Bryan's 1989 FJ1200 rebirth in Poplar Grove, IL

[ribbert]

Noel the adapters that come with the MP tool fit the idle adjustment screw itself. However, the height of the tool itself hits the case right below the idle adjustment screw and will not fit in between to adjust.

[RPM - Robert]

Kind of a funny story as we had never used the tool and we had sold a dozen or so. We presumed they worked as no one said any different. We had a customer ride in to visit and saw I was putting one back on the shelf for our stock. He asked, "You know that thing doesn't work on these right?" I said, "No. I had never tried to use one I always use my hand." So he replied, "I got tired of burning my hand so I bought one of those but it didn't fit. I use it on other bikes but it doesn't work on the FJ." So I grabbed that one out of the packaging and sure as heck it did not fit in there.

Anyways, thread hijack over. back to your normally scheduled programming.

[Pat Conlon]

Adjusting the FJ idle on a hot engine is unfortunately necessary.

I've been chastised by our Aussie forum expert that advising folks to use a flat blade screwdriver to turn the idle knob is bad advice.
He stated that people will bend the adjuster screw by using too much force.

I've been using a screwdriver for decades with no problem, I wonder how many of us also do this?

Yes, I've also done it by hand, wearing my gloves....

[Old Rider]

Adjusting the FJ idle on a hot engine is unfortunately necessary.

I've been chastised by our Aussie forum expert that advising folks to use a flat blade screwdriver to turn the idle knob is bad advice.
He stated that people will bend the adjuster screw by using too much force.

I've been using a screwdriver for decades with no problem, I wonder how many of us also do this?

Yes, I've also done it by hand, wearing my gloves....

I do  but also used the one in the picture as i have it in the toolbox i carry in the fastback works great newer bent the screw  also use it on the hoseclamp on the petcock.Here is a smoking hot picture taken 3 minutes ago.
And by the way i found adjusting those fuelscrews  is not easy i used 2 months with adjustments and plugreadings very often to get them in the right spot.
and i can say that its incredible how much more power also tourque the bike deliver   when the mixture is right on all 4 cylinders. next time i use a colortune or deliver it to a  workshop with the right electronic gas analyser instead

[FJmonkey]

Pat, I bent my adjusting screw using a screwdriver. Now I adjust by hand. Just not at a stop light while wearing armored gloves. 

[Waiex191]

One of the axioms of my life is: the purpose of the hobby is to collect tools.  It's true for bikes, cars, airplanes, boats, whatever. But, I can't let my thread end with a huge tool discussion!

I've ridden 120 miles. I'm changing the oil and filter.  I put fresh oil in it before the start. I inspected and reused the old filter for the 120 miles.


My front tire has seen better days.


I couldn't find a new ME33 anywhere.  New Bridgestone Battlax BT-016 and a valve stem arriving tomorrow.  It's time I think.


The bike runs awesome!

[Pat Conlon]

Bryan, do you know how to read the date code on your tires?

[Motofun]

Not to state the obvious but that tire is well past its useful life.  Park it until you get that POS replaced.  Of course you can always do a Burt Munroe and fill those cracks in with black shoe polish.......

[Waiex191]

Pat, I have no idea.  Would be interesting to know how old that Metzler is.

Motofun, my new tire should be here today.  I'll get it mounted and balanced this weekend.

[Pat Conlon]

https://www.chapmoto.com/blog/2017/09/26/do-motorcycle-tires-expire-a-guide-to-tire-date-codes/

[GhostMerc]

That old tire should be easy to read.  It's the last 3 or 4 digits of the DOT

Pre-2000:
WWY
405
40th week, 1995

Post-2000:
WWYY
4005
40th week, 2005

[Waiex191]

Is this my date code?  If so it is a 1993 tire.


New tire ready to go on.  Was only $65 plus shipping and taxes.  It has a late 2018 date code, so I assume that is why the bargain price.

[GhostMerc]

That's what that looks like.  Tire life is considered to be 10 years max, regardless of use. 

[Waiex191]

Front wheel off:


My rim was dirty. I did clean it off some with WD40, a brush, carb cleaner, and some rags. Forgot to take the after picture.


Goodbye ME33 Laser Comp K:


A 2 second video of my balancer:
https://youtu.be/yW0HPtKd86M

We went for a ride and I put about 40 miles on it. Nothing like having a new tyre.  It's like getting power steering.

[Pat Conlon]

Tire life is considered to be 10 years max, regardless of use. 

5 years max, if you store your bike on its tires on concrete.