Topic: Stev-o's K4 "Big Bang Theory"!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

I got yer hills. 

And a gigantic mountain too.

[disco]

Hope you got that chain master link on. Just noticed in pic from older post (110) that it's missing.

[Stev-o]

Hope you got that chain master link on. Just noticed in pic from older post (110) that it's missing.

Yes, absolutely!  Was wondering if anyone would notice that.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Stev-o,

Are those Eurobars, superbike bars or something else?

[Stev-o]

Stev-o,

Are those Eurobars, superbike bars or something else?

Hey Don....I believe they are superbars, they have a 2" rise.

I dont recall if I changed em out, they may have come on the bike when I bought it 5 years ago?

I like them, gives the bike a good look and very comfortable to ride.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Stev-o,

Are those Eurobars, superbike bars or something else?

Hey Don....I believe they are superbars, they have a 2" rise.

I dont recall if I changed em out, they may have come on the bike when I bought it 5 years ago?

I like them, gives the bike a good look and very comfortable to ride.

I like them. A nice compromise between the stock bars and a drag bar.  They look great.

[Stev-o]

Stev-o,

Are those Eurobars, superbike bars or something else?

Hey Don....I believe they are superbars, they have a 2" rise.

I dont recall if I changed em out, they may have come on the bike when I bought it 5 years ago?

I like them, gives the bike a good look and very comfortable to ride.

I like them. A nice compromise between the stock bars and a drag bar.  They look great.

Agreed, thanks

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Stev-o,

I probably missed the post, but did you find out what caused the engine failure?

[Stev-o]

Stev-o,

I probably missed the post, but did you find out what caused the engine failure?

Hey Don...yes, the #3 rod bolts came loose and the cap flew threw the case.  I had never been in the motor, no need to, always ran great since I've owned it about five years now.
Damn PO's.....

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Stev-o,

I probably missed the post, but did you find out what caused the engine failure?

Hey Don...yes, the #3 rod bolts came loose and the cap flew threw the case.  I had never been in the motor, no need to, always ran great since I've owned it about five years now.
Damn PO's.....

The bike looked good to begin with, and now even better.

[Stev-o]

Stev-o,

I probably missed the post, but did you find out what caused the engine failure?

Hey Don...yes, the #3 rod bolts came loose and the cap flew threw the case.  I had never been in the motor, no need to, always ran great since I've owned it about five years now.
Damn PO's.....

The bike looked good to begin with, and now even better.

Thanks.  I have a roller project that I plan to put the blue bodywork on. But that is way down the road, have a few projects before that one.

[RAFster122s]

Are rod bolts a reusable item or should they be replaced everytime they are unbolted from an engine that has seen miles on those bolts?
Some bolts stretch on torquing them to spec and will not torque the same afterwards, thus their one time use...
that is my understanding.

If they should be replaced, then it is likely the failure caused by reuse.
David

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Congratulations, Stev-o!!! Your bike has been voted Bike of the Month for September 2017!!!  Well done! 

[joeyvans]

Congrats, Stev-o... and really nice job getting this bad boy back on the road so quickl! Love it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[sloephuck]

Stev-o, did you re-use many stock engine components when you did the 836 upgrade? What all did you use that is after market? I am looking into doing an 836 build. Also, I am curious if you are still using stock carbs?

[Stev-o]

Stev-o, did you re-use many stock engine components when you did the 836 upgrade? What all did you use that is after market? I am looking into doing an 836 build. Also, I am curious if you are still using stock carbs?

Hey sloe....the entire bottom end is stock, no need to touch anything down there.

The 836 pistons are Wiseco's, I like that they are forged rather than the cheaper cast pistons, and have them in 2 other bikes as well [Kawasaki's]. Stock cylinders are bored, of course.

The cam is aftermarket, a vintage Kenny Harmon slight high performance upgrade. Doubt you could find one but there are other good ones out there.

And yes, still using stock carbs, sorry dont recall the jetting, it was done years ago.

This bike came to me 5-6 years ago as an 836, always ran great but suffered a major engine "Ka-boom!"  when a rod cap nut loosened and flew though the lower case.  Havent ridden this bike in a while, need to get it out maybe this week.


And thanks to the fine members of this forum for voting it BOTM in Sept '17!

[sloephuck]

Stev-o, did you re-use many stock engine components when you did the 836 upgrade? What all did you use that is after market? I am looking into doing an 836 build. Also, I am curious if you are still using stock carbs?

Hey sloe....the entire bottom end is stock, no need to touch anything down there.

The 836 pistons are Wiseco's, I like that they are forged rather than the cheaper cast pistons, and have them in 2 other bikes as well [Kawasaki's]. Stock cylinders are bored, of course.

The cam is aftermarket, a vintage Kenny Harmon slight high performance upgrade. Doubt you could find one but there are other good ones out there.

And yes, still using stock carbs, sorry dont recall the jetting, it was done years ago.

This bike came to me 5-6 years ago as an 836, always ran great but suffered a major engine "Ka-boom!"  when a rod cap nut loosened and flew though the lower case.  Havent ridden this bike in a while, need to get it out maybe this week.


