Hey fellow two-wheelers. New to this site but not to getting greasy. Excuse the avatar but no photo of bikes yet and those drums helped pay for my bike anyway. So i used to have a kwaka z250 80s model for my first mode of transport, loved it. Now thirty years later I've got my bike licence again ( someone said it was midlife crisis but I said it's my whole life crisis ) bought a spada 89 model, cleaned the snot out of the Jets and surrounding carbies. I've rebuilt a few car engines, carbies so not shy to give bikes a go. Now runs like a dream and gets me to band practice and gigs so much cheaper and enjoyable. also just picked up a zxr250/ zx2r C that wasn't running, sorted that but needs a rebuild or at least rings. It's for my kids, ( They'll have to fight me for it ) son and daughter both want to get their licences. Final bike, long term project, 1980 cb250rs, had no wiring, no run. Fixed, runs well but need to do electrical. Going for a cafe cross rat style and want to convert to electric, gotta love that linear torque line one gear option. Also thought about converting the zxr but one step at a time, have started strip down, gonna be interesting to see what I find. Anyway, I'm usually busy between work, life and gigs but look forward to chatting with some of you and swapping/sharing info. O yeah, I'm in South Oz, about 25 minutes north of Gawler
Might pay to measure the valve clearances before tearing it down, and a compression test with adding a bit of oil to the cylinders after an initial check
Definitely going to check, can't find my feelers though so need to get some more. Pretty rattly both sides, not just cam side. Don't have a comp tester, have to see if I can borrow one. Smokes a fair bit, could be valve stem seals but noticed oil smells fuely after getting it running which I would think is the fuel getting past some rings or such so I want to at least get the head off for a piston check
Inlet 0.11-0.20mm, Exhaust 0.21-0.30mm. Try putting the bike in gear, holding the brakes and engaging the clutch a bit... my ZXR motor always rattled... I re-ringed the engine, honed the bores, replaced the clutch basket and plates, overhauled the carbs and balanced them to within an inch of their life and it still rattled when not in gear and under no load.
Oops. Yeah, I've noticed that these zxrs are quite noisy but the smoke is my main concern. Nothing like an l plate disappearing into a plume of smoke right in front of a cop car. Thanks for the specs, I'll get some gauges this weekend but I'm already part way through the tear down, definitely want to check the rings, got a feeling one or two may be either sticking or cracked or its pulling oil through the valve stems under high vacuum, noticed more smoke on acceleration than idle. Needs checking either way. I like to research and the cam chain rattle on these things is a definite slap in the face if your not expecting it but they all seem the same. So noisy compared to my spada.
Hey Stubanger, reckon we chatted on ahem.....another site. I was sorting out the spada I bought and found the discrepancy in oil levels and how to fill according to the manual.....
Threebond Super Engine Conditioner, about $16 from behind the counter at repco, cheaper trade price. Its made specifically to clean out carbon/oil etc from the insides of engines. Works as a great carby cleaner too. Worth a try!
Welcome. Nice collection of bikes. Passed through Gawler a few weeks ago on my way to Peterborough. I must stop there next time.
