FJ fork oil change trick
Tim Keller
while trying to compress the fork springs?
Well, the FJ happens to have a screwdriver slot
for damping/preload adjustment. If you use a big slotted
screwdriver you can push down and turn and get it going
*really* easily.
I was cussing and throwing tools around, getting
blisters on my thumb from trying to hold down the cap
and turn at the same time. So I decided to adjust the
preload to its min. setting. I grab the screwdriver, push
down and turn just like the manual says, and all of a
suddent the cap starts threading in (slaps forehead!).
This has saved me a *lot* of grief and frustration.
TJK
Benjamin Justin Cain
: Ever had a hell of a time getting those damn caps screwed in
: while trying to compress the fork springs?
[snip]
I haven't been in there yet, but I will be soon. Thanks for the timely
tip!
--
Ben
1992 FJ1200 "The Bushwacker" DoD # 1/137
Andy the Pugh
>
>Tim Keller (kel...@homer.ifa.hawaii.edu) wrote:
>: Ever had a hell of a time getting those damn caps screwed in
>: while trying to compress the fork springs?
>
But, if you are screwing the tops in with a ratchet handle, the job is trivial anyway.
It is possible the reason you could not get the fork top in was that you had failed
to align the damper adjusting rod with its hole in the damper rod valve, twisting the
slotted head would help in this respect.
>
>I haven't been in there yet, but I will be soon. Thanks for the timely
>tip!
I suspect that the '12 aint got such a device.
Charles M. Robinson
>Also, why did Yamaha elect to drop the brake-linked damping on the FJ's
>front suspenders? The `92 doesn't have them, but I've seen several more
>long-in-the-tooth examples with. I feel as though I've been gyped out
>of a neat toy....
What I've read generally in various publications was that that type of
device "never worked very well" - but it may just be that they were trying
to keep costs from being too astronomical. Anyone have one of the older
'J's with that feature - how's it work?
+-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
| Charles Robinson Mpls, Minnesota | "You can't have everything... |
| email: charles....@medtronic.com | where would you put it?" |
+-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------+
Carl Chang
>
>What I've read generally in various publications was that that type of
>device "never worked very well" - but it may just be that they were trying
>to keep costs from being too astronomical. Anyone have one of the older
>'J's with that feature - how's it work?
Yeah, I have an 85, FJ-1100, and those things "seem" to work. I guess I've
never ridden an FJ without them, so I can't tell you for sure. But, what
I do notice is if you squeeze the front brake, and you rock the forks up
and down from a standing position, they are way stiffer than if you just
bounce them up and down without squeezing.
I've tweaked the H-L adjustment around on them and find I like them somewhere
on the high side. I was told once by an FJ guru to turn them all the way
up.
In short, I think they help diving at red lights which is important on such
a heavy bike.
Carl Chang
I saw a picture of the first Katana (1980?) and it had something that looked
like these - the two cylinders tied to the brakes, did they have it too?
Benjamin Justin Cain
: Yeah, I have an 85, FJ-1100, and those things "seem" to work. I guess I've
: never ridden an FJ without them, so I can't tell you for sure. But, what
: I do notice is if you squeeze the front brake, and you rock the forks up
: and down from a standing position, they are way stiffer than if you just
: bounce them up and down without squeezing.
Sounds like they're doing their job... Have you ever ridden one without
this particular feature? I'd like to hear a comparison of sporting manners
between the with/without brake-linked front end.
Also, what kind of replacement springs can you all recommend for the FJ?
Even on full hard, the stockers are too soft when the pace picks up. Does
Progressive make a good replacement? Comments?
--
Sensory Overload
: : I wrote...
: Andy the Pugh (A.C....@shef.ac.uk) wrote:
:
: : But, if you are screwing the tops in with a ratchet handle, the job is trivial anyway.
: : It is possible the reason you could not get the fork top in was that you had failed
: : to align the damper adjusting rod with its hole in the damper rod valve, twisting the
: : slotted head would help in this respect.
:
: : >
: : >I haven't been in there yet, but I will be soon. Thanks for the timely
: : >tip!
:
: : I suspect that the '12 aint got such a device.
:
: I thought we were talking about the preload adjusters at the top of the
: fork tubes. Is this not the case?
:
: Also, why did Yamaha elect to drop the brake-linked damping on the FJ's
: front suspenders? The `92 doesn't have them, but I've seen several more
: long-in-the-tooth examples with. I feel as though I've been gyped out
: of a neat toy....
You mean antidive? Nobody uses them any more....teh exact reason, I
don't konw, but perhaps it's because if your bike had it and you
nailed the brakes--stiffening up the damping drastically--and you hit
a couple of ripples in teh tarmac the bike would react a tad harshly?
