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General Category => Yamaha FJ1100 / FJ1200 Running Problems => Topic started by: Motofun on January 25, 2019, 08:19:27 AM

Title: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: Motofun on January 25, 2019, 08:19:27 AM
The second gear issue isn't on every FJ1100.  I've got about 80k miles on mine and never had an issue.
Title: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: Pat Conlon on January 25, 2019, 11:45:05 AM
Quote from: Motofun on January 25, 2019, 08:19:27 AM
The second gear issue isn't on every FJ1100.  I've got about 80k miles on mine and never had an issue.

I disagree. It's just a matter of time before you bend those soft shift forks.

There is a real reason Yamaha re-designed those forks in the later FJ models.
Title: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: Motofun on January 25, 2019, 12:39:54 PM
Isn't the issue rounded over dogs on the second gear?  I ride my '85 pretty hard, always have and yet no problems.....I have not taken the transmission apart so I may be in for a surprise some day but I'm worried about it.
I'll add that many years ago I went with a stage three carb kit, air filter and pipes.  The only problem I had was a slipping clutch that I did the doubled up diaphragm spring trick....
Title: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: Troyskie on January 25, 2019, 01:54:41 PM
Let's not forget that many 1100's had the second gear sorted as part of a recall during warranty maintenance in the first few years.

Many bikes never had the recall warranty work done as they were serviced by owners and, generally, it was only dealers who were advised of the recall. Plus some dealers refused to do the work as there was not enough profit from the Yamaha payment, even though parts were gratis.

Troyskie
Title: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: Dads_FJ on January 25, 2019, 03:41:37 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on January 25, 2019, 11:45:05 AM
Quote from: Motofun on January 25, 2019, 08:19:27 AM
The second gear issue isn't on every FJ1100.  I've got about 80k miles on mine and never had an issue.

I disagree. It's just a matter of time before you bend those soft shift forks.

There is a real reason Yamaha re-designed those forks in the later FJ models.

Been there talked about that.

http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=17735.msg178974#msg178974 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=17735.msg178974#msg178974)

Title: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: Pat Conlon on January 25, 2019, 04:03:37 PM
Quote from: Motofun on January 25, 2019, 12:39:54 PM
Isn't the issue rounded over dogs on the second gear? 

The cause of the rounded dogs is a bent shift fork.
Title: Re: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: FJ_Hooligan on January 25, 2019, 07:07:20 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on January 25, 2019, 04:03:37 PM
Quote from: Motofun on January 25, 2019, 12:39:54 PM
Isn't the issue rounded over dogs on the second gear? 

The cause of the rounded dogs is a bent shift fork.

I would think the lack of undercut on the gears and wear on the dogs/windoes allows them to push apart and disengage under heavy load.  This movement is what bends the shift fork that is trying to hold the gears together.

I don't typically bounce mine off of the rev limiter in second gear but, like Jack, I have never had any second gear issues.  Not to say that that it wouldn't eventually fail if I rode like a street racer all the time.  :-)

Title: 2nd gear issues
Post by: Alf on January 26, 2019, 04:17:59 AM
I would like to contribute with my humble grain of sand to the 2nd gear issue

I think at present I know around 20 members of our FJ whatsupp chat with 1100s and 1TX 1200s (86-87 in Europe). No one have experienced the 2nd gear issue. Along my life, I've only known 1 case, in a 1100, and then it was in 1988

My best friend owns one early 1200 model since 1998, and myself I own one of this for 2 years now. My first FJ 1100 was owned 5 years, where I rode 165.000 kms, included track sessions. No 2nd gear issues

Maybe could it come from your popular traffic lights drag races because of your strict speed limits?. Only a theory

Choosing an FJ, this 2nd gear potential problem would not take me to discard an early model.

The starter clutch slippery is a more habitual problem, and equally expensive, and could affect any model

Title: Re: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: T Legg on January 26, 2019, 07:05:48 AM
I have two 84 fj1100's and my newest one has no second gear issue.the first fj I bought slips in both second and third gear .Those are my two favorite gears.I hope to replace the transmission with one of RPM 's undercut gear setups and updated shift forks before the West coast rally.
Title: 2nd gear issues
Post by: giantkiller on January 26, 2019, 10:16:23 AM
I've never had a slippery starter clutch problem. But the fj1350r. I got the bike with a little over 10,000 miles on it for $600. And the first time I got on it hard. Second gear gremlin shows up. I'm thinking that PO probably missed a gear. And maybe all it takes is maybe just once. If just the right/wrong combination.

Second gear issue... Helped me justify the 1350... inverted Gixxer front end, Gixxer rear wheel, on and on and on.

