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Hello from Maine

Started by Dieselman7.3, May 20, 2019, 04:41:46 PM

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Dieselman7.3

New here. Just got my first bike in 7 yrs. 85 fj1100. This is my second Fj last one was a 86 1200.  Absolutely loved the bike and regret selling it. First things to do are a tune up on the carbs and new tires and brakes. Any suggestions? Also I regeared my sprockets on the 86 up one in the front down two in the back and really loved the cruising rpm and still had a ton of low end take off. I'd like to do the exhaust and suspension this summer and then serious mods this winter. Any advice is appreciated. Thanks
Current:
85 fj1100
89 fj1200 - was for parts now a new project
16 Versys 650 - for off payment riding
Past:
86 fj1200
05 ex500
78 Ltd750

red

Dieselman,

Replace all the old fluid in the brakes using the correct DOT spec fluid, and the clutch also.  Speedbleeders.com will make it an easy one-person job.  If the brake lines are original, braided stainless steel hoses will be a solid upgrade in braking performance, when you get to that.  RPM (on the banner-head here) can supply the new brake hoses, among others.
.
Cheers,
Red

P.S. Life is too short, and health is too valuable, to ride on cheap parade-duty tires.

Dieselman7.3

Thank you that will be on the list. I remember my 86 was a royal pain to bleed the clutch
Current:
85 fj1100
89 fj1200 - was for parts now a new project
16 Versys 650 - for off payment riding
Past:
86 fj1200
05 ex500
78 Ltd750

aviationfred

Welcome to the forum :hi:

Red gives great advice with the stainless brake lines. I have found the easiest way to bleed the brakes and clutch is to use a vacuum brake bleeder. Cycle Gear has a good one.

With the dreaded disease called moditus, we can can help you spend your hard earned cash at a rapid pace. RPM has many items that can update and improve your FJ. 4-2-1 exhaust, larger oil cooler, rear shock, fork valves, spin on oil filter adaptor  just to name a few.

Fred
I'm not the fastest FJ rider, I am 'half-fast', the fastest slow guy....

Current
2008 VFR800 RC46 Vtec
1996 VFR750 RC36/2
1990 FJ1300 (1297cc) Casper
1990 VFR750 RC36/1 Minnie
1989 FJ1200 Lazarus, the Streetfighter Project
1985 VF500F RC31 Interceptor

Tuned forks

Dieselman, beware of moditus.  I have contracted this ailment and there is no cure, only treatments.  I can attest the RPM exhaust is awesome.  As Fred stated, I used my MityVac to bleed the clutch and brake systems.  It gets most of the air but not 100%.  Good luck, safe riding.  If you add your location to your profile, often members that are close to you will often offer to ride or help.

Joe
1990 FJ1200-the reacher
1990 FZR 1000-crotch rocket

krusty

I've never really understood why people have trouble bleeding brakes and clutches. I've done dozens, perhaps hundreds on cars and bikes over the last 40 years or more without resorting to devices. Am I Robinson Crusoe?
91 FJ1200
84 FJ1100 x 2
85 FJ1100
89 GL1500
76 CB750F1
72 CB350F
63 C92 x 2
59 C76
62 C100
63 C100
60 Colleda 250TA x 3
63 Suzuki MD50
77 DT125E
77 DT175E x 2
79 DT250F

red

Quote from: Dieselman7.3 on May 20, 2019, 06:23:35 PMThank you that will be on the list. I remember my 86 was a royal pain to bleed the clutch
Dieselman,

Now you can get replacement banjo bolts with a bleeder fitting in the head.  Just the ticket for connecting the hydraulic lines to the master cylinders on the handlebars.  They cost from US$15 and up ('WAY up) for one.

Since Fred mentioned headers, most 4-2-1 headers block the engine oil drain plug, so you need to take down the headers, just to change the oil.  The RPM headers let you do an oil change without removing the headers.  I would need a real reason to change the stock exhaust to headers.  On my bike, the pipes were rusted out completely when I got it, so I got Vance & Hines headers.  Wish I could have used the RPM headers, but they were not available yet, back then.
.
Cheers,
Red

P.S. Life is too short, and health is too valuable, to ride on cheap parade-duty tires.

fj1289


Dieselman7.3

Thanks for the input moditus has been a problem for me with just about every vehicle bike and atv I've owned I guess I just like one of a kinds. I plan on spending way to much on the bike. Hopefully for things I want and not need.
Current:
85 fj1100
89 fj1200 - was for parts now a new project
16 Versys 650 - for off payment riding
Past:
86 fj1200
05 ex500
78 Ltd750

Motofun

A trick for getting the last air bubble out of the front calipers is to remove them from the forks.  Put a stick between the pads the same width as the rotor.  Raise the caliper as high as possible (tie a string to the handle bar and caliper).  This way the air bubble will rise up rather than have to be forced down.  With a little practice you can get rock hard brakes this way.
'75 Honda CB400F
'85 Yamaha RZ350
'85 Yamaha FJ1100
'89 Yamaha FJ1200
'09 Yamaha 125 Zuma
'09 Kawasaki KZ110 (grand kids)
'13 Suzuki GSXR 750 (track)
'14 Yamaha FZ-09
'23 Yamaha Tenere 7
SOLD: CBX,RZ500,Ninja 650,CB400F,V45 Sabre,CB700SC,R1

Troyskie

Quote from: fj1289 on May 20, 2019, 09:55:19 PM
For brake bleeding - this is the easiest, most common sense method I've read and used:

https://www.gixxer.com/forums/22-mods-how-tos/283074-brake-bleeding-problems-look-here-fail-proof-bleeding.html#/topics/283074

Thanks! That tip of 'keep a column of fluid over the nipple' was a real facepalm kind of moment. Why did that never occur to me?
1984 FJ1100 Ms Effie brand new :)
1984 FJ1100 Pearlie, stock as.
1985 FJ1100 Mr Effie 647,000K and still running hard.
1985 FJ1200 'Yummy' takes a licking & keeps on ticking
2013 Trumpy Tiger 800, let's do another lap of Oz

After all is said and done, more is said than done :)

fj1289

Quote from: Troyskie on May 23, 2019, 02:56:46 AM
Quote from: fj1289 on May 20, 2019, 09:55:19 PM
For brake bleeding - this is the easiest, most common sense method I've read and used:

https://www.gixxer.com/forums/22-mods-how-tos/283074-brake-bleeding-problems-look-here-fail-proof-bleeding.html#/topics/283074

Thanks! That tip of 'keep a column of fluid over the nipple' was a real facepalm kind of moment. Why did that never occur to me?

Glad I'm not the only one that had that moment!  Nearly 40 years of bleeding brakes and I never thought of that myself...