first ride ever on FJ first impressions

[chiz]

Hey all
I finally got my 94 buttoned up after a month of fiddling to make it run carbs mainly fuel hose routing and gastank sealing. I am now drinking again after removing and replacing air box.
My first lasting impression here in the back roads of wine country on the Niagara peninsula is WHERE IS THE NEXT GEAR? at 30 to 45 MPH with not much road and wind noise it sounded and felt like it needed at least another speed I actually got of and had a look at the gear selector number near the gear shift ant then counted the up-shifts, yup 5 speed. At 55 or 110 to 120 KPH with the hi way noise it was not as bad.
  There is a lot rough gnashing and roughness in the chain I thought it might be improper carb adjustment but in neutral an coasting along the chain noise was still there perhaps it is not running true? there is a nasty tight spot in it but the rear sprocket looks good...
Any thoughts tips comments or recommendations welcome.
Lez 

[chiz]

Dammit should read 84

[FJ_Hooligan]

My first lasting impression here in the back roads of wine country on the Niagara peninsula is WHERE IS THE NEXT GEAR? at 30 to 45 MPH with not much road and wind noise it sounded and felt like it needed at least another speed ...

Unless you've got a 75 tooth rear sprocket or massive clutch slippage, I have no idea what you're talking about.  You think you need another gear past 40 mph?  That's barely stressing first gear.

[aviationfred]

Appears that you need a new chain at least. Really not much info to go on. What is the RPM reading in 5th gear?

In 5th gear, roll the throttle to wide open, acceleration and increase in RPM=good. No acceleration and increase in RPM=slipping clutch.

Fred

[andyb]

Your chain is dead.  Throw it away.  Tight spots are the warning that you're about to break a chain and throw it through your crankcases, destroying the engine pretty comprehensively.

While you're there, check the number of teeth on the sprockets.  You probably want to go to 18/38, which is about as long as is available.  Buy steel sprockets for both ends, and wrap a EK ZZZ chain around them.

If you cheap out and think you can get by with a "good enough" chain because it's a good deal, you'll be having the same problem within a few months at best.  On the plus side, replacing these parts will absolutely transform how the bike feels.

[chiz]

Thanks for the scolding Holigan ahh forums, Thanks Andyb for the kind usefull information.
Lez

[The General]

Yeah I`ve never found anyone that didn`t think the same on their FJ first Impresssion, esp around 45mph.
Tha good news is there`s an automatic overdrive just as ya hit 5000rpm.
I`ve had comments from following FJ riders about a particular stock FJ having unbelievable power and handling, esp coming out of tight corners, - but actually if they select a gear that never let`s her get below 5500 rpm they could overtake this old pensioner easily. - you do get use to the sound and in fact it becomes addictive, esp if Carb tuning and throttle feel is also on song. (imho)

[fuel80guy]

Perhaps next year I will join you on my 85 for a ride through the Niagara peninsula.