Squid's new toy :)

[I make oil]

You should do the clutch mod and add another spring. I didn't realize how much slippage I had. 

[squidley63]

It looks like I'm going to do some wiring surgery on the fj in the near future....I have some corroded connections here and there that have started to add to the issues.  I have the carbs situated and wouldn't you know the last nice warm days are here and I'm stuck not being able to ride until I get this stuff sorted.  I am planning on replacing the wires to and from the corroded connectors as an added precaution.  I hope to sort out all my issues before putting the fj to bed for the winter so my spring will see me putting on tons of miles on the fj.

[squidley63]

Went through all the major electrical connectors...I found 3 bad ones and replaced with individual spade style connections....main power at the ignition switch, ground lead off the negative batt cable, and one other 2 wire connector near the negative battery cable.  With those changed I found I still had low power at the switch....stripped back the right side harness and found the main power connection there almost corroded in 2.  I replaced this splice connector and soldered it along with all the others that I came across for good measure.

Bike fires up and idles good, but still has an off idle dead spot...takes a minute after flicking open the throttle for it to do anything...then it hangs on the way back down to idle...not sure what is up with that at the moment.  The throttle cable is nice and free and all the slides move freely with the breath test(pop up easily and come down immediately).  I am going to invest in a better carb synchronizing tool as now I just have 2 gauges and do the carbs in pairs...not sure of what style I'm going to go with.

I was going to see how it runs down the road, but unfortunately with Sandy and the drop in the jetstream it's going to do nothing but rain here for the next week or so ;(

[squidley63]

Friday morning I went down to a semi local bike shop to meet a member here that offered me a fairing for the FJ that he bought but didn't use...I'm struggling with myself to keep from putting it on the bike as is...I need to reinforce a few areas and build back in some tabs, but I'm definitely not complaining about the price or the shape of the fairing.  It will make a good side project for me for the winter that will not cost me anything, but will make all the difference come spring when I fit it to the bike.

[WhiteBeard]

Nat ()

[squidley63]

It seems like I'm starting to go in circles with the FJ again.  I went outside today to catch a whiff of gas which of course led me straight to the bike and a small drip on the driveway.  Seems like the 2 left carbs are not stopping the fuel even after another cleaning and changing the float needles didn't last very long....gotta love garbage in the fuel getting by a new filter even after rinsing the tank and changing the fuel lines.

Beginning to wonder if I should just drain the carbs and put it away for the winter and do some more stuff come spring time.  I also found yet another connector that wasn't in good shape.  I'll probably see how the weather is going to be this week to get things sorted.  I will try to get some more pictures as I pull things apart and clean them one more time.

[JMR]

 If there is fuel on the ground you know there is some in the crankcase....unfortunately.

[anson45]

Have you identified what is getting into and holding the float valves open? A few years ago when we went to all of our gas containing alcohol I had a problem of little white balls of "crap" holding the float valves open, and of course gas going all over. It turned out to be the glue in the (Emgo) plastic fuel filter. Somehow it turned it into little white balls. A brass fuel filter and a whole lot of carb cleaning, off the bike three times, cured the problem. Since then I run Startron in every tank. I run Sta-Bil in my other bikes. Of course if it's rust...
Anson

[squidley63]

It was originally bits of deteriorated fuel lines.  The filter seemed to be about 1/2 clogged and the bowls had a bunch of that gunk in them as well.  I cleaned all that out only to find that the float needles weren't sealing completely.  I have changed the lines and filter along with needle valves, but I must be having a sticking float issue now as I pulled the bowls off and there were no debris in them.  I have a slightly bent pin on one of the floats, so I will be looking for something to replace that with to see if that is causing the float to bind.

The tank has a little rust in it, but so far my fuel filter is clean.  I have a few dents to try and get out of the tank and then I plan on coating it for good measure.  I am planning an oil change once I get the carbs not leaking gas to remedy any gas in the oil.  I still need a better setup on my vacuum gauges for synching...I think I have one of the valves that help limit movement having issues because the vacuum number on that gauge is varying a little then a lot regardless of what I do with the valve.

[squidley63]

Finally got the fj out of winter storage to see if I could get it fired up. Over the winter I picked up a set of gauges for easier carb syncs( before I used 2 gauges). I drained out the oil and changed the filter. Pulled the tank and checked the carbs and found a bent float pin I didn't notice before. I put the carbs back on with an auxiliary tank. And got it to fire.

Unfortunately its not running too smooth. It doesn't really want to run without the choke so I guess I'm back into the carbs to see what's up with the idle circuits. The good news is that so far it likes to keep the fuel inside the carbs. I'm hoping that with one more go at the carbs I can get it running ready for the season. I still need to install the new to me fairing and change out the dry rotted tires but all good Things come to those who wait I guess.

[fj11.5]

Sounds like she's still a little gunked up, but should be easy enough to sort out,,if you don't have or can't find a float pin I have spares, ,or I'm pretty sure a member here used the shaft from a steel rivet, 

[squidley63]

I found a stainless welding rod almost the same size and grooved it a little to make it fit snug on one side so it will stay in place.

[movenon]

Keep up the good work. I know this is a project for you. Glad to see you are making headway. Take your time with those carbs, they are simple with a lot of little details....... And its the little shit that gets you 
George

[squidley63]

I probably would have gotten it right the first time if I wouldn't have been in a hurry to get back on it. The winter break didn't do me any favors as I didn't Get all the gas out of the carbs(only about half). This first assembly was just to make sure the gas would stay on the inside of the carbs where it belongs. Hopefully today should get the Rest sorted.

[squidley63]

Yet again I got myself caught up in the wrong mental attitude to be working on my bike. I was trying to hurry up and get my carbs cleaned out before the weather hit in a couple of hours.  Some things are OK rushed carb work is not one of them. Randy got an order for some more carb parts because of it. Doing my part for the economy I guess because I rushed the carb cleaning and stripped out two jets. Glad randy has good prices:)