1986 fj1200 driveability issues

[weber1]

ok- here we go. Put new caps on wires. cut back wires about 1/4 inch for fresh wire and now have strong spark on all four. What I have now is a fuel concern. The bike runs so rich it misses and smokes. Great. AND-I noticed a small amount of paint suddenly missing from forward lower corner of tank,thought maybe I scratched it. when I was cleaning it for touch up I saw it was wet and leaks fuel. At this point I want to take bike and drop it in the bay. Carbs were spotless with new emulsion tubes and correct float levels. believe it is only one carb and probably #4. The tank was sealed once so I have to look into that or another tank. Really ashame because the bike is absolutely beautiful but I have enough projects and am losing confidence in the bike for fear I'm always gonna break down.

[Pat Conlon]

OK-Here's the update. Put a new nozzle in all four carbs. Set gap on all 4 plugs adjusted carbs (still have to sync them) set idle and went. Almost perfect still alittle miss on initial go from stop but barely noticable. Thanks for all the help, you guys are great.

Then...

ok- here we go. Put new caps on wires. cut back wires about 1/4 inch for fresh wire and now have strong spark on all four. What I have now is a fuel concern. The bike runs so rich it misses and smokes.......  Carbs were spotless with new emulsion tubes and correct float levels. believe it is only one carb and probably #4........

Rob, what the hell is going on? Is all this is happening to the same bike, or do you have 2 different bikes?
You get it almost dialed in.... and then put on new plug caps... and this shit happens???  I'm getting pissed off just reading your posts.
I can't imagine what you are going thru....  Pat

[weber1]

HAHA! Same bike Pat. Tonight I will take tank off and have it sealed by a guy who does the diesel truck tanks for us. Then I will drop it off at the body shop we use to have them reshoot the top and touch up the lower corner. I think I missed diagnosed the spark concern. I think one carb has an issue and caused the miss, possibly causing the spark issue when I pulled the wire off of the plugs while running to find which cylinder was dropping. I am going to pull carbs again and see if anything changed. Maybe debris in float needle seat. It's a pretty basic engine and carb set-up so shouldn't be to difficult. The bike sat and I think the guy who had it had a hack for a mechanic. I'll get it.

[fj1289]

I feel your pain!  Get the tank taken care of before you keep chasing the same gremilins through your carbs.  As long as the tank has that much rust and crap in it, it won't matter how much you clean the carbs - you're still going to be getting debris into them - even with a filter it seems!

I'll bet once you get the tank right, the rest will fall in line with just a thorough cleaning and adjusting.

Good luck!

[weber1]

Thanks-spoke to guy who is going to do the tank. He says may be a concern since it was sealed once before. He may do an external repair then off to the body shop. I never noticed any rust in carbs. Maybe a piece of sealer, won't know untill I get into carbs. Question-what would be the sympton if a diaphram in a carb went bad? I inspected all 4 and they looked good under light. Maybe I left something loose, who knows. On the bright side I can R&R the carbs real fast now!

[Pat Conlon]

With as many times as you have had those carbs off, are you still struggling with the oem air box or have you converted over to Unipods?
R&R'ing the carbs are a snap with Unipods.
Something is getting into those clean carbs, so your tank may be the culprit. Let us know what you find.

i would go ahead and synch the carbs so you can fully enjoy the fruits of your labor.... it does make a huge difference in how the engine feels and performs.

You have sync'ed those carbs...right?

[weber1]

Hey guys, took carbs off after determining #4 carb is pouring fuel into cylinder. disassembled said carb and found the float needle seat brass housing cracked. Any body ever seen this? Well, I will be replacing that. Dropped tank off for sealing then repaint. Very possible small crack in carb was causing problems for awhile and finally expanded and made itself clear. Does this part come in a rebuild kit? Thanks for all the inputs, Rob.

[andyb]

The float needle seat, you mean?

Looks like this?



There's one in this kit, and they're individually available like this, also.

[weber1]

Yep-however,on further inspection it was not a crack, a small piece of debris stuck to outside. cleaned and when i picked up assembly found idle jet on bench! Apparently I left it loose and it fell out. So I am going to climb out of my skin and kick my own ass tonight. I took float balls off of all carbs and double checked for debris and correct assembly. No more working on bike at 1am. Thanks for all the inputs, Rob.

[weber1]

bowls that is.

[Pat Conlon]

At this stage, it is perfectly acceptable to call them float balls.......sync those carbs.

[weber1]

Will do. I have the tank being serviced now at the Radiator shop. Then off to paint. I may redo the forks in the meanwhile. I went to a Kawi-Yami dealer and looked at the new Ninja while I was there, just to kill time. I couldn't get into it-the bike is too short from front to rear. Almost all were. Felt like I was on a unicycle!

[SlowOldGuy]

The Ninja-1000 is a nice bike, but it's nothing more than the Z-1000 with full bodywork.  The seat-to-peg distance is too cramped for me, but otherwise a nice bike. 

DavidR.

[andyb]

A ninja 1000 is only an inch shorter than an FJ.  Not much in it, there.

It's remarkably silly looking, overprice, and for many other reasons not something I'd want, but stubby isn't the word. 

[weber1]

Only an inch? seems shorter and you're right about the leg position. I'm 6'1" and they were cramped. The bike is considered a sport touring. I don't see it. Still stay it seems short, Like riding a pumped up mosquito! Also, does anybody have a fuel sending unit they wanna sell?