Spot the speed -
Tuesday, 12 October 2010
Monday, 11 October 2010
Ledenon - Race report
Well, we are back from Ledenon, after a weekend's racing. For those that aren't too familiar with French geography Ledenon is in the South of France near Nimes, so one would expect there to be lots of sun for the last race weekend of the year, well the weather forecasters got it right for once, and although Friday and Saturday were sunny, the Sunday was a disaster, with rain starting early morning and getting heavier and heavier as time went on. Finally around 16:00 they cancelled our second race because they were so far behind schedule that we would have needed lights to race!
Anyway back to Friday. We arrived early to reserve space for the fan club (this being my home circuit), and setup the tent etc... the only practice was at 15:30. The RD 350 had leaked a little oil from the clutch cover during the trip, so I was really hoping the RG500 was going to be track worthy.
As I mentioned previously, I had upped main jets to 250's for the cooler weather, however when I went out it was a sunny 25 degrees, so I was way too rich. The bike had difficulty making it's way to 8K and then it would fly off at 9K to around 10.5K, really difficult to ride, anyway the engine ran for 20 minutes, and everything seemed OK.
During scrutineering, the bike wouldn't make more than 6k sitting on the stand because it was too rich. I had the 350 go through scrutineering as well just in case.
Friday evening, I went down to 230's again, plus I lowered the needles to the second to highest clip position, plus I removed the carb trunks, which I reckon is probably worth another 15 points.
With these modifications completed we had a drink and went to bed. You can imagine I didn't sleep well, thinking I had gone too far in my leaning off the carbs.
In the morning I decided that a plug chop was absolutely necessary, before racing, so I decided to do only a couple of laps of timed practice on the RG, and this would give me the opportunity to qualify the 350 as well. SO having decided this, I "fixed" my oil leak on the 350 again, and moved it closer to the pits so that I could make a quick change.
Well, the 500 was working much better, much more mid range with an acceptable kick at around 7.5K as the exhaust valves close - as planned I pulled in after 3 laps trying to give a final full throttle going into the pit lane, and coasting to a stop next to the 350. I completed the session on the 350 although they didn't catch any of my lap times after swapping bikes, so I qualified at the back of the grid.
Back at camp, I pulled off the tank and checked out the plugs on 3 and 4, and they were both a dark chocolate brown - yea hey - we are getting somewhere. Still a little rich in my opinion, but working much better!
The village fan club arrived Saturday afternoon, so it was disappointing to wake up Sunday morning to the rain! The first race was at 10:50, and as I sat on the pre-grid we watched the rain really start to fall, a number of my colleagues abandoned at that point, and as we went out onto the track, it was clear that this was not going to be fun. The warm up lap, was liquid cooled, and my tyres were probably as cold as they could get, I got a reasonalbe start and overtook, about 6 guys into the first triple left hander. The water was sitting on the track in the flat bits, and was creating streams across the track in the sloped sections. Everywhere was really slippy! I had a couple of really big moments opening the throttle and after that I decided the main objective was to stay upright!
I finished the race in a lowly position, having been overtaken by numerous bikes, and honestly I didn't have the means to go any faster, the front end was slipping as I leant over, and the back was spinning each time I opened her up. There were two sections where the tyres were gripping so I could give it the beans there, but altogether a poor performance, and totally disagreable - but the positive side was that the bike was working!
Throughout lunch and early afternoon, it was clear that the weather was worsening, and as happens it these cases there had to be a big accident before the race organisers decided to take action. The final of the Promosport 600, and someone fell at the first bend and was run over by a few bikes, the race was red flagged, and the debris and ambulances took about an hour to clear. The guy was in pretty bad shape, last we heard he had 2 broken legs and crushed chest - I hope he makes it!
Anyway after much discussion the rest of the afternoon was canceled, so we packed up in the rain, with at least the knowledge that both my bikes are now working well....
Photos and video later.
Anyway back to Friday. We arrived early to reserve space for the fan club (this being my home circuit), and setup the tent etc... the only practice was at 15:30. The RD 350 had leaked a little oil from the clutch cover during the trip, so I was really hoping the RG500 was going to be track worthy.
As I mentioned previously, I had upped main jets to 250's for the cooler weather, however when I went out it was a sunny 25 degrees, so I was way too rich. The bike had difficulty making it's way to 8K and then it would fly off at 9K to around 10.5K, really difficult to ride, anyway the engine ran for 20 minutes, and everything seemed OK.
