What did you do to your FJR today?

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A few days ago, and took longer than a day ...

Replaced this:
(Click on image for larger view)


having done this to it:


A bear of a job.

 
Gee Adam, did you really have to post a pic of that '04 ST? I do not exactly miss my '04 ST but I still Love it. Foolish I know, but that was a fantastic motorcycle and it took me on every single dream ride I ever wished for as a child. Except for that dream ride where I took Cindy Crawford for a Pepsi...

Pop had an interesting issue with his '07 today and I cannot figure it out, nor can I understand what I did to correct it.

He said the bike died the other day when it hit the rev limiter HARD. (That makes no sense to either of us.)

It would not restart. He tried getting it to restart while it was rolling using the bike's momentum as the starter. He finally slid the back tire so badly that he almost went down. He had to pull over and it would not fire. He finally put it into Neutral and it fired instantly. This also made no sense. For several days now, the starter would not turn if the transmission was not in Neutral. The clutch had no effect on this. The kickstand switch would kill the engine if we shifted into gear with the stand down, as it should. Nothing we tried would engage the starter motor with the bike in gear.

I toggled the red kill switch, I checked the function of the sidestand switch, I unplugged the clutch lever switch, and I used a jumper wire across that plug. Nothing worked. I plugged the clutch switch back in and now everything is back to normal. Pop gave me credit for "fixing" it but I have no idea what I did or did not do to make it work. I hate that.

We diagnosed a leaking front tire using soapy water. We replaced the valve stem core in the Ariete right angle valve stem and fixed that little issue.

In other news I did add another light in his shop so that he can see the FJR better.
Problem HAS to be the clutch switch. The sidestand switch will prevent the bike from starting or running in any gear except neutral. With the sidestand switch activated, the bike will immediately die if the bike is switched to any gear.

If the bike is in neutral, the clutch switch will allow the bike to be started whether it is open or closed. Once started in neutral, the clutch switch will not affect the running of the bike in any gear although it might kill the cruise control if the bike was so equipped. A bad clutch switch will not allow the bike to be started in any gear but neutral.

As for the not working when you shorted the switch, I am not sure whether the switch is normally open or normally closed.

 
Made it to Mid Ohio before everything left yesterday. Only saw one FJR-Gen 1 in Cobalt Blue. Hate to say it, but I could be persuaded to agree it is the purtiest color.

 
As for the not working when you shorted the switch, I am not sure whether the switch is normally open or normally closed.
The clutch switch is normally open. The wire to the clutch switch on my '04 broke about 2" away from the clutch switch, dunno why it broke there. The external appearance of the wire looked good but the wires inside the insulation were broken and intermittent. Checking the switch with an ohmmeter showed the switch was working but checking with a volt meter showed that something was wrong with the wiring.

 
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Ugh - I have to do this sooner or later due to a tip over. How long did it take you?
Don't know exactly, I did it over about three days, but many interrupts for domestic activities, I'm still having to support my Better Half who's recently had a knee replacement. Probably around six or eight hours, but taken quite slowly. (I do everything quite slowly these days.) Hmm. Only took the surgeon about an hour and a quarter to replace Her knee.
Some (currently un-annotated) pictures I took here (not including removing the side fairings).

 
Ross, Alan, and anyone else who is interested,

I tried both jumping out the clutch switch and leaving it open. Over and over. In my mind the problem had to be in the clutch switch. But I could not prove that with a jumper wire. I could plainly hear the switch clicking as I worked the clutch lever.

Since I make most of my wife's money troubleshooting electrical and instrumentation issues and switches like these are the simplest of components, I expected more positive results. I am confused and disappointed. In other words, normal.

 
Saturday rebuilt front forks with Hyperpro springs, new bushings, seals, and oil. Mounted and installed new PR2 tire and all new brake pads.

 
Ross, Alan, and anyone else who is interested,
I tried both jumping out the clutch switch and leaving it open. Over and over. In my mind the problem had to be in the clutch switch. But I could not prove that with a jumper wire. I could plainly hear the switch clicking as I worked the clutch lever.

Since I make most of my wife's money troubleshooting electrical and instrumentation issues and switches like these are the simplest of components, I expected more positive results. I am confused and disappointed. In other words, normal.

Unless, as Alan suggested, it is a wire that is making intermittent contact. In that case, it will come back... Behavior certainly suggests an issue with the clutch circuit interrupt. At least with a clutch switch problem, the bike can be started (in neutral) and operated normally. If in the sidestand, it must be fixed (or by-passed) before you can go anywhere.

 
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Over the weekend I replaced my rashed left mirror, a reminder of a momentary bout of stupidity on the West Virginia adventure in May. Since the "base" was not damaged, I simply replaced the top part, which is easier than removing the dash panels.

I decided to tackle the ignition noise I'm getting in my earbuds when the radar detector is on. I bought the mono-external audio cable from Escort, with the built in little nifty noise isolator. I also bought a short male-to-male patch cable to connect that wire to the ampli-rider. The noise was unbearable at times.

MikeP loaned gave me his ampli-rider wire custom built for the same purpose - including the noise isolator. This one has the right male ends to the wire, so no patch cable was needed. Plugged it in, put my ear buds in, turned on the MP3 player, and started the bike. Absolutely silent - no noise.

