not running as smooth as before

[Striker]

Hey there all. Well I have an 85 fj that lately has not been running or sounding quite as well or smooth as it did a little while ago. I know that the carbs need to be cleaned and re tuned. I've tried maintaining the bike as well as I know how. Just curious if there are things I need to do regularly for the engine I am not aware of as this is my first FJ. Also, when I put paper or my hands to the exhaust they are not even. The spark plugs though all look the same so hope it's not a cylinder problem.    Just want to see if it's just because the carbs are a little dirty. Appreciate any help!

[Travis398]

I know that the carbs need to be cleaned and re tuned.

sounds like you need to start there.

[Firehawk068]

Does it stutter? or run flat anywhere in the rpm range?
Does it rev like it did before when accelerating hard?
Could just need a carb synch?
I've got the guages, and the "auxilliary" fuel tank at the ready in case they are needed.

[Marsh White]

I really like those gauges!  Do you mind me asking where you got them and how much $?

[ukfj]

Wow thats gotta be the cleanest carbs i have seen
on a bike, nice guages as well.

[weymouth399]

For $375.00 you to can have pretty carbs, I have one more set in box and ond out of box
Bob W

[Firehawk068]

I really like those gauges!  Do you mind me asking where you got them and how much $?

If I remember correctly, I bought them from a seller on Ebay.......They were a little pricey. I think with shipping it was somewhere around $110......
I really like them though, and were worth the money to me.
They come in a nice aluminum case with a whole mess of various adaptors for most 2, 3, or 4 cylinder engines....
My Seca II required adaptors, wich come with o-rings, and work perfectly....




The thing I like about them most, is they have adjustable needle valves on each gauge so you can remove the "bounce" from each cylinder pulse........I have used them a few times, and they work extremely well.....
I cheaped-out on my auxilliary fuel tank though.
I think i paid $6 at Autozone for a universal radiator overflow bottle. Came with a hanging bracket, and a length of clear tubing.......
I just hang them both on my step-stool next to the bike and synch away.

[Mark Olson]

Alan ,

that is a james bond tool kit . way bitch'in

[Striker]

Hey thanks for the help. Yeah I know I should start with the carbs, I was just seeing if there were other things to also take a look at so I could get a list together. Doesn't look like it's been the most well maintained bike so I want to start to get it into better shape. Hey Alan thanks that could be a huge help with the synching!! It still revs ok through the rpm range but there's a little bit of a hum of vibration that wasn't there before. And it sounds a little rough when accelerating. It may be that the carbs are out of synch or something like along those lines.

[Kopfjaeger]

was going to say those carbs are CLEAN!!!!!! but after my last effort to make my bike shiny and clean and the resulting chaos.nup. she can stay a dirty girl

[Firehawk068]

The nice shiny cleanness of the carbs in the pictures shown here, are in no way a result of any effort on my part........
When these pictures were taken, they were just installed "Virgin" carbs right out of the box......
These are same said carbs that can be had in other posts by Bob W.
All that was required was drilling, and removing the caps that hide the idle mixture screws....adjusting said screws, and synchronize them.......
This was the day before Erich V, and I left for the WCR.

6 months, and 6000 miles later........they still perform beautifully!

[weymouth399]

Hi Alan

I would have done that for you, but I would of had to open the box.
Bob W

[imikie]

get 20 foot of clear plastic tube,bend in halve and attach 5 foot down one side and 5 foot up the other on a 3 inch wide board with cable ties.add 4 foot of water to the tube, tap board until water is equal in both tubes.you will have 5 foot of tube at each end,attach to carb 1 and 2,start bike and sync.do same for 3 and 4,then sync both banks together. adjust until water is equal in both tubes.works well and cost $10 to make.