During scrutineering, the bike wouldn't make more than 6k sitting on the stand because it was too rich. I had the 350 go through scrutineering as well just in case.
Friday evening, I went down to 230's again, plus I lowered the needles to the second to highest clip position, plus I removed the carb trunks, which I reckon is probably worth another 15 points.
With these modifications completed we had a drink and went to bed. You can imagine I didn't sleep well, thinking I had gone too far in my leaning off the carbs.
In the morning I decided that a plug chop was absolutely necessary, before racing, so I decided to do only a couple of laps of timed practice on the RG, and this would give me the opportunity to qualify the 350 as well. SO having decided this, I "fixed" my oil leak on the 350 again, and moved it closer to the pits so that I could make a quick change.
Well, the 500 was working much better, much more mid range with an acceptable kick at around 7.5K as the exhaust valves close - as planned I pulled in after 3 laps trying to give a final full throttle going into the pit lane, and coasting to a stop next to the 350. I completed the session on the 350 although they didn't catch any of my lap times after swapping bikes, so I qualified at the back of the grid.
Back at camp, I pulled off the tank and checked out the plugs on 3 and 4, and they were both a dark chocolate brown - yea hey - we are getting somewhere. Still a little rich in my opinion, but working much better!
The village fan club arrived Saturday afternoon, so it was disappointing to wake up Sunday morning to the rain! The first race was at 10:50, and as I sat on the pre-grid we watched the rain really start to fall, a number of my colleagues abandoned at that point, and as we went out onto the track, it was clear that this was not going to be fun. The warm up lap, was liquid cooled, and my tyres were probably as cold as they could get, I got a reasonalbe start and overtook, about 6 guys into the first triple left hander. The water was sitting on the track in the flat bits, and was creating streams across the track in the sloped sections. Everywhere was really slippy! I had a couple of really big moments opening the throttle and after that I decided the main objective was to stay upright!
I finished the race in a lowly position, having been overtaken by numerous bikes, and honestly I didn't have the means to go any faster, the front end was slipping as I leant over, and the back was spinning each time I opened her up. There were two sections where the tyres were gripping so I could give it the beans there, but altogether a poor performance, and totally disagreable - but the positive side was that the bike was working!
Throughout lunch and early afternoon, it was clear that the weather was worsening, and as happens it these cases there had to be a big accident before the race organisers decided to take action. The final of the Promosport 600, and someone fell at the first bend and was run over by a few bikes, the race was red flagged, and the debris and ambulances took about an hour to clear. The guy was in pretty bad shape, last we heard he had 2 broken legs and crushed chest - I hope he makes it!
Anyway after much discussion the rest of the afternoon was canceled, so we packed up in the rain, with at least the knowledge that both my bikes are now working well....
Photos and video later.
Thursday, 7 October 2010
Update
Well I started the RG500 today - about 6 kicks were enough to get the petrol through, and generate enough electricity for the capacitor. It wouldn't idle, so I kept the throttle open until she was nice and warm, the cylinders seem to be well balanced, at least all the pipes were heating at the same level.
I let her cool down and then started her up and balanced the carbs, phew all OK, I need to check the oil level before taking her out, but the fairing is now back on and the bikes are both tucked up in the trailer.
Sorry, no video...
I let her cool down and then started her up and balanced the carbs, phew all OK, I need to check the oil level before taking her out, but the fairing is now back on and the bikes are both tucked up in the trailer.
Sorry, no video...
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Technical Update
Well it's Tuesday evening, and the cylinders, heads, exhaust valves, carbs. are all now back on, just leaving the radiater and exhausts for tomorrow, and then I can start her up! No issues, I just hope I haven't forgotten anything. I up jetted the carbs. to 250's, mainly because I want it nice and rich so that everything is well cooled and lubricated, I might even up the oil a bit, just to be sure.
I'll try and video the start up if I have enough hands.
Monday, 4 October 2010
Pistons in
So I got my gasket cement/maker on Friday in the post, it is THREEBOND 1104 which is liquid and grey in colour and runny, but most importantly it is resistant to petrol and oil!
