Hello fellow FJ'ers
I'm going over my old 86 in preparation for the Australian FJ rally in Queensland in feb 2012,which by the time I ride up from Sydney,cruise around with the Aussie FJ'ers and ride home will be in the vicinity of 2000km.This would be the most km in one go I have asked of my fj.I was hoping to get some pointers on things on the bike that I should double check to prevent mechanical failure/disaster on the journey that others may have discovered on long rides.I have already secured the petcock hose union,fixed a few small oil leaks,fixed a few bad connections in the wiring,tightened/loctite scews/bolts etc.
Thanks in advance :good:
Cheers :drinks:
Jeff P
If you have a conventional type battery, check the electrolyte level.
Not much in addition to normal maintenance you should have to do. The FJ is a very reliable bike. I've owned my FJ for over 14 years & 95,000 kms and the list of "failures" I've had on trips is very short. Fix is also listed
Carb float needle got stuck - empty float bowl and refill
Blown fuse on "signals" (& heated grips/GPS circuit) - shorted wire on grips (my bad wiring)
Punctured tire - plugged with external tire plug from kit I carry
fuel pump died - bought new overpriced pump from RipEveryPoorCuntOff
Oil light came on - add 1/2 L of oil (after 3000 kms since change)
That's it for the list. Pretty impressive lack of problems, I think.
BTW You don't have a fuel pump :-) so scratch that off the list and the punctured tire could happen anywhere or anywhen.
If the bike has been serviced well, ride relaxed. It is very unlikely to fail you.
Cheers,
Arnie
Quote from: rktmanfj on December 20, 2011, 01:32:12 PM
If you have a conventional type battery, check the electrolyte level.
+1 long trips *may* cause the voltage regulator to act up. It's happened to me several times. Good call Randy.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 20, 2011, 07:07:14 PM
Quote from: rktmanfj on December 20, 2011, 01:32:12 PM
If you have a conventional type battery, check the electrolyte level.
+1 long trips *may* cause the voltage regulator to act up. It's happened to me several times. Good call Randy.
BTDT. Pulled into the Kennebec, SD KOA late one afternoon, and the bike would not restart.
About 2/3 of the electrolyte had boiled off in 2 days of riding.
My clutch slave went kinda all of a sudden two years ago. I keep an extra Rebuild kit now. A slave cylinder rebuild kit is less than $20, packs light, and is easy enough to change on the road should the need arise - easy, granted, if you've got the rebuild kit.
I'd use RPM, Randy's kit comes with the spring, not all of them do.
http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Clutch%3AS%2FK&cat=39 (http://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Clutch%3AS%2FK&cat=39)
Check all the simple stuff, Oil level, Dot 3 level on both Brake master and clutch master, tire tread depth. I ran the rear very thin at the 2011 WCR, if it was not for all the rain killing the rides I would have fibers showing by the end of Friday. Don't forget your riding boots, not a problem if you riding there, don't ask why I added this.... It just happens to be a recent add to my list of "lessons learned" (note: K-Mart snow boots cropped out of picture on the Left). Brake pad wear, blinker fluid, Lights. Battery fluid level, chain tension, chain condition, etc... Hope this helps.
FJmonkey, what's blinker fluid?
Quote from: Tengu on December 20, 2011, 08:19:56 PM
FJmonkey, what's blinker fluid?
Every FJ owner knows what blinker fluid is...... You mean you haven't even checked yours??? I bet you don't even have a spare bottle for topping off. Once you run out, all the blinkers just quit.... Just like that..... Next thing you know you get a citation for failing to signal.... :rofl2:
When I first got my FJ I didn't know about the blinker fluid, sure enough I ran it out.
A few hundred dollars later I got it fixed, I won't make that mistake again.
I check it before every ride now.
I guess I will bite -- I've owned and FJ since 87 and not once have I ever checked my blinker fluid...I do keep spare bulbs though ... I betcha thats what you boys are talking about...well is it?
or is this going to be one of these.. ( How do you keep an idiot in suspense?.........I tell you later.)
stevecc
Quote from: moparman70 on December 20, 2011, 10:47:32 PM
I guess I will bite -- I've owned and FJ since 87 and not once have I ever checked my blinker fluid...I do keep spare bulbs though ... I betcha thats what you boys are talking about...well is it?
or is this going to be one of these.. ( How do you keep an idiot in suspense?.........I tell you later.)
stevecc
And your poor 87' sits and sits.....
Hey Guys.
