Greetings All.... New Owner Of An '89 Needs Advice.

[Tiger]

We should take poll, to see how many of us had to rebuild our slave cylinders this spring? 

Hi and welcome ...

Yep, like many others, I did mine this off season. Its a quick 'fix' and the rebuild kits are not expensive.

John.

[Thmsdoyle]

I rebuilt mine two weeks ago. Cylinder bore ia worn so I'll replace on the next go round.

[Dan Filetti]

I located the information on RPM & attempted to contact them today. Unfortunately they were either closed, or too busy to answer the phone.

Randy @ RPM just head knee surgery and is a bit incapacitated.  He may not be as responsive as normal.  Send them a note, or send Randy a PM.  They/ he will get back to you I have no doubt.

Dan

[Dan Filetti]

I rebuilt the hydraulic cylinder on my Kubota tractor today -does that count? 



Dan

[fj11.5]

Maybe it was yamaha design Dan 

[racerrad8]

I located the information on RPM & attempted to contact them today. Unfortunately they were either closed, or too busy to answer the phone.

~JM~

JM,

As already mentioned by Dan, I had knee surgery last Monday: Bump in the road...

I am on doctor ordered bed rest for a couple of weeks. I am sorry I was not at the shop to answer your call to address your question/concerns. I am available via email; randy@rpmracingca.com or PM from the website here.

My website, www.RPMracingCa.com is open 24/7/365 and if you can click on the item it is in stock and will be ship to you. My two sons are going to the shop every evening every night after the day jobs and packaging orders which my wife drops off the next morning at the shipper(s).

Please let me know what I can do for you via this topic, PM or email.

Randy - RPM
randy@rpmracingca.com

[fintip]

Has anyone on this forum ever considered replacing the slave cylinder with a transplant from another bike? Is it a slave cylinder design problem, or is the problem elsewhere in the system?

I have a leaking slave, and was planning on rebuilding and flushing and converting to DOT5, but having to rebuild again in 3 years? That doesn't sound right... I'm just as curious as the PO about finding a permanent solution.

Evidently it's not just a 20-year problem, either, since many (most? half?) of us buy our bikes without a chin fairing...

[markmartin]

, but having to rebuild again in 3 years?

I mentioned changing the seals on the piston while I had the slave off to change the front sprocket--It had been serviced 3 years before, and when it had failed on me before, while it didn't leave me totally stranded, it did frigg up my day.  

It wasn't leaking this time.  I guess I didn't make that clear in my post.   I just decided to change the seals while I was there.  The fluid looked like weak coffee and there was a bit of gunk in- and build up on - the slave cylinder.  

$15.  I look at it as  minor maintenance .  I don't know much about DOT 5.  Maybe using DOT 5 would prevent this?  

[rktmanfj]

IMO, the FJ slave is just a crappily designed part in an area that takes a lot of abuse with heat, dirt and water exposure.  Having owned an FJ for a long time, it seems to need attention at least every other year.

I put a Galfer line and DOT5 on year before last hoping it might extend time between rebuilds, but it's failed again already.  It was an old one that I had laying around, so it maybe at the end of its life anyway.  But, there's no more paint missing because of it... 

[ribbert]

Has anyone on this forum ever considered replacing the slave cylinder with a transplant from another bike? Is it a slave cylinder design problem, or is the problem elsewhere in the system?

I have a leaking slave, and was planning on rebuilding and flushing and converting to DOT5, but having to rebuild again in 3 years? That doesn't sound right... I'm just as curious as the PO about finding a permanent solution.

Evidently it's not just a 20-year problem, either, since many (most? half?) of us buy our bikes without a chin fairing...

Unlike disc brake calipers where the seals don't slide in the cylinder and the pistons barely move, clutch slaves slide in and out and are used much more than brakes.
The FJ slave is not lined and therefore prone to wear.

The clutch also seems more prone to contamination than the brakes and this adds corrosion to the wear and the thinned out fluid more likely to leak. Dot 5 would most likely prevent this part.

