Ontario FJ Clinic...

[scouser]

This morning I was waiting for the Warden to get ready for shopping so I decided to take a quick look at the starter and give it a good clean out. (1986 1200)
If you decide to have a go yourself here is a little info. The book tells you to take off the tank and a lot of other stuff but this is a short cut.
I didn't take very long at all, about 1hr. start to finish.
•   Remove seat and side panels. You only need to remove the L.H. side but I took off both to allow a little more light come through.
•   Disconnect battery for safety.
•   Take the 3 bolts out of the clutch master cylinder, make note 1 bolt is a lot shorter than the other 2. Hang it to the frame with a tie wrap. (did this because the cable gets in the way)
•   Take out the 3 bolts on the alternator. Pull it off and hang it to the frame with a tie wrap.
•   Undo the wire to the starter.
•   Take out the 3 bolts that hold the starter in place. Then it is just a matter of wiggling it back and forth until it pops out.
•   Starter can now be taken apart (2 long Philips head screws) for cleaning and checking of brushes (brushes are only held in by a spring and wire connection) and then re-assemble.
Just make note, when pulling the end cap off the armature shaft (brush end) there are 2 small shims that may fall out. They sit on the shaft when being re-assembled. Opposite end is the gear end. The end cap has a needle bearing in it that you can grease up before re-assemble. I found a lot of carbon dust in mine from the brushes but they were still in good shape. Give everything a good cleaning.
You can now put everything back in reverse order just make note that when pushing in the starter you will have to mesh the gears together so DON'T force it. Just pull it back off turn the gear a little and push it back in. You may have to do this a few times until it slides in nicely.

Hope this helps.

Jim J
Scouser

[eeshed]

When I left the house on Saturday morning, heading to Erin, I had little idea what will the day be like, or what to expect. Looking at the hourly weather forecast it looked like I could doge the rain (showers) on the way up, and the same on the return. When I got to Judy's Restaurant I was already drenched to my socks.  My palms were black with the leather die, and I could feel the cold rain drops running down my neck, all the way down to my ...... well you get the picture.

It was early, though 4 FJ's were standing at the parking lot. I was not prepare to discover a bunch of dudes all wanting to speak FJ projects. Within a minute I felt welcomed to the group. I got to meet with John, and Jim, and Rich and Paul and Charlie, and many others that I forget their names.   Please, next time we meet, hold me accountable to remember all your names. You guys are amazing in many ways; some speaks with a funny accent (like myself ha ha), and others just been living life to the full extent. I thank you for the warm welcome.

Enough with the sentimental stuff; the FJ clinic, WOW!  The group broke into small groups, each with someone with a need for help, and others with the need to help. Some got their racks fixed; others been oil changed, for me, I got my wish come try. Charlie, who must be an angel (Charlie's Angel LOL), helped me to install a relay on my coils. With a patient of a saint he spliced, cramped, lined, plugged, taped, ... the works. Without Charlie's help I would certainly blow up my 30A fuse again!!! He did not take any shortcuts with respect to the wiring.  Thank you Charlie.

Beside Charlie, John and Jim - THANK YOU! for opening your home to a dozen wild beasts, and John, please thank your wife for taking on a gang like us. I hope we left no marks on the driveway. I got my shifter working again after some unexpected metal work performed by Jim.   Paul, thank you too, for taking the time  to calibrate the Synch machine, which was out of whack. I am sure John put some extra strong English beer  in the vacuum tubes instead of the blue liquid.

I would certainly enrol my son and few other friends with a weekend rides. How about we meet in Burlington in 3 weeks for a ride along the Niagara Lakes area? Any takers? I'd love to work out a route with anyone who knows the area.

For the next clinic, although my garage is a mess, and nothing close to what John has to offer, with respect to screws,   tools and advise, I would consider inviting you lot to Burlington and use my driveway and garage for the next clinic. I can provide one bike jack (not that fancy as Johns), sockets, synch pro, 27mm bolt for shock disassembly, 41mm seal driver, and some other domestic tools. Perhaps, you put a request for what work you wish to do, and I can ask from some of you to provide any missing tools and expertise for the job.

Now that my bike is riding again, I can enjoy the rest of the season riding. I want also to thank Randy, for putting up with multiple stupid questions and clammily guiding me by phone while I was panicking on my sock rebuild. The bike rides like a dream. It starts cold instantly,  the front is sweet and tracking the road like there is no tomorrow, the rear is like an angel on the highway and the devil on the curves, and the breaks are just sweet. Nevertheless, I am not finished with my FJ project. On a short ride today the bike showed gas starvation at low RPM and about 2/3 gas tank full. There are plastics to clean and fix, pre-laod adjustments to do, synch the carbs (to reduce vibrations), change the battery, find a wind-shield, etc etc etc.

This is a great place to be. So, good night for now (secretly, we are all addicted to this forum), and more write-ups will follow with more updates.   

Eyal

[fj johnnie]

 Well everyone, I have decided to host a ride in the Niagara region. The ride will take place on Saturday Sept 21. We will leave from my home at 1 pm. Anyone who would like to come early to do some bike maintenance is welcome . Not before 10 o'clock!!. My garage is large enough to hold 20 or more bikes so the more the merrier. I do have a lift as well as many tools, compressor etc. It worked so well with everyone helping each other that we will try to fix what we can. The main focus will be a nice ride around the Niagara area. The ride will consist of only my favorite twisty roads and nothing else. If you wish to come send me a message and I will send you my address.
There is a thing in the town next to me, approx. 3 miles away called BIKETOBERFEST on the same day so if anyone is interested in seeing some chrome etc, bands, food and a Harley draw. The area will be crawling with unmuffled  V-twins of various origins. They do have a sort of carnival, beer tent with loud music. I have never been to this event, nor will I so the loud music I can verify as I can hear it at my home. The rest is what others have told me. I am sure they have a website, it is for Biketoberfest in Fenwick Ont. Primarily it is a fundraiser for the Lions Club.

