troyminator

Banchetta, Thanks that helps allot. So basically, stock isn't firing at TDC...and potentially after TDC when it is already moving down. So the goal of the timing plate is to change the spark timing to fire prior to reaching TDC...therefore explosion occurs as close to TDC as possible, hence increasing the force/acceleration of the piston on its way down. So based on this, how do you know how much to advance the timing? Is it a trial/error endevor in which you listen to the engine and look at the plug for some signs? Thanks again! T

Thanks Dextreme, A little more question with that answer... I am just thinking outloud... When the pison is traveling up...there are forces required to continue moving up...so if you "spark" prior to reaching TDC, then there will be even more force required to finish the compression stroke. I assume that we are talking about millisecs prior to hitting TDC, but still I don't understand how that adds more power. I guess the main problem I am having is understanding what you mean by Thanks again as your input is greatly appreciated! T

Guys, I have searched on the forums and I haven't been able to find the exacts behind advanced timing. I have read about how to do it (either modifying your own plate or purchasing plates). Could somebody explain the mechanics/purpose? Thanks T

Thanks Linc, I will take a look 2nite:) T

Can somebody show me where the coolhead dome size is marked? If you have a pic, please post...it would be greatly appreciated! Thanks, T

Thanks guys, I will check it out. T

Another (Dumb?) question... When I pulled off the coolhead, I didn't see any head gasket...is this because the head gasket on a coolhead is the o-rings on the bottom side? I will read my clymers, but was also wondering...when you split the cases(which is the bottom end right?), do you need to get more gaskets,etc? Thanks, T

Greetings and happy holidays! So now I found that something happened inside my cylinder and something had been slamming up between the coolhead dome and piston. Doesn't look pretty First of all, anybody know of a good shop in the east county for cylinder work...at a reasonable price Next, I will probably try to do the piston installation work myself Even if it is only on the right side...and they are suppose to be new cylinders and pistons, do both need to be changed at the same time? Next...what is the best way to tell if I will be able to go out any further on the bore size? Lastly, what is the best way to measure what the next size pistons will need to be? Prior to me trying to do the work myself, I have had a guy work on my bike, but I am not sure what size pistons and what not are installed. Ooops I guess there is one more question... what brand pistons/rings/etc. do you all recomend??? Thanks again, and happy X-Mas:)

Damn! I finally got home from last minute xmas shopping...(always happens no matter what you say about next year!) Took off the gas tank, the front plastics...pulled off the lower radiater hose, pulled off the upper radiator hose from the coolhead...tried not to make a mess, but you know how that goes:) I then proceeded to remove the nuts...no problems...it looks like the guy who worked on my bike used a little gasket maker when putting the coolhead back on...no problems...it all came apart ok. All the top o-rings looked good. The o-rings around the studs all in place and the main o-ring seal ok. Then I carefully pulled off the lower portion...but before I could get it off, I removed the little block that the other radiator hose plugs into (2 M5 allens I think). I tried to remove the hose first, but it was difficult to get it off the hose fitting with such small space to work with. {The hose I am talking about goes from the coolhead (towards the rear of the bike) into the bottom end or something down there. Once all of the hoses were disconnected, I pulled off the lower portion of the coolhead. That is when I noticed what looks like may have happened.... Drum roll please...... The side that wasn't smoking the dome is nice and "brownish" looking. The side that was smoking is very clean, but also "chewwed" up. The top of the piston is also chewwed up. I does appear as though there may be a "gouge" in the cylinder. Now what do I do? I was going to call the guy that works on my bike and ask him, but I would really like to figure things out a bit more with your guys' help:) This is where things can really get screwed up I think, so if you think I should leave anything else up to the pro's, let me know. Thanks guys! T

Leadfoot, How does your gearing compare to stock gearing? I am trying to remember what stock was. T

First of all, You guys are good! Next, a couple more questions.... 1. Does it make sense that if there was a coolant leak into the cylinder, that the bike would not run unless I gave it constant throttle? 2. When I install new o-rings, do you guys use Super O-Lube or anything like that to help seal the o-ring? 3. Do you guys use any loctite on the nuts when reinstalling them? Thanks again, T

Boonman, Thanks for the information. I am hoping to get a little more background information for my own future knowledge. Don't get me wrong, I will take a look down into the cylinder and at the o-rings tonight. My question has to do with the white smoke. If the head gasket is leaking...what can happen? Are we talking that air would get into the cylinder?...or would oil get in?...or would coolant get in?...or all of the above? I think that I understand that if there were "gouges" in the cylinder, then oil could get by the piston rings...or do I have that wrong. Like I said, I am trying to become a little "braver" with working on my bike, but I like to know the reasoning behind things. If the o-rings were bad in the coolhead, then I believe only coolant could get in the cylinders, but I may be wrong there:) Your knowledge is key to my sucess:) Thanks again, T

Linc, What's up my brotha? Does suck...I cleaned off the bike tonight...tomorrow night I will pull off the head. I have never really messed with the cylinders...always had somebody do it for me...but need to learn to do the stuff myself...I am just scared that I will mess something up. I can design stuff all day and put it together without worries, but once I start playing with stuff that I haven't designed...I get worried that I will mess something up. When I pull off the head, should I pull off the top of the coolhead first? Then pull off the lower portion next? I will look for any cracked or pinched o-rings...or o-rings that don't look "proper". When I look down the cylinder, will it be obvious if something in there is messed up? Boonman, I started the bike this evening and smelt the exhaust...didn't smell really bad...I don't know what you mean by "horid" smell, but it just smelled like something burning...hard to say...I am no mechanic by any means:) What should compression be anyhow? I don't know what size domes I have for sure...are they stamped with the size? Well guys...as always, your input and advice is greatly appreciated! Thanks again, T

I checked the compression on both cylinders....one is at 150 but the other is only at 90. Looks like I may have some problems huh!? What do you suggest I do next..any thoughts? I was gonna pull off the coolhead and take a look down below to see what's going on. Sux to be me right now! Any thoughts would be greatly appreciatded! T

Boonman, How would I know if the coolant system is building pressure? Troy

I didn't ride it much, so I can't say that I lost much coolant once it started to smoke. I don't know about the compression. I would have to buy a compression tester...do they sell those at harbor freight do you know? I don't remember the smell...I just remember being pissed! I will try to check the smell tonight...what would affect the fact that it won't run without giving it much throttle? Thanks, Troy

All, I gotta lil' delima...I just got my bike back from a friend who had been working on some things...latest things he did was some changing the shift splines and replacing the clutch cover gasket. When I went to pick it up from him, the main o-ring on my cool head busted out. It wasn't long ago that he replaced all of the o-rings, but also changed the domes and whatnot. So I went and bought an o-ring kit...but we only replaced that one o-ring that blew out. Took the bike out yesterday. It was running great! Then... The bike started to stutter a bit and then came the smoke...and alot of it. White smoke started blowing out of the right side pipe. So basically I putted it down to the flats and pulled it back to camp. When I start it, it doesn't want to run unless I give it gas (won't idle at all). Smoke still comes out of that one pipe. When I say that it won't idle...as soon as I let off the gas, the bike immediately shuts off. I need help! What can I do about this before the 1st? Any suggestions? I am thinking that it may be an o-ring inside the coolhead allowing coolant to get into the chamber, but I am not really sure. What else could it be? Please help. Thanks, Troy