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Pinned So what have you done to your bike today?

Discussion in 'The Pub' started by kiffsta, Nov 3, 2013.

  1. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Been playing with an old ZXR250A engine to test some tuning suggestions like increasing the compression ratio of the engine. This engine is number 480, so a very early build that I assumed was high mileage and might be good for parts at some stage.

    IMG_2119.JPG

    Went to turn it by hand and it was pretty tight, so rather than push it, I dropped the oil (smell was nauseating) and started pulling covers off to see what was what. Clutch was stuck together, so it came out in one piece. Bottom end was mucky to say the least.

    IMG_2120.JPG

    Once the clutch pack came out the engine turned freely, so I did a quick check of the valve clearances and most were okay, but a few were either way over or way under. Looks like someone put 1.75mm shims in all the valves except a couple. Pulled the head off to practice doing a squish test. Turned the head upside down and put fuel in the valve area to check for leakage. They all leaked from either inlet, outlet or both! So, valves will need to come out if I want to use this head. Cylinder one has some liquid marks (looks like fuel) which should hone out. Cylinder two was more burnt oil than I've seen in a while, so not expecting rings to be worth keeping.

    IMG_2127.JPG
    Did the squish test, but I am waiting for feedback about whether it was done properly or not.

    Cleaned up the clutch friction and steel plates. Checked plates were within spec and also springs. All good, so ready for reassembly. Cleaned up sump, oil pickup and pressure relief valve, so bottom end is also ready for reassembly. Need to get some new gaskets before final assembly (depending on how good the top end is).

    IMG_2125.JPG
     
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  2. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

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    Did several more squish tests on the old ZXR250 engine. Turns out I was measuring the wrong area.

    Squish.jpg

    I was measuring the valve recess when I should have been measuring the flat areas (der).

    Actual Squish area 2.jpg

    Doesn't look like there's much room to move in the standard combustion chamber, so I might leave the whole increase compression ratio exercise for a later stage. Need a few different shims to finish the valve clearances, so in the meantime I will store the shims and buckets externally...

    IMG_2133.JPG
    And, put the reassembled engine to one side and start on some carbs for another project.

    IMG_2137.JPG
     
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  3. inchoate

    inchoate Well-Known Member

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    hung.jpg

    Got the MC19 up in the air to pull the wheels and forks for rebuilding and paint.

    Tomorrow the rear shock comes out to see if I can figure out a better option than stock.

    Swingarm is pretty disgusting so I might pull that as well and give it a good cleaning.
     
  4. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    D64BB5B5-4323-4FFF-A255-C51946AAB7C5.jpeg I have acquired another mc22 that has done a head gasket , thinking I should save this one
     
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  5. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Thanks for the dirty wheel club vote,‘I should just be made the president of that group :)
     
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  6. Krompot

    Krompot Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    I belong there too, don't feel too bad :p
     
  7. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well-Known Member

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    I believe the zxr is already at about 12.5:1. Not much room for adjustment
     
  8. Krompot

    Krompot Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    Smart boy making use of speshiality tooling ekuipmint. 20210611_103117.jpg

    Initially I used 4 inch nails but they kept bending (the steel holder slides down after the DIY castle nut driver is on) so I had to use drill bits :oops:
     
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  9. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Well, that escalated quickly

    567178A4-3D54-493D-97D3-71AE7790358F.jpeg 7EFCC572-32F2-4D87-A16D-62EF5429A607.jpeg
     
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  10. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well-Known Member

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    Best to use a rattle gun so you don't break the thread towers in the hub. There is another speciality tool for holding the hub, you could make a basic one, but rattle gun in gear works
     
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  11. maelstrom

    maelstrom LiteTek Staff Member Premium Member 250cc Vendor Contributing Member

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    The stanchions look black, DLC?
     
  12. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Went and did a spot of shopping

    Thanks @James Mclaren to helping me
    Pick up 22 bikes

    1AF0E229-5554-4E61-B347-5FF0F7940C53.jpeg 98B8C95F-D04B-4162-A6CC-C8B5E05B34D4.jpeg E141D327-5542-4B8C-AA8E-505B73EE2DA6.jpeg 4A154292-18A0-4819-9C66-26036A6D19E0.jpeg CD141EBF-1688-404D-9A2D-CADB3D3B9A44.jpeg 52E7C3CE-4BA9-4BE7-8C90-4309AE9E9130.jpeg
     
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  13. 2valve

    2valve Well-Known Member

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    Hi Kiffsta
    Lucky Mr Policeman didn't pull you over as your passenger isn't wearing a set belt :lolsign: :fuckyou:.
     
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  14. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    were-gonna-need-a-bigger-boat.jpg
     
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  15. Murdo

    Murdo The Good Doctor Staff Member Contributing Member Ride and Events Crew

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    What is the bike on the front seat, Kiff? That chamber looks like it would suit one of my projects.
     
  16. Frankster

    Frankster Grey Pride...Adventure before Dementia Staff Member Premium Member Ride and Events Crew

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    I'm not 100% sure. I only ever check cylinder pressure against what the manual says, so you might be right. If it is 12.5:1 then I should be able to run higher octane fuel than the 91 octane everyone says you should run in these engines? Not sure it will give me anymore power without me changing the timing. I'm not at that stage yet, but I do know the ZXR cams are 'fixed' as is the timing wheel, so not sure how to try and get anymore power out of this thing.
     
  17. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Chinese 50cc thingy , was nice having an arm rest on the way home

    chamber does look wicked
     
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  18. gregt

    gregt Well-Known Member Premium Member

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    While I've serviced quite a few of these, when I did the only one I've tried to hot up, I was impressed at just how difficult kawasaki made it. They really did not want anyone f****** with their engine.
    You've got to get really creative to change the cam timing - or even the static ignition timing. The usual 5 degrees more advance is nearly impossible with the factory setup.
    It's even more miniature engineering than most of the 250/4 engines. the FZR for example is loosely thrown together by comparison - and things can be moved around very easily.
     
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  19. ShaneP

    ShaneP Well-Known Member

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    Move the pick up coil for timing of ignition. As for the cams, they have about 240-270° of opening (it's in the manual) so be careful messing with it. Depending what you are trying to achieve, but for maximum horsepower in natural aspiration, you're trying to move the the torque up the rec range. Maximum torque is 10,000rpm, maximum horsepower is 15-16k. Maybe a shorter exhaust and something like a Power Commander to adjust the spark in the later rev range?
     
  20. Krompot

    Krompot Well-Known Member Premium Member

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