Sooo, what is a 3BF?

[rduraoc]

So, I just picked up a FZR400 with a 1990 reg, and the sticker on the frame says it was produced 08/89. The frame number makes it a 3BF, and my question (after searching the forum) is: how does this fit into the FZR 400 history? The fairing is similar to 1WG (3 parts), but the I have 4 pot callipers up front, and no sticker saying "Genesis" or "Exup". It's black with dark blue stickers, and the top of the gas tank (cover) is grey. Is this a Euro version? Also I think that all FZR 400 in Portugal (not a very common bike here) have this color scheme. Any ideas?

[RoadDogma]

I had a 1990 U.S. model FZR400 that had a production date of 8/89 and a JYA3BF serial number on the frame.

Looked like this:


That was the final version of the 1WG, and it received upgraded 4 piston brake callipers and Deltabox swingarm like the 3EN2. I believe it was produced for export only. Japan had the 3EN2 and 3TJ by then. I haven't heard of any that were officially imported to Europe. Pretty cool find, for you. The brakes and swingarm kind of set it apart from the rest.

Post up a picture so we can have a look at yours...

[rduraoc]

Yes, mine is exactly like the one on that picture. And I can find 3 or 4 similar ones currently for sale here in Portugal, and they all have a speedo (and odometer) in miles, instead of km as one would expect. Maybe it was a batch that Yamaha wanted to get rid of, to prepare for the introduction of 3N2?

I'll post some pictures... as soon as I get the bike back together... I picked it up yesterday, and today decided to change some burnt lightbulbs in the speedo... while I was at it, decided to see why the thing was getting so hot on the way home, so radiator is out to get flushed, then test the fan and water pump...

While I'm at it, is it ok to switch the bulbs in the dashboard for 3w, instead of the original 1,7w? I can't seem to find 1,7w ones,, but am afraid of setting the burning up the electrics with the 3w ones...

[Evilchicken0]

You probably won't burn the electrics but they might not be as bright, check the wattage.

Have a look around and get another Yamaha dash, the FZR600 is usually a close match. You swap out the speedos and you might get some panel bulbs too.

[RoadDogma]

I don't know for sure, but I can't imagine those bulbs putting a big enough load on your electrical to cause a problem. Unfortunately, the guages on that bike are housed individually, and the FZR600 dashes that I have seen are clustered together in a single plastic dash. Mounting the 600 dash will likely require some modification.

Also note that the front rotors do not interchange with other 1WGs, so be careful if you need to replace them. They are the same size (282mm) but the carrier is offset differently. I can tell you that they don't interchange with 3TJs or FZR600s, either. I'm not sure about 3ENs, but I thought 3EN rotors 289mm. Perhaps Evilchicken can confirm...

[rduraoc]

Thanks for all the input. My dash is actually working fine, and in good condition, so I'm not very inclined to swapping it. And the bulbs are quite easy to change (once you get the dash out...). My concern is that it was running 5x1.7W=8.5W, and now will be running 5x3W=15W on those same, tiny wires. I'll give it a try and then report back if the whole thing went up in a blazing flame...

[Evilchicken0]

3en1 is 285mm
3en2 is 298 mm same disks as the 3TJ and lots of other yams.

If it ever gets to changing the discs I'd look to do the front end complete.

[reelrazor]

3BF??

Tramp

[rduraoc]

3BF??

Tramp

"That's why the lady... is a tramp" Did Sinatra ride a 3BF?

Another question for all of you: what is the normal running temp on the FZR400, and when should the fan kick in? I've flushed the radiator and purged the whole cooling system, but the indicator got to about 3/4 of the white part (idling in the garage), and the fan didn't kick in. I didn't let her get any hotter, decided to shut it down and test the thing some other way. The fan is working, so I'm thinking thermostat or related fan switch - or is this just normal? When I was riding the bike home, gently at about 100km/h, the temp indicator was roughly in the same place as mentioned - but it's true that it never got to the red zone.

[DonTZ125]

So long as she truly loves them all ...

The operating point is in the manual in the cooling system section; I'm on my phone so can't look it up. The fan normally kicks in when the gauge is almost at the red zone.

[rduraoc]

I promise to post some pictures as soon as I get her back together - she's all naked now, and although she's becoming known as a tramp, she's still a lady...

I'm guessing you're referring to the owners manual, because I can't seem to find that info on the service manual. Meanwhile, can someone point me to the owners manual? What I can easily and abundantly find is the service manual, but owners manual is nowhere to be found...

Tonight I'll try to test the thermostat and the thermo switch as the service manual indicates.

[DonTZ125]

My apologies - the fan and thermo switch are in the electrical section, p.8-73. The switch turns on at 105C, then off again at 98C.

[rduraoc]

Thanks, that 8-73 is the test I'll be doing tonight, along with the thermostat test from page 5-9. Will report back tomorrow.

By the way, thanks for all the input, great forum!

[rduraoc]

Ok, tested the thermostat as stated in the workshop manual, it started opening at 81°c and was fully open by 85°c - as it should. Also tested continuity in the thermo switch, started at 104°c and closed again when temperature dropped bellow 98°c. So, everything is working as it should, will put the lady back together this weekend and give her another real world test.

[rduraoc]

So, here is my FZR 400 3BF, a.k.a "the tramp":





Still haven't given her a proper wash, only a quick rinse. But first I want to sort out all the most pressing issues, and then I'll get to the esthetics (between a full time job, a student life, and parenting a 9 month old baby, time is precious...). New problems I've met so far:

- I have warped front discs - when braking at really slow speeds, almost stopped, the braking is done is surges. New ones when money is available, along with new pads;

- Although I've purged and refilled the cooling system (and tested the thermostat and fan switch), operating temperature still seems quite high. This is from today, after about 30km between 100 km/h and 120 km/h, and this is where she sits most of the time:



- I have a charging problem, at 3000 rpm I hardly get 12,5V on a brand new battery. Will follow the wiki troubleshooting at http://fzronline.com/wiki/doku.php?id=v ... flow_chart (and related troubleshooting at manual's page 8-35)

- I have a left over connector on the back, close to the tailight. The thinner ones are probably from the license plate light (which is missing), but what is the aim of the larger white connector? Could it be for the Exup (which she shouldn't have)?



TIA for all the comments.