Starter chain replacement

[roverfj1200]

Is it possible to replace the starter chain without splitting the case. I know it's a long shot. Was looking at oversized pistons but would need new timing and starter chains to warrant the time and monies. Or... can you pull the crank and reistall it without replacing all the bearing and stuff. I know it sounds tight ass but money is tight as I need to feed all my hobbies.  Cheers

[racerrad8]

Is it possible to replace the starter chain without splitting the case.

No

Or... can you pull the crank and reinstall it without replacing all the bearing and stuff.

Yes...

You need to inspect the bearings when it is apart. I would also replace the seals since you have it down too.

And then finally, you need to inspect the shift levers. If there is any question they should be replace because the case has to be split to change them too.

Randy - RPM

[roverfj1200]

Thanks Randy.  Gives me a plan but not sure what to do yet.

[ribbert]

Is it possible to replace the starter chain without splitting the case. I know it's a long shot. Was looking at oversized pistons but would need new timing and starter chains to warrant the time and monies. Or... can you pull the crank and reistall it without replacing all the bearing and stuff. I know it sounds tight ass but money is tight as I need to feed all my hobbies.  Cheers

Richard, a top end overhaul (with re bore) is going to cost around $1700 + (probably more with the current exchange rate) before you even look at the head, bottom end, transmission, chains and all the other "while I'm in here" items.

I'm as well placed as anyone on the forum to reco an engine but the fact I can doesn't necessarily mean it's the best option and in the case of an FJ, is not my first choice for many reasons, cost being one of them.

There are plenty of FJ beaters out there for not much money, certainly way less than a rebuild. Unfinished projects, rough bodies, weathered, dropped, unregistered, whatever, and plenty of them have modest mileage on them (Look at all Doug's brought at auction with a few scratches) Given the FJ engine's reputation, a lowish mileage bike is a pretty safe bet.

That is what I did last time, bought an entire FJ for $500 (cheap because the motor was out of it and couldn't be demonstrated) and have been riding the backside out of it for the last 3 or 4 years and many, many miles.
It rides and performs exactly like an expensive rebuilt one would ride. My original engine is languishing in the corner of the garage in pieces, one day.......

If you are not in a hurry, they come up. I tried to buy another one a few weeks back for just that reason, to stick in the corner as a spare, a complete rideable bike, rough but all there, with only 45K on it for $1200, and you get all the other spares!

Anyway, just another avenue to consider. I also like the idea of not having to rebuild the engine, just pop the old one out and drop the new one in, give it a flick of paint and away you go. Just a long pit stop and not a lot of money.

Noel

[FJools]

Richard

if you do go down the road of a top end plus rebuild, its a relatively straight forward process.

Just make sure you buy the correct starter chain..........................

I lost count of what I have spent rebuilding mine, the biggest cost was in the cylinder getting in "serviced" and blue printed while I was there !
The cost of a Wiseco piston kit was about the same as a set of OEM piston rings!

jools

[turbocamino]

Curious...did the chain break?....or just tired of the noises it can make?

[roverfj1200]

Yeah the chain rattles way to much and I'm pretty sure once on a backfire the chain pinched in the casing and jammed the engine. Had to rock it free. I like the idea of a rebuild as I know what I have once done where as a secondhand engine is just that. I have a 84 here with a fully rebuilt engine and have considered a swap but that seems a waste of a great bike that is in roadworthy condition just need to sort the fuel problems it has. And in the end the FJ is not a investment it's a passion.

[Urban_Legend]

Richard

It is possible that in the next few month, that I will have a spare 1200 motor (in the deal with my new 1200) I was contemplating putting in it Sparkles, but I really only need the carbies off it. We might be able to a deal. However this motor is of unknown history.

Mark

[Tor-King]

Hi Rover...
I am in the same position you are in.  I have an '86 that I am currently rebuilding.  I contemplated the idea of buying a donor bike and using the engine but it is not the same.  I wanted a #'s matching bike and the joy of rebuilding it.  I LOVE tinkering on my FJ's!  I know it is going to cost more but I know what I will have when it is done. 
Enjoy your passion!
Dean

[CutterBill]

Remember... the entire point to having an FJ is to ride it and create memories.  Don't get too concerned about matching numbers...
Bill

[Tor-King]

Ya, I know...I am with you CutterBill.  But, I am unfortunately, very anal that way and a perfectionist. It sucks sometimes as it often costs me more money and three times as long to repair.    This is however, a hobby of mine that I truly love, riding is only part of it.

Dean

[FJools]

When you know that you, or another trusted builder, put it all together you can enjoy those FJ miles much more and with less worry 

[ribbert]

For many here it's a black day when they walk into the garage. stare at the FJ and can't think of a single thing that needs doing to it.

For the tinkerers, playing with their bike is as much fun, and in some cases, more fun, than riding it and the mother lode is the day they find an excuse to rip into the very heart of the beast, the engine!

..... I LOVE tinkering on my FJ's!  I know it is going to cost more but I know what I will have when it is done.
It sucks sometimes as it often costs me more money and three times as long to repair.  biggrin  This is however, a hobby of mine that I truly love, riding is only part of it.
Enjoy your passion!
Dean

...... And in the end the FJ is not a investment it's a passion.

.... Troys much deserved excitement at getting his bike running sweetly and Jools loving every minute of his major overhaul.

These are all good enough reasons to do your own engine and there is nothing more satisfying than charging down the road on the engine you built yourself.

I love my FJ and will never sell it. Even if I could no longer ride I would park it in the garage and look at it, a reminder of the thousands of great memories and experiences it has given me, all the places it has taken me and the people (digital and real) it has introduced me too.

However, I'm not emotional about engines, they are a consumable and when worn out get fixed by the most practical means. Whether that is a re build or a replacement depends on many things, on the FJ I favour replacement.

Engine reconditioning does not come with the guarantee many assume, even for experienced builders. The aviation industry (the only one that records/reports such events) knows this. Ask a pilot which single engine plane they would rather fly at night or over water, picking one up from a major overhaul or flying one in for a major overhaul.

I can think of four prominent members here who had to pull down rebuilt motors for various reasons and I have encountered many elsewhere over the years.

"Knowing what you've got" comes after "hoping what you get". By the time your engine needs doing it's probably high mileage - and so are all the bits you won't be replacing. I'm not anti re building engines, I've re conditioned hundreds of them but while there remains a plentiful supply of low mileage FJ's for half the price of an engine re build it is an attractive alternative.

FJ's have proven to be bullet proof with no Achilles heel and in my opinion an unmolested low mileage motor will have more life left in it than a "zeroed" re build. You just can't hand build an engine with a variety of aftermarket parts and expect it last like one off the production line, although most of us will probably never tally up enough miles on a motorbike to put it to the test.

If you want to do your own engine, great, you'll love the experience, if you just like the idea of a fresh motor, terrific, do it, if you want someone to build one for you, fantastic, write out the cheque, but for those like me who love their FJ's but only want to ride them, be happy if they never took a spanner to them and have an eye on the budget, this is a cost effective alternative worth considering.

As far as the risk of buying a second hand engine (which is how most of us acquired our bikes anyway) a running engine will tell you just about all you need to know about it's condition.


Noel

Sometimes you win, sometimes you learn.