Friday evening I got the crankcase upper on, and fitted the pistons, I was hoping I would have 2 new pistons from Mark Dent, however due to a cock up with his supplier, he received the wrong size, hence I have put the old ones back in, (old is a relative term as they don't have many miles on them at all). The gudgeon pins and bearings and circlips are new. interestingly you can really feel, on the old gudgeon pins, a ridge that has worn - either a symptom of the broken bearings or the reason. Anyway, at least the bottom end is now new, and balanced, so even if I swap out pistons at a later date, this isn't much work. I am on a run down to the last race weekend now, so it would be nice to get the RG back out on the track even if I just run in the cranks, and bearings.
I need to get the cylinders on and the rotary valves in place this evening.
The rest of last weekend was spent at Magny-Cours watching the French round of the World Superbikes, both races being very exciting with plenty of suspense up until the last laps. The 1000 superstock was good as well with a French rider winning the race in front of Badovini and his BMW. The only bummer of the weekend was the wind, which broke my tent, "luckily" on the Sunday. We had a good trip up and back, on some small twisties through the massif central. Both BMW and Aprilia had huge stands with all of their models present.
Update tomorrow if I manage to take some photos.
Friday evening I got the crankcase upper on, and fitted the pistons, I was hoping I would have 2 new pistons from Mark Dent, however due to a cock up with his supplier, he received the wrong size, hence I have put the old ones back in, (old is a relative term as they don't have many miles on them at all). The gudgeon pins and bearings and circlips are new. interestingly you can really feel, on the old gudgeon pins, a ridge that has worn - either a symptom of the broken bearings or the reason. Anyway, at least the bottom end is now new, and balanced, so even if I swap out pistons at a later date, this isn't much work. I am on a run down to the last race weekend now, so it would be nice to get the RG back out on the track even if I just run in the cranks, and bearings.
I need to get the cylinders on and the rotary valves in place this evening.
The rest of last weekend was spent at Magny-Cours watching the French round of the World Superbikes, both races being very exciting with plenty of suspense up until the last laps. The 1000 superstock was good as well with a French rider winning the race in front of Badovini and his BMW. The only bummer of the weekend was the wind, which broke my tent, "luckily" on the Sunday. We had a good trip up and back, on some small twisties through the massif central. Both BMW and Aprilia had huge stands with all of their models present.
Update tomorrow if I manage to take some photos.
Tuesday, 28 September 2010
Cranks in ?
Well, I tried aligning hte cranks today, and I think it is relatively straight forward, with all the dots and marks lined up both 2 & 4 are at BDC and 1 & 3 are at TDC. Maybe difficult to see on the photos but you align a mark on the rotor with the crankcase bottom half and at the same time align two punch marks on the crank gears.
Unfortunately, I had bought some Permatex Ultra Black to use between the crankcase halves, however after better investigation this product can not be used for long period in petrol, so not suitable. I have had to order some Threebond 1104 (replacement is now 1194) which is good for sealing and is resilient to petrol oil etc... so I will need to wait a few days until that arrives before fitting the upper crankcase and then fitting pistons etc... (which haven't yet arrived).
The 350 is now ready (oil topped up) and just needs a road test to make sure it still starts after my crash at C-en-T. Interestingly I removed the plugs from the 350 which stalled during my crash (just after the long straight), which should have given me a good idea of WOT carburation (main jets) and they were pretty black, so rich - I may need to reduce jets for Ledenon which maybe hotter than C-en-T given that it is down the South. I have also bought a new front tyre which I will have fitted at Ledenon.
Monday, 27 September 2010
Crankshaft photos
So I got my cranks back today with new Maranello bearings, and oil seals and Suzuki conrods and big end bearings. I had the work done by Gonin Moteurs in Lyon, who has an excellent reputation - we'll see! He confirmed that I needed to change my conrods and big ends because of the wear on the cylinder Nr.2 conrod, as in the photo - according to him, it was ready to explode! Anyway it will be nice to have a good bottom end to build on, I'll see time permitting if I can fit them tomorrow. Fitting is a question of lining up the dots on the drive gear together whilst lining them both up with a position given on the drive shaft. You have to refit the rotor to the drive shaft temporarily and align all the marks up and then away you go! Things to look out for are ensuring you replace/position a waterway O'ring, plus ensuring the half moon rings are correctly engaged in the slotted bearings, other than that lot it should be a piece of cake! Here are the photos of the old conrods, bearings and seals plus the newly built cranks.
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