"Roxanne's" Stripping For Winter

[RiderInBlack]

Well having had a coolant leak since my March SI trip and an annoying cam chain rattle since Ruapuna, I have decided it is time to give "Roxanne" the big strip. I notice yesterday the coolant leak appears to be coming from between the block and the crankshaft housing (go figure ). This means the I will have to strip the engine to replace the gasket, so while I'm at it I might as well get the valves reseated, check the pistons and rings, and do the camchain and tensioner while she is in bits. Plan to do most of the work meself (can not afford the shop bill to do all this at the moment). Have stripped an old XA Falcon and a Mark2 Cortina down to get their blocks rebored and have reassembled them. Both servived and run fine afterwards. I have the Haynes workshop manual for a Honda CBR1000FL, but you will hear me swearing and cussing a bit as work on. Expect a few stupid and/or curly question being as I try to work it all out. Any recommendations will be appreciated (bar buying another bike, because I an't got the money for that ).

PS: This means that I won't be out on rides until I'm done

[RiderInBlack]

Roxanne's done about 52000Miles (about 84000Km). Don't know if she'll need the ring and piston set but?? The cam chain I'll need as it was not replaced when the tensioner was replaced at about 33000miles, and I am getting a rattle. Should the tensioner and chain be replaced as a pair? Gaskets I'll need to get rid of the coolant leak. Would it be easier and cheaper to replace the whole motor with a low Km one from the Wreckers?

[MSTRS:Me]

Rebuild or replace? Pros & cons to both. If replacement has a decent guarantee, I'd say go that way. You will at least have a shitload of spares. However, if you strip & rebuild you will know what you got & have learned shitloads..
Your choice RIB

[vifferman]

The cam chain I'll need as it was not replaced when the tensioner was replaced at about 33000miles, and I am getting a rattle. Should the tensioner and chain be replaced as a pair?

Yeah, it would pay to.
Might also pay to convert the tensioner to a manual one (in fact, you can get an APE one for less than a Honda one).

[RiderInBlack]

If she needs the ring and piston sets are there better proformance ones I should look at for the CBR1000F or should I stay standard? What are the advantages and disadvantages?

[RiderInBlack]

Well having had a coolant leak since my March SI trip.... I notice yesterday the coolant leak appears to be coming from between the block and the crankshaft housing (go figure ).

My how removing fairrings changes how a bike looks The coolant leak that I thought was between the block and the crankcase, is actually between the head and the block (had marked the leak when I spotted it but didn't get a clear look with the pieces for plastic in the road ). This makes a lot more sence. Hope the head is not warped. How can the head be checked for warping?

[XP@]

Roxanne's done about 52000Miles (about 84000Km). Don't know if she'll need the ring and piston set but?? The cam chain I'll need as it was not replaced when the tensioner was replaced at about 33000miles, and I am getting a rattle. Should the tensioner and chain be replaced as a pair? Gaskets I'll need to get rid of the coolant leak. Would it be easier and cheaper to replace the whole motor with a low Km one from the Wreckers?

We cheated a little with the gaskets, on the 600, they cleaned up nicely so we just sprayed them with gasket spray and on the first running, they seem to be ok (all the oil was pouring out of the rocker cover)
we decided that it would be better to try that approach first as it saved a couple of hundred bucks... if it failed then just need to strip the engine again...

[RiderInBlack]

Well at this stage the job list is just growing. Latest delemer is pitting on the forks. Not much but seeing I have "Roxanne" in bits and was going to repaint the fork housing, I better deal to it. I was going to 2-pot paint the fork housings as stripping them so they could be Powder-coated seemed too much hassle. As the forks are pitted I'm not got to waste the money on them as they will get replaced sometime in the near future. It the meantime I thought some temp. repair would do until I can afford replacement. Remember read some where in KB about sanding back a filling with epoxy. Could someone give me the heads up on that.

Other work being done on Roxanne:
Powder Coating both Rims and the Clutch Cover Plate (Metropolis Blue), and the Swing Arm (which is steel, Polish Alloy).

Value reseating.
New rings for pistons (the bores are good and still have some of the orginal machining marks).
Head and Block checking for level (releveling if needed).
New gasket for the up engine to be fitted.
New Camchain and tensioner to be fitted. Have look at spitting the crankcase to remone and fit the Camchain, but have put it in the too hard basket. Planet Honda have offer to split the new Camchain, fit it in the crankcase for me and rejoin it . Is this good practice? How will this effect the durability of the new Camchain?

And the list goes on.

