What Did You Did To Your Motobrick Today ?

[TimTyler]

It's crazy how a couple degrees makes that much difference.

[bocutter Ed]

Did found a bit of unobtainium. In virtually unmolested factory primer. Only $200cdn.  :yes

Search leads me to believe it's for a K1.

[Shiny]

Mine runs strong, pulls like a freight train, idles perfect, for me being use to a slightly hotted old R90S, this K is a power stroker.  It had some strange things entered on old service records that have been rectified.  Valves were way out of spec, way too tight.  All dealer maintenance previous to me.  So, like any new used bike, have slowly gone through every bit.  After all, it's a machine, it was put together, can be taken apart and fixed. 

Last winter tore into it, put '87 front on with the nice integral brace.  Swapped out TBs, ECU, FICU, new HES, always following the niggling problem of that tick tick tick once it got warmed up.  Cold at start up, smooth as glass right through rpms.

All warmed up, feel it in the bars, just a little knock, hard to describe.  In neutral after a ride, twist the throttle up, 2-3-4-5k, and it almost seems like an ignition problem?  So, I think a lot about it.  New plugs, new wires, plugs always way nice color.  Gonna check the coils again tonight after dark, just for fun.  It's like a hobby, a mystery.  Ran very, I mean carbon black pipe rich.  Did lean drop routine and backed off the mixture.  Didn't stop the tick.

So now I'm thinking maybe just maybe there's a leaking valve or two since they were so tight.  Just glad I got something I like to do. 

Forgot to mention, compression is 161,153,156,156.

Just a thought, but pre-detonation due to lean-ness... Is your altitude plug connected?

I like your thought that an always open valve allows detonation in the exhaust manifold, have you pulled it off to check? I assume you'd be able to see evidence.

[Nine80seven]

Thanx for the tip.  Been riding this KRS last two years as going through it bit by bit.  Haven't ridden it much, like a trip to the coast.  Although I'm sure I could just ride the crap outta it, I'm more curious to make it run right.  It's like a complex puzzle.  Check this, change out that, etc., go mow the lawn, get the groceries, pop a brewsky it's 4PM. 

Last evening changed out fuel filter just because hadn't done it yet.  Altitude plug out.  The leaky valve idea has always been in the back of my mind, just that it's a big job.  Will swap heads this winter, however, since I have done about everything except put in a reconditioned head.  The head currently on the bike is the original '84 stamped with recent adjusted valves having zero adjustment left.  That's when the shims are down to 2mm. 

As stated before, was very black carbon rich when I got it.  As everyone says, old bricks are rich running.  So I did the lean drop routine to get it back to proper CO mix.  I'll know next spring how the '89 reconditioned head works out.  Till then, well, I'm going for a quick spin right now. 
So, I think this motor was ridden pretty hard, as it would have been cause they're slab crunchers, and the valves at some point, when not adjusted in spec. May have been burned.  That's why maybe at cold start up things are copesthetic, perfect, and then when hot the irregular popping is detectable.  No popping on deceleration, TPS works fine, unless I want to make it pop. Somewhere I read the early heads may or may not have needed leaded gas?  Don't know that one for sure. 

[Martin]

Because compression gauges vary in quality and accuracy, it is more important to look at the variations between cylinders. A variation of 8 Psi is acceptable. If you had a leaking valve the variation would be a lot higher.
Regards Martin.

[Vespa no more]

Had a thought that maybe there is a call for a link

"What my Motobrick did to me today"

Bought two more bloody bikes and had to stash them at my mate's place - to keep them from my wife.

Pathetic.

Not the basic for a happy and health marriage - though I can't help feeling a little please with the whole mission.

Anyone else care to confess moments of madness?

Regards

Guy

[bizzaro]

 :2thumbup: Beautiful!  I am Looking at a K75 and a K11.  I want them both. Somehow I am holding myself back,(mostly lack of funds and no garage to store them).   :musicboohoo:

[TrueAce]

Guilty pleasures are the sweetest. Get creative on your  storage schemes, the challenge is to prove how clever you are. If you get discovered, what's the worse that can happen? You just put your foot down " me bikes are staying and that's final!".

[bizzaro]

Hey Ace, to set the record straight, when I tested my recalibrated speedo at 100mph; Holding two GPS's going 100 wasn't the hard part. It was taking the photo of all three right as they all hit that magic number! :yow :2thumbup:

[TrueAce]

Now that takes skill............but you can get tips from TimTyler who takes pics while riding backwards of riders behind him at 80mph! THAT takes balls! And his shots are focused, centered, great!
Personally, I have never understood the fascination with GPS, radar detectors, speedometers, and electronic gizmos like trackers..........my motorcycles have one direction and one speed, "GO" and FAST". You can figure out how to get back after you get "THERE".

[Chaos]

Personally, I have never understood the fascination with GPS, radar detectors, speedometers, and electronic gizmos like trackers.........

+1    Speedo, odo, tach, clock. And they don't work all the time.  I ride to get away from being in touch with stuff that doesn't matter!

[DavidATL]

What did I do to my motobrick today? I filled it up and tried out a 100 mile loop west and south of Atlanta. Stopped at the half way point for coffee at the Waffle House in Newnan. That's a good way to start the day. :-)

[TrueAce]

That's a COOL way to start your day! A lot of cities have great loop systems, how many folks have "Looped The Loop" of their cities?

