Inconsequential ramblings of an Old Git

[KungFooBob]

Much Against Everyone's Advice is a great album.

[mangocrazy]

Much Against Everyone's Advice is a great album.

That was one, the other was Nite Versions.

[Mr. Dazzle]

You're a monster.

It's obvious why in that long post, I don't need to spell it out.

[mangocrazy]

You're a monster.

It's obvious why in that long post, I don't need to spell it out.

It's the pineapple, isn't it?

[mangocrazy]

Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Sheffield anymore...

Pezenas_24_07_2024.JPG (97.07 KiB) Viewed 505 times

Yes, I got so pissed off with the English (lack of) summer that I legged it down to the south of France. On the VFR... I took the 8:00 ferry from Portsmouth to Caen on Monday (arriving at 15:00 French time), then rode down to Bourges where I stayed in a Kyriad Hotel on Monday night. On Tuesday I did the remainder of the miles, arriving at the Roujan supermarche at around 15:00 pm.

Unfortunately I don't live at the supermarche and the bike wasn't going any further as it had slowly drained all the fluid in the clutch reservoir until the clutch would no longer free off; not even partially. I'd noticed the clutch getting stickier, but hoped it would last the distance. It didn't. It expired about 4km away from 'home'. I then had to lug my belongings to the offices of the local Taxi service (in mid 30s heat) and beg them to take me the last few kms. Which they did, thankfully.

So this morning I made myself a big cardboard sign saying:

Roujan
Super-U
Merci !

and filled the tank bag with my helmet, gloves, a selection of tools and a bottle of Dot 4 fluid. And then proceeded to try and thumb a lift.

Thankfully it only took 10-15 minutes before a kindly soul stopped and took me to within a few metres of my poorly VFR. Equally thankfully, the tools I'd brought were the correct ones and in about 10 minutes I had the reservoir topped up and the clutch bled to a point where it was safe to use (it nearly had me off the previous day).

My overwhelming emotion was one of relief that I'd finally got the bike back in my garage. On previous occasions I'd quite enjoyed the extended trip down through France, and I still felt the same way about at least half of the journey, but the interminable stretches of autoroute through flat northern/central France were as boring as hell. As far as I'm concerned the interesting bits of France start around Clermont-Ferrand. Anything north of that is fairly dull and just plain hard work. I really am getting too old for this kind of shit.

At least the weather played ball. Northern France was cool and cloudy , but not rainy. The middle of France was 'cloudy bright' and the temperatures only kicked into high gear once I'd descended from the Massif Central and was about 50 miles away from my destination.

Anyway here's an old photo of the VFR and the Falco lollygagging in the sun outside the ancestral pile.

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[Bustaspoke]

Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Sheffield anymore...



Yes, I got so pissed off with the English (lack of) summer that I legged it down to the south of France. On the VFR...

Not sure about your timing,it's been raining at some time or all of the day for what seems like forever,but since last Friday it's been lovely around here,West Lancs & the 7 day forecast is more sunny weather
My old FZ750 has a hydraulic clutch & it has a near permanent leak on the clutch slave cylinder,I think the seal fails due to grit & muck being flung at it.Is it a common problem on the VFR? My XJR owning mate says that they're also known to fail.

[mangocrazy]

Toto, I've got a feeling we're not in Sheffield anymore...



Yes, I got so pissed off with the English (lack of) summer that I legged it down to the south of France. On the VFR...

Not sure about your timing,it's been raining at some time or all of the day for what seems like forever,but since last Friday it's been lovely around here,West Lancs & the 7 day forecast is more sunny weather
My old FZ750 has a hydraulic clutch & it has a near permanent leak on the clutch slave cylinder,I think the seal fails due to grit & muck being flung at it.Is it a common problem on the VFR? My XJR owning mate says that they're also known to fail.

Yes, take your point. I was intending to get away in the second week of July but persistent delays and setbacks in the installation of a central heating boiler meant I could only leave this week. Boiler installed Friday, I'm on the boat the following Monday.

Pretty sure that the slave cylinder is the problem. I replaced the seal a few years back but it's never really been right. I'm wondering if the bore of the slave has some pitting or scratches that allows fluid to seep past. Or it could just be a failing seal, as you say. I think I have a spare slave seal somewhere in the garage. If so, I'll swap it out and see what the state of the slave bore is like.

