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My '91 Suzuki Across

Discussion in 'Suzuki 250cc In-line 4's' started by Shimmy, Oct 15, 2012.

  1. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Also u may have to bleed the brakes alot of times ,especially if u drained the old fluid.

    And are u sure the choke is working properly?

    Seems like the carbys need a bit more fiddling with  :D

    If I was riding that far Id want it to be running 100% and stopping 100%...thats a long way!
     
  2. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    About to bleed the brakes again now, they are good, best since I've had it, I was just hoping for slightly better performance.


    Yup, choke is working correctly, originally it was still on even when turned off, but I've adjusted it and is now working fine.


    Yay, fun time for me.


    Yup, stopping is good enough I believe, it is reliable it just idles weird.
    Could also be sucking air, as I noticed today that the idle speed depends on engine temp.
    low temp it's around 2000, as it approaches half way on the gauge, its pushing 5000rpm.
    Ordered a few slide holders today aswell.
    Also gotta look at some extra storage, going to get a back pack, (kreiga R35 or R30 I think), but not sure if I should get the ventura rack or a set of throw over saddle bags.
    Also gonna look at having a USB charging cable off the ignition to keep phones and cameras (still and go pro).
     
  3. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    We will certainly be wanting to see pix and vids of the adventure.... :Thumbs_up:
     
  4. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    Just confirmed with me mates that I will be going  ;D


    Should be plenty of pics and videos too, I only wish I had the room to take my DSLR, my compact P&S is crappy.




    I also just had another go balancing and tuning, also made sure that all the hoses went to the right place and did the right things.
    Seems to be running sweet as now, idles around 1800rpm nicely, deviates ~100rpm, could go a little lower but I'm happy with this (book states 1600 -/+ 100).
    It slightly hangs a little coming back down but no where near as bad as it was.


    All I did was back the idle mixture screws out about another 1 turn (a couple are backed out slightly more), originally before I touched any of it, they were sitting around 3.5-4 + turns out.
    Then balanced them, not perfect but couldnt get it any better and seems to run alright.


    I also sprayed WD 40 around the carbs, nothing happened so I'm guessing theres no leaks either.
    Hopefully this is now fixed.
     

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  5. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Sounds like u are getting somewhere!

    Bikes looks great...I like that colour  :D
     
  6. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    Yup, just had to go out for a little bit and it is so much better, I'd say about 95% there, but that last 5% is going to be very hard to get I think.
    I'm finally happy with it now  :occasion14: .


    Hands down the best it's been since I've had it, I'll see if I can put together a back to back vid of what it was kind of like before compared to now.


    And I'm about to roll over 2000klm since I've owned it.


    Thanks, I gave it a good wash/wax when I had the fairings off but it could do with another go now.
    I really want to get the bit to the left of the headlight lined up, looks really dodgy, and need to get some touch up paint, fill in the chips and the bits thats peeled away (the paint job wasnt great, but looks alright in pics and from a distance.
    I've thought about repainting them but I don't think I'll bother.
    It's pretty close to the Yellow of the VE Maloo I think, definately different to the Suzuki yellow of the TLR1000 (a mate has one), not as pale, a bit more saturated.


    Hopefully hit the track early next month, I believe its in a good/safe enough condition now to take it there.


    Also, I bled the brakes again, there was a little air trapped there, the slight spongyness is pretty much gone, aside from converting it to a dual disk (I kept the right hand side lower fork if I ever want to attempt it) the only way I can see to improve them now is to try a higher end set of pads and disk.
    I don't think I'll bother with it though, it is just an Across after all.
     
  7. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Great job Shimmy, looks the goods  :Thumbs_up:
     
  8. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    Ta mate.


    Still trying to get used to how the bike behaves now.
    Throttle is much more crisp when just twisting it on, also clutch friction zone is different, shorter and right at the very end of the travel.
    And need to apply more throttle to get moving sometimes, have nearly stalled it a few times, (before when idling at 3500 or so, I just slipped the clutch and I was off, more or less).
    Also doesnt need as much throttle to maintain a certain speed, especially when going up hill.


    Just hit 110klm (wish things were further away from me so I could ride it longer, haha) since the refil after moving the needle to #2 and the light still hasnt come on (not even going up hill), so looking good so far.
    I'll take a look at the plugs after I refil, if they are still black as and a bit sooty, I'll move it down to #1.


    It seems now that I appreciate a proper running bike more, after having to go through all this and doing it myself, I feel much more peaceful on it and about it.
    If I paid someone else to do it all, I dont think I would have the same appreciation or satisfaction.
     
