adjust the throttle cable play on top and that should fix the slow rev back to idle problem

[@Archermboi]

I think you should rev if harder lol

[@JLUX100]

Lmfao

[@tommystewart4551]

as Maxim x say's you need the rubber boots between airbox & carbs

[@paokole9709]

From where u said u bought it?

[@chasefowler5812]

Hey Jeremiah. I have a seca 400 that I just bought. Bike hasn’t runner in probably ten years. Any advise on what to clean and where to start to get it running?

[@JCorbinPhoto]

Hey Chase. Yes: Make sure the dust, oil, and dirt are cleared from as much as you can BEFORE you open anything up. Getting dirt in carbs and other sensitive places is going to be a drag. Get any diagrams and carb teardown guides that you can. Then, remove the carbs and check for passages to be clear and free from green gunk or any other residue; you may need to actually tear the carbs down to the gaskets and clean everything. The carb boots are likely hard as a rock and might need to be replaced. Check for the air cleaner to be intact and expect that it isn't. Make sure it's full of fresh oil and try to put it in gear (engine off). Try to rotate the rear tire and see if the transmission turns the engine. There should be *some* resistance from the compression stroke, but it should not be seized. Finally, if all that checks out, hook up a new battery and see if it wants to start. Even rotation is positive! Expect it to not start right away. Don't try a single start-attempt any longer than 15 seconds or so... Let the starter motor cool off for a minute or more, then try a short burst again. www.xs400.com will have a lot of Resurrection posts. Check them out!

[@chasefowler5812]

@@JCorbinPhoto Jeremiah! Thank you for the advise. I have recently downloaded the manual to my phone. Now I need to get cleaning and go from there. I’ll keep you updated with the process. Also, where are you located? Close to TX?

[@MM-sc6or]

Do you still have the bike and would you be interested in sellig it. I've been looking for one for a long time.

[@joshauastarkey2561]

Mary McKnight I have a nice one

[@randyrenne7759]

I have one but you cant buy it

[@emmapayne5192]

I have one I'm selling its a 1982

[@lorenzochavez5494]

hey i just recently got the same bike but i dont know the order of gears. If you know it would be great, thx!!

[@JCorbinPhoto]

Hi! 1 Down, 5 Up.

[@lorenzochavez5494]

@@JCorbinPhoto much appreciated brother

[@JCorbinPhoto]

@@lorenzochavez5494 Glad I can help! My bike was stolen a few years after this video, so I'm glad that she lives on!

[@shawnnicholas1493]

Your carbs need to be synchronized . And carb manifolds should be checked for cracks they may look fine but could still have cracks. allso your air box needs to be hooked up or you'll never find the prob .and check for blown head gaskets. It will suck air untill it worms up that's when the head material expands from the heat sealing up the leak . you mite check spark plugs too if there is brownish color at the base of the porcelain the plug is bad . spark is coming up through the plug when it ignites in the engine

[@JCorbinPhoto]

Hey Shawn, As it turns out I gave up and took the bike into the local shop. The local shop also found nothing wrong withe carbs, the intake boots, the plugs and wires, yet the problem persisted. In fact, the bike started to leave me places when it would act up AFTER I got somewhere just as often as acting up BEFORE I would try to leave. I went over the carbs 5 or 6 times; changing pilot settings, with/without filter, with/without airbox, and NONE of it made any difference when I tested it OR when the bike shop tested it. They also took a look at the valve clearances and head gaskets just like I had done. It turns out, in fact, that I had a ground wire that would decide not to ground unexpectedly. This ground would still let the engine turn over but not let the engine actually run. Interestingly enough, if you removed the loose ground after the engine had already started the engine would continue to run! This is why it would never die while I was mid-ride and also why it didn't matter what the engine temperature was. I find it interesting that I (along with everyone else) was looking at the carbs being the culprit, when it had NOTHING to do with the carbs. After the ground wire was buttoned down the bike has run consistently since then without exception!

[@shawnnicholas1493]

Well I'm glad you found the problem happy riding

[@jlphotography9379]

sir jeremiah, if you dont mind me asking how many ground wires do you have? and where are they attached?because i think i do have the same problem.

[@AlexanderSeling]

@@JCorbinPhoto I know this was forever ago but do you have a photo or video of that groudnwire or at least a description of where to find it? I have a very similar issue on my 83 xs400 and I think it might be the same exact problem.

[@JCorbinPhoto]

@@AlexanderSeling I don't have a pic. The bike was stolen a few months ago and then wrecked afterwards. However, the ground wire that I found was on the "driver's" side, right near where a few other ground wires were located. The wire did not appear to belong there, but to another bolt hole nearby. I simply moved the wire to bunch up with the others, and it worked perfectly up until the day it was stolen. With the Seat down, I could barely see the wire with the side covers off. Hope that helps a little!

[@JorgeCornejoDonoso]

What was the wire that was loose?

[@JCorbinPhoto]

A ground wire to something. I didn't go back to investigate deeper, but I suspect it went to the Ignition System.

[@JorgeCornejoDonoso]

ok.. Thanks. I have been having the same problem, but in my case, the bike does not start randomly. I can be warm or cold, so a wire loose sound very possible. I will check it tomorrow morning. Thanks

[@JCorbinPhoto]

If you need, I can make a photo of it and email it to you.

[@JorgeCornejoDonoso]

Jeremiah Corbin thanks, that will be awesome

[@JorgeCornejoDonoso]

I just solve the problem. I change the fuel hoses, and I put one that was too small for the vacuum and in consequence, it was not passing enough gas. I change it and add a fuel filter, and now it is working as good as new.

[@jameskeogh145]

excuse me mr. it's 20°C for the rest of the fucking world not just the britts

[@riccardolamilia1540]

io lo pure

[@NoneedforaName-xy1ol]

😂😂😂