FXR150 camshaft/head issues

**Damien_Toman** · 27th April 2010, 22:51

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dty1/se...414899/detail/

As you can see from the photos, my FXR150 camshaft to head interface has issues - just about to seize. I change the oil after every meeting so that is probably why it was still running. It did seem a bit down on power but it is heavy with battery, electric start, speedo etc. and my weight!). The bolts in the central head region were loose, with the one right of the plug socket sheered - it was very short and Brendan (ChCh) says it should not be. I am looking for some solution options. My local cylinder head experts can fix all this at a significant price but recommend that I look for a new (old) head, race cam and high compression piston/rings - overbored versions if possible (after all this trouble I want it to go faster

).

Brendan is currently looking into options. I would like to have the bike ready for racing mid May. Any ideas or suggestion?

**Damien_Toman** · 27th April 2010, 23:20

Henk has already offered to help with a spare engine if I can't find a solution in time (as long as he has the bits to rebuild his main engine in time). Henk should next focus on solving the world's problems - he certainly always seems to have a way to fix all bike problems

. Much appreciated Henk, as always.

I'm still interested in any other suggestions or advice to fix my FXR problems.

**Arronduke** · 28th April 2010, 05:27

You were lucky to find it when you did... what made you pull the head off?

Nothing like stripping and rebuilding a motor yourself so you know it is all ok and not been screwed with by some one who has no idea....

make it go faster...LOL

**Henk** · 28th April 2010, 08:22

Throw in three extra base gaskets and put in a 5kg flywheel weight to get smoother power out of corners? Oh wait that will help my performance, not yours.

**woodyracer** · 28th April 2010, 10:36

i thoguht you and your bike was fast enough without cam and piston mod coming....ahahahah makes me feel like im bringin a knife to a gun fight
you'll have power on your side this yearthe TRRS.

**jasonu** · 28th April 2010, 12:48

Buy a 2 stroke, that will cure all of the afore mentioned issues.

**Buckets4Me** · 28th April 2010, 19:20

Originally Posted by jasonu

Buy a 2 stroke, that will cure all of the afore mentioned issues.

I was going to say throw the cam away it only slowes you down

**Henk** · 28th April 2010, 19:36

Yep the stinkwheels have certainly been kicking the diesels into touch at Mt Wellington lately.

**richban** · 28th April 2010, 19:51

Interesting. I have played with 2 different FXR engines and both have shown unusual wear on the middle intake cam and head surface. Yours makes 3. I always make sure my oil level is almost spilling out the top. I checked the cam and head after Taupo and it seemed ok but it still seems strange. Sounds like some one has been playing in your engine before you got it with the bolt issues. You really have to make sure the cams spin free when torquing them down. If you want to make it go faster the question is really how much money do you want to spend. I put a $30 2mm oversize standard piston in my engine 156cc still in the rules. Tuned the carb and exhaust and it freshened it up heaps. Or you can do what I am going to do to the same engine and stroke it longer with a standard piston to get the same 156cc but it means splitting the engine and a stroker pin in the crank. Maybe $400 if you do all the assembly work yourself. Then you might as well lighten the crank, more dosh.

**bucketracer** · 28th April 2010, 19:52

Originally Posted by Henk

Yep the stinkwheels have certainly been kicking the diesels into touch at Mt Wellington lately.

Get one of these beauties and all your problems are over.....

....30hp 2-smoker........with none of that 4-stroke complication.

**richban** · 28th April 2010, 19:58

Originally Posted by Henk

Yep the stinkwheels have certainly been kicking the diesels into touch at Mt Wellington lately.

Say it isn't so. say it!!!

**woodyracer** · 28th April 2010, 20:01

Originally Posted by bucketracer

Get one of these beauties and all your problems are over.....

....30hp 2-smoker..............non of that undernourished fragile 4-stroke complication.

looks like a RC car engine......12cc isnt it??? ahahahhah

**Damien_Toman** · 28th April 2010, 20:20

Good question Aaronduke! I wanted to check it out, re-grind valves, clean up ports, replace rings and piston if necessary etc. I'd never looked inside an FXR before. I feel better about engines that I have worked on. Glad I checked.

**Damien_Toman** · 28th April 2010, 20:27

Originally Posted by Henk

Throw in three extra base gaskets and put in a 5kg flywheel weight to get smoother power out of corners? Oh wait that will help my performance, not yours.

With the way you are catching up (on our race positions and wine side-bet) I need to make my bike go faster to try to stay ahead!

**Damien_Toman** · 28th April 2010, 20:30

Originally Posted by woodyracer

i thoguht you and your bike was fast enough without cam and piston mod coming....ahahahah makes me feel like im bringin a knife to a gun fight
you'll have power on your side this yearthe TRRS.

If you use your 125 bucket at TRSS, don't try too hard, and I manage to make my bike go faster, then I have a small chance

.