So I had this sweet camping trip planned to go to arrowhead and survey a certain Adopt-A-Trail singletrack.
I had planned for my top end gasket set to arrive just prior to leaving. Fingers crossed!
It came right on time and I assembled the engine and installed it in the cradle in about an hour. Threw the WR and KDX in the back of the truck and off we went. I didn't care, I was going to have a good time.
First off, I forget my Gopro and the back up batteries of the camera I did bring.
In frustration I slice my index finger wide open on my rear fairings in a "smooth move."
Once the bleeding stops and I weld my flesh back on naturally, I start my bike for the first time since the top end job. Kicks over smoothly and fires right up. Suddenly the engine dies uncontrollably. What?!?
It won't start again unless I give it 3/4 throttle and it only gives 2K rpms... which is not prescribed for break in... I notice a leak at the base gasket. Small bubbles, but enough to give concern. It's dark and I am more interested in beers/fire than riding in the dark on the first night. To the campfire I go to warm up. I think it got down to 10 degrees wednesday night.
Next morning, same thing. Bike starts with choke, then dies. Then it'll only start with a 3/4 throttle and the engine speed can't be greater than 2K. Stop all that nonsense, I'm fixing the base gasket!
I get the engine out and cylinder off. I left the cylinder head on, as the metal gasket shouldn't be disturbed once seated. Apparently I forgot to remove some of the old gasket material.
So once cleaned up I reassembled and tried again.... Same problem. Time to pull the carburetor.
Lunchtime and chores in between I'm back at it. Carb off, pulling the slide out, I drop the carburetor and it snaps the jet needle in half...
Sweet. What else can I do to NOT ride...
I pull the needle from another 38mm mikuni I happen to have and It's taper looks similar. I'll give it a try.
Pull the bowl off the carb and out falls the idle jet.
At least I now know why it was acting up.
Screwed that bad boy back in with proper torque and re-installed carb with improvised needle. First kick, we're idling perfect and the engine revs so snappy. It's wicked.
Following the break in procedures found here > http://www.lasleeve.com/documents/2-stroke-break-in-procedures.pdf I got to the point where I ride it for a while. Now it's getting closer to nighttime and a few buddies have rolled into camp and we have began to party. 2 days and no riding... oh well, I'm having a great time!
Last day and the bike is ready to try. I roll out, geared up, ready to ride. Warm her up and click into gear with my brother riding his KDX. Off we Go! The different needle made it sort of hard to ride but it was doable. We got about 6 miles out and mike's bike stops shifting. He's got a stripped shift shaft and no amount of torque can cinch it down! So we vise grip him into 2nd and head back. He struggles with a few hills (not being able to downshift) and it took about 1.5 hrs to get back.
Despite all this trouble, I managed to get 3 full days of GOOD TIMES in also! -BIG DAN
I had planned for my top end gasket set to arrive just prior to leaving. Fingers crossed!
It came right on time and I assembled the engine and installed it in the cradle in about an hour. Threw the WR and KDX in the back of the truck and off we went. I didn't care, I was going to have a good time.
First off, I forget my Gopro and the back up batteries of the camera I did bring.
In frustration I slice my index finger wide open on my rear fairings in a "smooth move."
Once the bleeding stops and I weld my flesh back on naturally, I start my bike for the first time since the top end job. Kicks over smoothly and fires right up. Suddenly the engine dies uncontrollably. What?!?
It won't start again unless I give it 3/4 throttle and it only gives 2K rpms... which is not prescribed for break in... I notice a leak at the base gasket. Small bubbles, but enough to give concern. It's dark and I am more interested in beers/fire than riding in the dark on the first night. To the campfire I go to warm up. I think it got down to 10 degrees wednesday night.
Next morning, same thing. Bike starts with choke, then dies. Then it'll only start with a 3/4 throttle and the engine speed can't be greater than 2K. Stop all that nonsense, I'm fixing the base gasket!
I get the engine out and cylinder off. I left the cylinder head on, as the metal gasket shouldn't be disturbed once seated. Apparently I forgot to remove some of the old gasket material.
So once cleaned up I reassembled and tried again.... Same problem. Time to pull the carburetor.
Lunchtime and chores in between I'm back at it. Carb off, pulling the slide out, I drop the carburetor and it snaps the jet needle in half...
Sweet. What else can I do to NOT ride...I pull the needle from another 38mm mikuni I happen to have and It's taper looks similar. I'll give it a try.
Pull the bowl off the carb and out falls the idle jet.
At least I now know why it was acting up. Screwed that bad boy back in with proper torque and re-installed carb with improvised needle. First kick, we're idling perfect and the engine revs so snappy. It's wicked.Following the break in procedures found here > http://www.lasleeve.com/documents/2-stroke-break-in-procedures.pdf I got to the point where I ride it for a while. Now it's getting closer to nighttime and a few buddies have rolled into camp and we have began to party. 2 days and no riding... oh well, I'm having a great time!
Last day and the bike is ready to try. I roll out, geared up, ready to ride. Warm her up and click into gear with my brother riding his KDX. Off we Go! The different needle made it sort of hard to ride but it was doable. We got about 6 miles out and mike's bike stops shifting. He's got a stripped shift shaft and no amount of torque can cinch it down! So we vise grip him into 2nd and head back. He struggles with a few hills (not being able to downshift) and it took about 1.5 hrs to get back.
Despite all this trouble, I managed to get 3 full days of GOOD TIMES in also! -BIG DAN
