Un-frustrated..once again.

[Tiger]

A week past Saturday I went on a run with my brother and five buddies...my brother on his RF900, a Bandit, Yamaha Venture, FZR, Honda 750 four, a Kawi 750 and me on my trusty '85.

For some reason my old girl wasn't in the mood!!

The head light, high and low beam, went out...bugger...and then she decided, after we had a short coffee/pee break, she didn't want to start...it was one of those WTF moments...with more to come After several tries, she fired up and ran like a champ, still no head light!! Another stop and another pain in the ass starting scenario, embarrassing to say the least Four or five stops over a days riding meant going through it all over again and again, and again...and still no head light!!!

From cold, starting was no problem

A few days later, I pulled the seat, gas tank and front fairing off, so I could find the fault(s)...After a while, I found that the ignition wire to the fuse box was 2/3rds severed...cut, repair, done...maybe not!!! Fuse box terminals looked burned at the ignition fuse and a wiggle of the headlight wire (at the fuse box) produced light. New fuse box ordered up. On further inspection, I found the vacuum line to the petcock looked somewhat kinked as it comes over the carbs hmmmmm...pulled off a length of new vacuum line, added a spring and voila.

After picking up and installing a new fuse box, (In the void where the oem air box used to be, next to the left side cover), I decided to check around some more...Hmmmm main 30 amp glass fuse holder/fuse...history...blade fuse holder/fuse now installed. I also found a partial break in the main line leading to the old fuse holder, which the new fuse holder helped fix.

Fairing/tank/seat reinstalled...Started her up and let her run for a while to get hot...ignition off, wait 10 minutes and she started right up...repeat without any problems, job sorted She stalled out and refused to start, wouldn't even try AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SHITE....time for a beer or three, tomorrows another day!!!

A weekend without a ride, during our short riding season here in the frozen north, is not good...time to get at her again

Seat off, tank off...hmmmmm vacuum line off!! gas line disconnected. Check for spark...we have spark. (vacuum line, naaa!!)...pony tank fitted/filled, a couple of cranks and...BOOM, she's alive again

I hadn't put a clamp on the new vacuum line at the pet cock...on reinstalling the tank, it had pulled off at some point without me knowing. So, she was just running on what was in the carbs until she ran out of gas

At this point, I moved the 135db snail air horn, from under the front fairing, to a place where the oem air box used to reside and also installed a new front fork brace

Tank and seat reinstalled and she is now back up and running like a well oiled machine...John is a happy guy once again...oh life is good

John.

[movenon]

Wow you had a run there !  To keep these 20 to 30 year bike going IMO it really pays to take some time off and do a major detailed inspection of everything.
Almost like a minor restoration. Connections corrode, rubber rots, and steel fatigues.
One thing about what you went through,  YOU were able to fix it.   Some of the newer bikes I wonder what they will be like in 30 years as far as the owner fixing his own machine.
George

[FJ_Hooligan]

With all your wiring woes, be sure to check the alternator field wire connector under the left side cover.  The 2-wire red connector.

[movenon]

Yep ! Looked good on the out side of the connector.

George

[Fj.itis]

Thats a familiar sight! So to that story, the fjs certainly need some love every now and then but once you have the problems sorted its in the memory bank for next time.

[Tiger]

I picked up my FJ a couple of years back and the first winter I went through her from front to back/top to bottom...checking all the wire harness and connections. After all, I had spent the last few years hunting down Yamaha Visions to rebuild and breath new life in to...and checking connections/wires on those, like the FJ's (and any old ride I suppose) is paramount. I actually have an '82 Vision sitting on my lift right now, going through a rebuild for a new owner...

Thankfully, I have a half decent knowledge base and equipped shop to work in...and the hands still work lol

Wow you had a run there !  To keep these 20 to 30 year bike going IMO it really pays to take some time off and do a major detailed inspection of everything.

One thing about what you went through,  YOU were able to fix it. George

Yes, your right George, you have to keep up with preventative maintenance, on a regular basis, to avert potential problems when you least expect them. I'm thankful that I can still hunt down and do my own repairs when needed...Thanks to people like yourself and the other members of this forum

With all your wiring woes, be sure to check the alternator field wire connector under the left side cover.  The 2-wire red connector.

Checked...and checked again

the fjs certainly need some love every now and then but once you have the problems sorted its in the memory bank for next time.

You are so right...

John.

[Tiger]

I took the old girl out for a 350 Km (220 mile) run on Thursday...she ran, stopped, started, ran, stopped, started with no problems what so ever. In fact, she is running better over all than she has done for a wee while now

John.

[CatTomb]

 



Nicely done!