The 4th gets a new addition.......

[mike-s]

.....I suddenly feel like a pussy for putting off getting a new camchain for the gsx for so long ....

now is the season to be getting into it mate - yeh its cold, but better to be in the shed now instead of summer....

For what it's worth, replaced the cam chain, no chain splitter/joiner required. used a chisel to split the plate off and take the old link out and a pair of vice grip pliers and a screwdriver bit (it fit in between the pins so i could press the plate right down). Not too much faffing about, at least the design of this chain is that you don't need to crimp the ends of the roller pins. Tomorrow is put the bugger back together and see if i've improved things. I was surprised how easy it was to do (though im sure it's even easier with the right tools).

[Gosling1]

well done mate - hope the putting-back-together bit is all successful

Not too much to report on the build from the weekend just gone, it was the Cook's 40th, so I spent the weekend either getting things organised, getting on the piss, or recovering ! In that order

Although - I did pick up the frame and engine cradle from the powder coaters on Friday.......

FMD what a job they did. Really really good - I spent a bit of time with old mate The Boss when I went over there, he is a boilermaker by trade, and the workshop generally specialises in large industrial metal work and metal fabrications. They have only recently gone into p/coating, his son does all the application and he does a fantastic job.

The frame looks basically better than brand-new. I will do a couple of pictures this weekend coming, because I can now start to put things back together. The wheels are still a couple of weeks from being painted by PC, he is flat-out at the moment with work, and the weather is not too conducive to spray-painting anything .....as soon as the wheels are done, some new tyres can be fitted, and then things will kick right along.

In the meantime, I still have the last remaining boxes of bits to sort / clean / detail. The engine has been given a good clean and a touch-up with black engine enamel where required......it is almost looking new....

[mike-s]

Nice, very nice indeed.
Unfortunately i didn't get the 250 fully together (in fact i didn't even touch it today ), due to the stupid work hours i keep i don't think i'll be doing much until thursday :-\

[ProblemChild]

all is going well by the looks of things, hopefully only about 2 weeks to get the wheels back to you.

[Gosling1]

cool bananas - end of the month will be fine mate, I can't afford tyres until then anyway

Did a bit more to the exhaust system over the weekend though, got the last 2 header pipes out and gave them a tidy-up. Lots of little jobs to be completed now, pillion seat needs to be recovered, and I haven't started on the fuel-tank yet either ! at least its straight

[mike-s]

Dumb question, when measuring the "old" chain, what points on the chain do you measure from and to? front of pin to front of pin? front of pin to back of pin, front of roller to back of roller? I have no clue.

[Gosling1]

....Dumb question, when measuring the "old" chain, what points on the chain do you measure from and to? front of pin to front of pin? front of pin to back of pin, front of roller to back of roller? I have no clue.....

You measure it over a defined length - forget the actual amount, but basically you just measure the distance from one pin to another pin over say 300mm, and then stretch the chain as tight as possible, then measure the distance between the same 2 points again. If the difference is greater than the max.tolerance in the specs sheet - the chain is worn and needs to be tossed out.

Nice day today, so I will do a couple of pics of the powdercoated frame - it looks great

[mike-s]

Cheers Gos, unfortunately they don't give the "leeway" , just a "maximum length".

Oh and started her up after much fucking about before. battery is quite sick after not being run for such a long time, might have to try a last ditch effort of anti sulfication chemical in there and bin/replace if that doesn't work (hope it does, at $100 a battery, even being mates with the guy at the bikeshop). Took her to work today too, sounds a million dollars compared to the rattly bucket of shit it was when i was about to take the rocker cover off.

[Gosling1]

OK - time to get back on topic with an update on the mighty 1000RX.

Last time we had an update, the wheels had gone over to PC for some tender lovin' with his spray gun and some 2-pack. Well that was back in July, but the wheels have now been completed, and look .........great !!

This particular 2-pak mix is pretty hard according to PC, and should stand up to the rigours of CDT tours well into the decade

Here are a couple of pics.......the newly powder-coated frame also shown.










I had a chat with old mate at the tyre shop today, he is expecting a few new Avon's in stock inside the next week or 2, including some 16"fronts - Apparently the Avon Ázaro' is the pick of the bunch these days for 16"wheels..........NFI how these will go, but the Avon AM22 on the back of the z650 seems to be working well, so maybe these Azaros
will be OK ?

Not much time between now and the CDT to do much more work to this bike, as I have another black Z that needs a new exhaust fitted , and the shims done, before the CDT at the end of the month.

More updates to come on this bike - Easter is looking good

[Glen]

Looking good Gos. Can't wait to see the finished beast.

[Jonno]

Crisp finish, good job PC

Gos, get to work mate, plenty to do

[Gosling1]

plenty to do alright mate - heh I also forgot to mention - I received a set of jetted 36mm downdraught CV's (to suit a ZX9R) from Phil recently (thanks heaps mate ).......these will get the old girl moving along. All I need is a ZZR1100 head to match them !!

[Jonno]

hmmm, might have a jet kit for same model from same fella if you want it?

[jefflthomas]

about 5 years ago me & a mate ( who even served his apprenticeship on Kawis) took pity on another mate (hammer & vice-grips) who'd recently purchased a used Ninja 1000R

said 20,000km on the speedo but judging by the grunge i was thinking 120.000km...LOL...but it was all there except the mufflers were rotted

did the works on it...fluids, grease,lubrication, tune up, shimmed fork springs,chain (bent the tool) & sprockets,tires, etc, etc...can't remember if we had to do the fork seals & swingarm bearings....

but we basically checked & serviced everything that needed it...& kept h&v mate busy cleaning & polishing (& oiling faded black plastic & stuff)...tried letting him mount the windscreen to the ferring...i told him not to tighten the screws...LOL

put Metzeler Lasers on & he rides the wheels off it...he's a good rider

the only real problem he's had since (besides a slipping clutch) was the "tensioner on the wrong side of the starter chain" thing which i've had on my ZRX too

[Gosling1]

that looks nice 'n tidy Jeff - the chain-tensioner problem I thought was about the balance-shaft ?

On one of the US forums, with just some simple mods and the use of other OEM kwakka parts - they can easily get these motors running 140hp at the rear wheel...........its a goal.