2039 replies to this topic

[weantright TT Titanium Member]

Anyone going to the bike show?

[markey TT Bronze Member]

weantright, on 23 January 2012 - 05:39 AM, said:

Anyone going to the bike show?

Ah yes, the waste-your-money-to-look-at-chrome show.  I end up going every year and complaining afterwards that I just wasted my $ and my day.  Last year I didnt even see a KTM display.

Of course I am going...wouldn't miss it!  

Probably Friday night...you?  Free parking if you ride your bike...who's in?  

[weantright TT Titanium Member]

Looking at Saturday.

[ScienceOfDirt TT Bronze Member]

Saturday for me as well.Anyone got some assless leather chaps I could borrow to wear? I think I'd fit in with the crowd better then.

Edited by ScienceOfDirt, 25 January 2012 - 06:51 PM.

[runmikeyrun TT Silver Member]

slipped to page 2, for shame!!!

Well, I'm still waiting for Bikebandit to credit me when I sent back the (incorrect) rings so I can order the right ones... grrr... could have been riding this whole time!

On a more positive note, I borrowed a valve spring compressor from Auto Zone today and replaced my valve seals.  Slowly but surely I might have my bike back together by Christmas.

[ScienceOfDirt TT Bronze Member]

There's a vintage swap meet at the Medina County Fairgrounds next Saturday from 9 to 3 if anyone's interested. I'll probably be headed there in the afternoon if anyone wants to get lunch. I rode there last year, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen this time.

Edited by ScienceOfDirt, 11 February 2012 - 07:19 PM.

[Goggles Pisano TT Silver Member]

I would go as long as you're not wearing your assless chaps, LOL.

[runmikeyrun TT Silver Member]

Goggles that literally made me LOL.

I would go if I didn't have school

[Goebz TT Addict]

It was lame as usual. Haven't been here for  awhile. lots of changes.

Bad news I get to miss Dealer Expo in INdy for firs time on 5 Years. Good news buddy in Kansas City Area opening new store and I get to help with Design

[ScienceOfDirt TT Bronze Member]

Goggles Pisano, on 13 February 2012 - 09:45 AM, said:

I would go as long as you're not wearing your assless chaps, LOL.

OK- no chaps. I'll be there early. I have something in the afternoon. I'm riding if it doesn't rain. PM or text if you want to try and meet up.

[runmikeyrun TT Silver Member]

picked one on these up on ebay yesterday: $50, not bad at all.

[weantright TT Titanium Member]

Did you get your bike back together?

[runmikeyrun TT Silver Member]

I did, i've got about 30 miles on the rebuild.  It was taking a while to warm up and idle without dying, but I think that's because it was only 40 degrees.  So far it's running strong, nice and quiet.

[markey TT Bronze Member]

RMR, did you do any work with the piston when you had your bike apart?  I finally got to replacing my piston, next step is cleaning the cylinder before I put the new 250R cylinder head on.  What did you use to clean your cylinder?  Some threads I read say to use soapy water, others to use non-detergent oil or ATF.

I am in uncharted territory here, just hoping I don't end up with too many extra parts when I put everything back together!

[runmikeyrun TT Silver Member]

markey, on 02 March 2012 - 03:32 PM, said:

RMR, did you do any work with the piston when you had your bike apart?  I finally got to replacing my piston, next step is cleaning the cylinder before I put the new 250R cylinder head on.  What did you use to clean your cylinder?  Some threads I read say to use soapy water, others to use non-detergent oil or ATF.

I am in uncharted territory here, just hoping I don't end up with too many extra parts when I put everything back together!

I just used a clean shop rag that had no lint on it, lightly oiled with motor oil.  I would never feel comfortable putting water inside an engine.  I put engine assembly lube on everything, except the rings and piston skirt which I liberally painted with motor oil.  It sure smoked a lot for a minute or two as all that oil and assembly lube burned off!  One thing I did NOT do because I was afraid of screwing it up was to deglaze the cylinder with a fine hone.  I know you can borrow them from auto zone but I was afraid of screwing it up and having to buy a new jug.  I am hoping my rings seat ok despite not doing that.  Besides, there's only 10k miles on my bike, it can't be too bad as far as glaze goes.

I did de-carbon my piston and combustion chamber.  My bike had been burning oil for a few thousand miles and there was a good amount on everything in there.  I scraped it clean and then lightly sanded any scrapes out with 600 grit sandpaper.  I made sure to stay away from the edge of the combustion chamber and valve seats.

I have read in many places (internet, magazines) that you should use conventional motor oil to break in an engine, because synthetic is too slippery (for lack of a better term) and will not properly seat rings.  When I went through Chevy School in the late 90s, they told us to run engine rebuilds on conventional oil until the first oil change for the same reason.  I'm not a chemical engineer by any means, but in its simplest form it does seem to make sense.  So I am running dead dinosaurs for the first 300 miles, then going back to the AMSOil.

Don't feel bad, I ended up with an extra bolt that looked like it should be used for mounting the engine in the frame, but all my mounting holes have bolts in them.  Hmmm... lol  Maybe it was already lying on my bench before I started the rebuild?  Yeah, that must be it.  

Good luck and let us know when she's up and running again!

Edited by runmikeyrun, 04 March 2012 - 09:28 PM.

[Goggles Pisano TT Silver Member]

Anyone riding this weekend? Weather looks decent. Looking even better for St. Patrick's day...

[bills442 TT Silver Member]

I am going dirt only riding at Wellsville Sunday.

I could maybe be lured out for something local dual sport Saturday, if the DR350 will fire up reliably.  I havn't had it out for a dual sport run yet this year.

I cruzed by the CAK the other day in the cage, some fun riding hidden there, but I noticed they dozed up some huge dirt piles on many of the access points ... definitely only DP accessible now.

[ScienceOfDirt TT Bronze Member]

Goggles Pisano, on 08 March 2012 - 09:05 AM, said:

Anyone riding this weekend? Weather looks decent. Looking even better for St. Patrick's day...

Yes. How's the job working out? Are you riding local, or heading back down south some?

[Goggles Pisano TT Silver Member]

ScienceOfDirt, on 09 March 2012 - 08:33 PM, said:

How's the job working out?

The job is going well, thanks. It's a lot of work which prevents me from wasting too much time on the internet...

ScienceOfDirt, on 09 March 2012 - 08:33 PM, said:

Are you riding local, or heading back down south some?

I did a little off-roading on Sunday - mostly around North Royalton. Too busy looking at houses to ride much. Last Saturday I found "The House." Perfect little place in a great 'hood at a great price. Too perfect as it turned out when i got a call two hours later telling me the house was just sold. They were probably signing the papers while I was looking at the place.




So my search continues...

[runmikeyrun TT Silver Member]

sorry about your house... but there's tons out there.  You'll find one!

I've got a little tinkering to do with my XR but I hope to be in good shape in a couple days.  Spending the weekend at school and with my brother who is in town.  Should be back in action next week.