Ok what the hay ..will not start

[chiz]

OK
Today today I got a brass "T" which is much more open internally than the plastic one that was there I installed it and put my lawnmower tank taped to where the left mirror is ...much higher than stock tank..WILL NOT START.
   Decided to remove AIR BOX got this done remember bike is new to me 84 FJ... Hit Button SAME decided to lift up a couple of slides with my fingers WANTING TO START put palm of hand blocking off a couple of carbs BOOOM IT STARTS....
      O BLEEPING K what gives,  is stupid me supposed to be using full choke to start this beast or is blocking carbs off with hand not the same as using the manual choke. I'm warning everyone that I'm going to rip these carbs off if no one comes up with an explanation of this. What is the starting procedure for this machine??? My Honda ST1100 when left a long time needs a lot of choke,, when cold it will start but needs choke.
Lez   

[FJ111200]

Yes, use the choke to start. 
I read in one of your other posts that you weren't using choke but assumed you would get the hang of it.
When i had my 1100 i ran the fuel pipe in as most direct line to the carbs as i could, not following that diagram on the airbox, and never had a problem with fuel delivery. I even ran it with the 1100 tank set up when i started using a 1200 motor in the frame, never used a fuel pump also.

[mr blackstock]

G'day,

I had similar problems with my FJ1100 '84.  Check the choke linkage on the carb bodies, your model should have the handlebar mounted choke "ring"  This over time can become almost impossible to actuate the choke plungers on the carbies.  Check the choke plungers, if they are hard to pull out when you pull the choke on or stick out when you push the choke off, this will be a big issue.  Fuel delivery from the tank to carbs on mine was o.k, but I used a different routing method, pics below.  It just made getting the tank off and on easier.






Check the carb no.2 rubber inlet between the carb and the head.  A pipe should attach here and connect to the tank petcock, best way to test if the vacuum from the engine is enough to release fuel from the tank is to place the petrol tank on a bench, attach a pipe to the petcock's vacuum and gently suck, if petrol comes out it works, if not either petcock diaphragm has a hole in it, or the gas cap vent is not working.

From what I learnt from my FJ when I first got her, is that accurate fueling via the carbs is the difference between a sweet running bike and an absolute dog that will not run!  The FJ seems very sensitive to tiny blockages.

Whatever you do, take the carbs apart, read the carbs file in the files section, when you think they are clean, start again.  Before you put the carbs back on the bike, clean them again.

Good luck, keep faith, for God's sake "clean the carbs"

cheers, Gareth

[chiz]

Thanks G  Lots of good information here probably will have to brake down and haul off the carbs no happy happy happy here. This hard start reminds me of when I decided it would be a good idea to lower my float height on my Can-Am instant hard start.Anyway I will keep everyone posted as to the final outcome.
  Chiz

[chiz]

YUP
  This bike ain't starting choke or no choke without putting hand blocking a couple of carbs .... off with carbs I guess.
Lez

[Pat Conlon]

Yep, check the choke linkage for proper actuation...full range of motion...then clean your carbs....esp. the choke circuit. See the Carb Files for how to do it..
After you get it to start, warm it up, set your idle to 1200 rpm, then balance your carbs, then re-adjust your idle to 1000 rpm.

You still need to figure out your fuel delivery issues....