| Author | Message | ||
     Aaron |
"If I'd only known . . . " But you did! | ||
| Phillyblast |
"But you did!" yep, can't really blame anyone but me on this. I wasn't 100% sure on the factory metallic gasket fix at the time (IIRC Aaron was hinting around at it at about the same time - early Sept.?) But i sure as hell knew I shouldn't have had them put the stock gasket back on there. It looks like I only have a few more days of decent weather in the Northeast anyway, so it's time to take put the bike in winter storage at a friends garage next weekend and start the build-up. Lucky me, It's getting parked next to a 48 (?) Indian basket case that's his winter project. | ||
| Sarodude |
When my latest engine (#3 - installed at around 1100 miles) went into my Blast, I asked the dealer to install the new and improved metal gaskets. I said I'd pay for the time and part. They refused to do it. SSSSSSSSSooooooooooooooo.... I'm waiting for mine to start leaking. -Saro | ||
| Xgecko |
Hey Philly, I like that...honey I had to increase the displacement the gaskets were leaking. That should work for doing the Nallin upgrade earlier. | ||
| Buellzilla |
Saro, Do I understand correctly that you've had your Blast engine replaced twice? Why for? Phillyblast, Speaking of storage I just put mine in the shed. In the Service Manual Storage Instructions, they say to fill the oil reservoir and pinch off or plug the oil feed line to the oil pump, among other things. I would interpret this as meaning to fill the tank all the way up to the fill hole with the engine cold, maybe to prevent rust inside the tank, but then when I take the bike out of storage, I'll have to let the excess oil out and guess at how much is the right amount and, My God, what a PITA. Am I interpreting this correctly? Xgecko, For your wife: Yeah you see it's all about physics Honey. The extra displacment is required to provide sufficient pressure to seat the gaskets and thermosonically-bond them to the mating surfaces. There's simply no other way. ;) | ||
| Blake |
I wish y'all would stop with the rockerbox gasket, the mere mention of the new factory gaskets has me burping up greasy black feathers.  | ||
| Xgecko |
Lucky from me she's already bought off on the upgrade. It's just a matter when I/we can afford it. I also have to find the displacement upgrade for the Ninja 250R. I know it exists I just have to find it. She wants MORE POWER. I have created a monster | ||
| Sarodude |
'Zilla- Around 450 miles - less than a month after taking delivery, a valve broke at the retainer groove in the stem while CRUISING up the Seuplveda pass. EVERYTHING in the top end (piston, jug, head, rockers, valves, yada yada yada...) was gone. After over a month at the dealer, I got the bike back. A hellacious racket accompanied the new top end. It was a sound that took only one ride to uncover. Bike went back to different dealer to receive a crate motor from the factory. Factory screwed up and put my Wife's Blast's serial # on my motor. Apparently, the factory thought this was a bad thing. Motor number 3 was nothing more than another crate motor with the proper number. Of course, the timing was almost perfectly synced with the mis-torqued isolator bolt backing out and playing hell with the threads in the head. 3 motors plus one top end. The steam hasn't completely left my ears yet, but time covers most scars with hair... (at least if you're Armenian) -Saro | ||
| Buellzilla |
Wow! Saro, what a harsh experience you've had. It's enough to make someone swear off Buells for good. | ||
| Ezblast |
Hey guys - I was getting my tire repared and started talking to Ken - one of the owners of KC Engineering - they specialize in - tada - motercycle alterations - only in SF however they saythe Avon 120/70-16 will fit the front and the Avon 140/80-16 will fit the back - guess my next purchase? Ken says thats about as far as you can go on those rims. Still much better;0) I was so inocent in the ways of the Dark side then - moderator;0) | ||
| Joey |
5700 miles, and now I'm leaking oil. The bolt I thought had fallen out actually broke off. Since my Blast! is my primary means of transportation, I'm being gentle on the throttle until I can get it to the dealer this weekend. If I'm lucky, I won't have to bum too many rides. This was going to be the weekend I'd do a complete run-through of everything that needs adjusting. Has anyone tried Slick-50 yet? Seems like I'm the only biker on the road these days, with the temperature dipping below freezing almost every night... | ||
| Buellzilla |
Hi Joey, Where is this missing bolt located? | ||
| Englishman |
Can't recommend Slick-50 on a motorcycle that shares it's oil with the clutch. Actually, I've never heard anything good about the stuff, other than the hype on the box. | ||
| Biggums |
What about running with Mobile One V-twin synthetic? I'm running that on my other Harleys and love it. | ||
| Blake |
PLEASE DO NOT USE SLICK 50!!!!! IN ANY ENGINE!!! It is a total sham, an outright con, pure snake oil, as are the vast majority of engine oil enhancement additives. | ||
| Buellzilla |
I'm pretty sure that the clutch is located in the transmission case and this is isolated from the crankcase and engine oil on the Blast. How do you feel about Zmax Blake? Actually, Prolong had Slick 50 beat but then Zmax came out and blew them both out of the water or so they claim. | ||
| Sarodude |
So, Blake, how do you REALLY feel about oil additives? -Saro | ||
| Mavinwy |
I am running the Mobil-1. No leaks and everything runs just fine. Have been running it since the 1000 mile oil change (other than when I took it to the shop and they did some repair work. They of course put HD oil in it without asking, But they removed it from the bill and gave me a replacement filter. Just changed the oil when I got back home. Anyway, no problems to date. Jim | ||
| Joey |