And to add insult to injury, the bike wouldn't run much above 100mph and was as flat as a fart much after a quarter throttle. Acceleration was pants, but the bike would hold 6-7k rpm up the hills but no more. I have a feeling I may have adjusted the choke cable 'tight' so it's permanently on, albeit only to a degree. If it's not that it's (another) carb tear down.

And when brimming the tank, fuel runs out of the overflow until it's down to three-quarters(ish) full. I suspect it has a small split in the internal tank overflow pipe. So it's definitely tank off time, as well.

Apart from that - no problems!

[A_morti]

Depending what's failed inside the tank and how, there's a chance it's letting water into the tank, too. Not sure that would explain poor running at high speed, but still something to think about. What's availability on a used tank look like?

With that and the clutch and carbs both giving "old bike" shit, maybe the bike is trying to gently hint that it too is too old for this shit?

[mangocrazy]

With that and the clutch and carbs both giving "old bike" shit, maybe the bike is trying to gently hint that it too is too old for this shit?

I'm definitely thinking along those lines as well. It's been a fine servant, but the problems do keep piling up.

Plus it's a lardy old lump and I think it's about time it was chopped in for something significantly lighter and newer. I'm thinking along the lines of a 10 y.o SV650 or similar.

[mangocrazy]

Depending what's failed inside the tank and how, there's a chance it's letting water into the tank, too. Not sure that would explain poor running at high speed, but still something to think about. What's availability on a used tank look like?

The tank has recently (within the last 2 years) been cleaned and given the epoxy lining treatment. That may or may not have a bearing on the current annoyances.

[A_morti]

I'm thinking along the lines of a 10 y.o SV650 or similar.

Faired one might work, but for those longer road trips something like a Dullville or NC700x or Transalp might make it feel less like hard work.

Panigale

[mangocrazy]

I'm thinking along the lines of a 10 y.o SV650 or similar.

Faired one might work, but for those longer road trips something like a Dullville or NC700x or Transalp might make it feel less like hard work.

Panigale

I've pretty much decided (based on the current trip) that this is the last time I'll be doing big miles on the autoroutes. The scenery south of Clermont on the A75 is tremendous, but it doesn't make up for the physical slog. I'd ride a bike down to the French gaff, but make it a 3 or 4 (or 5) day trip on the N and D roads and see 'off the beaten track' France. So an SV would fit the bill nicely. The bikes you list aren't really that much lighter than the VFR, and bike weight (or lack of) is becoming more and important the older I get.

[mangocrazy]

I've just had the tank off and the choke cable is correctly tensioned and in the OFF position it's definitely off; so that (convenient) theory has been disproved. Which means that when I reasembled the carbs last month I most likely misplaced one of the carb diaphragm rubbers in its groove. Or possibly even two...

If I'm lucky (in the loosest sense of the word) the problem will be on one of the rear bank of carbs, as I can get at them without disturbing the carbs. If not, it's out with the whole set of carbs, and they are a twat to remove and an even bigger twat to replace. Ho hum.

[Bustaspoke]

I'd ride a bike down to the French gaff, but make it a 3 or 4 (or 5) day trip on the N and D roads and see 'off the beaten track' France. So an SV would fit the bill nicely. The bikes you list aren't really that much lighter than the VFR, and bike weight (or lack of) is becoming more and important the older I get.

That's my attitude these days,I've no interest in dual carriageways or motorways so I don't need a heavy sports tourer.I'd rather take my time on the A & B roads over here & every time I've ridden in France it's involved RN's & D roads,avoiding the Autoroutes.
One of my mate's rides a BMW G/S & another a Hyabussa & they're both impressed with how well the little SV650 performs on the roads we ride.

[Taipan]

Depending what's failed inside the tank and how, there's a chance it's letting water into the tank, too. Not sure that would explain poor running at high speed, but still something to think about. What's availability on a used tank look like?

With that and the clutch and carbs both giving "old bike" shit, maybe the bike is trying to gently hint that it too is too old for this shit?

Classic problem with the old SV650s. Internal pipe used to get blocked and hold water and eventually rust through. Heavy rain saw water get into the tank and cause running problems.