Thanks for the tips :good: .Its been a long while since I have checked the valve clearance's so I will do that.I have a sealed type battery so that should be ok.The clutch slave is about 1 year old,so that should be good to go.I noticed some very slight cracks in the front tyre...still heaps of tread,so I might change that.I think it unlikely that the invisible fuel pump will fail :crazy:.I have just fitted a new DID gold/black x-ring chain & 18/40 sprockets.I do have some boots :pardon:
Seems like my shopping list will only include:-
1.puncture kit.
2.a hand full of lamps & fuses.
3.small bottle of top up oil.
4.some very elusive blinker fluid :biggrin:
5.some Kookaloo retardant..... :crazy:
Thanks again
Cheers :drinks:
Jeff P
p.s I like the way the spell checker wants to change Kookaloo to..... Kickapoo :rofl2:
Quote from: flips on December 21, 2011, 01:28:31 PM
4.some very elusive blinker fluid :biggrin:
5.some Kookaloo retardant..... :crazy:
I've always found scotch an acceptable substitute for blinker fluid... Does get a bit expensive after a while but luckily the bike reservoir doesn't need topping up often and it's always handy for topping up your own reservoir after the riding's done for the day.. :good2:
Also - the only KOokaloo retardant I know of would involve amputation of the right hand and wrist. That shit's just too fun to give up! :yahoo:
Safe riding mate, enjoy your holidays
James
Quote from: flips on December 21, 2011, 01:28:31 PM
Hey Guys.
Thanks for the tips :good: .Its been a long while since I have checked the valve clearance's so I will do that.I have a sealed type battery so that should be ok.The clutch slave is about 1 year old,so that should be good to go.I noticed some very slight cracks in the front tyre...still heaps of tread,so I might change that.I think it unlikely that the invisible fuel pump will fail :crazy:.I have just fitted a new DID gold/black x-ring chain & 18/40 sprockets.I do have some boots :pardon:
Seems like my shopping list will only include:-
1.puncture kit.
2.a hand full of lamps & fuses.
3.small bottle of top up oil.
4.some very elusive blinker fluid :biggrin:
5.some Kookaloo retardant..... :crazy:
Thanks again
Cheers :drinks:
Jeff P
p.s I like the way the spell checker wants to change Kookaloo to..... Kickapoo :rofl2:
Be VERY carefull where and how you store your Kookaloo retardant and your blinker fluid, never together.
That could be dangerous, I would leave the Kookaloo retardant home. It could only keep you out of jail, but it also will take all the fun out of the ride. But you really need the blinker fluid with you. (hard to find) :shok:
Advil, Tylenol, gasx, Imodium. toilet paper, paper towels/rags, basic tools, credit card are some of the things I would bring.
Bob W
Don't forget Rock's list:
Quote from: rlucas on October 10, 2010, 07:28:00 PM
Change, granola bars, condoms, extra ammo, HackySacks, and a pack of ZigZags.
-Rossi-
Quote from: rktmanfj on December 21, 2011, 02:08:58 PM
Don't forget Rock's list:
Quote from: rlucas on October 10, 2010, 07:28:00 PM
Change, granola bars, condoms, extra ammo, HackySacks, and a pack of ZigZags.
-Rossi-
You say that like it's a bad thing. :rofl:
Bob W
i dont think i would take off on a ride to the grocery store with a cracking front tire..... replace this tire and enjoy the ride!
Kookaloo! the only way to get KOokaloo retardant is after joining the AAF (alliance against fun) key element is just like the members of the AAF = RETARD
KOokaloo!
+1 What Frank said. Isn't it nice to leave on a long tour with a fresh set of scrubbed in tires? Easy on the mind? Relaxing?
I dislike leaving on a long trip, if I have to worry about something on the bike I should have done but did not. I have more fun not worrying.
Maybe it's just me. Prolly is...
Oh yea, where's Deano? Don't leave home without your baby diaper wipes. The ones with Aloe lotion on them. It's the secret to keep monkey butt at bay.
Thanks Dean!
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 21, 2011, 09:21:10 PM
The ones with Aloe lotion on them. It's the secret to keep monkey butt at bay.
Thanks Dean!
I take offense to that
Monkey Butt comment!!! But I can say that longer rides tend to have taxing effects to ones delicate back side....
nothing worse than running out of rubber in the middle of a nice tour when you didnt have to.
Tires are cheap compared to replacing the motorcycle, an extended hospital stay and or losing one's life.
No one can guarrantee this wont happen anyway but if you can help your odds by putting some new rubber on i would say it would be worth it.
I cant begin to tell you how many guys i have seen need to replace tires at a rally... myself included.
thinking you have plenty of rubber is a classic mistake.... in reality a tire wears like this....
