Topic: Winter teardown, "sigh"

[clarkjh]

Given up on any more nice warm rides this fall , so brought the girl inside and am going to strip her down completely.  I want to paint the frame as well as replace any bearings that need it.  Going to tear the engine down also to hone the cycliders and install new rings rings.  Any advice, and/or tips, tricks,  on the sequence of teardown and rebuild.  And yes I will have a fridge full of beer so I can sit back and think "Damn, I'm way over my head here". 

thanks

James

[Gordon]

Wait until you have all the parts you need before tearing into the engine.  The shorter the time between taking it apart and putting it back together, the easier it is.  And take lots of pictures so you can look back at them later when you've forgotten how something is supposed to look. 

[MRieck]

Lay out all the new parts on a large table. Easier to locate them.

[clarkjh]

one of the big things I should have done, and didn't, was measure the jugs when I put a whole topend gasket kit in early this summer.  I'm not sure on the size of rings I'm going to need once the hone is done.  But live and learn.

James

[Uncle Ernie]

A fresh marker and pen, notebook, lots of little boxes and bags. Label everything and organize everything. Map things out as you take them apart. Write down every step you take. DO NOT TRUST YOUR MEMORY!!!

[78_SaltLick]

So what is "too long" of a time to let your bike sit without taking it out for a spin?? A month? 2 weeks?

Ive been taking my bike out for at least a 30 minute ride every 7 days. Thats about the only time i can find when its not raining here in portland, once every 7 days. What if i let it sit for 2 weeks, or a month before riding it again?

[clarkjh]

the old girl sat for about a month, went to start her for a ride, very low battery, try the k/s and little to no resistance on the kick.  With the cold weather coming I though start the work now on the frame and do the engine after Christmas.  I'm not as young as I use to be, the bones don't take kindly to riding in the cold weather anymore.  When I was younger I use to run from the time the snow was gone till it started snowing again, would have run all year round but didn't think I could get studded tires.

James

[dusterdude]

salt,i let mine sit for about 2 months over the summer and when i went to start her up she was a bit cantankerous but once i got her running she did good.

[Jim Shea]

Chaps,
I have no plans of any teardown or winter hibernation for my bike, I plan to ride it every time the weather permits. However, this could easily be 1+ week between rides, so is starting it every day and warming it up a good idea? or will I be doing damage to run it stationary for a few minutes each day?
Cheers,
Jim.

[dusterdude]

jim,i for one dont believe its necessary to start a bike everyday,but if you do run it for at least 10-15 minutes to burn any residual moisture out of the engine oil and the exhaust

[mick750F]

Chaps,
I have no plans of any teardown or winter hibernation for my bike, I plan to ride it every time the weather permits. However, this could easily be 1+ week between rides, so is starting it every day and warming it up a good idea? or will I be doing damage to run it stationary for a few minutes each day?
Cheers,
Jim.

   Running the bike for short periods like that would surely allow a lot of condensation to build up in the crankcase and exhaust. You really need to run it 20 or preferably 30 minutes to prevent condensation build up. And that's riding, not idling. Idling for 20 or 30 minutes would allow it to overheat. Then condensation is the least of you problems.

Mike

[Jim Shea]

I had a feeling that would be the advice. So once a week a 30 min ride should keep everythin nicely lubed up and charged up?

[Bob Wessner]

So once a week a 30 min ride should keep everythin nicely lubed up and charged up?

I'm not sure the battery would recover fully, you might want to consider using a Battery Tender or something similar.

[Jim Shea]

Especially as I always ride with full beam on? I will post a topic about trickle chargers etc.

[SteveD CB500F]

The regulator should ensure the battery charges even with full beam on (as long as you're doing > 3000 revs (ish)

There's a charging chart on this site somewhere.

[SteveD CB500F]

Here it is:  http://sohc4.us/?q=node/62

[Jim Shea]

Steve,
Interesting chart, if only I could understasnd it! 
Jim.

[dusterdude]

jim,why not,its written in the queens english. 

[SteveD CB500F]

I think the 6.5 amps should be -ve meaning that if you run with lights at tickover the battery will discharge.

At all other revs it should charge.

[Jim Shea]

Steve,
Thanks, that makes sense.
Mark,
It's the fact that it is written in the 'Queens maths' that is the problem, I have never been very numerate!
Jim,

[dusterdude]

i hear ya

[Dennis]

I think the 6.5 amps should be -ve meaning that if you run with lights at tickover the battery will discharge.

At all other revs it should charge.

Steve,
Thanks, that makes sense.
Mark,
It's the fact that it is written in the 'Queens maths' that is the problem, I have never been very numerate!
Jim,

I don't know about this. I've always thought that I was all right with numbers and electrics. I have seen this chart previously and it always confused me. I could never understand why the nighttime charging rate is higher than the daytime rate.
Anyone want to try to explain that?  

[dusterdude]

dennis,i think it may be that the charging system has to put out more amps when you are running lites than when you dont.

[Jim Shea]

dennis,i think it may be that the charging system has to put out more amps when you are running lites than when you dont.

That was my assumption also.

[dusterdude]

jim,im concerned,me and you are starting to think alike.if we dont stop it we may be the butt of rumor mongering.