choke

[fj1200owl]

I'm having problems with my 94 1200 abs when starting up on the choke. It is a Japanese import into the UK it has been serviced by the boys at the fj owners club and it runs as sweet as a nut and pulls like the old train,but when I start the bike up,which fires first time every time it only idles at 1200 revs on full Choke and then after 30 secs if I off the engine dies's so I have to warm her up on the throttle.Any ideas?

Mike

[FJmonkey]

Seems like she is abused from sitting too long. Choke circuit clogged up, time to clean the carbs really well.

[Woodsman]

Try giving a small amount of throttle whilst setting the choke. Works for me. I give a small rev and set the choke , and leave it warm up a small bit and feed in the choke if need be. Full choke doesn't work so good on mine half seems better.

[FJmonkey]

Make sure there is no slack in the choke cable. You might not be getting full choke. You might also give her more time to warm up on choke, the FJ lump is slow to warm up to proper temp.

[Mark Olson]

uhhh, weird . 

start with full choke and let revs go to 4k (this can sometimes take a moment as the engine warms up)
then partially push in choke so revs drop to 2k-2.5k
depending on ambient temp this may take 1-10 min.
now push choke all the way in and fj will idle close to normal and you can ride away.

If this is not how your fj operates , you have a problem with the choke circuit or cable.
when choke is pulled the knob should rise 3/4" above the closed position.(about the width of your thumb)
the choke cable will melt onto your valve cover if not properly routed.

so , make sure you have a full extension of your knob before digging into the carb circuit.

[Flynt]

uhhh, weird . 

make sure you have a full extension of your knob before digging in....

who needs those silly chokes anyway...  they sound too high maintenance.

Frank

[Mark Olson]

uhhh, weird . 

make sure you have a full extension of your knob before digging in....

who needs those silly chokes anyway...  they sound too high maintenance.

Frank

I knew somebody was gonna get the joke.

[Pat Conlon]

uhhh, weird . 

make sure you have a full extension of your knob before digging in....

who needs those silly chokes anyway...  they sound too high maintenance.

Frank

I knew somebody was gonna get the joke.

Was that a joke Mark?   Hmmm I missed it, however I'm in good company, so did Frank. 

I suspect what Frank means is that he does not have a choke on his FCR's...

[FJmonkey]

FCC would have been much easier, Full Chicken Choke...... 

FCR, Full Chicken R?... Anyone?

[Flynt]

make sure you have a full extension of your knob before digging in....

they sound too high maintenance.

I knew somebody was gonna get the joke.

he does not have a choke on his FCR's...

Right (I did get it... high maint like a woman and diggin in wit da knob) and right (I don't have a choke... F'ing Chokes are Ridicules).  FCR FTW!

Frank

[Pat Conlon]

Yea, well we shall see.   A icy cold morning at 6,000 feet and we will see who's laughing.....

[Flynt]

we will see who's laughing.....

Bring it!

I've been very impressed, but you outline a challenging scenario...  I think I'd need to hold 3K for 30 seconds (instead of ~10 on a cold day at 800ft before riding off blissfully 

Frank

[Pat Conlon]

30 seconds? Yea, that would give the group enough of a head start....for about 3 minutes anyway.

What have you named her? Gotta have a name... Is she now faster than your BMW über bike?

Is it time for the WCR yet?

[FJmonkey]

30 seconds? Yea, that would give the group enough of a head start....for about 3 minutes anyway.

What have you named her? Gotta have a name... Is she now faster than your BMW über bike?

Is it time for the WCR yet?

Before the dyno Frank had no trouble starting from cold, I imagine with the FCR carbs dialed in it will be that much better.

Oh!!! Frank sold his BMW, what replaced it is his story to tell...

[Flynt]

Frank sold his BMW, what replaced it is his story to tell...

Not too much of a story.  The revised FJ kicked the SHIT out of the BMW...  maybe not really faster, certainly not as technologically advanced, but the fun factor was so much higher the beemer just sat.  Sold it quickly and got a good price.

Then the task became finding a bike to complement the FJ instead of compete.  I found very little overlap with the "Supermoto" style bikes (plus I learned on a dirt bike and first street bike was a Honda XL250, so I like the riding position and style). 

I checked out a few supermoto options (Suzuki, KTM, Aprilia, Husky) and bought a Ducati Hypermotard 1100.  It's the most fun thing to ride around town and in the tight/bumpy twisties I have around me.  The FJ still dominates where sweepers and distance are involved. 

2 happy bikes and one happy owner.



Frank