Finally got a start!!!

[Tiger]

Now that winter is truly here, snow, minus temps, more snow, etc, I've finally got my ass in to gear and started pulling my '85 apart to give her some much needed TLC. I intend to keep her as near stock as possible, so not really worried about 'moditus' setting in...

The 'old girl' had sat around for a year before I picked her up, (in Ottawa), last summer with 95,000kms on the clock. She ran reasonably well but not the way she should but good enough to get me out and about and tomeet/ride with some of the local FJ guys a couple of times and to get her out to Cape Breton for a wee scoot around the island in August...  

Other than a good wash down, front forks rebuilt (leaking seals), new S S front brake/clutch lines, new spark plugs and carb cleaner in the first six/seven tanks of premium gas, I did nothing to her but ride...and had some great fun, a huge step up from my XZ550 Vision that I'd rode for the past seven/eight years

She sitting on the lift ramp in my shop, less gas tank and seat...

Carbs are off and away to my brothers place for sonic cleaning and rebuilding, using four full rebuild kits that I purchased locally.

The gas tank was drained and rinsed out (very little other than gas in there), petcock was removed, stripped, cleaned and rebuilt and reinstalled.

The battery box, carb heat shield, air box, chain guard, etc, were all removed and washed out in my new 40Gal parts washer (Christmas present from the wee wifey), dried off and given a coat of plastic protector...spray on, wipe, let dry and buff up to a decent shine.

I made new negative, battery to ground and positive, starter solenoid to starter motor wires from 6ga flexible marine grade battery wire, its made with 30ga copper stranded wire, white inner safety liner and an outer sheath constuction of a strong thermal plastic/rubber compound. The end lugs are soldered on (not crimped) and finished off with heat shrink...

The starter motor was removed and all the top part of the engine in that area was cleaned up and repainted with high heat satin black.

The starter motor, custom pos/neg wires, chain guard, carb heat shield, battery box, etc, etc, have all been reinstalled...just awaiting the cleaned rebuilt carbs coming back...

Electrical connections have been cleaned and smeared with dieltric grease...

So, now to start on the front end...new Pirelli Sport Demons (front & back) to be fitted along with rotors and brake pads. While the wheel(s) are off, they will get a good clean and repaint along with new wheel bearings...pads, rotors, bearings and tires are all here, so no excuses eh!!!

O K gotta go do some more...

John.

[FJmonkey]

Go Tiger, it should run and look like new when you are done.

[Pat Conlon]

Hey John, good on ya....resurrecting a FJ.
I hope you don't mind if I pass on some of my past experience to you.
On motorcycles, I have had past problems with soldered connections and vibrations. The most durable I have found (the hard way) has been to tin the stranded wire ends with solder, then a good high quality crimp from a ratcheting type crimp tool.


Take some pictures for us...spring is right around the corner!  Cheers. Pat

[oldktmdude]

   +1 on the solder and crimp method.   Regards, Pete.

[movenon]

+2 on the solder and crimp method. There is a reason why auto / street rod's / bikes use this method. Are you sure you don't want to moditus the rear wheel. Temptation is strong 
George

[Tiger]

  Never to old or to proud to take advice from the guys on this forum Pat...I appreciate any help I get from you guys

Before getting my FJ I had, over about 4/5 years, acquired, rebuilt and put back on the road 22 XZ550 Vision's...and still appreciated help and advice from the XZ550/Vision fraternity...you are always learning in my book

I'm fortunate in that, for a living, I sell products to the automotive/trucking, industrial/maintenance/repair shops a variety of good quality products...nuts/bolts/hardware, electrical conns/heat shrink, chemicals/lubricants, abrasives/cutting tools, etc, etc...that I buy/use on my motorcycle maintenance/repair work.

On my electrics, I only use good quality crimp style connectors that come with heat shrink and combines an adhesive inside...crimp 'n seal...Voila!!! Great advice re the ratchet crimpers... I do use ratchet style crimp tools. I have a single and a double set of crimpers, (along with others) and do use both depending on the connector. They work great... The new pos/neg wires that I make, including the lugs, solder pellets and heat shrink, all come from the company that I work for...I demo/sell the stuff all day long, so why not buy/use it on my ride(s)

When she appears in the spring, she may not look new ... but she will certainly look and perform a lot better than last year FJmonkey, at least I hope so ...

I have to admit, I didn't get much done today...to ccccold and I decided to have a lazy day, which we all need now and then me thinks  ...