  9. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    Updated the list.


    Done

    Head stock bearing - old ones were stuffed
    front brake line - HEL braided
    Sprokets - both good
    Clutch lever bolt slop/play, used washer - still has vertical play
    bend dash back
    find out why it pulls right - Head stem bearing
    neutral light Done - missing spring loaded contact rod
    sidestand switch done - nothing wrong with it, neutral switch was shorted
    Fork Seals - Rebuilt myself with better stanchions
    clutch adjustment - slightly out of adjustment
    Ignition lead - multi core
    Spark plugs  - Split fire plugs
    rebuild front caliper - rebuilt with new seals, pistons, guide clips and boot.
    deglaze front brake 
    move slides/tune and balance - leaned out and balanced


    In progress

    Reserve fuel light      - light now works (broken wire), need to check if functioning correctly.


    Havnt started.

    Chain - need confirmation to condition
    valve clearence, Coolant, torque head bolts, Inspect cam chain tensioner - do all at once.
    torque Exhaust bolts
    gear shift lever, straighten and adjust - slightly bent from drop by previous owner, lever needs lowering (too high for me).
    upgrade headlight - can it be done?
    fuel hose - appears to be good, need to confirm
    fuel filter
    radiator hose - appears to be good, need to confirm
    air cleaner - appears to be alright but will replace with K&N
    fairing bolts - need to source missing bolts
    paint carbon indicators - rear aftermarket indicators have a carbon fibre look, need to get rid of the gayness
    clean/rebuild carbs - should not need a rebuild, but could possibly do with a clean. (not required at this time)
    New right hand switch block or find a way to remove twisting play.
     
  10. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    Topped tonight at 125km and put in 8L.
    Light started to come on around 111km, and was on solidly at 118km.


    So a decentish improvement, gonna pull the plugs, check the colour and if they are still pretty black, I'll move the needle down to #1.


    Bad news is I dropped my helmet tonight, purely cosmetic (just behind the top vent, can see it through the inside, foam is still in full shape), gouged the paint, a couple of small scratches and chips and paint cracked a little (shell did not crack) really annoyed with myself now.
     
  11. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    So at 100km on the clock today I pulled a couple of plugs which while weren't "that" black, but still covered in soot, so I dropped the needle down to #1, took it for a quick 20km ride, pulls a bit more in the higher ranges (14k+), other than that I didnt notice much of a difference at all but I'll leave it for another tank, pull the plugs and make a decision then if I will leave it or move it back to #2.


    Also, did a bit of stop start city riding today, and it seems it takes longer to heat up and when it does it's a lot more ridable than it used to be.
     
  12. ozbiker

    ozbiker New Member Premium Member

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    i will sell you my 1991 suzuki across 250, it goes, you can have it for $1000, fright to your door is extra

    i wont charge you any extra for the racing slick front tyre or the awesome red paint job it has, or the ventura rack it has, or the new brake pads i put on it a few months ago, or the front brake caliper i rebuilt a few weeks ago, or the throttle slides i replaced a few months ago, or the mirrors i replaced cos they were stuffed, or the handle bar weights i resprayed, or the brand spanking new brake and clutch lever i bought "just incase" that live in the man bag, or the swing arms spools for it to service it easier....

    aaahhhh
    man its good bike, you will like it, call me now, our operators are standing by, and if you call in the next 15 minutes you will get a bonus set of free steak knifes for free


    thats right

    ABSOLUTELY FREE!!!

    what are you waiting for, pickup the phone right now and call

    1800- i want 250cc

    and it could be all yours! :Thumbs_up:
     
  13. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    Hahaha, nice.


    Well a little update.


    I've been to Sydney and back with it now, 5 of us left Tassie on the 12th of januray, stayed one night in lakes enterance, next in Narooma, then 4 nights in Sydney, then Wagga then back to the boat and home on the 21st.


    Was an awesome trip and the bike performed flawlessly, so glad I did the work to it before though.
    Would have been interesting if I didnt lean it out though, would probably have had ran out of fuel a few times I imagine (or atleast come close to it).


    The chain is in need of desperate replacement now though, just bought a DID 520 gold chain and JT sprokets, should be here this week.


    Also while out for a ride with a few mates a couple of days ago my slide holders began to drop, got really loose and the needles didnt all sit at the same position, replaced them all and now all good.
     
  14. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Sounds like a great ride  :Thumbs_up:

    ..... but wheres the PHOTOS??    ???

