Idle Adjustment

[FJ Flyer]

Well, I decided to play hookey today.  Took the FJ out for a 50 mile jaunt.  Opened her up and forgot how strong she'll pull.  And how small and nimble she is compared to the FJR.  Feels almost like a real sport bike.  And I remembered why I loved this bike.  With about 100k miles on her saddle, it all came back very fast.

But, of course, she was finicky.  Idle speed is a little low, and I'm guessing the idle circuit is a bit clogged.  In any case, I can't remember which way the idle wheel turns to raise the idle.  I use a long screwdriver to push the wheel.  I think if you push from the right side (facing forward) it should raise the idle.  But I wanted to double check.

I plan to ride it the FJ to work tomorrow, instead of the FJR, and I may need to make some adjustments.

[SlowOldGuy]

You are correct Chris.

From the right side, push on the screw on the side toward the cylinder.
If you were to grab onto the screw and turn it like you were tightening it, that would increase the idle speed.

My kids laugh at the knuckles on my right hand.  The index and middle finger are just large scars from getting repeatedly blistered over the years from making this adjustment bare handed on a hot engine.  I now carry a long screwdriver in the tankbag.  :-)

DavidR.

[FJ Flyer]

Thanks for the quick reply, David.  I remember the burns and calluses from doing the hot adjustments.  Learned to use the long screwdriver, and I'm bringing it with me tomorrow.

Hoping the Seafoam and Startron will help unplug the idle circuits.  It was better after 50 miles then when I first started her up.  I had read thru your carb rebuild instructions to see if you specified which way to turn it.

The FJR has the adjustment screw under the frame rail on the right side.  No burns necessary.

[andyb]

You can do it by hand if you're wearing gloves, you goofball!

Yeah, I use a screwdriver myself. 

[Dan Filetti]

Hoping the Seafoam and Startron will help unplug the idle circuits.  It was better after 50 miles then when I first started her up. 

I dumped an entire bottle of Startron into a buddies Bandit 600 that would not idle, nor would it rev above 6,000 rpm.  At the time it had 1/2 tank of gas, ~2 gallons.  I told him to ride it as hard as he could for the remainder of that 1/2 tank.  -As an experiment. He reported back that the bike now runs nearly perfectly, and began 'getting better' within ~15 miles of riding.

I continue to be a fan of this stuff.

Dan  

[moonrunnah]

i had the same kind of luck with seafoam
i had a 78 kz750 and it ran like crap  a dumped a bottle of seafoam and a little marvel mystery oil in the gas tank ran it and by the next fill up it was running like new. 

[SlowOldGuy]

You can do it by hand if you're wearing gloves, you goofball!

WHAT?  Burn my nice kangaroo gloves?  No way, besides skin (eventually) grows back for free.  :-)

DavidR.

[ribbert]

Having tried both, I prefer a gloved hand for finer control.  Either way, it's much easier if you open the throttle slightly while turning the adjustment screw, it lifts the screw off it's stop and makes it  much easier to turn, especially when increasing the idle speed.
Noel

[fj11.5]

or just grow small hands, , no burns or gloves needed 

[DB Cooper]

 
The previous owner of my 88 3CV is an AME. He got tired of the burnt skin, so he took apart an altimeter, used the adjustment gears and knobs, machined up a bracket. The result is a real slick idle adjustment at your fingertips that sits just below, and slightly inside the frame rail.
Next time I have the tank off, I'll post a picture of the bracket and gears in front of the carbs.

Kevin

[FJmonkey]

I use a screwdriver as well to adjust idle, however I am drinking it to tolerate the burns to my hand...

[yamaha fj rider]

Ya I also use a screwdriver or if I am on the road my leatherman multi-tool. Then have a drink for a job well done!!!!  cheers!!!

Kurt

[FJ Flyer]

Well, took her to work yesterday.  Morning was easy, not too much traffic at 0500 and made most of the traffic lights.  Coming home was a little tricky, had to just nudge the choke out a bit to get an idle at about 1500+ rpm.  Any less didn't seem to want to stay running.  It was nice to take advantage of the trim profile of the FJ and bypass some traffic up the side to keep her moving in the city.  The FJR with bags on makes that pretty much impossible.  Had a KLR tag along for a bit before I left him behind on the highway. 

It actually seemed to idle for a bit when I got home.  This tank of gas is almost done.  I'll try and finish it off on Father's Day and put some fresh gas and tons of Seafoam, Techron, Startron and Marvel Mystery Oil into the cauldron, er tank.  If she starts running nicely, again, I promise to treat her kindly and ride her hard at least once a month.   

[fj11.5]

going to take a mates Fj apart tomorrow to hunt down the air leak his 84 Fj has had since he bought it, , his also won't hold an idle , , put my hand in to turn the idle screw up and could feel air being sucked in , I'm guessing carb boot runners are shot, , po had done some carb " mods " to fix the issue, mix screw 4 turns out, needles raised to second last clip, hand grip/ throttle tube pushed up against the bar weight to stop throttle return , , been itching to rip the bloody airbox out and tear into the carbs, bike pulls like a school boy , just won't idle

[soundmindryan]

+1 on the Seafoam. I put a can in an empty tank after the bike sat for a whole year without taking the carbs off or even using fuel Sta-bil. It started and idled just fine on straight Seafoam. Let it idle a couple of minutes, then filled up the tank with gas and took her for a spin. She ran like new. Seafoam ROCKS!