Topic: What did you do to your non-SOHC4 motorcycle today?

[simon#42]

sorry one more thing , remember the yamaha does not have a proper centre seal it has a labyrinth seal so you need to test both cylinders at the same time .  good luck you are on the right track and this is the correct way to do it .

[Stev-o]

i think your gauge is too high a pressure to get accurate results . you only want to be pressuring the engine to 4 or 5 psi . i use a 10psi maximum gauge and inflate it with a rubber ball...

+1...my buddy had a special tool that we used on my Kawasaki...

[hoodellyhoo]

i think your gauge is too high a pressure to get accurate results . you only want to be pressuring the engine to 4 or 5 psi . i use a 10psi maximum gauge and inflate it with a rubber ball...

+1...my buddy had a special tool that we used on my Kawasaki...

I agree it's not the ideal gauge but It's what I was able to find locally and I only pumped it up to 5 psi. What I like is that it has a Schrader valve so I just used a bike pump to slowly increase the pressure vs using an air compressor.

I also had both cylinders sealed off.

First step is putting a light smear of sealant between the intake boots and the head so I can maintain pressure long enough to look for leaks at the seals. Might get time to do that this weekend.

[Kelly E]

I repaired and painted a used side cover for the 81' GS 1100E. It looks pretty good for rattle can, it's X-Rusto black.

[grcamna2]

I repaired and painted a used side cover for the 81' GS 1100E. It looks pretty good for rattle can, it's X-Rusto black.

Looks great.

[Kelly E]

I repaired and painted a used side cover for the 81' GS 1100E. It looks pretty good for rattle can, it's X-Rusto black.

Looks great.

Thanks

[grcamna2]

I repaired and painted a used side cover for the 81' GS 1100E. It looks pretty good for rattle can, it's X-Rusto black.

Looks great.

Thanks

I still need to do my silver right cover;it has big,deep gouges in it.
I keep hoping I find one in better shape.
I'm calling Cycle Salvage in Redding,Ca. tomorrow to see what they have.

[seanbarney41]

Kelly, crazy good rattle can skills!  Did you clear coat that?

I bought a brand new Suzuki sidecover from Partzilla about 4? years ago...part number I ordered included paint and stickers.  Of course, when it showed up it was unpainted...well I will be all set with a fresh panel if I ever re-paint my bike.

[Kelly E]

Kelly, crazy good rattle can skills!  Did you clear coat that?

I bought a brand new Suzuki sidecover from Partzilla about 4? years ago...part number I ordered included paint and stickers.  Of course, when it showed up it was unpainted...well I will be all set with a fresh panel if I ever re-paint my bike.

Nope, no clear coat. 3 light coats and then a wet coat.

[Don R]

  A friend had a big block chevy with a vacuum pump that was sucking oil out of the crankcase faster than they could drain it. I told him it was a gasket leak allowing air in, and he could blow into the valve cover and spray soapy water to find the leak. He thought I was going to make a video to tease him with so I promised I wouldn't and went back to my pit. He did it and was amazed that he could pressurize a big block. The leak was the distributor base gasket, they replaced it and the problem was solved.
 

[RAFster122s]

You wanna know a cheap under rated spray paint, not a great nozzle but good enough...
Walmart used to sell it for $0.97/can. They had a gloss black, matt or flat black, white (gloss), and navy blue and it was a good quality enamel that if you did your prep right it held up and looked good and doesn't fade to brown or blue in less than a year, it holds up for a couple years easily. Way cheaper than spending, $6.98 for a can of rustoleum stop rust enamel. The rustoleum seems to have a 5 year life roughly before UV starts ravaging it. I think the cheap Walmart paint if top coated with a clear like SprayMax could hold up for 7-9 years, but that would be true of most bases top coated with SprayMax urethane/polyurethane.

Kelly, that is some nice spray bomb skills you have, you and Terry and denward and some others have good spray can skills. I think I probably spray too heavy a coat and cause runs then you are taking huge steps backwards to fix that issue.
I do better with a spray gun or detail gun. The handles you can buy to squeeze a grip to activate the spray nozzle are better for me as I think I add variation with my finger that goes away with the grip...

[RAFster122s]

Of  course it started, it's a Honda! A friend of mine asked if I could try to get his late father's 1982 CT90 that has been parked for about 8 years running. It been used for hunting so it's a bit rough. I turned on the fuel tap and it's pissing gas. Ordered a new one, coming tomorrow. New fuel lines as the old ones broke off when I was trying to get them off the tap. New battery too. Just for fun I turned the fuel tap to on to let the carb fill then shut it to off and cleaned up the spilled gas.  2 kicks and it's running - after 8 years! Of course - it's a Honda! A fun day!
Cliff.

My little C70 Passport could be started with your hand on the kicker... If working on the bike you could be sitting on floor and reach around torn ignition on, flip starter kill switch to run the kick it slowly with your hand and it would be running...dead nuts simple design. Really love it's simplicity and pretty good power and super long life and great gas mileage... Too bad speeds of our roads won't tolerate a 35-40mph small motorcycle even in the city traffic is so aggressive towards people slowing them down they do road rage like bull.

