Colin's FJ1200

[Pat Conlon]

I'm confused...why are you dicking around the vacuum petcock? That's a major point of converting to a fuel pump, no more worries with the vacuum petcock. Leave it open all the time, just like the '88-95 FJ's.
Your fuel pump stops the flow of fuel when shut off, correct?
We did mention that was an important feature for fuel pumps.

[FJ1200W]

I'm confused...why are you dicking around the vacuum petcock? That's a major point of converting to a fuel pump, no more worries with the vacuum petcock. Leave it open all the time, just like the '88-95 FJ's.
Your fuel pump stops the flow of fuel when shut off, correct?
We did mention that was an important feature for fuel pumps.

Yeah, yeah, I know, I wanted to try it and didn't think it would cause me the headaches it did.
On multiple levels, I have a low tolerance for solvents, they give me a headache quickly.
It made it simpler to remove the fuel line from the tank.
I installed a go-kart fuel tank on the tail to do some test rides.
The legroom sucked and the seat was way too hard. I felt old, my right leg started cramping up, getting old sure isn't for kids -
Anyway, the bike runs better than it has any right too - can't wait to put the tank and seat on and take it for a real ride!
I didn't open it up too much, no helmet, no gloves, no gear, I did wear sunglasses.
The clutch and/or hydraulics seemed to react to the heat, making nuetral hard to find, I need to check that, ideas?
And the brakes are marginal. Forks leak. It needs more work, but running, I got it running!

[giantkiller]

Lol. Were you atleast wearing shorts and flip flops.

[FJ1200W]

Lol. Were you atleast wearing shorts and flip flops.

Valid point!

I'm gearing up with the tank and saddle are back on - The tires are old and hard, so nothing too radical.

[Pat Conlon]

Oh, Dan knows all about riding with old hard tires....lol

[giantkiller]

Yah. First time I actually drifted a bike. Was actually kinda fun..
Wasn't trying to. No effort. Very little throttle.
I've ridden on old tires before..those suckers were rock hard!

[FJ1200W]

Enjoyed a 20+ mile ride on the bike, it's a beast.
Minor toothing issues - the clutch started tightening up to the point it slipped under full throttle.
Gutted the petcock, the old diaphrams were bad, I should have checked them closer.
The surfaced were touched up to make them as flat as possible, hopefully to avoid a leak. All screws were locktited on the petcock, it should be good.
Initially had a big of garbage in the fuel, luckily the filter is easily cleaned.
Overall a great day.

[Pat Conlon]

Good on ya Steve....yea, the (real) fuel filter is the way to go....if you need a fuel pump to pull the fuel through the filter media, so be it.......Alas, our fuel tanks aren't getting any younger....

Can you imagine any of that crap getting into your carbs?

[FJ1200W]

Always nice to find fun parts.

Noticed the wire still in place. Removed it, the thin place and the spacers. Replaced with a full oem plate.

Cleaned the clutch master, there was a little gunk in two corners. Bled the clutch system again. I do think a bubble came out, as it's working very well now.

The bikes a beast, feel quicker than my '89

[FJ1200W]

Can you imagine any of that crap getting into your carbs?

No, that would be bad, in the biblical sense.

Close -

[FJ1200W]

The owner showed up on his Harley.

I asked him to ride the FJ

[FJ1200W]

The owner stopped by for a test ride.

He seemed quite pleased !

[FJ1200W]

Clutch slave had just been rebuilt - but I decided to check it anyway and I have kits laying around.
Tomorrow I will try and bleed it.
My cries may be heard around the world ...

[Old Rider]

Great stuff Steve ! i Now see what you meant about timing  I have just installed and bled the master and slave in the writeup.Im no expert ,but found that the bleeding will go faster when priming both master and slave before installing to get most air out..

[FJ1200W]

Phuck phuck phuuucking hydraulic clutch.....

I'm starting to think the ball bearing fell out when I replace the pushrod seal

But if so, the phuck phuck phuuucking hydraulic clutch would phuck phuck phuuucking work when bench tested -

I'm starting to thing the slave is bad, I have another, somewhere.

Now it's almost time to attended a celebration of life for the wife of a man I used to ride with, way back in the last century.

She was really cool, laid back, I can't remember her ever bitching much about anything I did.

Well, other than that time I drove (car) through their small front yard, drunk, spun around the tree once, followed by a Caddy........

Anyway -

Her and her husband crashed once on his old KZ1000 Mk II - That was a nice bike. He has since moved on to Harleys, and I'm good with that. She would still ride with him.

That KZ1000, with individual air cleaners, had enough space under the tank for 6+ beers with ice.

We had to fill it often.

Kenny and I would ride like total and complete @ssholes, passing on the shoulder, splitting traffic, passing people at speeds well in excess of the ton, while riding with oncoming traffic, us on the middle line, stupid stuff for the day, mild by todays standards.

Boy those old bikes sounded good with open megaphones on the V&H and race baffles in his Kerker.

Loud pipes must truly save lives because I'm still here.

Kim is not, she survived a high speed wreck as a passenger on that KZ, raised twin daughters, put up with Kenny, she was an angel.

She's in a better place, I have no doubt.

Cancer finally got her.

I'm not letting this clutch get me.......