Prospect purchase

[fintip]

Re:open wire...

Sorry, that's what I meant to say. I learned all my electronics terms from a self-taught puertorican, so some of his inaccurate terminology lives on in my subconscious and comes out when I don't catch it.

I'll try 10w40 this time, then.

[fintip]

Went with rotella t 15w40, gallon jug. All auto zone had was champion equivalent spark plugs, no NGK's in stock, so I went with those. Realized I don't have a gapping tool with me, though, thought I did. Maybe I can find some mechanic close by and have him loan me a tool for a minute...

Battery is fully charged.

Just waiting for this never ending rain to let up...

Thinking I'll probably back out the idle screws by a turn or so on all four carbs and see if that helps low end at all as well.

[pdxfj]

Do not use Champion spark plugs!  Take them back and ask how long to get the NGK plugs.  If they are unable to get them in 24 hours or less, then call around and see who has them.  If you have a Cyclegear near by, they should have them.

Here's a pic of what happens to Champion plugs in a Ninja 250.  Even though the FJ doesn't wind as high as the 250 you could expect a similar fate.

Ahhh.. don't like the never ending rain eh?  It'll stop.. in July if we're lucky!

[SlowOldGuy]

Ohhhh, is this a test? 

The one on the left looks okay.
The one on the right, not so good.

Did I pass?
DavidR.

[Mark Olson]

champion plugs suck balls.

[fintip]

Thanks for the tip. I went on a research spree on spark plugs. Apparently champion used to be awesome back in the day, stories of them getting tractors going when other plugs fail and such. They also still make F1 quality plugs that are race-win worthy. But their consumer level plugs do appear to be white... stories abound of people buying 4 or 8 packs and getting 3 bad out of the box, of not passing emissions tests with champions, but passing with another brand, of misfires and poor running upon using a new set of champions, fixed by going back to previous brand.

Ordering NGK's today. My old spark plugs are still fine, just changing to help out the system, so I can wait a day for new plugs.

[movenon]

Rotella 15- 40 is fine. It's very close to what Yamaha recommends for oil.    Spark plugs... Gap (0.031-0.035") I think. In an emergency along the road.... the edge of my licence plate sheet metal is .40 plus or minus. A sheet of computer paper folded in eighths is approx. .30. Not very scientific but hey. Improvise, adapt and overcome...... Many years ago we use to use beer can tabs (remember those?) to set point gaps in old Chevy distributors in a tight spot.
Your old plugs were probably OK to get you down the road unless they were damaged or really crudded up. Think I would hold out for the right plugs. MANY years ago I too had a plug break apart and it caused me an undue amount of grief...
Rain, welcome to Seattle ... Seems summer up there is Aug and that's it. Less I digress into Seattle jokes.... Beautiful place when the sun comes out.
Hope you get it running better today. Sounds like you are close at least to get it on down to Portland. Maybe the sun will accidentally come out for the day.

[fintip]

!!!!



No sun today, but this morning it was at least just ugly, cloudy, and wet, but barely raining. So I decide to bring the freshly charged battery down the hill to the bike and get her back to the top of the hill, to a quieter street next to where I am staying.

Put the battery in, pull out full choke, short the solenoid... instant start, healthy sounds.

This time I adjust the choke to get it to idle at  2.25 k or so, and let her just warm up. After a minute or two, have the bike put together and my helmet back on, and I push the choke all the way down... and she idles at 1k! For at least a few seconds! I decide not to test my luck and kept a little hand on the throttle at stop signs, but this time she drove beautifully with no problem areas or hesitations up the hill back to the street outside my friend's apartment. Parked it only because the weather is still too wet and I need to do an oil change and lube the chain before I really take her out and don't want to do that in the wet...

But depending on how the ride to Portland goes, I may just put off that carb rebuild until I get back to Austin after all.

As for messing with the relay unit, I never did get a confirmation as to where it was located. I think it's on the left side under the front fairing on 84/85 models, and right side on all others? I think? Just a little black box with wires going in and out?

Best way to ground it? Just yank it out of the back of the plug and wire it to some spot on the frame somehow perhaps? The frame is ground on this bike, right? But where would a paint free spot be?

In other words, sounds like Noel was right! Thanks Noel, your keen diagnosis there was spot on. I'm trying not to count my chickens before they hatch, but I cannot wait for tomorrow or Friday when the weather is supposed to clear up.

[Dads_FJ]

Sorry, you're waiting for me aren't you?

The relay 42 is under the fairing .  I don't know which component to suspect, but with the wiring diagram you should be able to test voltages at certain points to narrow it down.

[Dads_FJ]

Troubleshooting chart from the Yamaha Service Manual:

[racerman_27410]

champion plugs suck balls.

This is truth!



KOokaloo! (with NGK)

[SlowOldGuy]

I would begin to suspect that something is not right with the Starter Cutoff Relay (#42 in the Electrical Listing or #5 and 6 in the starting schematic).

Why don't you just install a temporary switch across the Main Starter Relay (what you're calling the Solenoid) and use that to activate the starter relay rather than shorting across it?  Are you currently starting it by shorting the 2 large red wires together?

Just make sure you install it on the relay coil leads, do not run the starter line driectly from the battery through a switch (it will burn up).

This will also tell you if the Main Relay is working properly.

DavidR.

[fintip]

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Starter_solenoid

I suppose that happens, that the relay unit itself goes bad. Interesting.

To start the bike, I am putting a screwdriver across the two main posts on the starter solenoid (or relay, whichever you prefer...), which is the main input and output of the solenoid. (Red wire goes in, don't remember what color goes out but I'd assume it's also red since it s also positive current).

I don't understand exactly what kind of switch you have in mind (just, like, a toggle switch?), but if I still have to take off the seat, what's the difference? I don't mind shorting them out with a screwdriver, but I tire of having to pull the seat off every time I want to start the bike.

Or maybe I misunderstand you? Also, the incompetent mechanic who last took 1 grand from the PO and failed to fix the electrical problem on the bike replaced the starter motor and solenoid with brand new parts, so the solenoid should be good.

John, you're a saint. Thanks for all of that, super useful. Yamaha shop manual definitely outdoes the clymers on this one...

David, thanks so much for taking the time to weigh in on this.

Also, returned the champions. I heard I'd have a better chance of finding the NGK's in stock at an O'Riley's, and since my spark plugs are currently fine, I'll just pick some up elsewhere down the road.

50% chance of rain tomorrow, 20% day after that, 50% day after that! Great odds, as most days here get 100%. Weekend says 0% but foggy Saturday and Sunday. Currently planning to leave for Portland on Friday or Saturday, and top by and hear what Mr. Bean has to say about the bike if he's available. He had generously offered to help with carb stuff when I was in town, hopefully I can forestall that for now and make my way down south ASAP.

Kyle

[Dads_FJ]

"John, you're a saint. Thanks for all of that, super useful." - Kyle, I admire your spirit and want you to succeed.  This is great stuff you are doing.

[Flying Scotsman]

I know you can make it.
I just bought a 84 FJ100 a few min ago 
It has not run for 5+ years.
I am bumed that I cant ride it back to Chicago from Iowa.
Going to leave for Tenn to visit family as soon as I get back from Iowa.
As far as a switch you car run wires from the starter relay out from under the seat and have the switch external just to get you back home. Dont forget to turn it off after starting the bike.