Smokin

[shockeymon]

Just fired up my 89 1200 today for the 1st time in over 20 years. It sounds good, but some smoke coming off top of engine.  I cleaned carbs & gas tank. I had a little 2 stroke oil in the gas tank after I cleaned the rust out of it so it wouldn't flash rust. Also used diesel oil for 1st time. Sound like a major problem or will it possibly burn off & be ok

[movenon]

IMO just run it.....  Put a few tank fulls of gas through it.  And keep an eye out for oil leaks.  Fix as required.  Any bike or car that has been sitting for a few years will smoke a little. Just run it.     Sitting for 20 years... Needless to say all the rubber items should be changed out. Tires, hoses etc..
George

[TexasDave]

One of the rubber items George mentioned would be the rubber washers under the cylinder head cover bolts. Take off your tank and check the top of your motor. If they are in bad shape oil will leak from the top of your engine. Randy at RPM has them in stock. Do not over tighten the bolts after replacing the rubber washers.  Dave

[Pat Conlon]

......Do not over tighten the bolts after replacing the rubber washers. 

Right on Dave....very good advice

Shockeymon, listen to Dave....this is important.

If your valve cover rubber grommets leak, and they would after 20 years, replace the rubber grommets.
If you think you can stop the oil leaks by tightening the bolts, you *will* strip the soft aluminum threads out of the head. The valve cover bolts have a shoulder on them, they tighten down only so far, then, no more.

While you are ordering the 8 grommets, go ahead and get a fresh plyable valve cover gasket while you're at it.

[oldktmdude]

While you are ordering the 8 grommets, go ahead and get a fresh plyable valve cover gasket while you're at it.

I was just going to add the above information but as usual Pat's on the ball.    Pete.

[shockeymon]

Thanks guys great info. Now onto brake/clutch lines. Read about top end ones & advantage of adjustability, however for a guy w/o lots of $ saw some universal ones for $35 available in 2" increments up to 34" that sound viable. Thoughts? Are they measured to end of line or fittings? Does the clutch run standard brake line?

[aviationfred]

Pre-assembled braided stainless clutch lines are relatively inexpensive.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/89-94-YAMAHA-FJ-1200-Galfer-Clutch-Line-Braided-Stainless-Steel-/200872819538?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec4f3fb52&vxp=mtr

Fred

[rktmanfj]

Pre-assembled braided stainless clutch lines are relatively inexpensive.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/89-94-YAMAHA-FJ-1200-Galfer-Clutch-Line-Braided-Stainless-Steel-/200872819538?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2ec4f3fb52&vxp=mtr

Fred

Or for just a few bucks more, you can get the ones with the fancy swivel banjos:

http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_odkw=spiegler+FJ1200&_osacat=0&_from=R40&_trksid=p2045573.m570.l1313.TR0.TRC0.H0.Xspiegler+FJ1200+clutch&_nkw=spiegler+FJ1200+clutch&_sacat=0

[FJ_Hooligan]

If you think you can stop the oil leaks by tightening the bolts, you *will* strip the soft aluminum threads out of the head. The valve cover bolts have a shoulder on them, they tighten down only so far, then, no more.

It's worse than that!  The cam cover bolts thread into the (realatively soft) aluminum cam caps.  Screw up one of those and your wallet will hate you.  I suppose you could helicoil them as long as the helicoil doesn't hit the cam journal. 

Best to heed the "do not overtighten" advice!

And for brake lines with adjustable banjo fittings, take a look at VENHILL!  Their approach to adjustability is FAR superior to anything else on the market.  Their prices are very reasonable.

[racerrad8]

I suppose you could helicoil them as long as the helicoil doesn't hit the cam journal. 

Best to heed the "do not overtighten" advice!

Actually, you just remove the cap from the head and perform the Heli-Coil operation in the vise. That keeps all of the shavings out of the engine and there is no need to worry about the cam getting damaged either.

While that might be the best advise above, if someone before him has over tightened and pulled the threads can come out just by removing the bolt.

Randy - RPM

[Fj.itis]

Yep, i stripped mine when assembling just took the cap off and  like randy said, chuck it in a vise and helicoil away.

[yamaha fj rider]

Galfer lines, the banjo fittings are also adjustable.

Kurt

[rktmanfj]

Galfer lines, the banjo fittings are also adjustable.

Kurt

Perhaps some, but the Galfer clutch line I had needed to be swapped out when I changed m/cs because it didn't have them. 

[shockeymon]

Well fired her up this evening & no smoke! Going to leave well enough alone for now & break down & order the Galfer lines. Also some Pirelli's (sport demons) & try to get this thing on the road! Thanks for all your input.

[yamaha fj rider]

Galfer lines, the banjo fittings are also adjustable.

Kurt

Perhaps some, but the Galfer clutch line I had needed to be swapped out when I changed m/cs because it didn't have them. 

I don't know about the ones made in the past but the lines I installed this spring, instructions said they were adjustable.

Kurt