Half of the missing bolt is on the road somewhere. The other half is in the hole on the front-left side of the head. The dealer won't order any parts until he sees the bike. The dealer said any grade-5 bolt of the same size would do. I found a grade-8 at the hardware store, so if they don't have the bolt, I'll offer mine. I spent 20 minutes trying to get that bolt in before I realized the other bolt hadn't fallen out! My Slick-50 experience: I kept a gas log for my Plymouth Horizon. I don't remember the numbers, but I noticed about a 7.5% increase in gas mileage. A valve noise also became quiet. After 150,000 miles or so, I pulled the head because I ran it low on oil too many times (it's only good for 50-100K). The engine was in surprisingly good shape. Duralube: I bought another Plymouth, and immediately put Duralube in it. After about 6 months of driving, I decided to change the oil. When I pulled the plug, the oil I got filled one bottle, and got the bottom wet in another. 80,000 miles later, the transmission went, but the engine pulled strong. I fixed the leaks, so that didn't happen again. Another vehicle with Duralube survived a bout of my negligence, and 60,000 miles later, it still seems fine. There is a bit of burnt oil on the dipstick, though... | ||
| Crazymike |
Joey, the transmission in my wife's 89 horizon fell out after 284,000 miles. The head was never touched, pan dropped once to replace a javalina'd gasket at around 200k. The engine was clean inside. Fresh oil dude, every 2000 miles. 400 miles on the M2. 52 mpg. Nothing broke yet. Keepin my fingers crossed. | ||
| Blake |
Joey: Did your Slick 50 car have it's muffler rot/corrode? I'll be blunt, your 7.5% increase in gas mileage was NOT a result of using Shlock 50, unless the schlock 50 base was perhaps lighter than what you had run previously. Then the increase was do to a lighter grade/viscosity of base oil, not little particles of teflon majically adhering to cylinder and bearing surfaces. Folks, these miracle additives contain extreme amounts of anti-wear compounds and/or extreme pressure additives. Those compounds in high concentrations form rock hard deposits in your combustion chamber and/or highly corrosive byproducts than will rot your exhaust system. If you are going to run schlock 50 or any other suspended teflon snake oil, at least run it through a coffee filter before adding it to your engine. That will at least catch the bigger chunks of the teflon compound so your oil filter won't have to. By far, the best protection you can provide for your engine is to use a top grade synthetic and to change your filter and oil at prescribed intervals. | ||
| Blake |
Mike, every 2000 miles?!!! Geesh man, I got other things to do than change oil! LOL  I bet the Saudis love that philosophy though. Zilla is correct. No engine oil ever touches the clutch, unless your crank seal is blown. heheh, reminds me of a joke... wanna hear it? Here it is.. Eskimo's snowmobile is running rough. He takes it to his mechanic. Mechanic takes a quick look and says to the Eskimo "Looks like you blew a seal." The Eskimo, holding his hand over his icicled beard replied sheepishly "How could you tell?"  | ||
| Joey |
Neglected the Horizon quite a bit. I was lucky if the oil got changed every 10,000 miles! Won't do that to the Blast! I'm already running Mobil 1 synthetic in my Blast!, and it's just about time to change the oil again... The exhaust on my Horizon never had a problem that I noticed. | ||
| Xgecko |
I've been off in Guambodia for the week can anyone tell me if Tat released the Blast Intake yet. I'm gonna have spare per diem here pretty soon | ||
| Phillyblast |
Haven't heard anything about the Blast Intake yet. Still waiting to see if SportTwin will post some a dyno sheet for the 52 hp blast build up they did with the Nallin kit. Curious about the powerband of the full combo. The plan for me is first do the cylinder and head, with the stock cams and module, get it broken in and dynoed to see what kind of power it makes with that combo, and then spend next spring/summer tweaking. | ||
| Prof_Stack |
Anyone have experience with ballistic pants with a removable liner? I just bought the Joe Rocket ballistic pant which does NOT have a liner. It is a wind-breaker and water resistor. But it doesn't keep the legs warm. Any comments with similar pants? First-Gear, etc. | ||
| Xgecko |
I use a set of Snoboarding pants...weather/water resistant/proof lined with a thin nylon good in every way except for length they are about 2" short which means I have to wear gators (which I do when it's raining cat's and dogs. I just bought a pair of leathers that zip into my jacket so now I can get away with my rainsuit when it's monsoon like. | ||
| Reepicheep |
I just got a pair of the Buell ballistic type pants with removable liner off ebay... The liner is decent, but with jeans on underneath and the liner in, it gets a little bulky and tight. I doubt I will ever use the liner. Instead, I would go find a good set of the good technical gear heavy duty long underwear, like the Patagonia Expedition Weight thermal pants. Amazing stuff, not overly thick, fits nice and snug, flat seams, very warm. Pretty pricey, but will probably last you a lifetime. Your local wilderness outfitter / climbing store should have them. Thats what I am going to do. Ditch the removable liner, and wear the long underwear with the ballistic pants. Keep the jeans or khakis in the backpack and change when I get to where I am going. | ||
| Arbalest |
Prof_Stack, I have a pair of First Gear pants. I have had them for several years. They are absolutely waterproof, and I ride down to about 15 degrees. They keep me warm. My only complaint is that I am 5'10". The pantlegs are TOO LONG. And the problem is, they are long, above the knees. I like the pants well enough that I am going to pay $70 to have them altered. | ||
| Prof_Stack |
Thanks for the input on the pants. I checked out the Joe Rocket Revolution Pant ($199 retail) at Seattle Cycle Center today. Very heavy duty with a pleated removable liner. I decided it makes more sense for me to wear my long underwear under my jeans and then use the Ballistic pant over that. Saves money too. I got the Joe Rocket Ballistic pant at the Cycle World Motorycle show here a couple of weeks ago for $129. Wet weather here keeps my Blast in the garage. Maybe on the weekend I can get out when the skies dry up for a few hours or so. |
