revtothelimit - motorbike forum

the_priest wrote: Sun Apr 30, 2023 3:41 pm The headers have corrosion on them. I have managed to get them a bit better, but am not a garage queen. I want to ride the bike, not spend my time polishing it.

Good chance I've written this before but, when I got my first Blackbird, a really good mate had a pub and he said - come over on the weekend and we can polish both bikes (he had a green ZX9r).

My response was apparently unexpected - I've got a new bike, the sun will be shining and its weekend; what makes you think I'll be polishing and not riding!!!

the_priest wrote: Sun Apr 30, 2023 3:41 pm The headers have corrosion on them. I have managed to get them a bit better, but am not a garage queen. I want to ride the bike, not spend my time polishing it.

That was the first time the Muzzy had been off the bike since 2005. Removed it to clean the front of the engine The (mild steel) ZX11 headers just got the graphite stove polish treatment. Painted it on by brush, fired the bike up the next day & smoked out the garage. Most Americans have never heard of the stuff, told those who asked to "ask your grandmother".

New Rear Indicators are now installed. This is no BMW!

And yet those are the exact same indicators you will find on an f650gs single

Done some more work. Soldered and heat shrink for the new waterproof connectors. Front indicators done.


Connectors at bike side done.


Loosely fitted to the bike (waiting for fan.) Indicators do work perfectly front and rear.


Just waiting for the fan to be delivered. Will check that coolant I have in stock is for aluminium blocks, if not, will buy some more.

Fan arrived early! Wiped down, no rust. Fitted to radiator and then to the bike. Need to fit coolant hoses and add coolant, but that is for much later on as I have a hospital visit to go and make.

Found I had no coolant, but filled it with water for now. Will MOT bike, flush radiator and refill with coolant. Sunny and bright tomorrow, so perfect weather for first ride of the year. Comes up to temp nicely, smoked a lot, but has not been run for so long in several months, so to be expected of a 59K engine. Fan comes on when temps get 1/3 of the way.

the_priest wrote: Tue May 02, 2023 8:11 pm Found I had no coolant, but filled it with water for now. Will MOT bike, flush radiator and refill with coolant. Sunny and bright tomorrow, so perfect weather for first ride of the year. Comes up to temp nicely, smoked a lot, but has not been run for so long in several months, so to be expected of a 59K engine. Fan comes on when temps get 1/3 of the way.

I rebuilt dozens of 2-stroke racing engines and only used tap water.

Not cold enough for coolant nor hot enough either at the moment. But coolant will be purchased and added once I get the time. Meetings from 9am this morning, so MOT will have to wait a bit and an afternoon meeting and walking the dog (much more important!).

Regardless of temps you want the coolant as it has additives that will stop the build up of rust and other stuff you don’t want that can potentially block up the water jackets.

But because it’s such a short time it will be fine and you’re flushing it out.

In my race bikes I used to run water all year ( you had to ) but would flush it before the winter lay up and add coolant then.

Coolant makes the water wetter too (breaks the surface tension so it "wets" the surfaces more) and hence makes it cool better, but I doubt that's a factor here!

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed May 03, 2023 8:51 am Coolant makes the water wetter too (breaks the surface tension so it "wets" the surfaces more) and hence makes it cool better, but I doubt that's a factor here!

In the US you used to be able to buy a product called 'water wetter' as a special coolant that was legal in race bikes.

KungFooBob wrote: Wed May 03, 2023 8:53 am

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed May 03, 2023 8:51 am Coolant makes the water wetter too (breaks the surface tension so it "wets" the surfaces more) and hence makes it cool better, but I doubt that's a factor here!

In the US you used to be able to buy a product called 'water wetter' as a special coolant that was legal in race bikes.

Washing up liquid probably

The stuff which makes soap bubbly is often separate from the stuff which gives soap it's "wetting" property so you can add one without adding the other.

Surfuctant. I just like the word.

KungFooBob wrote: Wed May 03, 2023 8:53 am

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed May 03, 2023 8:51 am Coolant makes the water wetter too (breaks the surface tension so it "wets" the surfaces more) and hence makes it cool better, but I doubt that's a factor here!

In the US you used to be able to buy a product called 'water wetter' as a special coolant that was legal in race bikes.

I’m sure it’s still available, they swore that it would make bikes run cooler.

Nominally it will run cooler, but as with all these things if you're not set up to take advantage of it you won't notice.

wull wrote: Wed May 03, 2023 9:07 am

KungFooBob wrote: Wed May 03, 2023 8:53 am

Mr. Dazzle wrote: Wed May 03, 2023 8:51 am Coolant makes the water wetter too (breaks the surface tension so it "wets" the surfaces more) and hence makes it cool better, but I doubt that's a factor here!

In the US you used to be able to buy a product called 'water wetter' as a special coolant that was legal in race bikes.

I’m sure it’s still available, they swore that it would make bikes run cooler.

You can get it in Euro Car Parts! As KFB says the Yanks use it in most race bikes, or did when I was reading US forums.

https://www.eurocarparts.com/p/redline- ... -993778201

ChrisW wrote: Wed May 03, 2023 8:59 am Surfuctant. I just like the word.

Sounds like an Aussie beach dood.

Washed and polished. MOT tomorrow morning at 10am.

Passed MOT. Advisory on front tyre, so ordered in a Pilot Road 4 to be fitted next week. Local place, so will keep them in business. They may also be able to do the fork oil at the same time. Worth it for me.