Have to Give Up

[red]

I have started my FJ after a long winters' nap by spraying ether into the airbox inlet, with no problems.  Excessive ether as a liquid can wash the oil from the cylinder walls (bad news!)

Well, firstly Red, if there was a bike on this forum I would bet the house on being in a good state of tune it would be yours. A seasonal nap is not very long in my world, are you sure it wouldn't have started anyway? Even a freshly built, never before started engine will burst into life after a just a few cranks if you fill the bowls, why do you need starter fluid after just a Winter break? You know the story....
Fuel sucked in while cranking will wash more oil off the cylinder walls than a spray of ether, especially if sprayed on the outside of the filter element

Thanks.  My buddy . . .
I think you just answered your own question, exactly correct.

I am always amused by the surprise expressed here when an engine fires up after a period of storage, be it months, years or decades. Me, I'd be surprised if it didn't, assuming it was running when parked up. Assuming good fuel, nothing else deteriorates by time alone. Some things can deteriorate in carbies but usually not enough to stop it at least starting.

The volatiles in fuel can evaporate over time, and sometimes that can leave small orifices or fuel lines gummed up.  Fresh fuel then may simply carry the deposits into places that you won't like them to go.  Even if the deposits are minimal, the old fuel will not ignite as easily as if the engine had been running yesterday.

The photo is for Pat.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50043784206_e8fd3076b5_c.jpg
Red, we'll have to agree to disagree on how best to use starter fluid, but that's OK, we can do that.
Noel

Noel,
No problem here.    
.

[TRoy]

Bike is complete with 9,000 miles.  Some one make me an offer?

Hi Jon, do you have any pics, or links to pics of the bike? Thanks

[AppleJack]

Yes  If interested in more, send me PM

[CutterBill]

And this is why I always advise FJ owners to buy the Yamaha Service manual. It has a detailed troubleshooting guide for a "no start" condition... starting on page 6-30 for the early bikes with TCI, and page 37 of the FJ1200W Supplement for the later bikes with DCI. Follow the steps, solve the problem.

I agree with Noel that the "mechanic" who looked at your bike was a poor one. No Spark conditions are just about the easiest of problems to solve; I hope he didn't ask for any money to NOT fix your bike.*

Jon, don't give up. That is a beautiful bike and I know we can get it running. If you want, I can scan the troubleshooting sections from the manual and email to you.
Bill

*Back in the days of the Red Dog Saloon when I owned an auto repair shop, I had a sign on the wall of the office... "You don't pay me to WORK on your car; you pay me to FIX your car. If we don't fix it, you don't pay."

[fj1289]

If that bike is half as nice as it photographs - it's definitely worth buying the Yamaha service manual and finding a good reputable mechanic- even if it means shipping it across the US to get it there ...

[fj1289]

When I bought my '89 "rolling basket case" it was an electrical no-start also.  I bought it from an industrial heating/cooling controls repairman.  When I saw all the wires he had proved while trying to fix it himself, my first thought was "I'm screwed".  Turned out to be a bad side stand switch AND a bad clutch switch if I recall.   My "hack" repair job then was to bypass them both and ride on. 

[red]

Jon,

I think you are one glitch away from having a great bike. 
You may not have found the right help yet, but man, the help is out there, and well worth finding. 
If you are frustrated for the moment, take a break, but IF it was up to me,
I'd say keep the bike and maybe look for some better help.  If that next guy has some gray hairs,
and has been riding and wrenching forever, that would be a good bet.

I'm in Utah, so I can't be much help, but ask around on your local bike forums and the local bike hangouts,
to find the guy who can do the job for you.
.

[FJ1200W]

When I bought my '89 "rolling basket case" it was an electrical no-start also.  I bought it from an industrial heating/cooling controls repairman.  When I saw all the wires he had proved while trying to fix it himself, my first thought was "I'm screwed".  Turned out to be a bad side stand switch AND a bad clutch switch if I recall.   My "hack" repair job then was to bypass them both and ride on. 

Well said and done

[FJ1200W]

If that bike is half as nice as it photographs - it's definitely worth buying the Yamaha service manual and finding a good reputable mechanic- even if it means shipping it across the US to get it there ...

Agreed - it looks good enough for me to consider buying it.

At a minimum, lust after it a bit........

[Pat Conlon]

'84's are special

[andyoutandabout]

He who gives up on an Fj that looks like that, gives up on much