Bike status update

[Medi]

Just an update on bike's running problems.

After about 2 weeks of bike turning over but not being able to start I had it towed to the mechanic. They cleaned the carbs, changed spark plugs and oil and it ran for about 2 weeks with each day getting harder and harder to start. Than it suddenly died down on the street about half way home like it ran out of fuel. I had it towed again to the mechanic who told me vacuum line to the carburator broke and closed the peacock (replaced vaccum line for free) It's been less than a week since than and so far bike is running great. With temperatures dropping I noticed a much smoother ride and it starts easier. Only thing that kind of bothers me is the original problem - I have to use choke to start the bike, if I try to start it without choke and give it a little gas, it will start up for like a second and than cease. After that i only hear the starter clicking and I have to pull out choke and hold start for about 5 seconds to get it going. According to the mechanic this is typical for older bikes.

[ribbert]

There's nothing unusual about needing choke to start a cold engine.  That's why it's there!  It will probably need some choke (progressively feed it off) for the first 5 mins or so.

[terryk]

The choke is normal and helps. I just replaced my choke cable that had come to the end of it's useful life and no longer functioned, 1987 FJ 1200. I was forced to start the bike without using the choke for a couple of weeks, and it was not too easy. Needed to coax it to run, then feed in throttle gently at low RPM and let it settle in for 20-30 seconds and then it would run by itself. Took a few minutes overall before I could ride off. Now, choke on, throttle not touched, started button and it starts right away. Throttle off in 2-3 minutes on a 70 degree day on a cold start, enough time to put on my gear. Once started I never need to apply the choke to start again, at least not yet but I have only had the bike a month, even if it was sitting a few hours. But it is summer after all so this may change as we enter into the winter and the temperture dips into the sixty degree range in the morning here or even to the fifties on occassion, brrrrr, cold winter mornings.

[gripit_N_ripit]

I have to use choke to start the bike, if I try to start it without choke and give it a little gas, it will start up for like a second and than cease. After that i only hear the starter clicking and I have to pull out choke and hold start for about 5 seconds to get it going. According to the mechanic this is typical for older bikes.

maybe normal.... when I bought my fj I had a similar problem; my fj would only start and run with choke on, once it started i could turn choke off and keep it running with the throttle but it would not idle without choke. i took the carbs off and apart they were visibly clean but the pilot jet/idle circuit were clogged. Once cleaned it idled perfectly. That my experience with these monsters, also a proper carb sync will help engine operation in  all rpm ranges. good day.

[Flynt]

Just an update on bike's running problems.

"I have to use choke to start..."

If running right, you pull to 3-4 clicks, let the pump prime, then hit ignition and roll it to life.  Mine starts like this day-after-day.  Then I start out and close the choke once I'm up to 5mph or so and never use it unless the bike gets fully cooled again.  I think this is the best (best = predictable and effective whatever your ritual is) that can be expected with a carb much less a multi-carb setup.  Try to figure out what works vs what doesn't...  you'll like older bikes much better that way.

Frank

[FJTillDeath]

if I try to start it without choke and give it a little gas, it will start up for like a second and than cease. After that i only hear the starter clicking  According to the mechanic this is typical for older bikes.

You may have flooded the bike there. I had the same problem and the bike will not start very easily without some choke if its cold. Like others have said it is normal to use choke. I have mine on the 3rd click, slightly open the gas and it fires up straifgt away, i keep at at the rpms for a minute to warm up then ckose the choke and ride off smoothly. However if I have the choke opened all the way with the throttle open more than needs to be(not enough to flood)but I battle to start the bike. I would definitely make sure the carbs have been synced and then check the idle mixture.

[mikeholzer]

Somebody feel free to correct me if I'm wrong here...

Choke is possibly a "misleading" term to describe the knob on the inside left fairing. I know, I know; it says "CHOKE" right on it, but since the FJ carbs do not have a separate choke plate and high idle circuit (such as the standard Holley, Motorcraft, Edelbrock, Rochester, Hitatchi, etc. that came on your car until 1992...), I think it may be better to consider it a "Fuel Enrichener Circuit." If I understand it correctly, the perpendicular plungers at the top of the carburetors simply increase the fuel end of the "fuel/air mixture" and also increase the idle, making the bike a bit easier to start.

I use the choke on every start up. 3 clicks, start it, 5 seconds at 3100 rpm, down 1 click to a 2000 rpm idle. Depending upon the current temperature, it can take 1-3 minutes to get back up to 3k. Once that happens, it's choke off and down the road for me.

Interestingly, this is about the same amount of time it takes me to have a chat with my friend R.J. The process takes less time in the afternoon, so I usually begin my chat with R.J. a minute or two before lighting the FJ.