Forum

[Beezabryan]

I fear we may be entering the realms of mending something that is not broken.....The problem is an oil weep that will be cured by replacing the head gasket.... Otherwise the bike is running fine.... However it is your bike to do with as you like

[TimG]

Beezabryan - I will make the final judgement after the bore has been measured. If it is outside tolerance I will most certainly get it rebored, whether it "should" be or not, as I really don't want to spend yet more on another stripdown when it begins smoking. I am not quite so green as to be fleeced into something I don't agree with. I am just a little concerned that there seems to be so much wear after so relatively low a mileage...
Cheers
TimG

[Beezabryan]

No offence intended Tim just expressing my concern.....As you quite rightly say you are well able to make your own decisions

[MadMike]

Tim his subjective assessment based on peering down the barrel is frankly not worth a light. Measuring a bore takes minutes if you are working at a slow pace, yet he still does not appear to have done that basic function. I am stunned that he has actually recommended a rebore without measuring the cylinder. If you are close to Leicester then let me know and I could go and measure it for you. I guess you should ask him and yourself a fundamental question. Why didn't/hasn't he measured the bore before recommending a "solution"????????

[Norm]

If there was any bore wear it would be noticable by a lip where the rings top out.

[m1ks]

Ditto the above really.
He's in the workshop with the head off the bike, how long does it take to drop the piston to BDC and chuck in an internal micrometer to verify any suspicion of wear?
End decision is of course your own but as had been already said, iron barrel, ally piston, rates of expansion, hot/cold blah blah.
Only way to know for certain is an accurate measurement.

[Alan R]

Hi TIM G-----take a look at this}-----http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dial-Bore-Gau ... ols_Levels ------------------------- this is the sort of tool used by professionals for quick and repetitive measuring. 3 measurements--( Top--centre--bottom)over the swept part of the bore. 3 in-line with the con-rod and 3 at 90 degrees gives an accurate picture of your cylinder bore.... As NORM said, you would expect to see/feel a lip at the top of the piston ring travel... Re-reading your first posting then if you CAN see a large proportion of the rings AND the bore-gauge readings turn out to be minimal---then it would appear to indicate a potential problem with the piston and piston wear---MAYBE...M1Ks, Didn't you post some "Down-the-Bore" photos of your recent engine problems ??.... I have fitted our hosts forged piston but also have a (De-)compression plate to give an approx 7:1 ratio... With the 28mm Mikcarb jetted as per RIGGERS sizes, a Tea-Caddy air filter system and a semi-free-flow exhaust driving a 19t sprocket I can now CRUISE at a proven 60mph (Kawasaki W650 running alongside---brave lad !!) AND stay at 60 going up and over your average hills ( The extra TORQUE now coming into play)rather than go for the higher CR with it's associated extra stresses, fuel sensitivity, ign. timing etc. All my running settings, plug etc are as standard.

[Andy C]

Tim.

I would be inclined to say if it ain't broke it doesent need fixing !

Incidently why was the head removed ?

[TimG]

Oh dearie dearie me. I seem to have stirred up something of a hornet's nest on this one (totally unintentionally). I actually asked for several things to be fixed which had built up,most of which were obvious faults/breakages. I didn't want to list 'em all, as (a) everyone would be bored silly and (b) the only concern I had was the bore. This was complicated by the fact that just after I put the bike in, the dealer/mechanic went off sick, so has not done some checks that otherwise he would have done by now, and I don't know when he will be back in, so am loathe to ask him. The head was removed to fix a persistent leak, which is down to a gasket failing. An apparently worn bore was also found, but objective assessment has been suspended as I said. The bore may be within spec. If it is, I will just get the head put on again. The other things are also being fixed, but definitely need fixing (one is a potential MoT failure). Will report again when I have more info...phew. Hope that helps...Cheers TimG

[Alan R]

Nice One , TIM !!! ----------------- keep taking the tablets ( LoL )