__
__/0 \_
Sensory Overload \____ \
b4...@qcvaxa.acc.qc.edu / \
Newy Ork City __ //\ \
__/o \-//--\ \_/
'86 GSX-R7/11 \____ ___ \ |
|| \ |\ |
Adny Oowdwrad Acolyte #1 || || ||
""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""
John Greer
4" spacer which is discarded. The old FJ springs are now used to weight
down my sons hockey net(the best use for them):-))
--
John Gr...@mindlink.bc.can
85-FJ 1100
DoD #0260 A.I.M. #001078530
Jason Greer DoD #0260.5 74 Z50A
John Greer
Overload) writes:
>
> Msg-ID: <3o47q3$u...@news.cuny.edu>
> References: <3o31l0$l...@news.tamu.edu>
> Posted: 2 May 1995 03:09:55 GMT
>
> Org. : Adny Oowdwrad Acolytes
I think the reason that it was taken off was because IT DIDN'T WORK WORTH
SHIT!!!
John Greer
(Charles M. Robinson) writes:
>
> Msg-ID: <3o5cq3$d...@gazette.medtronic.COM>
> References: <3o31l0$l...@news.tamu.edu>
> Posted: 2 May 1995 13:41:22 GMT
>
> Org. : Medtronic, Inc.
> >front suspenders? The `92 doesn't have them, but I've seen several more
> >long-in-the-tooth examples with. I feel as though I've been gyped out
> >of a neat toy....
>
> device "never worked very well" - but it may just be that they were
> trying
> to keep costs from being too astronomical. Anyone have one of the older
> 'J's with that feature - how's it work?
>
> +
> | Charles Robinson Mpls, Minnesota | "You can't have everything...
> |
> | email: charles....@medtronic.com | where would you put it?"
> |
> +-----------------------------------------+-------------------------------
> +
>
>
On my 85 I just finished my pre-season put together and REMOVED the brake
line going from the cal. to the anti-dive system. Front end still dives as
if it were still hooked up,but the feel is a lot better. I found that the
front brake works better-at 50 mph some jerk desides it's time to move into
my lane. Panick grab OH SHIT!! the front wheel locks(2 year old pads and 2
year old ME33). Other than the Corbin, it's the best mod. I've made so far.
Dave Dal Farra
John_...@mindlink.bc.ca writes:
[about anti-dive]
>I think the reason that it was taken off was because IT DIDN'T WORK WORTH
>SHIT!!!
>--
The best thing I did to my GPz750 was removing the antidive and
installing Progressives: way better control, feel and still immune
to bottoming. The Fj's next on the hit list.
Dave Dal Farra (gpz...@bnr.ca) "I was moving so fast I started
Bell Northern Research using Him as a braking marker"
Audio Design Group - Motorcyclist test pilot
FJ1200/GPz750
Andy the Pugh
>In <3o31l0$l...@news.tamu.edu> bjc...@tam2000.tamu.edu writes:
>
>: : I wrote...
>: Andy the Pugh (A.C....@shef.ac.uk) wrote:
>:
>: : But, if you are screwing the tops in with a ratchet handle, the job is trivial anyway.
>: : It is possible the reason you could not get the fork top in was that you had failed
>: : to align the damper adjusting rod with its hole in the damper rod valve, twisting the
>: : slotted head would help in this respect.
>:
>: : >
>: : >I haven't been in there yet, but I will be soon. Thanks for the timely
>: : >tip!
>:
>: : I suspect that the '12 aint got such a device.
>:
>: I thought we were talking about the preload adjusters at the top of the
>: fork tubes. Is this not the case?
>:
adjustable preload at the front, but the fork top looks just like any other
one, leading me to assume that they had done away with all the adjustments
when they revamped the front end.
>: Also, why did Yamaha elect to drop the brake-linked damping on the FJ's
>: front suspenders? The `92 doesn't have them, but I've seen several more
>: long-in-the-tooth examples with. I feel as though I've been gyped out
>: of a neat toy....
>
The reason is that antidive is a flawed concept. It works by increasing front
end damping under braking, when what is really needed to improve fork
behaviour under the weight transfer due to braking is to increase fork
_spring rate_.
It also adds a pair of spring loaded plungers to the brake circuit which
allegedly spoils brake feel.
Having it does add more adjustments to the front end of the early FJ's, mine
has three way adustable preload and damping and infinitely adjustable
antidive. Fortunately none of them make a great deal of difference
to anything, so scope for cocking up is limited.
ap
Andy Woodward
C90s do. Nail teh brakes adn teh front rises.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Just another roadkill on the Information Superhighway
+++++++++++++++++++++++ None-%er #1 +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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---------------------------------
Dhanraj Rajender
>
> In <3o31l0$l...@news.tamu.edu> bjc...@tam2000.tamu.edu writes:
>
> : : I wrote...
> : Andy the Pugh (A.C....@shef.ac.uk) wrote::
> : front suspenders? The `92 doesn't have them, but I've seen several more
> : long-in-the-tooth examples with. I feel as though I've been gyped out
> : of a neat toy....
>
> nailed the brakes--stiffening up the damping drastically--and you hit
> a couple of ripples in teh tarmac the bike would react a tad harshly?
Could it also be that pumping brake fluid into the anti-dive units (which
didn't work anyway) took a lot away from the performance and feel of the
brakes? Seems like with those anti-dive units, it would be difficult to
get linear predictable braking.
-- Raj.