DutchFJ1200

My guy already agreed to take the bike in and swap tyres, that I bought and are in his tyre rack, and then do a pressure test. Then I'm sure I can talk him into valve clearances if that needs doing. I just have to be patient. Weather was lovely last few days. Drove it to work, morning is fine, afternoon filtering through traffic on the way back and timing the traffic lights, so I can keep going, things are not too bad. Never knew there was a thing like traffic light idling anxiety 😉

F*ck no, it gets worse. So my one-man-band guy in his garage is pretty swamped at the moment so he said try this other shop, a bit further away, and tell them I sent you. They have a bigger shop, more staff, and they are pretty good. Soooooo, I contact them, told them the bike's life story up until now and what we replaced and tried to achieve. Guy says ..... I'm not going to fix someone else's problems only for you not to return ...... so you can F8ck off. (not in those same words but you get the gist 😱) I am seldom lost for words but .......... back to my guy I guess but it won't be quick.

Right then, I now know why a bike shop doesn't want to put a 4-barra carb back on a bike. I literally had to stop a few times and walk away to prevent things flying through the garage or breaking something on the carb or bike. I wish I could light a fag or something but gave that up 5 years ago. Enough frustration to start again tho. Putting the throttle cables back on for a start, keeping various vacuum hoses connected and where they are supposed to go, and then the 'piece de resistence' lifting the rear subframe back in place while trying to fit the air box boots on the back of the carbs. My paws are way to big to fit in all those nooks and crannies to make everything go back to where it is supposed to be. BUT, I got there in the end, didn't break anything and haven't got any bolts or nuts left. BUT you wanna know the punch line from this saga ........ took it for a test drive. I does run like a sewing machine and smoother than it did before ...... came back and parked it in the garage and left It running on idle ....... SPLUTTER, PFFFT, SPLUTTER PPPPPFT, SPLUTTER, BANG, PFFFT ... 🤮 Still got the bloody missfire on 2 Valve clearances next I guess. 😪

First bike .............. tsk, tsk, tsk 🤣 you were still in diapers when I ....... nevermind. 😂

update Dr. carburetor said it needed diaphragms, float valves, gaskets, miscellaneous parts & labour. Sooooo it's safe to assume they were pretty fucked. Now all done and ready to collect £270 quid.😱 This is becoming an expensive hobby.

Hmmm, with the bike's subframe now disconnected its easy to put the carbs and the box back in. Would need a few new inlet boots though. F*ck these things are expensive https://www.cmsnl.com/products/jointair-cleaner-2_36y1446300/ Anyhoo, lets get the carbs to the doctor first and see what he says. Oh the joys of owning a 32 y/o machine.🙄

Snakey, Please explain 'oil' air filters. I can do a bit of spannering but I'm not a mechanic. afaik air filters only keep dust out of the carbs no?

