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bike dies while riding 1987FJ1200

Started by FJnube, May 23, 2021, 10:52:10 AM

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FJnube

May 23, 2021, 10:52:10 AM
Hello, I was wondering if I can get some ideas before tearing into this.   1987FJ1200   I got it hot about 15 months ago and while riding it home from an event it died under power.  I sat on the side of road for a couple minutes and it started back up and I made it home.  I rode it all last summer with no issues at all hoping it was a one time overheating thing.  Yesterday the problem has come  back to leave me on the side of the road again and a trailer ride of shame..  It starts now when cool so I'm thinking the electrics have been cooked and are breaking down now.  When it dies it is like someone hit the killswitch.  I have seen other posts about a relay that is a known problem and also have seen new modern dynatek ignition kits for this bike.  Any thoughts would be great before I throw money at it.  Thanks.  Pix are also a big bonus for me as well.  The bike has 19000 miles on it so it is fairly low mile bike and has been great up until now. 

red

#1
May 23, 2021, 01:29:32 PM
Quote from: FJnube on May 23, 2021, 10:52:10 AM
Hello, I was wondering if I can get some ideas before tearing into this.   1987FJ1200   I got it hot about 15 months ago and while riding it home from an event it died under power.  I sat on the side of road for a couple minutes and it started back up and I made it home.  Any thoughts would be great before I throw money at it.  Thanks.
FJnube,

Next time the bike dies (I'd stay close to home there), try opening the gas cap for a second, then see if the bike will start again.  If the gas cap vent system gets plugged, it will shut down the engine by stopping the fuel flow.  Expect to give the carbs enough time to re-fill, after opening the cap.  If opening the gas cap gets you going, then you just need to clean out the vent in the gas cap system.
Cheers,
Red
P.S. Life is too short, and health is too valuable, to ride on cheap parade-duty tires.

Pat Conlon

#2
May 23, 2021, 02:21:15 PM
A classic symptoms of a hot pinch on your fuel line.
Check your fuel line routing.
Follow this *exactly* : http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=18286.0
1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

T Legg

#3
May 23, 2021, 02:43:10 PM
Dirty contacts on your bikes kill switch can cause intermittent problems. One of my bikes was dying at high rpms and I found when I snapped the Kill switch off and on it would fire up again. I took the switch apart and polished the contacts and the problem has not returned.
T Legg

FJnube

#4
May 23, 2021, 03:53:49 PM
its definetly not fuel related.   I actually tried the cap but the way it cuts out it is ignition losing spark is my bet.  I did play with the kickstand switch but as stated as soon as everything cools off it fires back up.  Also this bike was run for a full riding season after the tank was removed and put on so a pinched fuel line would have shown itself sooner.  All good ideas but need more input about the iggy.  This was the first ride of the season after a winter in the garage where it was started once in a while and the battery was on a maintainer.

Pat Conlon

#5
May 23, 2021, 04:19:30 PM
What was the cause of it getting hot?  How did it happen? Poor airflow? Lean jetting? Both?
FJ engines are very robust, to have one die from heat is not very common...burned exhaust valves, yes, electrical, no, unless you have modified the wiring harness route causing it to burn a wire.

If it's electrical, 1) Sidestand switch or 2) stop/run switch on handle bar or 3) Keyed ignition switch.

Check your red wire plug....perhaps your battery is not getting a proper charge and getting drained.
Scroll down: http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=18995.0

1) Free Owners Manual download: https://tinyurl.com/fmsz7hk9
2) Don't store your FJ with E10 fuel https://tinyurl.com/3cjrfct5
3) Replace your old stock rubber brake lines.
4) Important items for the '84-87 FJ's:
Safety wire: https://tinyurl.com/99zp8ufh
Fuel line: https://tinyurl.com/bdff9bf3

FJnube

#6
May 24, 2021, 10:38:18 AM
I took it to a motorcycle skills course and it was 92 out and I had to do a lot of waiting in line for my turn and I could feel the engine getting really toasty.  After several cycles of this activity I decided this was not a good idea to bring an air cooled bike to so I pulled aside and let it cool down.  On the way home the ignition cut out twice but refired both times after a roadside cool down and I got home.  I was optimistic and lazy so I didn't address the problem at that time and chocked it up to just getting real hot.  I rode it all last summer without it skipping a beat and after taking it out of winter storage it did this.  I have seen a thread on here about a problem relay causing issues.  I think the CDI box is breaking down internally but not really sure.  How is the dynatek ignition system?  I can start on the easy switches to check like the side stand and kill switch but after that not sure where to go.  The battery is prob due for a change but it doesnt draw down while cranking and once on the alternator I'm guessing its really not a player with the bike running.  Thanks all again for any input.  I have owned a lot of bikes but this is my first FJ. 
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