Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git

[Sadlonelygit]

Have you looked at the clutch basket for wear?

That's on the to-do list when I change the friction plates and springs. But it can wait until the weather turns proper shitty over winter.

have you checked the pushrod for stiction? seen a few bow over the years

[mangocrazy]

Have you looked at the clutch basket for wear?

That's on the to-do list when I change the friction plates and springs. But it can wait until the weather turns proper shitty over winter.

have you checked the pushrod for stiction? seen a few bow over the years

The original one was changed out for a new Yamaha one in March 2022 (Fowlers still stock them) as the original one had a groove worn where it passed through an oil seal and I was trying everything I knew to stop an oil leak on the LH side of the crankcase. The bike's probably only done 500 miles max since then. So very much doubt it's that.

[Screwdriver]

They might have stuck extra strong springs in there...

[mangocrazy]

They might have stuck extra strong springs in there...

Hmmm - not sure who these 'they' might be. I've owned the bike from new...

I do have a recollection that I might have fitted an extra plain plate to stop clutch slip, but it would have been getting on for fourty years ago and my memory isn't that good. All will be revealed when I strip the clutch over the winter.

Right now I'm best part of 1000 miles away from the LC and I'm fretting over a VW van, a Lancia Beta and multiple house-bothering problems...

[Screwdriver]

I misread the above note about Fowlers.

[Taipan]

Aren't they CV carbs on those. It does sound like a diaphragm issue. Have you tried lifting and dropping the slides to see if they retrun in a damped manner?

[mangocrazy]

Aren't they CV carbs on those. It does sound like a diaphragm issue. Have you tried lifting and dropping the slides to see if they retrun in a damped manner?

Yes, VFRs have CV carbs, and they're very sensitive to getting the diaphragms lined up just so, otherwise you get the kind of issue I'm experiencing. One way or another that bank of carbs will have to come off, either to be replaced by the spare set or for me to painstakingly go over the set that's fitted and try not to cock it up (again).

Removing and replacing a set of carbs in a 90 degree V4 is one of my least favourite tasks. Just thought you'd like to know...

[Taipan]

Aren't they CV carbs on those. It does sound like a diaphragm issue. Have you tried lifting and dropping the slides to see if they retrun in a damped manner?

Yes, VFRs have CV carbs, and they're very sensitive to getting the diaphragms lined up just so, otherwise you get the kind of issue I'm experiencing. One way or another that bank of carbs will have to come off, either to be replaced by the spare set or for me to painstakingly go over the set that's fitted and try not to cock it up (again).

Removing and replacing a set of carbs in a 90 degree V4 is one of my least favourite tasks. Just thought you'd like to know...

I was more thinking of the diaphragm rubber itself deteriorating as to be expected with age. If you're not familiar with it, you stick your finger in the venturi and raise the slide up to the top then pull your finger out and the slide should drop back down in a slow-ish damped manner. If it just drops back down then its had it and as it cant hold a vacuum like that you lose full throttle/top end etc.

[mangocrazy]

I was more thinking of the diaphragm rubber itself deteriorating as to be expected with age. If you're not familiar with it, you stick your finger in the venturi and raise the slide up to the top then pull your finger out and the slide should drop back down in a slow-ish damped manner. If it just drops back down then its had it and as it cant hold a vacuum like that you lose full throttle/top end etc.

I have given the diapragms a good coat of looking at recently, and didn't see anything untoward, but what you describe is a far more scientific test and one that I think I should be able to manage without removing the carbs from the motor. I really hope so...

Thank you!

[mangocrazy]

The Falco went in to AP Workshops in Tamworth yesterday for a check up on the CO levels and throttle body sync. TB sync was spot on, and CO needed a minor tweak to get it perfect. Griff made the observation that hydrocarbons were in the 200-300 ppm level, which is very, very good. He reckoned the motor is as good as you can reasonably expect and everything is working beautifully.

Nice to know...

[mangocrazy]

I've finally got round to digging into the 'other' Falco - the one I bought in a knee-jerk reaction of what can only be described as sympathy. I'd known the PO for several years and he's been served a couple of shit sandwiches, on the health and relationship fronts. He can't ride any more (or feels that he can't) due to heart issues and his ex-wife had held his Falco hostage in her garage since 2016. The bike itself had a lot of desirable bits on it (Oz forged ali wheels, Ohlins shock, forks with Ohlins internals (allegedly - haven't verified this yet), Renegade racing airbox and link pipes/cans plus nice bits and pieces (Ohlins steering damper, Aprilia Performance rearsets, RSV Mille swingarm etc. etc.)

However it's absolutely minging filthy, the back of the bike is covered in oil from over-zealous use of a Scottoiler and it's festooned with dodgy electrical gubbins (Sat Nav, phone mount, intercom, aftermarket rear light, decrepit alarm) that basically need ripping off and binning. I'm also not a fan of the Renegade high mount cans, although I'm aware that back in the day they were regarded as the dog's danglies. For me they just get in the way and (on closer inspection) they foul the shark-fin rear hugger on the banana RSV swingarm to the extent that the pipes have burned a large hole in the hugger. I believe that the Renegade kit was only intended for the RSV Mille, but Pete forced it to fit on his Falco without raisng the rear ride height to give working clearance to the hugger. Ho-hum.

So the Renegade exhaust bits have been removed and will be cleaned up, polished and sold on. The same will happen to the Ohlins steering damper (Falcos really don't need one) and the aftermarket smoked rear light lens (another 'essential' mod from BITD that I really don't understand).

Next moves will be to remove the rear wheel and give it a thorough degrease and disinfection, then check out the rear suspension linkages/shock and remove the RSV swingarm for a deep clean and inspection. If all the grease and crud is removed from the bike it will probably shed a couple of kilos...

[Buckaroo]

Pictures please!

[mangocrazy]

I can take a photo of the Renegade zorst tomorrow, but the rest of the bike is in Stafford and I'm back in Sheffield.

Besides, do you really want pics of a wheel, tyre and swingarm that's caked in grease?

[Rockburner]

.... a wheel, tyre and swingarm that's caked in grease?

Phwoooooar!

[KungFooBob]

I had a Renegade can on my 400 Bros, that thing was LOUD!

[Buckaroo]

I can take a photo of the Renegade zorst tomorrow, but the rest of the bike is in Stafford and I'm back in Sheffield.

Besides, do you really want pics of a wheel, tyre and swingarm that's caked in grease?

Absolutely:before and after shots Besides, I'm a slow reader with little imagination.

[mangocrazy]

Shots of the manky arse end of the black Falco will have to wait a week or so, as I won't be back in Stafford until next weekend, when I'll be preoccupied with birthday celebrations. But here are a couple of shots of the 'pre' condition of the Renegade exhaust. First of all, the section of pipe that crosses over from RH side to LH side and sits between the rear wheel and rear cylinder and has been in intimate contact with a plastic (now thoroughly ventilated) hugger:

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And a shot of the Renegade 1 into 2 back section comprising link pipes and cans. Hopefully it should scrub up reasonably well with some TLC. They have a reputation for being proper loud, as KFB has alluded to. Also in shot are the passenger footrest hangers that flare out to accommodate the cans that sit directly under the subframe rails.

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