John.

[Tiger]

Are you sure you don't want to moditus the rear wheel. Temptation is strong 
George

Nope and for two three reasons...I have a new set of 16" tires sitting in my shop, I do wish to retain my '85 as stock looking as possible and....... I'm vertically challenged and don't need any extra air between my foot and the pavement when required  ...

John

[FJmonkey]

Are you sure you don't want to moditus the rear wheel. Temptation is strong 
George

Nope and for two three reasons...I have a new set of 16" tires sitting in my shop, I do wish to retain my '85 as stock looking as possible and....... I'm vertically challenged and don't need any extra air between my foot and the pavement when required  ...

John

FYI, the change to 17" does not raise the bike higher. Switching to 17" gets you lower profile sidewalls that keep the diameter nearly the same. I am switching my 86' to have dog bones so I can raise the rear. Corners here I come...

[movenon]

Ok, but we are going to keep dangling things in front of you How about a oil filter conversion  
George

[ribbert]

Are you sure you don't want to moditus the rear wheel. Temptation is strong 
George

Nope and for two three reasons...I have a new set of 16" tires sitting in my shop, I do wish to retain my '85 as stock looking as possible and....... I'm vertically challenged and don't need any extra air between my foot and the pavement when required  ...

John

1  As Monkey said the outside diameter remains the same, higher wheel, lower tyre, same height.

2  If you use a 4.5" or 5.0" wide rim it will not look any different unless you get the tape measure out.

3  Any of the 16" tyres currently available are like riding on marbles compared to modern rubber. My current tyres grip better in the wet than my Pirelli Sport Demons do in the dry. ( I have 2 bikes )
    The fact you already have them does not necessarily make them the best choice.

Noel
     
Modern tyres are truly remarkable.

[Pat Conlon]

Actually, the modern 180/55-17 rear tire is slightly smaller in diameter than the oem 150/80-16 donut so..your feet will be closer to the ground...that's really secondary to the superior (safer) modern radial tire compounds available to the 17" rims.

Noel is absolutely spot on....

[Tiger]

Ok, but we are going to keep dangling things in front of you How about a oil filter conversion  
George

George...your stealing my thunder  I have the RPM oil filter conversion kit (and a new filter) sitting on the shelf. Once she is all back together again and fired up it will get installed...

Thank you all regarding the input of a 17" rim and modern rubber compond/tire sizes..(sigh)..temptation, temptation every were I turn  ...

John.

[oldktmdude]

Ok, but we are going to keep dangling things in front of you How about a oil filter conversion  
George

George...your stealing my thunder  I have the RPM oil filter conversion kit (and a new filter) sitting on the shelf. Once she is all back together again and fired up it will get installed...

Thank you all regarding the input of a 17" rim and modern rubber compond/tire sizes..(sigh)..temptation, temptation every were I turn  ...

John.

I think he's starting to weaken already!

[movenon]

Oh, the pressure..  Good on you for fixing up the FJ ! I am all for moditus as long as I can always put it back to stock. "Do no harm". The oil filer conversion just makes life better, the wheel change opens the door for a better selection of tires (price and rubber makeup). The future of tire selection for the stock FJ might not get any better.
If converted with the brake caliper mounted on top most people would not even notice the update (fellow FJ'ers are not most people).. You have to be aware that when things are apart that there is an overwhelming desire to polish shit..... Listed under Moditus hazards........ It starts with the gentle cleaning of parts so consider yourself warned
Have a good day John.
George

[Mark Olson]

Are you sure you don't want to moditus the rear wheel. Temptation is strong 
George

Nope and for two three reasons...I have a new set of 16" tires sitting in my shop, I do wish to retain my '85 as stock looking as possible and....... I'm vertically challenged and don't need any extra air between my foot and the pavement when required  ...

John

1  As Monkey said the outside diameter remains the same, higher wheel, lower tyre, same height.

2  If you use a 4.5" or 5.0" wide rim it will not look any different unless you get the tape measure out.

3  Any of the 16" tyres currently available are like riding on marbles compared to modern rubber. My current tyres grip better in the wet than my Pirelli Sport Demons do in the dry. ( I have 2 bikes )
    The fact you already have them does not necessarily make them the best choice.

Noel
     
Modern tyres are truly remarkable.

sometimes i miss the wheelspin of a 16" bias ply as you exit a hot corner , with the 17" radial now it just grips and lifts the front wheel.