Jolene, Jolene, Jolene...

[Festus]

Thanks Ray, 100% positive the spring went in then the needle thing. Bob watched me put those in. With the rod in, you can push the rod and feel the spring in the bottom.

I’ll check the rest tomorrow, but I’m 100% positive the little spring and needle thing are in.

[raYzerman]

Excellent news. Then it is most likely the fork cap just needs to be fully screwed on to the damper tube... if the preload is backed right off, on the bottom side it is a little recessed up into the body of it. Before you put the cap back on, adjust the preload until it is at least flush, make sure the 14mm nut is down far enough, when cap is on damper tube should be bottomed onto the damper tube, then snug up the 14mm nut. No need to take the fork off the bike.......

[Viper_Dad]

ViperDad, if I could make a suggestion, and you're not too emotionally attached to Raven, perhaps the blackbird should be set free to nest in another home and keep Jolene "in the family" so to speak. Like the end of a Disney movie (see the Florida connection here?), everybody lives happily ever after.... yeah I know it's more complicated than that......

Oh don't you worry, Festus already dangled that carrot many months ago. Why do you think I'm staying so involved in Jolene's rebirth?

[Intech]

Ray, we did things exactly as you described. I caught the valve, but I did have to fish the spring out of the oil pan after dumping the oil as I didn't catch it when it came out. I always level the bottom of the cap and I set the nut just off the last of the threads and then tighten the cap to it. I pushed the valve and spring out by cycling the cartridge to flush it. They come right out with the oil.

[Intech]

Thanks Ray, 100% positive the spring went in then the needle thing. Bob watched me put those in. With the rod in, you can push the rod and feel the spring in the bottom.

I’ll check the rest tomorrow, but I’m 100% positive the little spring and needle thing are in.

Steve, no need to check anything. It is right. We both felt the spring by pushing on the rod. It is just the nature of that fork I guess.

[Festus]

I agree, it's put together right, I'm really just more curious on why the manual says a certain number of clicks and my stock, never touched forks have a lot more clicks available. I don't suppose it matters at all. You dial it all the way in, then back off. Doesn't matter if it's 20, 30, or 50 clicks out, your baseline is from all the way closed, and with each 1/10 of a turn of that screw (a click), it's opening that needle valve a certain amount, so I don't think it matters, I'm just curious more than anything. I like to try and understand what makes everything work and how it works just for my own understanding.

[Hppants]

Well shit - you've got this '13 in tip top condition, aside from the beauty marks on a saddle bag, which I view as rite of passage.

I think the only thing left to do is either:

1. Take Jolene on a REAL test ride (1000 miles and 3 days or longer).

or

2. Sell her to the Viper and let him do it.

Remember, they are not museum pieces of art. The FJR was born to be ridden. We are not posers. We are riders, man.

[wheatonFJR]

...
Remember, they are not museum pieces of art.

I dunno...have you seen those twin 13s?

Some fine gems from Yamaha's design studio.

But you are right...the full beauty of these machines is shown when it is breathing oxygen, drinking fuel, spraying that mixture, combusting with incredible calibrated force, forcing shafts and gears to turn...turning that wheel with however much power is selected by that user...all the while suspensions are compressed and tire rubber is driving, shearing against the road surface in a decreasing radius turn or opening up into a high speed sweeper...
Yamaha's engineering is art in 4 dimensions...

[Intech]

Stupid me, I should have asked if Bob needed a second set of hands putting his PAIR plates on. That hit me about 3 hours later. Sorry for not thinking to offer that Bob!

No big deal. Pretty easy job. I didn't even take the tank off. The weather sucked, so enjoyed the tinkering.

And I rewarded myself with some of that Woodford Reserve afterwards!

[Red]

No big deal. Pretty easy job. I didn't even take the tank off. The weather sucked, so enjoyed the tinkering.
And I rewarded myself with some of that Woodford Reserve afterwards!

Intech,

Off topic, but:
I am trying to imagine Curly (your avatar) with that Woodford Reserve in him,
and I just can not do it.

[Festus]

Came out the house this morning to find snow on my steps and on the top surfaces of my truck. Not the best time to go riding. Put the forks back on in the afternoon once it warmed up, took her for a spin to see how the new forks felt. Feels FANTASTIC. Handled the rougher backroads very well. No hollow feel on the rebound now.



Hovering over my head was a bald eagle. Couldn't convince him to come down for a photo shoot. Now I know where he hangs out, so I'll stalk him for some future photos.

[escapefjrtist]

Nice pics Festus!

--G

[Viper_Dad]

Guess what Jolene is getting next?

[wheatonFJR]

Guess what Jolene is getting next?

Car tires front and rear?

[gixxerjasen]

Hard to say, I'd guess tires but those have a whole lot of life left in them so I can't see why you'd change them.

[wheatonFJR]

Hard to say, I'd guess tires but those have a whole lot of life left in them so I can't see why you'd change them.

oh, oh, I know. he's gonna get some pin striping around the circumference of the wheel...either that or chrome his brake rotors.

[Festus]

Jolene is going to the dark side. Car tires front and rear!

The back has plenty of life left, the front, not so much. On the edges, it looks good, in the middle, not so great.

[gixxerjasen]

I call bullshit. That tire has plenty of Texas miles left in it.

[wheatonFJR]

Jolene is going to the dark side. Car tires front and rear!

The back has plenty of life left, the front, not so much. On the edges, it looks good, in the middle, not so great.

So I was right?
http://www.fjriders.com/forums/viewtopi ... 254#p62254
...that can't be.

You is yankin chains, you is.

[Viper_Dad]

The dark side? Not exactly. A certain "future owner" is very particular about his tires so he is having Pirelli Angel GT A-Specs mounted this evening. Let the tire debates begin! (please don't let them begin)