[paulfj03]

A ride in the viagra region! Where everyone rides with a smile? Sounds like a lot of fun!
We are from the 'nee' region so it might be a bit of culture shock for us. The 21st.
Perfect. My weekends are filing up this fall, but we will be there. We are
looking forward to it.

...Getting the fj and the xj ready!


(Looking forward to many more rides and fj clinics in the future ..
.... Ie: Eyal's in burlington.  )

[Sabre093]

Count me in

[eeshed]

I will join. My son and friend may join as well.
Eyal

[ANVIL99]

sounds great count me in john..

[scouser]

Well everyone, I have decided to host a ride in the Niagara region. The ride will take place on Saturday Sept 21. We will leave from my home at 1 pm. Anyone who would like to come early to do some bike maintenance is welcome . Not before 10 o'clock!!. My garage is large enough to hold 20 or more bikes so the more the merrier. I do have a lift as well as many tools, compressor etc. It worked so well with everyone helping each other that we will try to fix what we can. The main focus will be a nice ride around the Niagara area. The ride will consist of only my favorite twisty roads and nothing else. If you wish to come send me a message and I will send you my address.
There is a thing in the town next to me, approx. 3 miles away called BIKETOBERFEST on the same day so if anyone is interested in seeing some chrome etc, bands, food and a Harley draw. The area will be crawling with unmuffled  V-twins of various origins. They do have a sort of carnival, beer tent with loud music. I have never been to this event, nor will I so the loud music I can verify as I can hear it at my home. The rest is what others have told me. I am sure they have a website, it is for Biketoberfest in Fenwick Ont. Primarily it is a fundraiser for the Lions Club.

I might be around this weekend for this one as well. If so I can be there for 10am to help anyone with any repairs they may need. I guess all the Red and White ones will have to park on the side in order to make room in the shop and on the lift for the Blue, Silver and Black ones.

[eeshed]

Good morning,
Last night I went to start the bike, and I got no starter cranking. We modified the electrical with a relay feed to the coil. It looks like a connection somewhere fails and I don't know where to start looking.

Symptoms:
- switch is on, bike in neutral, engine kill switch in Run, starter press: lights are dimmed, oil indicator goes on, and the new coil  relay goes  clicking intermittent. The starter does not crank.
- keep holding the starter, the coil relay goes on off rapidly
- the starter cranks for a brief minute and stops.

Could I get some help with tracing the issue? I want to increase the reliability of the bike, and not to be concerned that it would stop. Besides, I want to ride, and had enough mods. Lol.
Thanks, Eyal

[FJmonkey]

Was your starter working properly after adding the relay? Or is this the first attempt to start after adding the relay?

[Dan Filetti]

Could this be a weak battery.  If you had not just done the relay I would just assume it was a nearly dead battery, based on the symptoms you describe.  It's worth a load test.

Dan

[eeshed]

1) The relay and starter were working on Saturday when we did the relay change. The bike would crank and start. By Saturday afternoon I noticed symptoms of fuel starvation, small cut offs, at low RPM. Although the tank was about 3/4 full I though it would be related to the fuel problems. I did put a new petcock and removed a fuel filer to route the lines like recommended. Now thinking about it, the cut-offs may be electrical.

2) Battery is brand new, fully charged. I suspected the new battery, so, I replaced back to the old battery also charged.

Eyal

[scouser]

1) The relay and starter were working on Saturday when we did the relay change. The bike would crank and start. By Saturday afternoon I noticed symptoms of fuel starvation, small cut offs, at low RPM. Although the tank was about 3/4 full I though it would be related to the fuel problems. I did put a new petcock and removed a fuel filer to route the lines like recommended. Now thinking about it, the cut-offs may be electrical.

2) Battery is brand new, fully charged. I suspected the new battery, so, I replaced back to the old battery also charged.

Eyal

It could be the starter itself and it's just a coincidence that the relay was changed and you are thinking that is the issue.
The battery (new one) could be bad. If you put back in the old one, the old one was replaced because it was bad anyway.
Even though it registered it was fully charged on the Charger Indicator doesn't always mean it has the cranking amps to turn over the bike. I have had batteries in the past that indicate a full charge but don't have the cranking capacity. Do you have a charger that has a feature/switch for starting. If so hook it up to the battery, switch it to that selection and try it again or if you have access to a load charger you can test the battery.
You can also take both batteries into Canadian Tire and they will do a load test for free on both batteries for you and give you the results.

[eeshed]

What may cause to lose the voltage at the red /white wire that comes from the harness? It looks like I get no trigger voltage to the relay. Eyal

[finallygotone]

Hey all..... I think I would love to join the Southern Ont. FJ group....lol
I picked mine up about a month ago and would have LOVED the opportunity to get to know my bike better... espec. since im heading on a trip to Colorado on SUNDAY with some guys from work. Im rolling the dice and hoping all will be good! If its not, ill be posting questions on here.... so be prepared..lol
There are a few things I think Id love to do to mine ... but for now... the basic introduction will work. My bad for not joining the group earlier...aka.. right away!
I live in Dundas and would love a ride sometime ...
thanks....
mark