Author Topic: 1985 FJ600 ... Hard starting issues  (Read 2391 times)

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Offline Scott S

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1985 FJ600 ... Hard starting issues
« on: November 12, 2010, 08:49:06 AM »
 We have an '85 Yamaha FJ600 in the stable. The bike isn't ridden regularly and simply will not start if left to sit. We have to resort to starter fluid or push starting the bike.
 There HAS to be a better way to get this thing to start. If used regularly, it will start but is still very cold natured until warm.  
 At Barber this year, we picked up a Cycle World magazine from 1984. It has a review of the then new FJ600 and it even mentions hard starting and lengthy warm ups.

I've never seen another bike this cold natured or difficult to start when not used regularly.


-The battery was new this year and I have a trickle charger that I move from bike to bike in the garage.

-The carbs were gone through a few years ago when we got the bike and synched. They were cleaned again this year (not sure if the shop synched them or not).

-The valves were adjusted a few years ago when we first got the bike.



Should I check the carb sync again? Would the valve adjustment cause this (the bike sounds fine and runs good once under way).
Ideas?
« Last Edit: November 12, 2010, 09:18:54 AM by Scott S »
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Offline MRieck

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Re: 1985 FJ600 ... Hrad starting issues
« Reply #1 on: November 12, 2010, 09:10:31 AM »
Does it have a vacuum operated petcock? Did you pull off the idle mixture screw caps and richen (turn out) it up?
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Offline Scott S

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Re: 1985 FJ600 ... Hard starting issues
« Reply #2 on: November 12, 2010, 09:20:10 AM »
 It does have a vacuum operated petcock. If the bike sits, we always set the petcock to "prime" and fill the carbs before attempting to start it.

 I have not messed with the mixture screws. Details?
'71 CB500 K0
'17 Triumph Street Scrambler
'81 Yamaha XS650

Offline MRieck

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Re: 1985 FJ600 ... Hard starting issues
« Reply #3 on: November 15, 2010, 07:30:54 AM »
 You remove the brass or aluminum idle mixture screw caps and turn the mixture screw out to 3 to 3.5 turns. Bikes of that era were set very lean to pass emissions. The procedure for removing the caps is described in any Dynojet or factory jet kit
Owner of the "Million Dollar CB"