Air filter/box removal (Spray carby cleaner)

[cahop]

Hi all,

I have just acquired an 84 fj1100 for 2x cases of beer and the deal included a husqvarna 250wr! The husky is running and riding, however the fj runs and idles but it's got a pretty sticky throttle and isn't very responsive (slow to drop back down after revving).

I really would rather not take carbies apart if I need so I was going to spray some carbie cleaner down the throat and hope that clears everything out and makes things slide again (bike has sat for about 3 years with fuel in it)

How the hell do you get out the air box so you can spray the cleaner straight down the carbies??

Any help is appreciated!

Craig

[oldktmdude]

   G'day Craig, if you're going to the trouble to remove your air box, do yourself a favour and give the carbs a proper clean while you have that bastard air box off. There are two 17mm bolts ( one either side) that secure the rear subframe to the main frame, remove them, this allows you to tilt the subframe out of the way enough to pull the air box out. There are carbie cleaning instructions in the Files section on the main menu page of the Forum. Follow these instructions closely, to save yourself from doing the job again if you don't.
Removing the air box is easy compared to installing it. You will soon learn why most of us use the Unifilter pods.
Good luck, it's a job worth doing as you will discover when you get the FJ up and running properly.
   Regards, Pete.

[cahop]

Since the bike was effectively free, I'm keen just to see if I can get it running relatively smoothly before spending money on it (carby rebuild kits, seals).

Call me optimistic but I'm kinda hoping I can spray some carby cleaner down the throttle body and suddenly it runs well  I know that isn't probably going to happen but it's worth a shot. How much play does the air box have? Is there enough to disconnect the carbs from the box and get the hose of the spray carby cleaner into the throat?

Thanks for the prompt response!

[oldktmdude]

Is there enough to disconnect the carbs from the box and get the hose of the spray carby cleaner into the throat?
Thanks for the prompt response!

If that's all you want to do, pull the air filter out of the air box to get access to the carb intakes via the filter boots.
I really don't think you are going to achieve anything by spraying into the carb bodies but give it a go. Most of the blockages and gunk builds up in the float bowls (pilot jet main jet etc)  Good luck.

[JPaganel]

I have just acquired an 84 fj1100 for 2x cases of beer and the deal included a husqvarna 250wr!

Helluva deal. 

I really would rather not take carbies apart if I need so I was going to spray some carbie cleaner down the throat and hope that clears everything out and makes things slide again (bike has sat for about 3 years with fuel in it)

Wish in one hand, sh*t in the other, see which fills up first. 

Sorry, no amount of hope is going to help you. Spraying down the carb throat is pretty much guaranteed to not clean anything that's important. It's a waste of time and carb cleaner.

You need to take them apart to give them a proper cleaning. No way around it.

How the hell do you get out the air box so you can spray the cleaner straight down the carbies??

Some people have an idea that it's hard, for some reason. Don't believe them. FJ is one of the easiest bikes to pull the airbox on that I have ever seen.

0. Make sure bike is on the center stand.
1. Take off the seat, side panels, and tank.
2. Loosen the clamps holding airbox boots to carbs
3. Remove the three small airbox mounting bolts.
4. Take out the air filter - 3 Philips screws on the side hold the airbox cover.
5. Remove the two large bolts holding the subframe to main frame. Use a flat screwdriver to bend back the vibration clip tabs.
6. Tilt the frame back and wangle out the airbox. Watch for the vent hose on the front of it. It will probably pop off while you mess with it.

Since the bike was effectively free, I'm keen just to see if I can get it running relatively smoothly before spending money on it (carby rebuild kits, seals).

You can give carbs a clean without replacing anything. Just be careful to not mess up bowl gaskets. You have to at least pull and clean the emulsion tubes to have a positive effect.

Call me optimistic but I'm kinda hoping I can spray some carby cleaner down the throttle body and suddenly it runs well 

You're optimistic. Optimism is what keeps prisons full.

I know that isn't probably going to happen but it's worth a shot.

It isn't worth a shot. Nothing probable about it - it's not going to happen. Period, full stop. 

It's your money and your time, you want to waste it, it's your call, but I would advise against it.

How much play does the air box have? Is there enough to disconnect the carbs from the box and get the hose of the spray carby cleaner into the throat?

It's two bolts between loosening and removing it. These gymnastics are completely not worth it.



Seriously, there are no shortcuts to getting an old bike running.

[Bill_Rockoff]

Seriously, there are no shortcuts to getting an old bike running.

That should be a sig line.

To paraphrase something I remember from 15 years ago, when I was on the EX500 list:

Newbie: It still doesn't run right. I don't know why, I cleaned the carbs except for down inside all the little holes.

FOG: The only important parts to clean are down inside all the little holes.

[cahop]

Geez you blokes know how to make a guy feel welcome...........

Looks like removing the carbies is the only/correct option. I have printed that carb removal guide as well as the illustrated one (I'm more of a picture book kinda guy) so we will see how we go......

[JPaganel]

Geez you blokes know how to make a guy feel welcome...........

It's just that you are yet another seeker in a VERY long line of folks looking for a quick solution to this. Would hate to see ya disappointed. 

Looks like removing the carbies is the only/correct option. I have printed that carb removal guide as well as the illustrated one (I'm more of a picture book kinda guy) so we will see how we go......

Good plan.

[Pat Conlon]

Craig, we may seem (at first) to be a bit harsh, but please understand the advice you are being given is advice based on trying to do things the easy way, only to end up disappointed....We are trying to keep you from doing the same mistakes we have done.
It's the old Chinese proverb: A smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

Carb 101: Half measures will avail you nothing.

Cheers laddie, and welcome!

Pat

[cahop]

or another note......

anyone want to buy a 1984 FJ1100.....idles, but could probably do we a carby clean

[cahop]

Craig, we may seem (at first) to be a bit harsh, but please understand the advice you are being given is advice based on trying to do things the easy way, only to end up disappointed....We are trying to keep you from doing the same mistakes we have done.
It's the old Chinese proverb: A smart man learns from his mistakes, but a wise man learns from the mistakes of others.

Carb 101: Half measures will avail you nothing.

Cheers laddie, and welcome!

Pat

it's all good, to be honest it was probably what I expected to hear.......lets just hope i don't balls it up 

[JPaganel]

or another note......

anyone want to buy a 1984 FJ1100.....idles, but could probably do we a carby clean

I'd give you four cases of beer, double what you paid for it, but something tells me we are nowhere near being close geographically.   

I have a bike I got for free, but it came in five crates. I never get nice stuff that cheap...

[cahop]

You're not wrong......I jsut updated my profile but I not sure the postage would offset the cases of beer

This is the Husqvarna 1980 250WR chook chaser that was also included

[cahop]

I know this is starting to deviate from the original topic, as well as being an incredibly newbie question to ask but as im sure you have guessed I literally know nothing about these bikes..

am I meant to use some sort of fuel additive when filling up that tank, or were this bikes designed to use unleaded fuel??

Thanks again for all the help

[JPaganel]

am I meant to use some sort of fuel additive when filling up that tank, or were this bikes designed to use unleaded fuel??

Everything has been using unleaded fuel since about the early 1980s.

FJ needs no special additives. Non-ethanol is better, but you can go with plain old Regular from the cheapest pump at the filling station.