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Post by payneib on Oct 20, 2013 8:16:48 GMT -5
I only ever had abuse from kids on the scoot. It was generally screeching little high school girls showing off to their friends. Other than that it was just bad road manors from cagers.
But not anymore! I've not heard a peep from anyone over the growl of my 600cc engine. And as for bad manors on the road? I took the bike to work for the first time Friday morning, just plodding along at 60 (the limit) and had a 4x4 tail gating me down a hill to a roundabout. So I had a nice long slow down, while he got closer and closer, then forced him to crawl round the roundabout at about 7mph while I got it in third. And then just opened up the juice on the exit. When he finally caught up with me again, he gave me a bit more space. I'm loving having enough spare power to teach cagers a few lessons now.
Ian
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Post by payneib on Oct 19, 2013 12:59:30 GMT -5
Hello, Long time no post! I think my Lightspeed 2 has finally died. It was three or four weeks ago now, but the lead up included excessive deposits in the breather drain, and generally feeling "baggy" as it was coming up for a valve adjustment. And then it wouldn't start. I thought it was the starter motor, but on further investigation the starter motor is fine. I took the transmission cover off and popped the spark plug out, and tried to turn the engine by hand at the variator, and its jammed. I get about a third of a turn out of it, either way, but that's it. Without further striping, my initial thoughts are: Cracked piston Piston ring folded over Valve dropped through Valve disintegrated The good news is, it doesn't matter. I passed my full UK motorcycle licence last week and I'm now riding this:   A Yamaha FZ6, 2006. 600cc of reliable Japanese awesomeness. So seeing as the scooter is currently worth £0, I figured I'd save it as a project. I go back on to shift pattern in January and will have more time off for working on it. So it's chained up down the side of the house, under a cover, waiting for some TLC. If its truly dead, it'll go for scrap, if not, a replacement cylinder kit is only £60, so I should get another year out of it before it needs an MOT. So in the new year I'll probably be back for some advice! Thanks for all your help this year, Ian |
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Post by payneib on Aug 14, 2013 15:00:46 GMT -5
What I'll do, is cut the wires and see if it runs. If not, I'll jab them together and try then. Which ever works is what I'll go with! Lol
It's only taken six months, but I don't worry about break downs anymore, they're just part and parcel of life on Chinese wheels. Really looking forward to a new bike, preferably with "Honda" written on it.
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Post by payneib on Aug 14, 2013 13:46:28 GMT -5
After forty miles commuting home tonight, my engine cut out, just two miles from home. Thinking it was my spark plug again, I didn't panic as I keep a spare plug and boot in my seat bucket now. But as I went to slide my side stand down, I noticed my actual problem. My side stand cut out switch was hanging off, and dragging on the road, where it had switched to the "off" position. So I managed to turn it by hand to the "on" position, tuck it into the plastic and make it the last two miles to the gas station for my "daily gallon". I bought some duct tape there and taped the switch up under the plastic to stop it dragging out again. Se we can add "black tape" to the list of things under my seat! Lol
Does anyone know if I can just snip the cables off and short them out? I don't know how long the tape will stick, and I can't be bothered fixing it properly as it never gets used anyway.
The good news is, I've passed my car test now, so im not racking up the mileage on the scoot quite as much as I was before. And I've booked on for my bike theory next month, so I should be able to move up the cc's for next season!
Ian
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Post by payneib on Jul 10, 2013 7:21:59 GMT -5
Don't worry kat, mine are terrible. I always see them and think I must try harder! They're getting better now that the weather is nice and dry, but still not worth posting a picture! Lol
Ian
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Post by payneib on Jul 9, 2013 14:43:01 GMT -5
You can just see it. It's a bit difficult because of the sand, but there is dark/light shade line about half way between the edge of the sand/dirt and the edge of the tyre. That is your chicken strip. It's caused by the wear on your tyre, not extending as far as the edge of the tyre, because you "corner like a chicken". Sports bike riders worry about it more than anyone else, cause, "you know man, gotta get your knee down man, or you're not a real biker, man". |
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Post by payneib on Jul 8, 2013 1:52:37 GMT -5
You guys need to find yourselves a nice new roundabout. A few laps of one when the roads are quiet will soon build up confidence in your rubber.
