What did you do to your bike today?

[BA80]

Washed it for the first time in 2017.

Spent an hour trying to get it started. Time to seal up the pick up coil plug behind the fuse panel again.

[TopCatGr58]

Well, I finally tore in Godzilla to investigate the massive right side engine oil leak that had developed on my return trip from XSSE 2016. Had hoped that it was just the main oil galley plug O-ring, but even though it was a Harbor Freight Viton Ring, it seemed to still be snug. And I could see a faint trail of oil running down from the crank shaft seal area. So, I had already pulled the ALT cover, the mini-race alt, bracket, and so it wasn't much trouble to pull the rotor. I had used JB Weld to try to secure the no lip seal in the engine.

This is what I found:


I appears that the seal had actually rotated because the JB_Weld didn't line up with the crankcase. Pulled the seal, and there was OIL all around the outer edge of it, and it appears that I had inadvertently plugged the drain hole with the RED RTV AND had pushed the seal in too far.



So apparently with the plugged drain hole, the pressure was too much and blew out the seal since fluids don't compress! SO I cleaned it all up, applied a fresh coat of oil on the crank shaft, and the inside lip of the seal, and then used Threebond, just a thin film on the inside mating surface of the crankcase, and then just pushed the seal just far enough to be flush with the crankcase, and then applied a fresh layer of JB Weld again to try to keep it in place.



I then continued to take stuff off of the bike in preparation for flipping to peform the 1st/2nd gear dremmel fix AGAIN! Turns out the 1" square tubing that I had put on for some makeshift cruise bars wasn't up to supporting the weight of the bike when trying to roll it over on it's back!



I had removed the rear turn signal on the left side, but with the cruise bar, there was plenty of clearance before it would make contact with the handlebars. But as the cruise bar collapsed, it landed on the headlight turn signal and broke it's mounting shaft!

And so with my advancing age and possibly reduced strength, along with NOT wanting to take everything else off of the bike to try to flip it, I've decided to HOIST it up from the front/handlebars.

I had built a fairly solid wooden frame structure last year in anticipation of using it to help hoist the ENGINE during my frame swap, but didn't have to use it since I was able to cut the old frame into pieces, and then used the bike lift to position and put it on my engine stand. Then had George help me slide it into the new rolling frame.

I would prefer to be able totally flip the bike, but will have to see how hard it it to manipulate the gears and forke with the bike upright like BA80/Greg said he has done it. To be continued!

T.C.

[3Phase]

The 'tick' came back in my XJ11 engine and the brand new Mikuni float needles/seats were leaking.

The engine had been running rich and drinking fuel, only 29 mpg. Even though the octy was working, the clear fuel filters let me see that the fuel in both of the fuel lines was draining out and slightly overflowed after the engine was shut off. The leak made the engine start on two or three cylinders when it was overnight cold until the carbs refilled, then it flooded the engine when it was hot so the kicker wouldn't work and I had to use the electric starter.

I checked the valve clearances on Friday and the #4 Intake clearance was too wide. When I put the engine together before the Colorado rally I left it at 0.007" and it hadn't budged when I checked it at the campground during the rally. I guess I did such good job lapping the valves that the valve was totally happy, it didn't need to seat itself so the clearance didn't close and after the engine warmed up it made the 'tick'. I swapped the 270 shim for a 275 and the 'tick' is gone.

Next, I pulled the carbs and removed the float bowls, then flipped the carbs upside down and put them in a large pan with the fuel tank hooked up on Prime. I blipped the floats to get rid of the air in the lines, then let everything sit overnight. Saturday morning I could see that both #1 and #3 float valves were leaking and I was not happy. I removed all four needle assemblies to clean the o-rings and the seat assembly bores in the carbs, then I used some Q-Tips and Simichrome to polish all four needle seats. I cleaned the needle valve tips too just for grins and giggles, then let the carbs sit overnight again with the fuel tank on Prime. There were no leaks on this fine Sunday morning.

I put the carbs back together, reinstalled, synch'd, and reset the idle mixture screws. As I was finishing, I noticed some smoke wafting up from the engine. Oil was running all over the front and right side of the engine from the valve cover. Bummer... I had to pull the valve cover again, then put in a new gasket because the old one had broken when I checked the valve clearances.

I'd had some problems with the o-rings on the YICS tool sticking in the head and tearing when I removed the tool so this time I put some silicon paste on the o-rings. The silicon worked, it kept the o-rings from sticking in the head and the YICS tool was easy to remove without damaging the o-rings.

I just got back from a nice little test ride and everything is working perfectly. The engine is quiet, it doesn't leak oil and the kicker will start the engine even when it's hot after it's been parked on the side stand. I'll have to do some more riding to see if the fuel mileage is better but I'm done for today.

Whew!

[gene]

Second thing I did was quite the project. I installed a CBR900 choke for the ZRX1200 carb I had installed a couple months ago.


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[gene]

Well, I got a few projects out of the way. I installed 140mph speedometer. Once it stops raining I'll try it out.

[bikerphil]

Hey Mike, you can turn wrenches and you follow instructions pretty well, it was a pleasure working with you. It saved us a lot of time not having to deal with scraping off old gaskets, the competent guys at the shop did that for us. Happy riding on your new bike.

[mschor]

Success in 1st and 2nd gear repairs! Spent about 6 hours with bikerphil on our backs removing, grinding & reinstalling the gears, star washer, c-clips, oil filter bolt, and other miscellaneous parts that we found broken or laying in the oil pan from the PO's masterful repair job. Always nice to be working with a guy who says "Oh I'm pretty sure I got a spare one of those around here" every time you come across a broken or missing part that might've taken a week or two to track down! Shoutout to Phil for making it happen like clockwork.

[motoman]

Just don't go lookin' for it, and it'll strangely just come outa' hiding of the man-cave.

[tcoop]

It looks good!

The Standard fuel taps will be sitting in plain sight -- after you get back from the rally.

Yep. Happens to me every time. I go looking for something and cant find it until I buy a new one or don't need it any more.

[motoman]

Lookin' ready to go Ty!.......from backround just turn that scoot around approx. 180 degrees, hook up with Diver Ray and y'all oughta' be 'good to go' to the rally. Stay hydraded with these overly warm conds. and be safe my friend!.

[3Phase]

It looks good!

The Standard fuel taps will be sitting in plain sight -- after you get back from the rally.

[tcoop]

Got the trunk put on the bike.



It does not look like I will be changing the tank. I seem to have misplaced the petcocks for the standard tank. I'll just need to carry a gallon or so of fuel.

[3Phase]

I can't remember about your mattress, is it an Intek from a box at Walmart?

Those things never seem to fit back to their original dimensions. However they are comfy!

It's an Intec queen, it was on sale and had the air pump included in the box. The batteries cost as much as the separate air pump so it was a wash for the other mattresses without pumps but it was easier to get the one box in the tank bag and put the batteries in my jacket pocket.

I'll jump on it a few times and roll around on it, then let the air out and see how it looks.

[Bonz]

I can't remember about your mattress, is it an Intek from a box at Walmart?

Those things never seem to fit back to their original dimensions. However they are comfy!

[3Phase]

Air mattress, maybe ? Whatchoo sleeping on, Willis?

I've had the mattress inflated since I bought it to let it stretch out and make sure it doesn't leak. It doesn't leak. I have to see how it looks after it deflates and if it should roll or fold to pack it on the bike.