Where are you sourcing parts for the small engines, other than the basic common parts?
 

[RAFster122s]

2 strokes are black magic I think...I don't understand them but I never tried to figure them out or study them. I will stick to those I know more about...
So can someone give me a clue or two? You are testing the R5 for leakdiwn using a fect hose setup to pressurize the cylinders Or the intake tract? Looks like a banjo fitting. Where are they attaching and how does this work? You are trying to find leaks I understand. So the crank case and you have a reed valve system on the heads of some designs. 8 understand reed valve motors a bit from Cox control line reed valve methanol/nitromethanol engines I would use in my Control line and RC airplanes...

A labyrinth seal in crank case as opposed to what kind of seal. So I'm presuming the reed valve is metering in the fuel in a similar way to the Cox model engines... It is oscillating and as rpms go up so dies it's frequency sbd the needle valve is setting the Cox model engines to a constant rpm tune that varies as the plane loads and unloads the propellor as it goes through maneuvers. On the bike it is variable fuel on throttle and you are loading the motor with terrain and your wrist input for speed...
So, for the reed system to work you have to have suction to get the reed working...
So is this why you are pressurizing the cases looking for leaks?

Or is this too complex for a simple answer...
Not looking to get a long detailed answer unless that would be beneficial for others...

David

[70CB750]

Picked up this 72 Yamaha R5C in December but haven't really done anything with it since then. With temps in the 60s yesterday I decided to see if I could get it to fire after I got home from work. Unfortunately I couldn't elicit any signs of life, electrical or otherwise. But at least it felt good to be outside playing with motorcycles on a beautiful day in February!

That is pretty!

[Terry in Australia]

The "Hindenburg", my slightly scorched BMW K100RS that I bought last week is coming along nicely. It had a fire caused by a split fuel hose that scorched several panels, the speedo/tach cluster outer cover, the Corbin seat, and of course lots of wiring. The left switch block was melted beyond repair, but the PO had bought, but not installed a replacement. Trouble is, the block was from a later model with a different plug on it, so I bought a replacement from the wreckers.

K100 Saturday 27 April 2024 5 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

The replacement wasn't as nice as the one he'd bought, but the wiring was different, so I bought it anyway, and hoped I could clean it up.

K100RS Wednesday 1 May 2024 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

A bit of a clean up, and some "Detail doctor" and it came up nicely.

K100RS Wednesday 1 May 2024 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

The seat was a bit scorched. It's a Corbin, so really comfy, but I couldn't leave it like this:

K100RS Thursday 25 April 2024 6 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I took it to an upholsterer who was able to replace the front section for a (fcuking expensive) price, but it looks better than a standard seat, which would cost me around what the repair cost.

K100RS Wednesday 1 May 2024 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I've replaced lots of parts, and done some wiring for the fuel pump as the wiring for the fuel pump, part of the main harness, was melted beyond repair. I wired the fuel pump to a separate switch, which allows me to turn the fuel pump on without the ignition. This worked well when I first got it working, I turned the pump on, and discovered that one of the new injectors wasn't sealed properly to the fuel rail, and fuel sprayed everywhere. Luckily the ignition wasn't on, or I might have had another fire. Today I pulled the rail, reinstalled the injectors, and this time no leaks, woohoo!

Sadly though, when I eventually summoned up the courage to start the engine, it ran like a dog. Fcuk. As I'd never had it running before, I went thru the usual things, pulled the spark plugs and checked for spark, which they all had, and even with insulated pliers holding the metal BMW caps, I managed to zap myself a couple of times. After fcuking around for ages and scratching my head, I pulled the new Ebay injectors and reinstalled the slightly scorched injectors, and tried again. The bike fired right up, and ran like a BMW should.

I took it for a lap around the block, and it ran like a dream. Everything works again, but I think I blew a fuse to the fuel pump, I'll check that tomorrow. Regardless, I'll be riding something tomorrow, fixing bikes is fun, but riding is better.

[BenelliSEI]

Well done Terry! Sounds good.

[Kelly E]

Nice job Terry, now all's you need is a spiked German helmet and goggles.

[simon#42]

2 strokes are black magic I think...I don't understand them but I never tried to figure them out or study them. I will stick to those I know more about...
So can someone give me a clue or two? You are testing the R5 for leakdiwn using a fect hose setup to pressurize the cylinders Or the intake tract? Looks like a banjo fitting. Where are they attaching and how does this work? You are trying to find leaks I understand. So the crank case and you have a reed valve system on the heads of some designs. 8 understand reed valve motors a bit from Cox control line reed valve methanol/nitromethanol engines I would use in my Control line and RC airplanes...

A labyrinth seal in crank case as opposed to what kind of seal. So I'm presuming the reed valve is metering in the fuel in a similar way to the Cox model engines... It is oscillating and as rpms go up so dies it's frequency sbd the needle valve is setting the Cox model engines to a constant rpm tune that varies as the plane loads and unloads the propellor as it goes through maneuvers. On the bike it is variable fuel on throttle and you are loading the motor with terrain and your wrist input for speed...
So, for the reed system to work you have to have suction to get the reed working...
So is this why you are pressurizing the cases looking for leaks?