300 miles it looks new
1500 miles it still looks new
2500 miles it looks about half gone and i think this tire should be good for at least another 2000 miles
300 miles later threads are showing :dash1:
the kookaloo is hell on some tires :good2:
KOokaloo!
Quote from: FJmonkey on December 21, 2011, 10:09:57 PM
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 21, 2011, 09:21:10 PM
The ones with Aloe lotion on them. It's the secret to keep monkey butt at bay.
Thanks Dean!
I take offense to that Monkey Butt comment!!! But I can say that longer rides tend to have taxing effects to ones delicate back side....
Mark, Mark, Mark, I meant no disrespect :rofl: although the term "monkey butt" has been around longer than we have been riding motorcycles.
Did you notice that I specifically stayed away from mentioning footwear.....?
This is my cracking front tire....
http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=2886 (http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?action=gallery;sa=view;id=2886)
(http://fjowners.com/gallery/2/1645_22_12_11_4_)
I think its from old age (4yrs) and lack off use.Funny thing is that the other side still looks new.Is it worse than it looks? :shok:
My list is growing......
1.puncture kit.
2.a hand full of lamps & fuses.
3.small bottle of top up oil.
4.some very elusive blinker fluid :biggrin:
5.some Kookaloo retardant..... :crazy:
6.Change
7.granola bars
8.condoms
9.extra ammo
10.HackySacks (wtf?)
11.a pack of ZigZags
12.a fresh set of scrubbed in tires
13.Advil
14.Tylenol
15.gasx
16.Imodium
17.toilet paper
18.paper towels/rags
19.basic tools
20.credit card
21.baby diaper wipes. (The ones with Aloe lotion on them)
Bloody hell :crazy:....I didnt realise so much preparation was required :scratch_one-s_head:
I wonder wonder what is the correct order of priority?
Cheers :drinks:
Jeff P
Don't forget to pack a plastic bag, to catch any smoke that escapes from your wiring. :lol:
Quote from: Tengu on December 20, 2011, 08:19:56 PM
FJmonkey, what's blinker fluid?
You will find it on the shelf right next to the muffler bearings. :blush:
CraigO
Blinker Fluid (http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=2&products_id=6)
Muffler Bearings (http://kalecoauto.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=10)
Found you a source for those.
Damn, all sold out of blinker fluid. And I needed some, anyone got any on the shelf that they don't need. :crazy:
CraigO
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 22, 2011, 12:29:32 AM
Mark, Mark, Mark, I meant no disrespect :rofl: although the term "monkey butt" has been around longer than we have been riding motorcycles.
Did you notice that I specifically stayed away from mentioning footwear.....?
You might have gone after the footwear if Monkey Boot/Foot was not such an awkward phrase. Monkey Butt has a much nicer ring to it.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 22, 2011, 12:29:32 AM
Mark, Mark, Mark, I meant no disrespect :rofl: although the term "monkey butt" has been around longer than we have been riding motorcycles.
Then maybe we should be carrying this around...
http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/ (http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/)
Randy - RPM
Quote from: racerrad8 on December 22, 2011, 07:34:16 PM
Then maybe we should be carrying this around...
http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/ (http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/)
Randy - RPM
Already on my Christmas list...Got a lump of coal last year, maybe I was good enough to get it this year.
Quote from: Pat Conlon on December 21, 2011, 09:21:10 PM
Oh yea, where's Deano? Don't leave home without your baby diaper wipes. The ones with Aloe lotion on them. It's the secret to keep monkey butt at bay.
Thanks Dean!
Anti-MonkeyButt Powder (http://www.antimonkeybutt.com/)
Looks like Randy beat me to it, but, I actually have a can of my own........ :biggrin:
Quote from: craigo on December 22, 2011, 11:11:59 AM
Quote from: Tengu on December 20, 2011, 08:19:56 PM
FJmonkey, what's blinker fluid?
You will find it on the shelf right next to the muffler bearings. :blush:
CraigO
and that's in the section with left handed screwdrivers and skyhooks?
Quote from: Tengu on December 22, 2011, 10:45:47 PM
Quote from: craigo on December 22, 2011, 11:11:59 AM
Quote from: Tengu on December 20, 2011, 08:19:56 PM
FJmonkey, what's blinker fluid?
You will find it on the shelf right next to the muffler bearings. :blush:
CraigO
Yep, and metric adjustable wrenches.... :rofl2:
and that's in the section with left handed screwdrivers and skyhooks?
Quote from: racerman_27410 on December 21, 2011, 10:55:53 PM
nothing worse than running out of rubber in the middle of a nice tour when you didnt have to.
KOokaloo!
You know when I read that first line, I figured it was reference to a post above, of not to forget something else!
:biggrin: