Newbie Q's

[McWood]

Ok guys i've got a few questions for you, mostly about the carbs. Here's what i'm facing, the FJ doesn't like to idle. starting with the choke full on and dead cold she starts right up and and runs smooth through the steps of the choke as she warms up. That is untill i get to about the 3rd step from the choke being full off. there she begins to run very poorly well below the target idle speed, to the point of dying if i don't goose the throttle every once and a while. My thoughts are adjust the idle set screw, main reason being is that the DPO claims it "ran like a scalded dog" last year. from a pic i saw in another thread i have gathered this lives towards the bottom of the carbs, on the filter side, between the two right most cylinders. The problem i am having is how do i get to the darned thing? its a bone stock FJ so it has the stock intake box and frankly i can't see how to get around that thing. Do you guys remove the tank when you tune your carbs? where are the mounting points for the tank if that's the case? Do ya pull the filter box and run filterless during tuning? If you haven't figured it out by now the whole multiple carb setup is new to me, so is there a site out there that explains the tuning procedures for dummies?

Other questions i have are what shop manuals do you guys recommend and where can i get them? i check the yamaha site for their FSM and they're out of stock. Also who currently manufactures exhausts for these wonderful bikes, all the site i've tried list no application for the FJ, are other pipes interchangeable?

Thanks and Cheers,
Ryan

[Marsh White]

The idle screw is on the Front side of the carbs...you can adjust it with a LONG flat blade screwdriver from the right side of the bike.  You don't actually get the screwdriver on the face of the screw...it is notched on the side so you can move it up or down with the screwdriver.

The tank will pivot around and sit facing backwards above the rear fender (obviously with the seat off) without messing with the hoses...

No, you don't remove the airbox when adjusting the carbs...(unless you are doing jetting changes of course)

[Arnie]

Ryan,

The Idle speed KNOB is just to the rear of the carb bodies in the center.  You can try rotating it using Marsh's method, but I've found I can get my (big, clumsy) hand in there from the right side of the bike.  Wear a glove as the engine can get Hot.
Both Clymer and Haynes have manuals for the FJ.  Both have some problems and errors so its a toss up between them.  The Yamaha service manual is much better, IF you already know what you're doing.  There is a digital file with the service information available too.
Carb adjustment is normally done with the air filter in place.
It looks like you've got an '89 FJ which has a fuel pump and you can unbolt the tank and either rotate it like Marsh suggests or place it on a solid support next to the bike if you don't have a "work" fuel supply to use.

From your description, I'd guess you have a vacuum leak. Once you remove the tank, check all the intake manifolds are tight and not cracked.  Also check that the rubber boots are on the vacuum taps, not cracked, and have the spring clamps in place.

To remove the tank, first remove the seat then you can remove the 2 10mm bolts at the rear of the tank.  Remove the overflow tube and dis-connect the fuel guage sender wires (2 pole connector near the left side of the battery box.
Now, you can lift the rear of the tank and if you're fully removing it turn the square 8mm petcock 1/4 turn to OFF.  Remove the fuel hose and then gently pull the tank back and off the bike.

Cheers,
Arnie 

[RichBaker]

Sounds like clogged pilot jets to me...how long did she sit? if over the winter or longer, pull carbs, clean all jets with spray carb cleaner and compressed air... clean bottom inside of float bowls and the choke passages in them.

[FJ Flyer]

There's reference material on carbs.  Not sure if Bill has the new file section up.  If not, go to the FJ Yahoo group and check out the Files section, they're in the Maintenance folder.

[McWood]

excellent! thanks for the advice guys, i've monkeyed around with the idle set and it seems to help a bit. It sat over the winter, probably 7 or 8 months.