It's even better here in the UK, where we drive on the left. We do roundabouts clockwise, so there's no centre stand worries and you can really relax into the lean.
Ian.
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Post by payneib on Jun 21, 2013 2:46:47 GMT -5
howdy and congrats ian. glad to see you got it squared away how's the little one doing-- keeping ya busy? lotsa miles and smiles to all y'all ken He's good. Running me and his mum ragged. I'll try and get some more pictures up of him later, when I've got better signal. Ian |
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Post by payneib on Jun 20, 2013 8:49:13 GMT -5
Yeah, but the new head is (£75) worth more than the bike now I think. And means dealing with the scum that imported/distributed the bike to start with. They are the worst company I've ever had the misfortune to deal with.
Still, it's only got to last until August/September, then I'll be doing my full motorcycle licence and moving on to bigger and better things.
Ian
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Post by payneib on Jun 20, 2013 7:35:05 GMT -5
It's good to know they have a little longevity in them. How many miles/Kms have you put on it?
We used to use them all the time in the Navy on generator rocker covers, that were made out of the worst aluminium in the world. It got to the point where we had heli-coils, inside heli-coils!
I just hope it holds up to the conditions actually on the cylinder itself.
Ian
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Post by payneib on Jun 20, 2013 7:00:19 GMT -5
Improved performance will also have to do with properly set valves and such. . I thought it could be that, but it struggled to hold an idle on a cold engine when I picked it up last night. But then it idled quite well this morning after I nipped up the slack on the throttle cable. That's another point: is there any time when these Chinese throttle cables stop stretching? I'm almost out of adjustment on this thing already. I think I've got about another 2000km before I have to set the adjustments back to zero and just pull more cable through at the carb end. Ian |
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Post by payneib on Jun 20, 2013 2:39:05 GMT -5
Got the bike back yesterday, first long trip into work on it this morning, bloody is it good!
The garage only charged me for the repair itself: £35, as they'd sent the head off to a machine shop for the heli-coil. So they didn't charge me any labour costs or for replacement gaskets etc.
But there's so much extra power in the bike now (I was holding 60 indicated, so ~55, up hill, with a good flick of the wrist extra throttle left, for over taking), I think the plug may have been rattling around in that port for a while, losing me compression, and the threads they pulled out at the last service were the last one or two, that were knackered anyway. I reckon the new gaskets have helped in that regard as well.
So I'll definitely be popping into the garage on Saturday morning with a box of beers for the guys.
Ian
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Post by payneib on Jun 19, 2013 15:26:38 GMT -5
If you have a strong back, and plenty of time, you could dig it with a garden fork, put the fertiliser and seed down, then pat it down by walking over it.
But anything big, that will take FOREVER! But it's good for between bits.
Ian
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Post by payneib on Jun 19, 2013 4:50:02 GMT -5
I'm wondering how you guys do your grass? I need to seed asap. What months should I do this, and how do you seed? She wants fescue grass I believe. If you're going from scratch, turfing it would probably be the best option IMHO. Either way, seed or turf, early spring is the best bet (not sure which part of the world you're in, and what weather you get) as you need a good mix of sun and rain for the first few weeks/months. Hire a rotivator and get the ground good and churned up, get a good even spread of lawn feed/fertiliser down on it, then sow your seed (or not if you're turfing), then roller it flat, then turf (or not, if you seeded). It'll need at least two days of good bright sunshine, and at least a day of good heavy rain every week to really get it kick started. Once it's growing in, don't let it get too long, but don't mow it too short. Make sure you keep all the leaves off it in Autumn, then pray it doesn't snow too much in winter, and NEXT spring, you'll have a bloomin' marvellous lawn! Ian |
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