But I have a bike that made a superbike racer. Come back from riding it with a huge smile on his face. That I could see through the visor of his helmet. For just a fraction of the cost of his gsxr 1000.

Your bike looks great and should be easy to get $2900. Just wrong time of the year to sell  bike.
Title: 2nd gear issues
Post by: ZOA NOM on January 26, 2019, 05:18:10 PM
Mods should delete discussion about problems in this For Sale thread.
Title: 2nd gear issues
Post by: TexasDave on January 26, 2019, 05:40:07 PM
Quote from: ZOA NOM on January 26, 2019, 05:18:10 PM
Mods should delete discussion about problems in this For Sale thread.
I agree. Pat has already moved some to a 2nd gear specific thread but more members are posting this problem in this for sale thread. I know if I had a bike for sale I would not like to see all the problems of this model posted in my for sale thread.

Dave
Title: Re: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: FJmonkey on January 26, 2019, 05:50:21 PM
Rick, Dave, this topic (Early FJ second gear issues) is already split from the sale post, as of 3PM yesterday by Father Pat. 
Title: Re: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: Pat Conlon on January 26, 2019, 05:54:18 PM
I leave for Saturday ride and look what I come back to....you rascals...

Mark, they added more posts in EffinJack's f/s topic since I split out the first batch yesterday....

No worries laddies, all fixed...that's why I get paid the big bucks...

On with the discussion....

Was it the chicken or the egg?  Does the shift fork bend then the dogs get rounded, or vice-versa?
In my experience, I missed a 75% WFO 1-2 shift and bent my shift fork first, then 2nd gear started popping out.

Everything was fine until I missed that shift.
Title: Re: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: ZOA NOM on January 26, 2019, 08:26:42 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on January 26, 2019, 05:54:18 PM

Mark, they added more posts in EffinJack's f/s topic since I split out the first batch yesterday....


I'll take that apology in the form of a beer...   :drinks:
Title: Re: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: Mark Olson on January 26, 2019, 08:42:00 PM
Being very much aware of the 2nd gear problem I was very careful shifting my 86 FJ .
I did miss a shift once or twice at the end of a ride at low rpms on my way home hungry and tired.
keep in mind that at the time I weighed in at 385 lbs, and would upon occasion ride 2 up with my wife 120. lbs.

So my 2nd gear issue started at redline and slowly crept down the rpm range to 8000 rpms . most of the time it would hold on a straight level road but as soon as a vertical climb under power it would pop.

So I lost 100 lbs with a diet and was able to keep the pop at 8k for a while until it started to get worse again.
It made its way to 6k rpm and at this point it was too annoying to enjoy riding it with any hills.

I had RPM put a new trans with all gears undercut and the beefy shift forks and detent kit.  :good2:

Now this is my opinion. Derived from mine and others experiences of the fj . ..........

ALL FJ years have the potential  for the 2nd gear problem, the stronger forks of the 89+ years will delay the problem.
It really just depends on how much weight you carry and how steep the hill or high load.
If you baby the engine in 2nd gear you will most likely never have the problem.
Spirited riders and mountain pass thrashers will find themselves splitting the cases one day.

MarkO  



Title: Re: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: FJmonkey on January 26, 2019, 10:19:51 PM
Quote from: ZOA NOM on January 26, 2019, 08:26:42 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on January 26, 2019, 05:54:18 PM

Mark, they added more posts in EffinJack's f/s topic since I split out the first batch yesterday....


I'll take that apology in the form of a beer...   :drinks:
I am not sure its wise to serve beer to one of the thin skinned type.
Title: Re: 2nd gear issues
Post by: ribbert on January 27, 2019, 08:00:04 AM
Quote from: TexasDave on January 26, 2019, 05:40:07 PM

.....I know if I had a bike for sale I would not like to see all the problems of this model posted in my for sale thread.

Dave

I think EffinJack should tell the poster not to be Effin mischievous.

Noel
Title: Re: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: giantkiller on January 27, 2019, 09:39:16 AM
I apologise I was one of the dummies. I don't seem to ever sell anything unless someone tells me they want it. So I didn't think about it. And I just figured anyone who would be buying it off the Fj forum. Would already know about the second gear problem. But it makes sense.
Title: Re: Early FJ second gear issues
Post by: ZOA NOM on January 27, 2019, 02:18:27 PM
Quote from: FJmonkey on January 26, 2019, 10:19:51 PM
Quote from: ZOA NOM on January 26, 2019, 08:26:42 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on January 26, 2019, 05:54:18 PM

Mark, they added more posts in EffinJack's f/s topic since I split out the first batch yesterday....


I'll take that apology in the form of a beer...   :drinks:
I am not sure its wise to serve beer to one of the thin skinned type.

Touche'   

Maybe a wine cooler?