Or is this too complex for a simple answer...
Not looking to get a long detailed answer unless that would be beneficial for others...

David

hi david
you are trying to see if there are any air leaks . because it is very difficult to isolate the top from the bottom of a two stroke you block the inlet and exhaust ports and pressurise the lot . once you have around 5 psi in there you can spray a bit of soapy water around the crank seala , base gasket , reed blocks etc to see if there is a leak . you can put the air in wherever is convenient , steve did it via the two stroke oil injection pipes . a lab seal is not a physical mechanical seal . it works by having a steel shaft inside a grooved bush , they are close together but do not touch . the idea is the gas becomes turbulent going through the bush and doesnt have enough time to do it before the pressure direction changes . they are uses because they have no friction losses .  sorry not the best explanation .

[simon#42]

The way steve checked the Kawasaki is not ideal as it does not check the centre seals .

[Terry in Australia]

Nice job Terry, now all's you need is a spiked German helmet and goggles.

Ha ha, back in the mid 70’s my brother bought a BMW R69S, and because he couldn’t afford a decent helmet, he went to the Disposal store and bought a WW2 German helmet, Great coat, and flyers gloves. He was a big boy, around 6’4”, so he looked pretty imposing on his big black BMW. Back then there were tons of ex WW2 surplus stuff out there, going for peanuts. Nowadays a genuine helmet (which would be next to useless in a bike crash) is worth big bucks. The helmet is probably gathering dust out in my mum’s garden shed, next time I go home I might see if I can find it.

[Kelly E]

Today we're installing a 530 o-ring chain and sprocket kit on the 80' GS 1100E. The ol' chain was starting to get kinky.
Can't have that on this bike, I ride it too hard.

[Terry in Australia]

Good work mate, those old Suzy’s had a ton of grunt, but a good quality chain and sprockets will last a long time. I installed an RK X Ring chain and JT sprockets on my Kawasaki Z1-B hotrod and I’m glad I did, some of the cheap EBay chains must be made from play dough.

[Kelly E]

The GS 1100E is an awesome bike. Great power,  handling and the brakes are good enough.

 Both the 80' and 81' have around 18k miles on them. I'm going to sell the 81' since we don't really need two. The 81' is better cosmetically and we've been through both bikes.

It's kinda fun to have a CB 900F, a VF 1000 Interceptor, a KZ 1000, a Moto Guzzi 1000 Le Mans and a GS 1100E all at the same time. Especially when you are a little tiny guy like me, every bike is faster when I ride it.

[Terry in Australia]

OK, so yesterday I decided that the Hindenburg, my 40 year old "slightly scorched" BMW was close enough to ready for a test ride. As expected, within 15 miles from home it conked out, which is pretty normal for my "Shakedown/Breakdown" rides. It was fuel pump related, so I tried the remote switch I'd wired in, but nada, so checked the fuse, and it was fine too. WTF? I wiggled the switch and the pump came on, but then stopped again. Great. Sitting on the side of the freeway with a million cars and trucks going past, I was envious of their fuel pumps all working away nicely.

K100RS Sunday 5 May 2024 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

I pulled the little panel with the sh1tty switch, unscrewed the terminals and threw the switch in my top box. I then zip tied the terminals and taped them up with insulation tape and zip tied the cables to the fairing, for good measure. I quickly started the engine, and was off again. Success!

K100RS Sunday 5 May 2024 1 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr 

The other side of the freeway was closed for maintenance, and the road that runs parallel to the freeway was chocked with cars and trucks, so I rode in a 50 mile circle through Beveridge, Eden Park, Whittlesea, Mernda, Thomastown, and back home. The wife had gotten home before me and blocked the driveway with her car, so I pulled the fuse for the fuel pump and locked it up for the night. Pity the fool who tries to steal this bike.........

K100RS Sunday 5 May 2024 2 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

Anyway, apart from the dodgy fuel pump wiring and a fairly bald back tyre, the bike ran great, all the lights, blinkers and horn work, the seat is really comfy and the PO raised the handlebars with blocks for less of a stretch, so it's quite comfy. I didn't leave until late in the afternoon and by the time I got home it was getting dark. The warmth coming up from the radiator was quite pleasant as it was getting cold, and apart from a Wallaby almost getting me when riding thru the same spot where I hit a Wallaby on my Goldwing many years ago, the ride was fairly uneventful. I've got an 8 day permit for it so I'll fix the wiring tonight, and pull the rear wheel off to get a new tyre installed tomorrow, and life will be good.

K100RS Sunday 5 May 2024 3 by Terry Prendergast, on Flickr

[Stev-o]

The way steve checked the Kawasaki is not ideal as it does not check the centre seals .

In the pic I posted, I was just showing the tool we used and at that point we were inspecting the check valves in the oil lines  [the motor, including crank, was fully rebuilt at that point]