Eastern Ontario Clinic / Ride Sept 20th

[paulfj03]

I was chatting with Charlie the other day and we thought of an idea for the FJ maintenance in the morning ....

We will remove the clutch cover to check out the clutch parts inside and make sure things are still within spec; remove the wire circlip too. It will show how really quick and easy it is to do on the fj. Anyone who wants to get a bit of experience with that is welcome to partake in the festivities. I'm sure there will be lots of help and experience on hand, so we could do more than one bike, if need be.

Maybe we could meet early for breakfast, in town here, just beforehand..... Have a few coffees,
Shoot the breeze and then head over..... then maybe around noonish head out for the ride....

[Hemi Bob]

Hi Paul Love the idea !!
I can't remember the last time I replaced the clutch on my FJ. Must have been over 10 or 12 or years or more ago.
It started slipping under heavy load .hi rpms last summer. ...... This year it stated to really be hard to shift into neutral at a stop light.
and from time to time going up in  the gears. down shifting required a little blip of the throttle.
I also could see the paint around the master cylinder and the slave cylinder. I replaced the clutch leaver and the helped quite a bit.
The bike is drivable again.  I went ahead and bought all new Yamaha parts 7 wide Friction disks  1 narrow friction disk 7 steel plates.
a slave and a master cylinder, spring, and a gasket .  The only thing part left is the clutch line is still the original one. and I'm not sure what brake fluid to use?
I know if I'm replacing all the hydraulics parts this would be the best time to change to dot5 ? and the line as well.

[paulfj03]

Hi Paul Love the idea !!
I can't remember the last time I replaced the clutch on my FJ. Must have been over 10 or 12 or years or more ago.
It started slipping under heavy load .hi rpms last summer. ...... This year it stated to really be hard to shift into neutral at a stop light.
and from time to time going up in  the gears. down shifting required a little blip of the throttle.
I also could see the paint around the master cylinder and the slave cylinder. I replaced the clutch leaver and the helped quite a bit.
The bike is drivable again.  I went ahead and bought all new Yamaha parts 7 wide Friction disks  1 narrow friction disk 7 steel plates.
a slave and a master cylinder, spring, and a gasket .  The only thing part left is the clutch line is still the original one. and I'm not sure what brake fluid to use?
I know if I'm replacing all the hydraulics parts this would be the best time to change to dot5 ? and the line as well.

Excellent pics Hemi!!!! What a gem! That pic of you on it is NICE!!! You have a gifted photographer. lol

Good to hear from you.  Long time no see!
Yes, it would be a perfect time to get that done.  She will pull like she should after a clutch overhaul.  It sounds like you have all the necessary parts.....
Just to clarify:
you have
- the new OEM plates: 6 frictions, 2 narrow frictions, and 7 steels(unless you did the clutch mod trading a narrow friction disk for a regular sized one)
- the new clutch spring
- a fresh new slave ready to go
- a master cylinder rebuild kit
- new clutch cover gasket
- new clutch lever

The fj clutch:
http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Yamaha/Motorcycle/1985/FJ1100N/CLUTCH/parts.html

If you pick up a Braided SS line to replace the OEM clutch line, we can change that quickly too.
If you want to change to DOT 5 we can do that too.....

Did I miss anything?

[Arnie]

Nice pics of your bike, Bob.

The symptoms you're describing are that the clutch is dragging (not fully releasing), which causes the hard to find neutral and other shifting difficulties.  Also, the leaking fluid from the slave is your indication of where the problem is.  Either replace the clutch slave cylinder seals or the whole slave, bleed properly, and your problem will be solved.

Replacing the rest of the clutch components won't hurt anything but its probably not needed.
Unless your clutch is slipping, you really don't need new plates or spring now.  Save them till you do :-)
There is no need to change to Dot 5 brake fluid.  Dot 3 or Dot 4 or Dot 5.1 (non-silicone) will all have more than sufficient ability to handle the heat you're likely to get in the clutch system, even within that fully faired bike.

Replacing the clutch line is probably a good idea due to its age.

[Hemi Bob]

Hi Paul,
Yes the photographer (was) is a pretty cool guy!!!
I bought 7 wide disk and 1 narrow so we have to get that spring that's way in the back out of there to make it all fit.
As  for the clutch  master cylinder  rebuild kit, it  was around $80. So I bought a brand new Yamaha clutch master for a 1989 fj1200
for $114. and  got the slave from RPM, I ordered black they shipped silver but for the price I'll keep it.
Has anyone you know of when changing the clutch line just replaced the top and bottom portion and left the steel
factory piece in the middle ? Now is it OK the work on the hot engine after the ride to your place. Or should the bike be cold?
I here the bolt strip pretty easy. Also what type DOT ?  break fluid should I put in the system

Hemi Bob

[Hemi Bob]

Thanks Arnie,
I was just looking through all my bills for the bike Dating back to Saturday April 13 1985 when I bought her
In July of 1987 I had the clutch replaced with a Barnett. In 89 a new clutch basket all this with 19,000km on the bike.
That's all that has ever been done to the clutch the bike now has 48,000 km  did the second gear and fork thing and some
new pistons  just to keep it fresh  So it not a big deal to put in some new parts and thanks for the fluid advice I think I'll
stay with DOT 3  that  came in the bike.