[K1300S]

That's a COOL way to start your day! A lot of cities have great loop systems, how many folks have "Looped The Loop" of their cities?

there is a loop around washington dc, but it is the last place you want to be on a bike.  i avoid it like the plague.  traffic and lunatics.

[DavidATL]

there is a loop around washington dc, but it is the last place you want to be on a bike.  i avoid it like the plague.  traffic and lunatics.

Same with 285 around Atlanta and 440 and someday 540 around Raleigh. I've done it when I had to but only after several prayers.

[bizzaro]

So having damaged my lower right trim panel in a little ditty I had with a greasy wet dirt road,  I finally got around to removing all the lower panels.  I have decided this will be my new Summer trim! :clap: It is much cooler and a bit lighter.  I really like it.  So this will be my Summer "look".  The only downside I see so far is a little more vibration trickling up to the bars and tank.  I guess the fairing must have absorbed some the the engine vibe.  It feels GREAT to have a breeze on your legs in the heat! :riding: I do have to fashion some kind of protection for my radiator.

Also during a compression test today my starter stopped engaging the engine(like the sprague clutch was slipping).  Then the starter stopped even spinning at all.  No power to the starter.  Push the starter and nothing.  So I commenced to removing the trim panels(about 45 minutes).  When I was done, I hooked the gas pump back up, and it started right up like nothing had happened.  Took her for a spin with the "new look". Bottle of magic juice, tune up in a bottle (Techron) and some non ethyl 91. Yeehaw!!! :riding:

So any guesses as to why the starter quit? And in sequence of the sprague, then the starter altogether.  If the gas pump runs dry, does that shut anything down?  I was double testing it with two compression testers. (test was not good by the way, about 100PSI all around. I have got to get the valve cover off and check the valve clearance's soon.)I started doing the wet test,(squirt a bit of oil in the cylinder), and on the second cylinder is when the starter went stupid? :dunno2:

[Laitch]

So any guesses as to why the starter quit?

Your bike's battery is weak, its connections are loose, both, or Satan took momentary possession of your bike and was driven from it by your touch which will become a potential source of income for you as you travel across this great land setting up your tent to which Brick owners will bring their ailing bikes to have them restored by the laying on of your hands.

[bizzaro]

Laitch, you crack me up! :hehehe  Just cleaned the terminals within the last couple of weeks. I tested my battery when it happened. 12.65 volts after I had run the starter for quite a lengthy time doing the dry compression test twice.  (lots of cranking with no charging)  Maybe the switch overheated?  But that doesn't explain the sequence of spinning starter not turning the motor over, to the starter quitting all together?

Oh Well it is running now.  What gets me, is even with the low compression, the bike runs pretty well, definitely missing power, but still runs good. Especially with the magic juice in the tank. That(Techron) shit amazes me. And I do not burn any oil! WTF??Gots to be the valves. Probably burnt. Can you get valves for a brick?

[Laitch]

Gots to be the valves. Probably burnt. Can you get valves for a brick?

I think it would be weird for valves to burn uniformly enough that all cylinders had close compression readings, especially in an engine known for stable valve clearances.

Did you use a different gauge than the last time you checked?

[bizzaro]

Yes, I had thought that as well.(Valves would not burn evenly) Not sure why I said that.  Grasping at straws I guess.  I do have lots o carbon, and that is pretty even.  So possibly they are not sealing due to carbon?  Shit I don't know. My plugs come out black and wet. My pipe pukes webs of black shit.  If I knew what I was doing, I mean to someone with experience it would probably be obvious what is up.  Me , I am a neophyte. Truth be told, without motobrick, I wouldn't be able to do much besides change tires, cables, and spark plugs!  :musicboohoo:  I have learned a shit ton of stuff here.

[Laitch]

  :musicboohoo:cables, and spark plugs!

Yes, it's all very tragic, biz, but you didn't answer my question.

[bizzaro]

...................I used two compression testers. Yes one was the same one that I used before.  They both came with in 10 or 20 PSI. All right around 100 to 120 psi. 

1st test..1-95  2-100  3-100  4-90  2nd test, different compression(the original one) tester ...1-110  2-120   3-120  4=110   Both testers are old. It's what I gots. My bike is definitely lacking power.

[Chaos]

Biz, this may give you some ideas.  After destroying my S fairing (thanks, Bambi) I came up with this, early GPZ 550 replica fairing off ebay and rad shroud off a K75c.  Nice except in rain and cold weather.  Then I found a complete "S" fairing cheap at beemerboneyard with a horrid yellowl rattlecan paint job, hence the cameo treatment.   

[bizzaro]

Oh shit, That is like the full fairing deal. Allbeit a lot less than the LT. It looks cut up and modified in the avatar to me? Great paint job! So your the guy that kilt that deer................no shit.  I remember reading how you let off the brakes just before impact.  Very cool thinking under pressure. 

Back on subject.............Yea I like the LT but man there is a ton of tupperware.  I may lose much of it for good.  But once I start cutting it up, no turning back?

[The Dude]

Back on subject.............Yea I like the LT but man there is a ton of tupperware.  I may lose much of it for good.  But once I start cutting it up, no turning back?

Let nature modify these things in the fullness of time.Deers,dogs,lamposts.Don't waste one on the chopper.Sounds like your looking for a new Brick anyway what with your reduced power issue...or just ride it into its own sunset.
I finally checked my valve clearences today.'Still on that stable plateau of no change for miles and miles.Thinnest shim is 2.50 mm.
I hear references to Bricks being run on "low octane" fuel.I have used high quality 95 or more only.This,maybe,effects your valve's longevity.