F@#*ing bike

**MacD** · 21st April 2004, 12:06

Originally Posted by F5 Dave

Another thing is apparently the thermostat is very cold at 76.5 deg, most bikes are 82 ish or higher. I am experimenting with trying a 91 deg one soon.

I'll be interested to hear how you go with this experiment. When I first got my RF900 it was running so cool I wondered if either the thermostat was stuck open or missing so I pulled the housing apart to check. Sure enough there was a perfectly functional thermostat in place. On the open road the bike tends to cool down a lot. The only time the temperature seems to rise is when I'm sitting in traffic.

I also developed a problem with it missing on idle during all that rain in February (I commute on the bike) which I fixed by spraying the coils with lots of CRC. I noticed one of my coils had been replaced too.

:raghead:

**F5 Dave** · 21st April 2004, 12:43

Yeah 76.5 degrees with FIVE holes drilled in it is hardly operational eh?

Will let you know how it goes after the weekend hopefully.

**ManDownUnder** · 21st April 2004, 13:04

Lou,

I don't know how to fix the prob but coil sounds like a likely start. I have the manual for all RF900s 94 through 99 (I think)... complete with parts listing if that helps. You're welcome to borrow them and I'll drop them by the shop if needed.

They are a faxed and scanned page so the quality isn't 100% (ok, close to 30% at times) but the words are all there.

I had problems with mine after sitting outside for a while - the number4 plug had the top thread rusting (I guess the hollow it sits in must have filled with water at some point!?!). Not good... just spent 500 on it getting a B Schedule service at Red Baron and it purs now! 110ps on the dyno which is ok (or really good?) I dunno.

It's still heaps fast enough to put be into the roadside shrubbery

MDU

**Big Dog** · 21st April 2004, 17:11

Originally Posted by ManDownUnder

just spent 500 on it getting a B Schedule service at Red Baron and it purs now! 110ps on the dyno which is ok (or really good?) I dunno.

MMMM difference between before and after for mine was like satin and silk. It was good and smooth before but its seamless now!

105ps + or - = 78KW /107hp according to the exchange rate listed in a old Superbike mag, I remember it cos mine is 105.

**Lou Girardin** · 22nd April 2004, 06:52

Thanks MDU, I've got a manual. I've been told how to drill out the pilot screw blanking plugs and adjust the idle mixture, so I'll try that too.
110ps sounds healthy.
Lou

**Motu** · 22nd April 2004, 08:07

Geez,it's still got blanking plugs on the mixture screws? Everything,car or bike was made to run super lean after about 1980 with blanks or tamper proof adjusters.Any wear or aging and it all goes to shit - we hate carbs now,we can't fix them.We just plead ignorance and tell them to go to a real mechanic.Popping on the overrun means it's running lean,gives a crap idle too - do an idle mixture adjustment.Bear in mind the mixture scew only controls a small portion of the idle mixture,you might not be able to tune it out.

My XLV750 snap crackles and pops something fearful - I like it.

**ManDownUnder** · 22nd April 2004, 08:55

Originally Posted by Lou Girardin

Thanks MDU, I've got a manual. I've been told how to drill out the pilot screw blanking plugs and adjust the idle mixture, so I'll try that too.
110ps sounds healthy.
Lou

No worries, I figured you'd have access to all the books and bits you'd need at work ...

Not sure how 110ps rates but I know the thing idles smooth as baby's bum even when cold now all the carbies are balanced up (and no - you can't have mine...)

MDU

**F5 Dave** · 22nd April 2004, 09:27

I've posted my thermostat experiment

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...0739#post40739

**Lou Girardin** · 26th April 2004, 07:05

Cracked it! Jeez. I feel stupid, when I cleaned the carbs the first time, I blew out the needle valve jets but didn't strip them. This time I did, there was some type of fibrous material clogging the two outer carbs and starving it for gas at certain times.
Whatever this stuff is, it got past the two lots of filters.

**Posh Tourer :P** · 26th April 2004, 16:52

Well done

I take it you've run it and tested that cleaning that out worked.....

**F5 Dave** · 26th April 2004, 17:08

Hmm, [puts on suspicious hat]. I wonder if at some stage someone has tried to resin the tank to prevent rusting tank syndrome? a common Suzuki ailment.

**Lou Girardin** · 26th April 2004, 20:28

The techs at work say that it is sediment from dirty gas station tanks. Considering that I only fill at 2 gas stations, it looks like a change is due.
Lou