Good project FJ11... If only I was closer, and/or had money.

[fintip]

http://nh.craigslist.org/mcy/3205856069.html

[rktmanfj]

See if he'll trade for a good lawnmower.   

[fj11.5]

  ooohhhh fuck it, dam thing has a corbin seat 

[fintip]

I know, I tried to ask if they'd just part it out instead, told them they'd get more that way as the engine is used in Legend cars and such. They just said 'thanks for the info' and didn't give me any prices.

Bummer.

[fj11.5]

be a shame to wreck it , but what a bargain

[musicman]

That's a Yoshi pipe too isn't it?

I want a bike like that, if it was close I'd be on it like white on rice!

[fj11.5]

your right, looks like a yoshi pipe with 2.5" system

[fintip]

The headers look pretty rusted, though, right? Doesn't it look like it has storage problems from being left outside?

[fj11.5]

maybe, but for that price who cares, , one listed today on eBay Australia , has been stored under a cheap tarp outside , because what's left of the tarp is still stuck to the bike ,   , ill put the number up , , sad state 150912406026

[oz.fj]

maybe, but for that price who cares, , one listed today on eBay Australia , has been stored under a cheap tarp outside , because what's left of the tarp is still stuck to the bike ,   , ill put the number up , , sad state 150912406026

Ohhhh she's in a very sad state of affairs. Buy the look of the pics dad was a bit of a collector

[fj11.5]

yes for sure,, looks like he collected a bit of everything 

[fintip]

Dammit, I keep looking at that bike and thinking about it, and I just need someone to help me through this.

What do you think I'd be looking at to get it in basic running condition, and what about bringing it completely up to snuff? (I am always turned off by an FJ missing its chin fairing, so that's $200+ right there to fix that soon after its running, and I have to wonder if it will look wrongly faded...) (Do those headers need to be replaced ASAP, or are they just ugly but probably fine? How much of the rest of the exhaust might be salvageable?

Is the electrical system prone to corrosion on this bike, or is it generally pretty resistant?

Obviously we're going to be looking at some carb work, almost certainly, probably a rebuild and not a clean considering it doesn't look like it was well stored otherwise. What about the intake manifold boots? How expensive are those on this bike? (On my XJ650, they're a prohibitive $50 per boot... There is a cheap and ugly home-remedy option though.)

All the gaskets are going to be a pain. When I change the valve shims I'll probably have to spend a few hours cleaning both surfaces... Just did that a month ago on my XJ, and that was a... tedious/zen type of job. Not my favorite part of motorcycle maintenance, the dealing with gaskets. (I made sure to carefully adhere the new gasket with black RTV to the cover and put a layer of oil on the engine mating side... Good karma, maybe one day it will pay off...).

But let's say, for the sake of saying stuff, that I were to fly up there and buy it and have a friend's garage to stay at (which I don't, but let's just ignore that)... Take out the carbs, buy a tub of carb dip, be liberal with carb cleaner and some metal brushes, maybe have some liquid electrical tape in case the diaphragms are shot, do an oil change, swap the plugs, put in a battery, swap out the brake pads and flush the fluid on the brake (and clutch, this one has a hydraulic clutch right?)... Any reason it shouldn't fire up? Anything I'm forgetting? (edit: probably tires.)

Edit: Actually, other than the exhaust looking rusted up and down, the rest of the bike doesn't look too badly weathered. I wonder if he just wheeled it outside into the grass for these pictures.)

Also, that's an aftermarket taller windscreen, right? It's unattractively big... Another thing to swap out when getting the chin fairing... Good for the long rides to have as a spare, though, I guess.

[andyb]

Clean the carbs, fix the prior jetting that you find in them.
Brakes probably could do with pads and some scotchbrite work.
Fresh tires at both ends.
Chain and sprockets.
Brake fluid.
Clutch slave rebuild kit.
Plugs.
Oil.
Battery.
Air filter(s) clean/replace as appropriate.


Intake rubbers may or may not be much good.  True of all the rubber, honestly.
Clutch internally may be sticky, but likely will clean up reasonably well.  The actuation is hydraulic, the slave probably leaks and destroyed the rear mounts on the chin scoop, which was removed.
Exhaust just looks rusty to me, probably could clean it up and paint/powder/etc to make it look all pretty again.
With luck, the motor won't have rusted itself solid internally.

Windscreen height is easy to fix, either by finding someone who wants one that size and swapping them, or using a saw to correct it yourself.

Then, to make it more optimal?  Rebuild/upgrade the forks and shock, replace the wheels with modern stuff, fix various leaks on the motor, upgrade the brakes, add a turbo, etc etc.

[soundmindryan]

Definitely worth a second or third look. Talk to the owner. Find out what he means by "a few years." I have that pipe and it can be cleaned up and repainted/coated, unless it's really bashed and rusted on the bottom side. The forks look clean and the tires don't look too scary by the pictures. See if he can send you some close-up pics. It may only need a can 'o Sea Foam to make it at least rideable. If that's the case, it's worth at LEAST double what he's asking. Maybe there's a FJ Owner up there that can look at it for you and maybe get it started. Someone has at least had the passion with it to add the seat, pipe and windscreen. It may be better than it looks at first glance.

[fintip]

Just sent an email asking some questions and saying I might try and make it work for the right price. Any member in the area able to go look at it for me?