And thanks to the fine members of this forum for voting it BOTM in Sept '17!

Thanks! I appreciate your time.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Stev-o]

Stev-o, did you re-use many stock engine components when you did the 836 upgrade? What all did you use that is after market? I am looking into doing an 836 build. Also, I am curious if you are still using stock carbs?

Hey sloe....the entire bottom end is stock, no need to touch anything down there.

The 836 pistons are Wiseco's, I like that they are forged rather than the cheaper cast pistons, and have them in 2 other bikes as well [Kawasaki's]. Stock cylinders are bored, of course.

The cam is aftermarket, a vintage Kenny Harmon slight high performance upgrade. Doubt you could find one but there are other good ones out there.

And yes, still using stock carbs, sorry dont recall the jetting, it was done years ago.

This bike came to me 5-6 years ago as an 836, always ran great but suffered a major engine "Ka-boom!"  when a rod cap nut loosened and flew though the lower case.  Havent ridden this bike in a while, need to get it out maybe this week.


And thanks to the fine members of this forum for voting it BOTM in Sept '17!

Thanks! I appreciate your time.

Your welcome, happy to help.  Good luck!

[Stev-o]

Quick update:

It's been seven months since the Big Bang Bike got the engine rebuild, I have not ridden it much since then, to be totally honest, once I finished the Kawasaki H2 I really loved riding that bike [sorry Honda only fans].

But, it's Honda week, and I've ridden this bike twice and also rode the K3 Park Racer.

So the Big Bang Bike has clicked over 500 miles since the rebuild and I've decided that is enough of a break-in period so I have been winding out the gears!
The bike sounds good and pulls great and it's faster in my mind [Butt dyno].

Now that I have 341's on it, I want to do the Hondaman mod - drilling 1/2" holes in the 341 pipes.  Have any of you done this?

I do have an intermittent issue and not sure what to do?  The other day when I rode it, I blew the main fuse twice.  Each time, I'd pop a new fuse in and the bike was fine for a while.

Today, rolled the bike out, started right up, went for a short 35 mile ride and no fuse blew.
Not sure where to go from here?  Terry suggested putting a 6mm bolt in place of the fuse? Guess that would work!

[DurangoCB]

You said Kawasaki.  Someone's coming for your club card now. 

Such a great bike.  I've got no advice on the fuse blowing.  Just enjoy following along. 

[Terry in Australia]

Years ago I was able to buy a cool circuit breaker that sat in the fuse holder, and if it popped, I could just reset it and be on my way Steve, I wonder if you can still buy them? Cheers, Terry.

[calj737]

I do have an intermittent issue and not sure what to do?  The other day when I rode it, I blew the main fuse twice.  Each time, I'd pop a new fuse in and the bike was fine for a while.

If it were me, I’d pull the tank and very carefully inspect the connections and crimps of all the BLACK wires heading into the switch blocks, idiot gauge, and the coils (B/W wires there). You are likely to find a slightly exposed bare wire that is shorting out under vibration or riding. Don’t forget the Headlight power wire either.

Can you happen to recall if turning, signal changes or HI/LO switching happened to cause it? Or was it straight away riding along?if just riding normally, my money is on BLACK. And check the connections from the Key too.

Great looking bike, Stev-O!

[Stev-o]

You said Kawasaki.  Someone's coming for your club card now. 

Yeah, good luck with that! 

Years ago I was able to buy a cool circuit breaker that sat in the fuse holder, and if it popped, I could just reset it and be on my way Steve, I wonder if you can still buy them?

Sounds interesting Terry.  But bottom line, it still wouldnt fix the issue, I'd still have to pull over, pull the cover and reset it. 

I do have an intermittent issue and not sure what to do?  The other day when I rode it, I blew the main fuse twice.  Each time, I'd pop a new fuse in and the bike was fine for a while.

If it were me, I’d pull the tank and very carefully inspect the connections and crimps of all the BLACK wires heading into the switch blocks, idiot gauge, and the coils (B/W wires there). You are likely to find a slightly exposed bare wire that is shorting out under vibration or riding. Don’t forget the Headlight power wire either.

Can you happen to recall if turning, signal changes or HI/LO switching happened to cause it? Or was it straight away riding along?if just riding normally, my money is on BLACK. And check the connections from the Key too.

Great looking bike, Stev-O!

Thanks, I really like version 3.0, it was originally Boss Maroon, a color I never really cared for.
Yes, good suggestions Cal, I do plan to check all the wiring.   From what I recall, there was no specific action on my part when the fuses blew. And it didnt happen on the ride yesterday or the last ride I took back in October, but it started after the engine was put back in.  Might check it later today...

[PGF550F]

Thanks a  damn fine looking 750!
 
Cals advice about the short is likely where you will find the issue. Although intermittent problems are the worst, there is likely a common cause every time it blows.

[Restoration Fan]

Stev-o,
Any chance it was slightly wet outside the two times it blew?  In other words, is it possible that moisture was getting to a wire that has a short and causing the fault and then no rain/moisture the last ride, so it didn't experience the problem?

Ron