    :laugh:
     
  15. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    Cambelltown, Tas
    [​IMG]
    Waiting to get on the boat
    [​IMG]
    On the boat
    [​IMG]
    Off the boat and straight to maccas for breakkie
    [​IMG]
    Some place that started with a 'Y' bout and an hour and a half out of Melbourne
    [​IMG]
    Lakes enterance.
    [​IMG]
    Filling up at Eden
    [​IMG]
    Narooma, where I had the most amazing Eggs Bennedict with Salmon for breakfast.
    [​IMG]
    One of the little towns north of Narooma
    [​IMG]
    Just before the Bega factory
    [​IMG]
    Woolongong
    [​IMG]
    Sydney
    [​IMG]
    Gundagai
    [​IMG]
    Wagga wagga
    [​IMG]
     
  16. Phil

    Phil Senior Member Contributing Member

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    Hey Shimmy
    Thanks for the photos, great trip by the sound of it. You covered some great country and places. Pleased to hear the Across went well, did all the bikes survive the trip intact.
    Well done mate.
     
  17. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    Yeah, it was an awesome trip, miss being on it still, really enjoyed it.
    Would do it again in a heartbeat, just aslong as the Hume is not involved.


    The Across went very well, not a single issue at all (aside from the chain).
    All the bikes went very well.
    The RVF400 got a crack in the rear fairing due to the saddle bags resting on them (theres no bracing or anything behind the fairing/under the pillion seat) but it was/still is in the process of being re-painted.
    The ZX10 had a little drop, just outside of Yass we pulled over onto some gravel and getting to the point of mental exhaustion, he put his foot down in a really loose spot of gravel, only damage was a half broken peg, not a scratch other than that.
    ZZR250 and TL1000R both went really well.


    The boot was so handy to have though.


    I'll never do that Hume highway again though, atleast not on a bike, we had to make frequent stops (bout every 100-150klm or hour/hour and a half), sometimes more often.
    We all found it difficult to keep up the alertness, attention and concentration, just so long and boring with corners you dont really notice.


    Going up was great, best riding done between Lakes enterance and Narooma and for about 150klm or so after Narooma.
    Really liked Narooma and the little towns north of it.
    Sydney... I still can't make my mind up on.


    In other news, my bike now has a new chain and sprokets, feels sooooo much better, smoother and quieter.
    Some bad news though, I did it at a mates place and also changed oil/oil filter, where a stud for the oil filter broke (barely got it finger tight before it broke), and we proceeded to complete the job anyway, let it run for a while and couldnt really see an issue with it, so I went and tested it around the block.
    Just as I was coming back it blew the seal out the top of the plate and threw up oil everywhere, covered the bike and tyres/road and went down at about 15-20kph.
    I knew it was a bad idea before I took it for a run, should have listened to my instincts, lol.
    Damage was a broken right rearset/exhaust hanger, scratched/gouged fairing, smashed indicator and ground down brake lever and bar end.
    Rearset has already been replaced and I've already re-painted the fairing, lever and bar end I may leave, havn't made up my mind yet.Borrowing indicators from a mates VFR400.
    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]


    [​IMG]
    [​IMG]
     
  18. Desmo

    Desmo Member Premium Member

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    That trip sounds beyond awesome man. Jealous as  ;D! Did you stop at merimbula on your way past bega? Did the ride down there a few months ago and fell in love with the place. The whole area is just beautiful. Super impressive you did it all on an across too, awesome awesome stuff.

    Sorry to hear about the drop and oil problem, Looks like you've got it all under control though! 
     
  19. Shimmy

    Shimmy Active Member Premium Member

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    Haha, yeah, I'm thinking about going back over next year when I my license restrictions are lifted, but take more time to do it.
    As nice as it was doing it on the Across, I don't think I'd do it again, especially if traveling in a group with bigger bikes, trying to move as a group when overtaking or just cruising on the highway was kinda painful on the 250, taking so long to wind up and go anywhere.


    Didn't stop at Merimbula unfortunately, was a few places I would have liked to stop at but we were running short on time, we didnt really get into Sydney until about 9:30-ish I think.


    Yeah, I'm still bummed about the drop but lesson learned, listen to my instincts more, lol.
    The colour is pretty much spot on but it's not as glossy/refective, still kinda hard to notice though.
     
  20. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    Ride all that way without a hitch but crash and burn going around the block...... :BangHead:


    A great ride and pics ...well done sir  :Thumbs_up:

    Karma to u  :angel:
     

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