Post by JohnRogerOhanlon on Mar 30, 2011 7:26:26 GMT
With the days getting longer my thoughts are to what bike I will take to the Island this year. My son Alex, has suggested we get his old Loctite 2mg sorted. I started with it on Saturday and the first problem which WE KNEW ABOUT WAS THAT IT WAS ONLY RUNNING ON 3 (sorry hit caps lock). I thought it best to sort that first as it could have been a serious problem. It turned out that spark plug number 2 had not been fully tightened and was really loose. When I removed it i saw it had been blowing past for ages. New set of plugs and it fired up like a new bike! So I changed the oil/filter/plugs/fuel filter/coolant(drained most off and replaced with fresh) topped up hydraulics and was feeling really pleased with my efforts being a novice in the engineering department.....after all the bike only cost £250.
My thoughts were now on the badly blowing exhaust (the colector box on the 4 into one had been welded an was badly perforated). Gingerly I selected a good 10mm socket and after slackening the end can habger I proceeded on cyl. 1 to undo the patheticly small nuts on the studs. I got three lots of nuts slackened sucessfully and I was feeling even more proud of my achievements when things went pear shaped. I went to undo the nut on the last cylinde and I noticed there wasn't one even there! Oh no, I thought, hoping it had vibrated out. I undid the last nut and as the collet slipped out the worst was revealed. It had already been snapped of and there was nothing sticking out but the remaining bit was about 4mm inside! Depression came over me so I decided to meet with the FZclub's technical director for some suggestions at a mutually gareeable place-the Pub. The advise was no good; It was suggested I take the bike to a skilled mechanic who would strip it and extract the stud and then rebuild and shim the valves all together. The cost was estimated to be about £300 which I would rather spend on a paintjob to cheer the old girl up. I was even more depressed but after a couple of Guinesses I took to my bed and slept on it. The next day I remembered a mate who has worked on my car who we call Scouse Mick. I stuck the bike on the trailer and took it round to Mick's and he said ''no problem, I will weld a nut on the end and draw it out'' I left it with him hoping for the best. I will update later with the results........
My thoughts were now on the badly blowing exhaust (the colector box on the 4 into one had been welded an was badly perforated). Gingerly I selected a good 10mm socket and after slackening the end can habger I proceeded on cyl. 1 to undo the patheticly small nuts on the studs. I got three lots of nuts slackened sucessfully and I was feeling even more proud of my achievements when things went pear shaped. I went to undo the nut on the last cylinde and I noticed there wasn't one even there! Oh no, I thought, hoping it had vibrated out. I undid the last nut and as the collet slipped out the worst was revealed. It had already been snapped of and there was nothing sticking out but the remaining bit was about 4mm inside! Depression came over me so I decided to meet with the FZclub's technical director for some suggestions at a mutually gareeable place-the Pub. The advise was no good; It was suggested I take the bike to a skilled mechanic who would strip it and extract the stud and then rebuild and shim the valves all together. The cost was estimated to be about £300 which I would rather spend on a paintjob to cheer the old girl up. I was even more depressed but after a couple of Guinesses I took to my bed and slept on it. The next day I remembered a mate who has worked on my car who we call Scouse Mick. I stuck the bike on the trailer and took it round to Mick's and he said ''no problem, I will weld a nut on the end and draw it out'' I left it with him hoping for the best. I will update later with the results........