I "lined" my internal pipe with air hose from a fish tank aeration pump, sealing it at both ends with a smear of epoxy and cutting off the excess pipe afterwards iyswim? The even smaller bore pipe was prone to clogging but a bit of strimmer wire kept it clear.

[mangocrazy]

Depending what's failed inside the tank and how, there's a chance it's letting water into the tank, too. Not sure that would explain poor running at high speed, but still something to think about. What's availability on a used tank look like?

With that and the clutch and carbs both giving "old bike" shit, maybe the bike is trying to gently hint that it too is too old for this shit?

Classic problem with the old SV650s. Internal pipe used to get blocked and hold water and eventually rust through. Heavy rain saw water get into the tank and cause running problems.

I "lined" my internal pipe with air hose from a fish tank aeration pump, sealing it at both ends with a smear of epoxy and cutting off the excess pipe afterwards iyswim? The even smaller bore pipe was prone to clogging but a bit of strimmer wire kept it clear.

The issue with the VFR is certainly related to the internal pipe that runs from the fuel filler area to the overflow pipe(s), but in my case it's not blocked, but has some kind of pinhole or corrosion that allows fuel to drip out of the overflow when the tank is filled past a certain point. I've checked on the parts fiche and the internal pipe isn't listed, so is obviously regarded as part and parcel of the tank.

At this point I think my only realistic option is to cap off the overflow pipe where it leaves the tank and make sure not to overfill the tank when fuelling up. Having fuel leaking out of the overflow after re-fuelling is not a long term option...

[Taipan]

Depending what's failed inside the tank and how, there's a chance it's letting water into the tank, too. Not sure that would explain poor running at high speed, but still something to think about. What's availability on a used tank look like?

With that and the clutch and carbs both giving "old bike" shit, maybe the bike is trying to gently hint that it too is too old for this shit?

Classic problem with the old SV650s. Internal pipe used to get blocked and hold water and eventually rust through. Heavy rain saw water get into the tank and cause running problems.

I "lined" my internal pipe with air hose from a fish tank aeration pump, sealing it at both ends with a smear of epoxy and cutting off the excess pipe afterwards iyswim? The even smaller bore pipe was prone to clogging but a bit of strimmer wire kept it clear.

The issue with the VFR is certainly related to the internal pipe that runs from the fuel filler area to the overflow pipe(s), but in my case it's not blocked, but has some kind of pinhole or corrosion that allows fuel to drip out of the overflow when the tank is filled past a certain point. I've checked on the parts fiche and the internal pipe isn't listed, so is obviously regarded as part and parcel of the tank.

At this point I think my only realistic option is to cap off the overflow pipe where it leaves the tank and make sure not to overfill the tank when fuelling up. Having fuel leaking out of the overflow after re-fuelling is not a long term option...

On the Sv it was easy to check as the internal pipe exited at the back of the tank. So you blocked the hole by the petrol cap and blew up the pipe and if its didn't pressuraise you knew that was what it was.

The other thing that I've know happen is the internal pipe gets blocked and water fills up in the recess of the petrol cap, when you open the petrol cap in floods the water. So on an SV at least, you need to find out if the pipe was blocked or leaking. YMMV as the Yanks say....

[A_morti]

Options are two: run a plastic pipe inside the metal tube as @Taipan did, but you'll need fuel resistant epoxy if such thing really exists.

Or do what dad_morti did which is get inside the tank, cut the pipe out, and replace with a rubber hose with clamps each end. Admittedly that may not be physically possible on a carb bike, unless you have a child nearby that needs petrol under their fingernails.

[mangocrazy]

I've dug a bit further and established that the internal overflow pipe is metallic (not sure if it's steel or ali) and in typical Honda fashion is fiendishly difficult to get at, much less attach anything to. So I've taken the 'la la la can't hear you' approach and removed the external vent pipe and blocked the vent at the spigot using the head and shank of an M8 cap head bolt as a bung inside some petrol tubing. And whacked on a couple of stainless clamps just to make sure.

Once this goddam heat subsides I may start looking inside carburettors to see if I can find lost performance...

[Taipan]

How hard is it to remove or drain the tank? Soon see if there is water in the petrol then. Have you got any strimmer wire? Be good to push that through to check its not blocked.