[RiderInBlack]

Ps check for pits in the crome on the inside of the leg otherwise you will need to do it all again. Them pit can be just tiny (rub down with fine wet/dry paper
wash with sprit,fill with araldite and rud down If the pits are at the travel end think about adjusting the damping to keep away from the pit under brakes
so long as you dont mind harder suspension.
You can recrome the Legs if your rich

And This

I used crystal Araldite 5 min set but fully make sure the mix is correct.the grit was the finest they had cant recall but if it scratches the crome its too course.
dont be impatient either try to get the araldite to only fill with little excess and leave for two days before you attack it.
Throughly clean the pit first with white spirt or nail varnish remover (ask the mrs). not turps or petrol, they are oil based and will act as a barrier to the glue.It worked for me but also consider the compression damping stop point, its rare to have pits below the compression line so if you stiffen it a tad you might avoid the pit all together?

This do for a year or two while I refinance after all the other work and then replace the forks?

[RiderInBlack]

Talking to Greg at Planet Honda today. "Roxanne's" head was ever so slighty out so this, plus the fact Honda use a plastic/rubber coated steel gasket between the alloy head and block (doh), may be the cause of her coolant leak. Head and Block are being releveled. Valve and valve seat have been done. Gaskets and piston rings have arrived. Waiting for cam chain and tensioner, plus a set of piston pin circlips (should have ordered those with the piston rings, hey).

The fork houseings are looking good repainted el cheapo with VHT Flat Black in a can with a clear coat over top. Have sanded the pits on the fork arm, cleaned with brake cleaner and have applied the Araldite. Will now wait a few days for that to harden fully before sanding smooth. I am thinking abouty useing 10 weight fork oil instead of the standard 5 weight normal used for this bike to see if I can make the forks stiffer (they are not adjustables.

Short term list for "Roxanne":
Tide her up and get her back together, having fixed the coolant leak and cam chain rattle. The rims, clutch cover and swing arm are being power coated. Forks tided and fork oil replaced. Need to ether repair the exhaust collector box again or get some old pipe works from the wreckers (I don't think I will have any money left to get stainless ones do at this stage).
Hope to have this done in time for the next Rust Nut GC


Long term wish list for "Roxanne":
Fibre Glass Fairings painted Black (with blue flecks) with a progressive yellow to orange to black lightening bolt (like in the thimb nail below).

Full Stainless Steel exhaust system.

Replace suspension system with full adjustable one (ether WP or Ohins).

[Bonez]

And This

This do for a year or two while I refinance after all the other work and then replace the forks?

Ever considered fork gaiters?

[Antallica]

When was the last time you rode your steed brother?

[RiderInBlack]

When was the last time you rode your steed brother?

That would be riding escort for The Three SC Cabarliros (Jantar, Blackbird and Mangell6). Good ride that. Have had her in bits not long after that, but having a look at the weather and road condition at the moment, I'm in no hurry to put her back together yet. The longer I take the more I will be able to afford what I'm doing, and the better job I will do of it. As long as I have her back together and running smooth in time for the next Rust Nuts GC, I'll be more than happy.

If you ever want a look at what her insides are like, this is a good time for it. Cann't wait to see how the rims, and bits look like after they have been Powder Coated.

By the way, I still have your Zoo Buscuits (UN-EATTEN what's more) waiting for the next time I see you guys I've nearly given in to the temptation on more than one occation, so I don't know how much longer they will last

Are fork gaiters those ugly plastic things on the ag bike forks that look like NovaFlow pipe, Bonez?

[Antallica]

We thought those biscuits had perished in your belly!

We shall come for them, maybe next weekend when we have the cage.

[XP@]

That would be riding escort for The Three SC Cabarliros (Jantar, Blackbird and Mangell6). Good ride that. Have had her in bits not long after that, but having a look at the weather and road condition at the moment, I'm in no hurry to put her back together yet. The longer I take the more I will be able to afford what I'm doing, and the better job I will do of it. As long as I have her back together and running smooth in time for the next Rust Nuts GC, I'll be more than happy.

If you ever want a look at what her insides are like, this is a good time for it. Cann't wait to see how the rims, and bits look like after they have been Powder Coated.

By the way, I still have your Zoo Buscuits (UN-EATTEN what's more) waiting for the next time I see you guys I've nearly given in to the temptation on more than one occation, so I don't know how much longer they will last

Are fork gaiters those ugly plastic things on the ag bike forks that look like NovaFlow pipe, Bonez?

Will be good to see her on the GC!
Don't know what I will be riding on it yet... depends on how well the CBR sells