As I am disassembling the escort wire and patch cable (routed under the tank), I realize that Pants is an idiot. The patch cable was a STEREO wire (2 rings on the connectors instead of 1). I bet that's where my feedback was coming from. I ordered a $3.00 mono patch cable to be sure, and to use as a back up to what I've now got (thanks Mike!!!).

Yesterday morning, I took a quick 150 mile ride through the back country. I left early about 6:30 am and was home by 10:00 am. It's so darn hot now, I hardly enjoyed the ride. But it was better than staying home, I suppose.

 
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. . . Only took the surgeon about an hour and a quarter to replace Her knee.
Some (currently un-annotated) pictures I took here (not including removing the side fairings).
For a second, I was afraid you were going to post the surgery pics.
uhoh.gif


Speedy recovery to Mrs. Mc.

Yesterday morning, I took a quick 150 mile ride through the back country. I left early about 6:30 am and was home by 10:00 am. It's so darn hot now, I hardly enjoyed the ride. But it was better than staying home, I suppose.
One of the benefits of Cali living. On a day that will hit 105o here, it's no hotter than low 80's by 10. Hottest time of day is around 5.

And I'm coming to understand that the farkling will never be finished. Now that I've added, one by one, the Givi trunk, the Cortech tank bag and ring, The Clearwater lights, the Calsci windscreen, and now the Laam seat, I'm focusing on the next thing. Which will be--probably--some nice bright rear lighting (so far I like the Admore light bar with turn signals that scroll outward). Once I get that, I'm pretty sure there'll be something else. *Sigh*

 
Only took the surgeon about an hour and a quarter to replace Her knee.
They have the benefit of simply cutting the fairings open to get direct access to the dodgy part. After repair or replacement, they simply stitch those pieces back together.

If you didn't mind the look of the stitches, you could do the same thing!

 
...For a second, I was afraid you were going to post the surgery pics. :uhoh: Speedy recovery to Mrs. Mc.

...
Only took the surgeon about an hour and a quarter to replace Her knee.
They have the benefit of simply cutting the fairings open to get direct access to the dodgy part. After repair or replacement, they simply stitch those pieces back together.

If you didn't mind the look of the stitches, you could do the same thing!
To see Mrs Mc's knee fairing 4 days after the operation, click the spoiler:
(Click on image for larger view)

 
And I'm coming to understand that the farkling will never be finished. Now that I've added, one by one, the Givi trunk, the Cortech tank bag and ring, The Clearwater lights, the Calsci windscreen, and now the Laam seat, I'm focusing on the next thing. Which will be--probably--some nice bright rear lighting (so far I like the Admore light bar with turn signals that scroll outward). Once I get that, I'm pretty sure there'll be something else. *Sigh*
Mike,

something like this ...

photo4_zpsbbd61702.jpg


Talk to your buddy Glenn at Clearwater. He will set you up with some rearward facing Glendas with red lenses.

They mount up real well on the Pelican Drag Chute Box - see the picture in next post...

Brodie

punk.gif


 
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I did this today...

IMG_0089_zpshbuled5z.jpg


Time for another G-Max. The last one gave me something like 31,000 miles between the two bikes it's been on. I decided to replace it before NAFO in a few weeks. My last time running across the desert in Nevada had me navigating flash flood water crossings at speed. I want deep sipes, and the old tire was just above the wear bars.

If you look real close you will see that the tire is telling me to replace it.

IMG_0085_zpsryv7mpq7.jpg


Not bad, $115.00 and out lasts premium motorcycle tires 6 to 1 on my bike.


Brodie
rolleyes.gif


 
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And I'm coming to understand that the farkling will never be finished. Now that I've added, one by one, the Givi trunk, the Cortech tank bag and ring,
Would that be the Dryver bag? Which size? You like?
It would. I bought it on the forum and he said it was their medium size, he wanted the small one. I like it pretty well, but I don't really love it for a few little reasons. It's tedious to get back on the ring, for one thing. Should have an easier way to align it, but that's minor. Once it's on, it's on. The map window (detachable) may not come with a new bag without an additional purchase, but it's awful small. I have to fold the heck out of my maps to get the part I want to show in there. I always get free maps at state visitors centers cuz I mess them up doing that. I kind of wish it had a couple of separate side pockets, too. "Supposed" to be waterproof, but IDK yet. Guess it gets 6 or 7 out of 10 from me. I do like that I got it used--and cheaper--tho. :)

And I'm coming to understand that the farkling will never be finished. Now that I've added, one by one, the Givi trunk, the Cortech tank bag and ring, The Clearwater lights, the Calsci windscreen, and now the Laam seat, I'm focusing on the next thing. Which will be--probably--some nice bright rear lighting (so far I like the Admore light bar with turn signals that scroll outward). Once I get that, I'm pretty sure there'll be something else. *Sigh*
Mike,

something like this ...

photo4_zpsbbd61702.jpg


Talk to your buddy Glenn at Clearwater. He will set you up with some rearward facing Glendas with red lenses.

They mount up real well on the Pelican Drag Chute Box - see the picture in next post...

Brodie

punk.gif
I made the mistake of looking down at those when I was behind you. Once. Maybe mine don't have to be quite that bright.
omg2.gif


 
Officially christened her.... (that's the Coo top-case..)
[img=[URL="https://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m511/andyspbpix/IMG_2565_zpswnmkg4fg.jpg%5D"]https://i1129.photobucket.com/albums/m511/andyspbpix/IMG_2565_zpswnmkg4fg.jpg][/URL]
So does that me you can ride Elvira anytime you want?

 
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