paddy
11th January 2009, 10:54
Hey, I'm pretty new around here (I just finished introducing myself in the New members form). I'm not sure if this is better here or in the MX section; however, here goes.
I just bought a 1988 Yamaha TT400. I know next to nothing about bikes and have a few questions:
1) The clutch on the bike is really, very stiff (I suspect this is mainly due to a very old looking clutch cable). It definitely works as you can sit the bike stationary in first with the clutch disengaged (you can also stall the bike in first the same way). Because of all of this, I happened to notice that the bike will change gear quite happily (both up and down) with no clutch use whatsoever. It doesn't seem to need the revs to be equalised with the final drive speed to facilitate this. The changes seem as smooth as those performed with the clutch. I guess my question is this: is this really bad for the gearbox?
2) Is 91 octane an appropriate fuel for this age of bike? Do I need to be adding a lead substitute?
3) The bike is quite hard to start when it is hot. I have read a little about "hot starts" but have been unable to determine what they (mechanically) do. I notice the engine has a small lever on the left hand side of the carburettor. It has a two pronged slide that pulls a (spring loaded?) brass pin from the side of the carb. The lever looks like it is designed to have a cable attached. Could this be a hot start? What exactly does it do/how do you use it? Could it be anything else? Are there any other tips for starting a hot engine?
Thanks!
I just bought a 1988 Yamaha TT400. I know next to nothing about bikes and have a few questions:
1) The clutch on the bike is really, very stiff (I suspect this is mainly due to a very old looking clutch cable). It definitely works as you can sit the bike stationary in first with the clutch disengaged (you can also stall the bike in first the same way). Because of all of this, I happened to notice that the bike will change gear quite happily (both up and down) with no clutch use whatsoever. It doesn't seem to need the revs to be equalised with the final drive speed to facilitate this. The changes seem as smooth as those performed with the clutch. I guess my question is this: is this really bad for the gearbox?
2) Is 91 octane an appropriate fuel for this age of bike? Do I need to be adding a lead substitute?
3) The bike is quite hard to start when it is hot. I have read a little about "hot starts" but have been unable to determine what they (mechanically) do. I notice the engine has a small lever on the left hand side of the carburettor. It has a two pronged slide that pulls a (spring loaded?) brass pin from the side of the carb. The lever looks like it is designed to have a cable attached. Could this be a hot start? What exactly does it do/how do you use it? Could it be anything else? Are there any other tips for starting a hot engine?
Thanks!