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What started as a winter break overhaul, towards the end of December, ended up taking much... much longer than I anticipated. 6 1/2 weeks later, the bike is back together (mostly, just needs the fairings) and ready to head out for a test ride on the next non-wet, 40+ degree day! With just over 21,000 on the odo, I did the following:
Replaced stock chain and sprockets with a 520 conversion and -1 tooth on the front sprocket. Stock chain is a 525 but the new one is rated for hp well over my 90 or so...
Put 4mm of shims on the rear shock mount to increase quickness of turn-in a bit.
Replaced the FPR in the hopes of getting my mpg back where it used to be.
Performed a valve clearance check which then morphed into a valve shim replacement for all of 'em... which then turned into a game of "how many times can I take the camshaft cover off?" Answer: 9. I'm really, really good at getting those 20 bolts in and out now!
Synched the throttle bodies but, weirdly enough, the only one that needed any adjustment was #2 and just barely.
You may be asking "Doc, why so much camshaft cover work?" If you aren't asking, well, then no need to read anymore! If you are, well, I didn't seat the shims correctly on two of the valves and I was terrified of getting the timing marks wrong. With the engine case at an angle, the frame making it very difficult to view at an even level, my failing close up vision, the fact that when I rotated the intake cam one way it was too low but going the other way looked too high, and the life sucking cold of my garage, I mentally froze for a while. In addition, when I was replacing the shims, I started by putting them in the buckets and then lowering them into their seat with a magnet (Pro Tip: Don't! Use your fingers to set them in their seat!), resulting in zero clearance on two of the intake valves. Took me awhile to figure that one out, too! Fortunately, after I got the shims seated correctly, the wife helped out with a straight edge on the case while I fiddled with the chain and cams until they lined up. Still didn't look like I thought they had before I started but I just couldn't keep stressing over it and went ahead and buttoned it up this past Sunday.
So, all that sh!t's done! I started her up and she sounded just fine! I'm still too close to say it was a good learning experience but I'm sure I'll feel differently after getting her and me out of the cold garage and onto the cold pavement!
Replaced stock chain and sprockets with a 520 conversion and -1 tooth on the front sprocket. Stock chain is a 525 but the new one is rated for hp well over my 90 or so...
Put 4mm of shims on the rear shock mount to increase quickness of turn-in a bit.
Replaced the FPR in the hopes of getting my mpg back where it used to be.
Performed a valve clearance check which then morphed into a valve shim replacement for all of 'em... which then turned into a game of "how many times can I take the camshaft cover off?" Answer: 9. I'm really, really good at getting those 20 bolts in and out now!
Synched the throttle bodies but, weirdly enough, the only one that needed any adjustment was #2 and just barely.
You may be asking "Doc, why so much camshaft cover work?" If you aren't asking, well, then no need to read anymore! If you are, well, I didn't seat the shims correctly on two of the valves and I was terrified of getting the timing marks wrong. With the engine case at an angle, the frame making it very difficult to view at an even level, my failing close up vision, the fact that when I rotated the intake cam one way it was too low but going the other way looked too high, and the life sucking cold of my garage, I mentally froze for a while. In addition, when I was replacing the shims, I started by putting them in the buckets and then lowering them into their seat with a magnet (Pro Tip: Don't! Use your fingers to set them in their seat!), resulting in zero clearance on two of the intake valves. Took me awhile to figure that one out, too! Fortunately, after I got the shims seated correctly, the wife helped out with a straight edge on the case while I fiddled with the chain and cams until they lined up. Still didn't look like I thought they had before I started but I just couldn't keep stressing over it and went ahead and buttoned it up this past Sunday.
So, all that sh!t's done! I started her up and she sounded just fine! I'm still too close to say it was a good learning experience but I'm sure I'll feel differently after getting her and me out of the cold garage and onto the cold pavement!
