Hey guys.
I was just reading through the forum when I was searching for some info about the FJ and I thought it seems to be a nice crowd, unlike some bobber forums I even left because of the attitude of members. Anyways, my name is Chris, currently living in the Caribbean and I just bought my first FJ1100 today. 1985 with (thats what they said )15.000 miles on it. I got the price from 2000 down to 1400 and thought I wouldnt have any risk for that price.
When i was about 15 years old, my first ever motorized vehicle was a Yamaha RD80. I bought it secretly and my parents didnt knew about it and I drove it without licence on the country roads between the farms. When they figured it out weeks later I had to give it back but ever since then I always wanted a Yamaha again. I also worked a few year with outboards of boats and the Yamahas were by far the best engines next to the Hondas.
So I just finished rebuilding my first real motorcycle, a Kawasaki KZ750 LTD from 1981 and sold it 2 days ago. From the money I just bought the FJ.
Let me throw in some pics.
This was the KZ I just sold:
(https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11214208_887134881380088_752775469443043169_n.jpg?oh=ace8987fc1de6440c07854c8c3084691&oe=56555CD1)
That is my Shadow 800 Bobber:
(https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11705309_879388868821356_3753857005494496431_n.jpg?oh=01cbb7b686f349d9ffb1cc8a243ad1ea&oe=565A5D08)
The new family member:
(https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/t31.0-8/11816115_889440451149531_8080383369496266259_o.jpg)
Well, greetings to everybody!! :drinks:
Welcome to our digital campfire.
Welcome to the forum :hi:
Good looking bike and glad you joined us.
Kurt
OMG! How do you guys get FJs in that good condition for such low prices?
Great looking bike and welcome to the group.
Cheers
Layback
Welcome to the crowd!
From the way it looks, it could well be the truth it has 15000 miles.
I got mine with 10000 km for 4000€. Everyone told I was stupid for giving that much money for a bike that is older than me. But I never regretted it. :hi:
It seems like your frame was painted and exhaust was definitely tampered with.
Yes, exhaust is not original, the headers are. Thats the only thing not original on the bike. Can someone tell me how I remove the whole front bodywork? I opened 6 screws but I cant seem to find my way to the gauges from below. I want to install a new cam gasket. Im waiting for the Igniter Box I bought on ebay. That was one of a few smaller issues the bike had. It ran, but didnt run smooth. As if the battery was almost dead. But they told me its the CDI or igniter.
The first pic of her at my house:
(https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtp1/v/t1.0-9/11822420_890959597664283_7648010321047197806_n.jpg?oh=083390c61f00c3f51a35e7aad87b12eb&oe=5659480D)
Quote from: element303 on July 30, 2015, 08:03:32 PM
Yes, an FJ
1000 would be a first.
Nice looking bike. Why do you want to remove the fairing?
Noel
Simple typo. To get to the engine and to paint it
Quote from: element303 on July 30, 2015, 08:45:30 PM
To get to the engine and to paint it
In my opinion, the less you handle those old plastics the better. They get brittle over time and this is when you start breaking off mounting tabs, scratching things, pinching things, disturbing wiring and connectors, over tightening, introducing vibrations and buzzing etc. I would limit removal to when it is necessary.
At that mileage it has most likely never even been off, leave it that way as long as you can.
If painting the motor fitted, there is little advantage to taking the fairing off, just mask it up. Keep in mind when painting it just what will be seen when it is all together and viewed from normal distances and angles.
Noel
Well I need to change the cam gasket and want to paint the fairing. I cant even seem to get off the windshield like that. It seem to have nuts on the inner sides.
And one very important thing, safety wire your fuel petcock! You can find instructions on the forum.
Quote from: element303 on July 31, 2015, 08:29:00 AM
Well I need to change the cam gasket and want to paint the fairing. I cant even seem to get off the windshield like that. It seem to have nuts on the inner sides.
The windscreen uses rubber well nuts. And they are likely way past their due date for replacement. RPM has the correct size.
http://www.kayakshed.com/hobie-kayak-gear/hobie-well-nuts?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_content=20455&utm_campaign=Hobie&gclid=CJ70sdTShccCFRYbgQodPTsMDg (http://www.kayakshed.com/hobie-kayak-gear/hobie-well-nuts?utm_source=google&utm_medium=shopping&utm_content=20455&utm_campaign=Hobie&gclid=CJ70sdTShccCFRYbgQodPTsMDg)
The rubber bulges out and binds to the plastic when the screw is tightened. But after sitting for a long time the rubber tends to stay bulged out. So the nut tends to spin and not allow the screw to back out. Just pull out on the screw while removing and it should come out.
great thank you! yes thats how it feels. do i need to remove the windshield first to get the front fairing off?
Quote from: element303 on July 31, 2015, 10:13:43 AM
great thank you! yes thats how it feels. do i need to remove the windshield first to get the front fairing off?
On my '86 and '89 yes, but I have not worked on the '84/'85 FJs. On the '86 to '90 FJs the front fairing can be removed with or with out the fairing frame. Two different ways to get the job done. You will need to wait for a reply from a first gen owner.
im pretty sure i need to take off the windshield first, cause i found no way to get anywhere from beneath.
