Projects At Home During Lockdown

**Ian Staples** · 9th April 2020, 18:08

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

Do you want a GSX Suzuki vacuum tap. I've probably got a few & they're quite compact. That way you will only need to reach it occasionally.
Have to say, as custom bikes go, the Warlord is a pretty cool chopper & one I would be very happy to see in my basement.

That could be a very good option thanks . Where does the vacuum feed normally come from ? is it the hole/port in the intake runner of the head ? from memory it is, the carb balancing fittings . Have you got a photo of a gsx tap please bob

**sidecar bob** · 9th April 2020, 18:14

Something like this.
https://www.google.com/search?q=gs+1...ZJRSE6o7DHiRxM
On Suzuki carbs, one of them has a vacuum outlet. You could make a spigot on a carb balancing plug. Only needs a vac signal from one carb.

**Bonez** · 9th April 2020, 18:30

Get a later model with a bigger tap lever or that era Honda dohc 750/900 tap. Far easier to use with gloves on while on the move.....EMGO also have a large varity of fue\l tapsat fairly reasonable prices- http://www.emgo.com/index.php/catalogs Any decent m/c dealer should be able to get the parts if you give them the correct part number.

I've had Sukuki fuel taps fail and dump fuel into the crank case. Pain in the arse because when you remove the tank to fix it there is no OFF position and fuel gets every were if you don't cap the outlet tube.

**geezagillard** · 9th April 2020, 18:33

Originally Posted by Gearup

Very nice job.

Machinery House lift table?

Yes! Good spotting

**geezagillard** · 9th April 2020, 18:37

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

My Stan Stephen's story.
A couple of years ago I got picked up from Gatwick by the team P.R bloke Harley Stephens, we went a short distance in his van & stopped for lunch at a pub, we got yarning about all things motorbike as expected & he mentioned that his dad was an engine tuner.
Yep, turned out it was Stan's son.
It was a very interesting afternoon.

What media did you treat the alloy cases with to get that kind of finish?

It’s a level down from sand but I don’t remember which one but it doesn’t alter the surface so cleans up gasket surfaces and still eliminates corrosion albeit a bit slower. Good story.

**jellywrestler** · 9th April 2020, 19:14

Originally Posted by Ian Staples

That could be a very good option thanks . Where does the vacuum feed normally come from ? is it the hole/port in the intake runner of the head ? from memory it is, the carb balancing fittings . Have you got a photo of a gsx tap please bob

if there's nowhere on the carbs for a vacuum take a feed from the exhaust pipe.

**jellywrestler** · 9th April 2020, 19:19

Originally Posted by Ian Staples

as per most specials or custom built bikes. things can get a bit squeezed for room ( I hate the word custom because it brings up images choppers with hardly dangerous motors and spider web frame gussets and wanky skulls all over it ) I cannot really fit a fuel tap in the usual place so I am looking at putting it right on the center line of the tank . I need a fuel tap with an 8mm hose barb pointing downward and all of the ones on TM look Chinese and nasty and I am a bit reluctant to set fire to my new bike due to a leaky fuel tap.

the tap doesn't have to be on the tank, maybe run a hose to a frame mounted tap?, won't give you a reserve option though

**Ian Staples** · 9th April 2020, 19:26

Originally Posted by jellywrestler

the tap doesn't have to be on the tank, maybe run a hose to a frame mounted tap?, won't give you a reserve option though

I will check tomorrow ( at work at the moment) regarding the vacuum port in the head or carbs . I am using cr33s so I doubt they will have one . pretty sure the tap on the tank will be the way to go although I won't be able to get to it while riding .

**Grumph** · 9th April 2020, 19:43

Originally Posted by Ian Staples

as per most specials or custom built bikes. things can get a bit squeezed for room ( I hate the word custom because it brings up images choppers with hardly dangerous motors and spider web frame gussets and wanky skulls all over it ) I cannot really fit a fuel tap in the usual place so I am looking at putting it right on the center line of the tank . I need a fuel tap with an 8mm hose barb pointing downward and all of the ones on TM look Chinese and nasty and I am a bit reluctant to set fire to my new bike due to a leaky fuel tap.

I've used the 5/16 version of the industrial/agricultural inline tap on two bikes now. Yes, cheap looking, red and black plastic. But rugged. Semi flexible plastic. And they don't leak.

If you're only sleeping during power cuts, that explains the speed of working.....But can I point out FYI that the holes in the chassis of the Stanton Corvette - some of which are quite large - were cut by hand during power cuts using lantern light.....

I've neber been sure how to take Spyda's pushing of using exhaust pressure variations to pump fuel.....the consequences of a diaphragm failure would be spectacular.

**sidecar bob** · 9th April 2020, 20:04

Originally Posted by Ian Staples

I will check tomorrow ( at work at the moment) regarding the vacuum port in the head or carbs . I am using cr33s so I doubt they will have one . pretty sure the tap on the tank will be the way to go although I won't be able to get to it while riding .

You could use a RG400/500 fuel tap.
They have a universal joint & the operating handle is mounted remote.
https://www.google.com/search?q=rg50...gx9rx-WtBdQJoM

**pete376403** · 9th April 2020, 20:59

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

Don't waste your time pulling the cam cover, unless it's for another reason.
Wind up oil pressure on the starter. It all gets to the important bits if you do that.
You will do no harm to it with plugs out & no load at starter rpm.

Pulled the cover as I want to check the clearances anyway and, dry as a bone up there. No corrosion so that's good. Hope the crank is as good
. When I parked it I put oil down the plug holes and refitted the plugs with anti seize, removed the exhaust and pushed oily rag into the ex ports and plugged the ports with plastic drain pipe caps - exactly the right size. Didnt do much on the inlet side other than drain the carbs, and re-oil the K&N filter. And put about a litre of oil in the (drained) fuel tank. No corrosion round the bottom seam, sopefully it jasn't stuffed the fuel gauge sender.

**F5 Dave** · 9th April 2020, 21:18

Originally Posted by sidecar bob

I've got the Katana as good as it's going to get before the shops open again, so I went downstairs to work on the RS125 today as planned.
I moved the MV to get the RS out, I guess I don't have to explain attention deficit to a few people on here

I thought, I'll change the gas & charge the battery & fire it up, anyway, 6 hours later. . . .
Plenty of alloy to polish

Its constructed like a heavy duty bicycle by someone that saw an old bicycle in the dark once.
They kind of messed up with the engine too, it had the potential, to be a thing of beauty. . . .its not.
That doesn't stop it being a lovely wee bike on the whole.

RS125 you say?. Always keen to see a real race bike.