My suggestion would be to remove the rear wheel and check everything and likely just change the wheel bearings. Have you ever changed wheel bearings before?

How many miles are on your chain and sprockets?

These bearings should be what you need if your FJ is 1984-1990

https://www.rpmracingca.com/proddetail.asp?prod=M%2FC%3ARWBK%28E%29

Quote from: 86FJNJ on Yesterday at 05:24:59 PMIf bike is parked in neutral and engine is idling and you rev it a little there is no crackling sound? That would at least confirm engine is ok.

I would put it on the center stand and give it a little throttle in each gear and see if you can hear anything. If that doesn't work have a friend ride it down your street, maybe not being on the bike helps pinpoint the sound.

How do you know the rear wheel bearings are ok? Rear wheel has two bearings in the wheel and one in the sprocket carrier. Did you pull the rear wheel off and check the spacers and everything?

Have you taken the front sprocket cover off to check the front sprocket? All the links in the chain good? Is your rear wheel perfectly straight or did it become cocked to one side causing the chain to not marry up to the sprocket? Do you know for certain the sprockets and chain are all 530? Or is this a bike you got from somebody and you know know the maintenance history?

thxs...interesting insights. I will give all these proposals a spin. And yes, my assumptions are bases on what I van see and hear. The bearings are checked by wiggling the wheel....

thanks billy

Not heard of that one but it could be possible though it is a wide rim and tyre. Anything can be done with know-how. If you don't use an off set front sprocket an engine strip might be needed to fit the main drive shaft. Who knows?
Have a look here at the rim swaps commonly used > http://www.fj1200.info/Rims.htm
I'm using FJ1100 engine cases on my XJR, and vice versa, so i know the main axle shafts can be swapped over. I did it because i could.
The XJR swingarm is very wide and won't fit the FJ frame without serious modification to one or both, so i left well alone.

Quote from: Motofun on Yesterday at 05:44:37 AMPat's old enough to remember when the FJ was one of the newest hotest things around.  We didn't complain (much) back then, just kookaloo'd the hell out them.  I bet Pat thinks his 1984 desk top computer was kinda clunky too....

1985- I was due to graduate high school in 1 year and I had the Yamaha 1985 FJ lineup poster on my wall along with Heather Thomas in a Pink Bikini. Never really thought Id ever own an FJ yet here I am...

If bike is parked in neutral and engine is idling and you rev it a little there is no crackling sound? That would at least confirm engine is ok.

I would put it on the center stand and give it a little throttle in each gear and see if you can hear anything. If that doesn't work have a friend ride it down your street, maybe not being on the bike helps pinpoint the sound.

How do you know the rear wheel bearings are ok? Rear wheel has two bearings in the wheel and one in the sprocket carrier. Did you pull the rear wheel off and check the spacers and everything?

Have you taken the front sprocket cover off to check the front sprocket? All the links in the chain good? Is your rear wheel perfectly straight or did it become cocked to one side causing the chain to not marry up to the sprocket? Do you know for certain the sprockets and chain are all 530? Or is this a bike you got from somebody and you know know the maintenance history?

will an xjr1300 rear wheel fit an fj1200 1988?

Before you trim your windscreen you can remove it to see if you like the effect.  I did on my '84 and liked the free air so ended up trimming mine as seen.

not touching the bulb or anything. everything seems right. i was thinking maybe corrosion in light or ignition button

Hey Sparky, I have a write up over in the modification files.

https://fjowners.com/index.php?topic=4326.0

The block is out of aluminum and the base plate steel. (The base plate is welded to the one foot pad)

No problem with the spring holding it up.

 It is a bit tall, the bike stands up too much....I'm going to shave it down a bit.