Quote from: element303 on July 31, 2015, 12:09:04 PM
im pretty sure i need to take off the windshield first, cause i found no way to get anywhere from beneath.
You will also find a fastener(s) under one of the small black fairing protectors just behind the side air scoops... That seems to be the same for all years....
And take the scoops off, you might find a few more fasteners....
yes there was one screw beneath those black protectors each side, then from the bottom 2 screws and 2 from the top near the fuses. i just discovered 2 more next to the headlight inside when i look inside from the top.
im thinking about to either paint the fairing or use wrap for the first time to protect the original paint. but either way the paint is old already and dull from the sun and the tank have some small rust, so i have to sand the paint anyways.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/141332577232?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT (http://www.ebay.com/itm/141332577232?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)
No need to take the windshield off to remove the complete front fairing. I've had mine off numerous times.
1. Remove the two top side black Phillips screws
2. Remove the bottom two Phillips screws located on the fairing below the headlight.
3. At the rear side if both sides of the fairing, Remove the bottom two black trapezoid protectors to expose the small Phillips screw. Also remove the oval metal ring otherwise you will lose it.
4. Remove the two air ducts
5. Disconnect the speedo cable at the front wheel
6. Standing in front of the bike, Gently pull the fairing forward about 10". This will expose the two wire harness connectors at the bottom left of the fairing and disconnect these. The fairing is now fully disconnected.
7. Carefully wiggle the fairing up and forward to clear the rubber mounts etc.
Advice: if it seems to be jammed it probably is hanging up somewhere so stop and find out. Don't force or you will break or crack. Go slow!!
Hope this helps,
Rob
awesome, thank you. looks like the ones i forgot was the air ducts. so the screws on the inside near the light might be the mount for the light itself and dont need to be opened to remove it i guess. ill try that now. great help guys!! :dance2:
Can't type as fast as the others.
Here's my wordy version of the front fairing removal procedure... Formatting is funky, because I copied and pasted it from a Windows Text window.
If your are going to change the cam cover gasket, remove the side covers and the fuel tank first. No need to
remove the windscreen.
1. Remove the black plastic fasteners/push pins (two) that are located on the inside surface of the side scoops (look inside the front of scoops opening), and remove the side scoops.
2. Remove the two black parallelogram-shaped covers on each side of the fairing. Removing the lower of
the two uncovers a screw, a washer, and an oblong spacer/washer. Remove the screw, the washer, and the
spacer on each side of the fairing.
3. Disconnect the speedometer cable from the wheel end.
4. Remove screws (one each side) on top of inner panels of fairing. These are the black panels that fit
between the fuel tank and the front fairing. They panels will come off with the fairing as one piece.
5. Place a clean towel or cloth on top of the front fender to protect it.
6. Remove two screws and washers on bottom front surface (beneath headlight) of the fairing.
7.a Stand in front of bike with front wheel between your legs, grasp fairing on its sides and wiggle it free a
little. Do not force it, coax it.
7 b.The lower front leading edges left and right side are located/held to the frame by a pin protruding from
the frame (where the top of the oil cooler is) that is surrounded by a black rubber bushing in the fairing.
Carefully pull the leading edges of the fairing out, then out to the sides to disengage these frame pins from
the fairing.
7 c. Again, start to wiggle the fairing a little and pull it towards you. It will want to get hung up on the rubber
fuse block beneath the black clutch-side inner panel. Free it from that if necessary as you are pulling the
fairing towards you.
8. Once the fairing is pulled off the bike just enough so you can get a hand down between it and its black
frame support, let its front rest on the top of the front fender.
9. Disconnect the headlight cable connector from the back of the headlight. Disconnect connectors for the
instrumentation cables. Two or three of them.
10. Place hands on each side of the fairing's bottom edges and carefully lift/support the fairing and pull it
towards you to release it from the bike. You may need to pull out (slightly!) on the sides of the fairing to clear
the sides of the fairing from the bike's sides as it is pulled toward you. Be careful, the fairing is front-heavy
and can pivot in your hands and perhaps get away from you as you remove it from the bike.
11. Use zip-lock bags to contain and organize all removed parts, so that you'll have them handy for the
fairing's re-install. There are steel sleeves inside of the rubber bushings/isolators that are used on the front
bottom of the fairing, and on the bushings that are under the screws that go through the inner panels. Make
sure those are accounted for and put those in the zip-lock bag too. Even if they look like they want to stay in
the bushings, press them out of them, and store them in the zip-lock bag. They have a habit of falling out,
and becoming lost.
Cant believe of the great help I get here. Thank you all for taking the time to answer.
Before you posted FJ1100mjk, I just finished getting the front off:
(https://scontent-mia1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfp1/v/l/t1.0-9/11822694_891363407623902_1234600228724206156_n.jpg?oh=a72e7d515e3acdfa186eceb8b9e5b4d5&oe=563ADABB)
Now I can finally see everything else. I like to take new stuff I get apart to understand whats where so when something is wrong, I know where to look for it. Anyways, I will paint the whole bike and I saw a smoked windshield for it on ebay. Now I have to wait to get the ignitor box and rear brake to get it to turn on and take her for a spin finally. Im going to clean the engine now to see where exactly the leak is in the cam gasket.
Thanks again everybody!! Great forum and members.