Other question : I have now experienced that the carb/airbox setup is a bit pants on the FJ1200 and many people across many forums think the same. Many have ditched the airbox in favour of K&N style separate cones as air intakes. This any good : https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/350629336722?fits=UKM_Make%3AYamaha&_skw=yamaha+fj1200+air+filter&epid=8007973252&itmmeta=01JKJYEDJ288QVKKZA45PZ7R1W&hash=item51a3231692:g:RfcAAOSwrXhfv4Ys&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlk%2FoqzRo2TwJN9piCP1lzFwm3QeuY81LCW0XrLai%2F4dXyeJ3RjtPcVyIvL3XHu7%2FlrMTAcZxZhwmpi8b22%2FGzQwIEaM9dgA2jWq%2F6TJPdhFiJij%2BXI7%2FZUjFu5lfKKzePw4WogcEsGmiOUdvCfnEmeJkFYYfGmzXTXkiN9WK3PUfPEDUJ1MfCkyODuJs5L1FbxVoGJ6jEcCORlMewWKpPEa5Ja6QrHJUyF3Bb3eejHkFSn4uYWG37aFsXPiEOD8VaehIreiN%2FhyDQwC4ArRQzjU9bE3dQ%2F7%2BJydcgNfkBgyA%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMmNm53pxl or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/116435735953?fits=UKM_Make%3AYamaha&_skw=yamaha+fj1200+air+filter&itmmeta=01JKJYEDJ2D85VV5AT7G93Z2MD&hash=item1b1c1c5591:g:xeMAAOSwRb9nd5D3&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKlsJbyw8rHXQb4tsX2RTIJf%2BdFdi6yupUfsM2DpN2JgxuWGHbPigk2QM5hfoqtLSYPMAkxmiUoFI5O5nKRQdh8zehuzcrFkcKhpMJj02C9GXx%2FhlhzyV5tQI1AfC%2Bmf0Z7XgYNFnixGSMZDHKgnLr%2FjDSF%2FLKdM2H9ajyUa6OsXYFn2sSHYAD%2BNmkim3rAlHNMvGhoVAVdGr%2FU6D1k3cW1hRw0iad%2FuvwHVi3pXuiNz78wTdRCEkrlMnnRzT%2FKEI99Lbgo1cX%2FZP3Qp9Zc5jmsKMYaxxNdKByhAqFORcLxQ4A%3D%3D|tkp%3ABFBMmtm53pxl Any views on that?

Thanks for the pointers chaps. First port of call now is carburetor. Bike shop chappie pointed me to https://www.bentleymotorcycles.com/contact Martin only does carbs and don't spanner on bikes so its carbs out. I now also know why bike shop chappie does not want to take the carb out .... lol. its not rocket science by you nearly have to take half the bike apart, i.e split the rear frame to create enough room between the airbox and the carbs & rubber boots. Then he has a bike in bits clogging up his small shop. I'm not giving up on this thing yet..... what else am I going to do with it.😐 Snakey, yep valve clearances is next and if that don't work, Neo .... FJclub after that.

I don't think they had invented codes yet in 1992 😅

Merry Xmas all, Sorry for the late update. I was locked out of my account and getting back in is like trying to get into Fort Knox. The saga continues. Anyhoo, the el cheapo coils did not fit my bike so fortunately I could send those back. Enter 2 OEM coils @ 150 quid a pop + installation. Did it change anything ? ..... Nope. Commuting home and sitting in traffic, filtering at slow speed and stopping for a red light from time to time and after a while it starts hunting, then spluttering so I have to keep the revs up so it doesn't die. What I did discover with an infra red thermometer is that - if cylinders are numbered from left to right - when it was running but misfiring : 1 was at 220 degrees, 2 was at 150 degrees, 3&4 were at 290/300 at idle. So cylinder 2 is not behaving. WHY ?? Next move was to put new plugs in 1 & 2 because they might have been affected by the old misfiring/overheating coils. The coils fire 1 & 3 and 2 & 4 so I have been told. The coils can be ruled out because number 4 is okay so the thinking is mechanical. Valve clearances, carburation or whatever else can go on down there. I did tell the mechanic chappy that experimenting at my expense is no longer an option, but he agreed that if he could have to bike for a bit he would try to get to the bottom of this issue foc. He is baffled by the whole thing as well. I'm still riding the bike to work but I now have misfiring anxiety on the way home lol 😅 If the traffic lights align and traffic is light and I can make it home in one hit without stopping I'm fine. **if we get to the bottom of this it may not have been my coils at all ....... now that will be an interesting conversation with the guy**

You Sir get the Platinum medal today 🙂 lol Shoot.... thanks for the link. I normally get my gear from Wemoto ...... they are double that price https://www.wemoto.com/bike/yamaha/fj/1200/1992/28776/ignition-coil

Hehehe, yeah I know about the one hit wonders. I can assure you I'm not but so far I've done 17K problem free miles on this tank with nothing to report. Thanks anyway

Morning chaps, Been happening for a while now but more so when it gets hotter outside. Starts good when cold, drives and pulls like a train. My drive home takes 30 mins through some heavy traffic and filtering. When stopped at a traffic light or when I get home to open the gate the bike starts spluttering, misfiring and dies. At a a traffic light I have to keep the revs at or above 2000 rpm. Have looked at various forums but nothing conclusive ranging from carb settings, vacuum leaks etc. My bike shop guy has turned up the idle a bit and he thinks it may be the coils getting hot after a bit and might need to be replaced. Any ideas ?

