new member in colorado

[FJandSRX]

Just bought a FJ 1100 in October and I love it. It does have some problems but I am planning to slowly fix it up.

Some things are minor such as installing a new choke cable, getting some clutch free play and going to a cartrige oil filter (a previous owner went with a spin on).

Bigger jobs are fixing second gear, possibly changing the exhaust. The bike still runs good in spite of being 30 years old and over 50.000 miles so I don't plan to rebuild the engine, if I do I want go with a 1200 plus motor.

[1tinindian]

You are going to remove the spin on oil filter?
Why?
That is one of the first mods we FJ owners do.

Welcome to the forum.

Leon

[movenon]

Welcome to the group  . Take some time to get acquainted with the FJ. Lots of help and reading here.Looks like there might be a good turn out for a Colorado Rally next year !
As Leon said the spin on adapter is usually one of the first mods done. The stock set up is OK but a bit messy and more time consumming to change oil and then there is the common problem of pinching one of the wires. The clutch is a hydraulic unit and shouldn't require any adjustment. The clutch slave is a common failer point but rebuildable or replaceable if need be. 
George

[rktmanfj]

I have a stock oil filter setup I would gladly trade for a spin-on setup.     

[giantkiller]

You beet me to it but I'll give him 3 stock units plus 2 spare filters for his spin on.

[fj1289]

Welcome!  Several members in Colorado. 30th anniversary of the FJ1100 next year

Lots you can do with these bikes - just depends on what you want to do.  Search around and ask questions - tons of experience on the board here

[FJandSRX]

Thank you to all that welcomed me. A get together would be nice, any of you know the vintage bike museum on walnut street in Denver?

I see that you are all against the use of Yamaha parts instead of the spin on conversion. Here is my line of reasoning.

The factory filter is made to work with the factory engine instead of a Honda spin on which is not.

If I was so clumsy and inexperienced to pinch the wires its better if I hire some one to do the work, but with 30 years of experience I should be better than that.

The spin on is messy, not that I care but a spin on sitting sideways on the engine is guaranteed to drool when removed while the factory housing has a drain plug.

Because its not pointing down it can't be pre filled and it better have a very good anti drain back valve otherwise  every time the engine is started it will have to be filled while the engine is running with no oil pressure.

The spin on replacement has a 20 psi bypass, the by pass valve is built in to the block on the Yamaha set up meaning that the spin on could lead to erratic oil pressure, very bad in any engine but really bad in a plain bearing engine.

A good quality spin on costs about the same as as the cartridge filter.

All the seals are common O-ring seals Instead of flat O-rigs that are special order.

The only good thing I can see is that I can easily get a filter from Baldwin, Fleetguard or Donaldson and don't have to put up with a mediocre filter such as Wix.

Am I wrong? I just don't see how a spin on is better than a cartridge filer just because its a spin on. Is there something I am missing?

[fintip]

While I look forwards to Randy's response to your technical points of reasoning, the factory housing is quite a bit awkward to remove because of its crammed location. I believe the primary reason to change is wider availability of modern filters + ease of use. As far as it being 'messy', I imagine one would already have a drain pan out... Wouldn't be hard to scoot it over an inch to catch the drippings from the screw on filter if that is a problem, no? Sounds like a non issue to me.

[FJ_Hooligan]

I'll try to counter a few of those observations:

The Yamaha filter is built by the lowest bidder.  With the spin on, I have multiple choices/manufacturers.

The canister is also sideways and requires just as much time to fill up after a filter change.

The bypass valve is built into the canister mounting bolt.  There are several spin on filters to choose from with varying (and matching) bypass pressures.

The canister is just as messy to change.  You touch that small "filter drain bolt" and I guarantee it will strip leaving you stranded until you get it fixed.  You will also miss an incredible riding day after stripping that bolt on the oil change the night before the ride.  Been there, done that.

The spin on filter has an anti drain back valve.  The Yamaha factory filter does not.

The Yamaha filter o-ring is stuffed into the box with the filter.  It is distorted and there's a good probability that it will give you fits trying to get it to stay in place during installation.  Not a problem with the spin on filter.

No matter how many oil changes you have made or will make, you WILL pinch that stupid wire at least once.

More than one owner has had the canister split or crack.  Fortunately, there are MANY available since the spin on filter is one of the first and most popular mods.

I just completed an oil change on my FJ today.  I tape a piece of newspaper to the bottom of the spin on adapter and all the oil runs down the paper and into the pan.  Very clean operation.

[FJandSRX]

Not to press a point or upset any one but if the spin on is superior give me something more than than its better or modern. If spin ons are so much better than cartridge filters why are MAN Mercedes, Scania, Cummins, DAF EMD, wartzilla Sulzer and many other are moving away from spin ons?

if spin ons are so much better give me specifics I presented a clear, documented case. If you all want a spin on set up its fine but why are spin on is so much better to the use the cartridge system?

[FJ_Hooligan]

Do whatever the fuck you want!
I've seen this shit way too many times.  You've already made up your mind so stop talking about it.

The filter performance is probably equivalent.  I made the change for the convenience.

[Mike Ramos]

Holy Toledo,

Another oil thread in the making...!

In my personal observations that the spin on "could lead to erratic oil pressure..." is without foundation.  I have had for many thousands an oil pressure gauge and oil pressure always remains constant.

When cold oil pressure is about 70 lbs. and when thoroughly warmed up it will always idle at 0 lbs. (as in zero pounds).

This is very strange indeed....

Keep smiling,

The Midget.

[FJandSRX]

fj holigan I appreciate yourr arguments. I am still not convinced that the spin  on set up is best. please tell me more as to why the spin on set up is the best. Not conviced either that yamaha made the worst choice for filters and an third party must be the best choice.

[Mike Ramos]

Well, I think the "erratic" oil pressure claim has been debunked...

Now your behavior may not be erratic bit it sure is "very strange indeed..."

Have a good evening...

[FJscott]

what IS important is that you change the oil with a good quality oil within the prescribed periodicity. both filter styles get the job done.

Chevy VS Ford, TomAto tomato, dare I say it.....Replublican VS Democrat.

Scott