Given the consequences of a leak onto the fairing and reliability, I would consider as a rule of thumb, one rebuild then throw it over you shoulder the next time and replace it. They are not expensive and it is probably a once every 100,000km replacement.

There are many variable of course, seasonal use, storage, riding style and so on.

Noel

[ribbert]

Has anyone on this forum ever considered replacing the slave cylinder with a transplant from another bike? Is it a slave cylinder design problem, or is the problem elsewhere in the system?

I have a leaking slave, and was planning on rebuilding and flushing and converting to DOT5, but having to rebuild again in 3 years? That doesn't sound right... I'm just as curious as the PO about finding a permanent solution.

Evidently it's not just a 20-year problem, either, since many (most? half?) of us buy our bikes without a chin fairing...

Unlike disc brake calipers where the seals don't slide in the cylinder and the pistons barely move, clutch slaves slide in and out and are used much more than brakes.
The FJ slave is not lined and therefore prone to wear.

The clutch also seems more prone to contamination than the brakes and this adds corrosion to the wear and the thinned out fluid more likely to leak. Dot 5 would most likely prevent this part.

Given the consequences of a leak onto the fairing and reliability, I would consider as a rule of thumb, one rebuild then throw it over you shoulder the next time and replace it. They are not expensive and it is probably a once every 100,000km replacement.

There are many variable of course, seasonal use, storage, riding style and so on.

Noel

Ignore the reference to Dot 5 fluid above, it's wrong.

Noel

[~JM~]

I located the information on RPM & attempted to contact them today. Unfortunately they were either closed, or too busy to answer the phone.

~JM~

JM,

As already mentioned by Dan, I had knee surgery last Monday: Bump in the road...

I am on doctor ordered bed rest for a couple of weeks. I am sorry I was not at the shop to answer your call to address your question/concerns. I am available via email; randy@rpmracingca.com or PM from the website here.

My website, www.RPMracingCa.com is open 24/7/365 and if you can click on the item it is in stock and will be ship to you. My two sons are going to the shop every evening every night after the day jobs and packaging orders which my wife drops off the next morning at the shipper(s).

Please let me know what I can do for you via this topic, PM or email.

Randy - RPM
randy@rpmracingca.com

Sorry to hear about the bum knee. I tore the ACL in my left knee several years ago & had that repaired. I can feel your pain.  I'm just wanting to talk to someone who knows what all I need to do on this very new to me bike is all.

I will place an order online.

Thank you & I hope you feel better soon. Enjoy those morphine/vicodin dreams.
~JM~

[~JM~]

Well... I ordered a new slave cylinder unit: http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Clutch%3Aslavecyl&cat=26
A rebuild kit: http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Clutch%3AS%2FK
And one of these mini bleeders: http://rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=Tools%3A8mmMiniBleeder&cat=39

I also ordered one of those Galfer braided SS clutch lines that was listed on eBay. I plan to replace the line & install the new slave, then rebuild the old slave as a spare. I think I have everything here. If I'm forgetting something, please let me know.

What is the best fluid to use for the hydraulic clutch?

Is there an after-market performance exhaust system available for the '89 FJ? If so, does anyone have any information about it?

Thank you
~JM~

[Dan Filetti]

I plan to replace the line & install the new slave, then rebuild the old slave as a spare.
~JM~

Belt AND suspenders, I like that...

Dan

[aviationfred]

Is there an after-market performance exhaust system available for the '89 FJ? If so, does anyone have any information about it?

Thank you
~JM~

RPM has an exhaust system that is in the works. From what I have seen it may be available next month.

There are some NOS Vance & Hines systems on eBay for 86'/87's, They will work. You would have to fab a small bracket for the muffler attachment.

If money is no issue, you can get a complete Akropovic exhaust from eBay Germany for about $1500.00. (I understand the RPM exhaust is very similar to this, the exhaust, not the price.)

Fred