Morning, thanks for your replies Happy to report that shortly after I flagged this up the bike magically 'healed' itself. One morning went out to start and it sounded and felt like the starter was missing a cog with a loud 'clack'!!! After that it was gone. As it turns out I was most probably the self tensioner of the starter chain being stuck in between two settings creating some looseness there for a bit.

Evening Chaps, Sorry I haven't been on the forum much. Still happily commuting on the 93 FJ-1200. Only used the car 4 times all winter. It has been a bit soggy at times and nippy but the heated grips are wonderful. Last few weeks I get a grinding sensation through my foot pegs only on the overrun and slow filtering through traffic. When I pull the clutch in it goes. The bike accelerates good, pulls like a train and goes through the gears well. It feels like a few cogs or chain do not quite agree with each other on the left hand side in the gear box. I changed lube oil last weekend and checked old oil but no bits (which is a bit of a relief) Any Ideas ?

Evening Gents, Likewise back on the site after some time away. So many things to do, so little time. HNY. The plague is still raging so nothing new there. Hope you all keeping well. Still commuting on the magnificent 3XW, weather has been very mild up till X-mas so got a lot or riding days in. I've only got 23K on the clock now so alls good. Had some shit weather last 2 weeks but tomorrow looks good so look forward to jumping on the bike again. OldFJ your 3CV looks very good and nice pics 👍 (the 3CV in the same colour was my first FJ Loved that bike) Stay safe.

For the last 2 or 3 months have been commuting the 28 miles to work and back on the FJ here in Kernow. Mornings are not too bad but late afternoon rush hour between Falmouth & Truro and through Truro is a killer. Cagers all over the place and Truro is at a standstill on double lanes. High beam and blinkers on and gently force your way through the middle. Generally people are alert, helpful and make space. Some however should be shot on sight. 🤬

Merry Crimbo - Have a good one lads & girls. Let's hope we can knock this shit on the head in 2021. Cheers!!

I had one for best part of 30 years. Throw up some pics and we'll go from there.

Mid eighties when I was about to shell out for my then new XJ-650 my neighbour had one, all singing, all dancing with the high viz orange Marlboro branded fairing. It was looking the muts' dangelies and I was infatuated with the thing. Fortunately common sense prevailed and probably the reason I'm still alive today 😏 Well done!

Working from home so that keeps me plenty busy. I am operations/procurement superintendent for a marine towage & salvage company. Since shipping is classed as an essential industry I can have some movement to tend to our boats and I have to be in the office once a week to sort through courier deliveries in and send them on their way to where the boats are or will be. So once a week I can at least look forward to a trip to Brixham and back same day, 165 mile round trip. So I look at the forecast and pick the best day for on the bike. The situation is pretty weird to say the least and I'm afraid it will only get worse before it gets better. Stay safe & healthy peeps.

Hehe, first 85 mile commute of the year this morning. A tad chilly but good to be out on 2 wheels .... going like the clappers 🤘

Wanted to drive the bike into work last week. Turned over for 5 secs but didn't want to start first go (its been 3 weeks or so since last start). Then all power went. I have had batteries start to struggle a bit to give you a bit of notice but not this one. The 5 secs cranking just completely killed it off. It is completely dead and the charger doesn't even register ....... "it is an ex-battery" 🙃 New one one the way now but was pretty miffed I missed my ride.