Hemi Bob

[Bob]

I'm in... looking forward to seeing everyone in September 

[paulfj03]

Hi Paul,
Yes the photographer (was) is a pretty cool guy!!!
I bought 7 wide disk and 1 narrow so we have to get that spring that's way in the back out of there to make it all fit.
As  for the clutch  master cylinder  rebuild kit, it  was around $80. So I bought a brand new Yamaha clutch master for a 1989 fj1200
for $114. and  got the slave from RPM, I ordered black they shipped silver but for the price I'll keep it.
Has anyone you know of when changing the clutch line just replaced the top and bottom portion and left the steel
factory piece in the middle ? Now is it OK the work on the hot engine after the ride to your place. Or should the bike be cold?
I here the bolt strip pretty easy. Also what type DOT ?  break fluid should I put in the system

Hemi Bob

Arnie's advice is spot on for the dragging clutch, but I understood your clutch was slipping, too. And, yes, we can replace just the parts that are needed and save the ones that are not needed.....  Or , just replace all the ones you bought, do the narrow friction disk swap, and remove the wire circlip in there, and any other problems we find.....  Either way, she will be happy.

The 1200 clutch master is a good idea..... it will be less expensive to rebuild in the future...... Just to be sure , though, check to make sure the clutch SWITCH on the masters is the same, or fits the same way.  I'm not 100% sure, but the brake master switches may not be the same throughout the years... if yours has one that fits/works, or your 1100 one fits, then .... Bob's your uncle... 

I havent heard of replacing just part of the clutch line...... I could be wrong, but replacing the whole line would be less expensive, and .... just better.

We wont strip any of those clutch cover bolts..... I have already done that a few times....... and... we will check for stretched ones.... stretching the threads from over tightening them is easy.  I might have a couple extra here if we need them. 
The temperature of the engine doesnt matter as much..... As long as we dont burn our fingers!  .... I have my fans here , too!   

There is no need to change to Dot 5 brake fluid.  Dot 3 or Dot 4 or Dot 5.1 (non-silicone) will all have more than sufficient ability to handle the heat you're likely to get in the clutch system, even within that fully faired bike.

I still use DOT 3, too.  My understanding is that the DOT 4/5 needs more maintenance(changed more often?), however, they dont strip the painted surfaces....

[paulfj03]

I'm in... looking forward to seeing everyone in September 

Excellent! Hope the summer is treating you well, Bob!

Be good to see you again!
Good times!

[paulfj03]

How's this for a ride?

On the way to Calabogie we will stop for a bite for lunch. ... We will fuel up in Wesport , and head on to Wheelers Pancake House for lunch(?):
http://www.wheelersmaple.com/

From there we will take some more winding roads to Calabogie.
If we get away around noon we should be around 2hrs getting to Westport and Wheelers.

It might be easier for some to join in along the route.  We can provide updates (texts) on our progress as we go...

JV and I recently rode #16 and it is a great road. I have added it to the route on the way to Calabogie.  Gas stations are more rare up there, but we should be fine with the fuel ups. If we fuel up in Westport, we should be fine to Calabogie as its only a deceiving 150km ride.... It will take 3-3.5hrs for that run depending on traffic, our pace, and the lunch break.

From Calabogie we head west and get in the nice roads that way. ... All the way to the Muskokas / Kawarthas. From Calabogie to Griffith, to Bancroft, to Haliburton would be a NICE ride and is 195kms total on main roads.   
I rode #28 from Denbigh to McArthurs Mills recently, just to see what it is like, ... and it is NICE.
Are there any better suggestions for roads? Is anyone aware of a lot of construction along the way?

[paulfj03]

New route

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Westport,+ON,+Canada/Maberly,+ON,+Canada/Elphin,+ON,+Canada/McDonalds+Corners,+ON,+Canada/Elphin,+ON,+Canada/45.0137663,-76.7598278/Lavant+Station,+ON,+Canada/Lanark+Rd,+Calabogie,+ON+K0J+1H0,+Canada/Bancroft,+ON,+Canada/Haliburton+County,+ON,+Canada/@44.9896919,-78.0036881,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m57!4m56!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd2859c0b449ce1:0xe61d1022073d351d!2m2!1d-76.3996659!2d44.6776761!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd2613f6e76051f:0x14aae138a17ec5c1!2m2!1d-76.541353!2d44.836685!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd25b9c4bc2c2b7:0xf3b4eaa9be1f7b15!2m2!1d-76.616833!2d44.922935!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd2441cc1abe8a7:0x4d0fda39b58f81ac!2m2!1d-76.525914!2d44.958169!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd25b9c4bc2c2b7:0xf3b4eaa9be1f7b15!2m2!1d-76.616833!2d44.922935!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd24ed175de829b:0xcd3a0b2d3fdb9309!2m2!1d-76.701459!2d45.0437439!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd231a47e80e7af:0x356f67fbfa7e2c0b!2m2!1d-76.6678027!2d45.275985!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd47b56754675a5:0x5bd2c5aae9c601aa!2m2!1d-77.8548814!2d45.05585
74!1m5!1m1!1s0x4cd44b5838d2618d:0x6e536670ee39ec21!2m2!1d-78.5084937!2d45.0467132!3e0

[fj johnnie]

 That is a fantastic ride, you will not be disappointed!!

[Bob]

Good route... it ends on my regular local loop.  It will be nice taking the 507 home.
What time does it all start?

[Sabre093]

I'm  heading up Friday after work we we get closer to the date I'll let you know what time and I'm staying Saturday in Bancroft at sister in-laws. .got room for 4

[paulfj03]

Sounds great fellas,

We hope to start the ride by noon.  If we could have the clinic underway by 9 or earlier, we should be good.

For those who can make it, we will also meet for breakfast in Napanee around 730-8am .... (Location to be determined)