What to look for?

[CatTomb]

I saw that one on Oklahoma and this one in SoCal

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/3735474297.html.

My daughters live down there. I could fly down, visit and ride back.

Are there any members in South Orange County willing to put eyeballs on this for me?

I'd be happy to compensate with dinner and beer?

Thanks

Jeff
541 647-9254

[Steve_in_Florida]

I saw that one on Oklahoma and this one in SoCal

http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/3735474297.html

Jeff,
I fixed the link for you (it had a trailing period):

     http://orangecounty.craigslist.org/mcy/3735474297.html

Steve

[CatTomb]

Thanks Steve,

I talked to the guy. The bike had a full service, was parked and has sat for the last two years. Apparently it runs, but roughly...

Any ideas what it would cost to have the carbs cleaned and synced?

Any quick fixes I could try?

Any recommendations for mechanics in South Orange County, California

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

[Pat Conlon]

Send the carbs to RPM for disassembly and a ultrasound bath, then Randy will reassemble them, jet them to what you need and install a bitchen ss cap screw kit...
We have forum members here in SoCal that have a carb sync tool you can use, or will help you if you wish, to get the final piece of the puzzle sorted....it is very easy to sync. your carbs, you need to learn anyhow..

Don't let dirty carbs keep you from buying this bike...it is a issue easily overcome... Cheers Pat

Edit. Jeff I just saw the listing....it looks good to me. If the bike does not run, offer them less than the asking price...who knows? Second gear could be shot. If you can't ride it, you can't tell.

[FJmonkey]

Thanks Steve,

I talked to the guy. The bike had a full service, was parked and has sat for the last two years. Apparently it runs, but roughly...

Any ideas what it would cost to have the carbs cleaned and synced?

Any quick fixes I could try?

Any recommendations for mechanics in South Orange County, California

Thanks in advance,

Jeff

What about working on the carbs your self? I recently did my carbs and if you take your time, stay organized and get the carb fastener kit from Randy your carbs will be like new. Randy will rebuild carbs if you send them to him. Others have been very happy with his work. If your quick and need help to make the WCR I might even jump in and help you get on the road.

[CatTomb]

Wow! Thanks for the generous offers.


... talked to the owner... he's leaving town tomorrow till Thursday night. Looks like my Daughter can see/photograph/video the bike on Friday.

If the pics look good to me, I'll have her buy it and arrange to have it towed to a mechanic on Monday and clean/sync the carbs. (I'm hoping she knows someone with a trailer hitch and I can rent a flatbed trailer for the transport to mechanic.)

I'll fly down the following Friday to pick it up. I'll ride it while I visit friends and family and then weather permitting head up the 395 home this route:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?vps=10&ie=UTF8&hl=en&oe=UTF8&msa=0&msid=212999221496898916924.0004da64c7eceadb91c1c

I debating on whether or not to bring camping gear or just stay in cheap motels...

... the adventure begins

here are a couple of pics of my ride yesterday, 75 miles of double track and dirt roads from Sisters to Lake Billy Chinook and back. (highjacking my own thread...)

[CatTomb]

[Dads_FJ]

Looks like an awesome ride (and bike).  I'm not sure how to upload from flicker (I believe Monkey does), but in an attempt to share with the group I've copied to photobucket to post.



Wait, looks they are showing up in your thread after all - Maybe it's *me* with the problem!  Keep us posted with your adventure of the purchase.

[movenon]

Nice country over in bend !

Some advice. Be careful about hauling it over to a "repair shop". Ask a few more questions. Running rough, so ? How rough ? Will it idle? Will it run at 3 - 4000 RPM all day ? Motivate the owner to get up to transportable speed. I guess what I am saying is it might run rough but be OK for a run back home as is. I would send Randy at RPM  http://www.rpmracingca.com/contact.htm an e email or call, and IF you needed to get something done to it I would get it to him or someone he recommends.

If it runs "OK" you might consider touching bases with Randy on the way home and find out what he would charge to do a quick evaluation.  He knows FJ's inside and out. If the bike has been setting for 2 years I would also inquire about the tires if you are going to ride it home.

395 is a nice ride home but it is still early to camp unless you are tough...... Plus you got to drag all the gear. Motel would be cheaper I would think for a 2 day run home.

Now , repeat after me, "I am my own service department"    

George, and I am my own service department

[Arnie]

CatTomb,

Are you sure there's a TRUSTWORTHY mechanic near where the bike is?
My general opinion is that dealers mechanics are idiots. (not all of them, but.....)

Assuming whoever the bike is taken to does a good job cleaning, adjusting, and syncing the carbs, and that the bike is as claimed "right" otherwise, the route you're planning to ride back doesn't have a lot of support should you have difficulties.  It looks like it'll be a great ride, but what is your plan should you have any problems?

Then again, I pooh poohed Fintip's buy and ride home plan too.    He made it home OK.

Arnie

[CatTomb]

George, It sounds like he can get it to start but it won't rev/accelerate.

You might be right about the route Arnie. I could ride up the coast too. Lots more support but lots more people and cars.

I'm researching mechanics today, Yelp and personal recommendations from my daughters friends with bikes. I would definitely do the carbs myself if I was at home, could take my time and didn't have a time constraint to finish.

I will call RPM today and get his recommendations.

Thanks

[CatTomb]

I'd love to buy Chris' bike. Wow! what an amazing bike. (see http://www.fjowners.com/index.php?topic=8849.0 )

I talked to him, he was willing to work a little on the price. I could use my airline miles to fly back there, ride it to SoCal to visit my daughters and then ride it home to Central Oregon.

All in all about $2000 over the cost of the '87 in SoCal and about $2500 over my original budget 2500 miles of riding and an extra week without work.

I could start a kickstarter campaign of some kind to raise the cash.... sell my digital camera set-up...

Motorcycles are like Heroin with horsepower.

I've got Andy Griffith on one shoulder and Dennis Hopper on the other... 

[movenon]

George, It sounds like he can get it to start but it won't rev/accelerate.

You might be right about the route Arnie. I could ride up the coast too. Lots more support but lots more people and cars.

I'm researching mechanics today, Yelp and personal recommendations from my daughters friends with bikes. I would definitely do the carbs myself if I was at home, could take my time and didn't have a time constraint to finish.

I will call RPM today and get his recommendations.

Thanks

Call Randy for sure. At least lay some ground work.
I would deduct at least 300 bucks for the carb work (if you do the work yourself). At least that would take the sting out of it. How is the chain and sprockets ? There's another 150 - 200 for a chain sprockets around 75 bucks, ball park. It is always hard buying from out of the area. I would still try to motivate the seller to get it running at least well enough to get it home. Another option is drive down and rent a trailer to bring it home or buy a cheap motorcycle trailer in the Bend area, go down and get it then sell the trailer.
George

[CatTomb]

What is the consensus on this bike http://kansascity.craigslist.org/bar/3735824721.html

I offered him $2000, he said $3000 cash... Is there still the second gear issue on the 93's?

And if you all had the choice... this bike, the 87 listed above for $1800 or chris' farkled 84 for $3000?

Getting closer, thanks again for the input.     

Jeff

[movenon]

I know its low miles or so he claims, but it's half way across the U.S. and it has some problems. There are good FJ's closer that come up for sale at least that's what I think. Hang in there.
George