From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V2 #166 Reply-To: klr650 Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Monday, March 22 1999 Volume 02 : Number 166 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 10:18:11 +0000 From: Jeffrey Doyle Subject: Re: (klr650) Down-under tool storage FTabor231@aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 3/21/99 10:56:56 PM Central Standard Time, > magier@bentonrea.com writes: > > << It's just that this is my first original idea for a way to make my KLR a > better bike. I can get pics - if people are interested, but it's really > pretty straightforward. >> > Mike, this was a great idea for a lot of storage jobs, thanks and keep > sharing. frank Mike, If you post a pic let us know where we can view it. My only concern would be if it stuck out too much on the sides that it could get hung up on a branch. Just curious....did you think of mounting it off one of the hand-grab rails like a fishing pole holder? Jeff A2 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 08:54:28 -0800 From: phipps@bulldog.prn.bc.ca (Allan Phipps) Subject: (klr650) KLR Hauling in truck A friend is going to haul my 96 KLR from Victoria, BC to Fort St. John (a good two days drive) in the back of his Mazda pickup. What do I need to know about hauling a KLR in the back of a truck. I want to make sure it is secured properly. What kind of straps should I use, how do I tie down the bike so it won't fall over/out, is there a good way to lock the bike to the truck, should I cover the front of the bike/windscreen with anything to protect it from flying rocks (still lots of gravel on the roads from the winter), is it possible to put the bike on one side of the truck box (my friend has some other stuff to haul too), .... ?? If it matters, the truck is a 96 Mazda extended cab 4X4, with either a regular box or short box. You may be wondering why I'm having the bike hauled here instead of riding it. I would really like to ride it but I just got my licence last summer (did a MSF course) and I haven't spent any time riding in traffic. I thought a 15 hour trip would not be a good plan for my first time riding the bike. I bought it a few months ago, but I actually haven't seen the bike yet. Can't wait to get it!! Thanks in advance for your advice!! Al Fort St. John, BC Canada 96 KLR ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 09:20:43 -0700 From: "Fred Hink" Subject: Re: (klr650) KLR Hauling in truck - -----Original Message----- From: Allan Phipps To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Monday, March 22, 1999 1:57 AM Subject: (klr650) KLR Hauling in truck >A friend is going to haul my 96 KLR from Victoria, BC to Fort St. John (a >good two days drive) in the back of his Mazda pickup. What do I need to >know about hauling a KLR in the back of a truck. Hello Allan, Japanese trucks don't have the strongest metal for their beds. You will need to put a piece of plywood or some other brace in the front of your front tire and center the bike in the back of the bed. You will need two tie down points in the front of the bed preferably in line with the forks. Use good quality tie downs. I would recommend Ancras, not something cheap like you would get at Walmart. ;<) You can use a piece of 2X4 under the fender and on top of the tire. This will allow you to compress the tire and not the springs when you cinch down your bike. Or you can use a world famous "Fred's fork saver" this does the same thing as the 2X4 only looks better and makes me rich. NOT!! Don't put the bike on the center stand if it has one and tie the back of the bike so that it can't move side to side. More than likely your bike will be longer than the bed so you will have to leave the end gate down or tie it up as far as it will go. Definitely do not lay the bike over on its side. Make sure that your gas is in the off position. This is because when you are hauling your bike the carb will loose a little gas into the engine while it is not running and will end up in the engine oil.(not good) You are throwing away memories that you will have for the rest of your life. Riding your new bike for the first time on a 15 hour trip, what could be better than that? But you are probably right. Being new at riding, it is better to be safe than sorry. Good luck! Fred (live to ride another day) ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 09:34:26 -0500 From: Chalz Milliken Subject: (klr650) (KLR650) Slick 50 Thanks for the input. I understand both sides of the story and am still confused. I do believe manufactures build things that don't last forever just to make money, and some oil additives can do more harm than good. I have used Slick 50 in my Toyota truck that has 170,000 miles on it and runs as good as new, and I know a trusted mechanic that swears by the stuff. So I'm going to compromise. I will use less than the recommended amount of Slick 50 for less than the recommended amount of time. If my engine explodes or something, I will keep the list updated. I knew that extended warranty would be worth it!! Chalz A13 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 08:27:54 -0800 (PST) From: "Rev. Chuck MacKarness" Subject: Re: (klr650) ignition sticking Sarah, I may be late in my reply, but I have been off the list for a few days. Anyway, I suggest this, as I have had similar problems: I used a silicone lube to "wash out" the gum in the key switch, (which is most likely keeping the pins from sliding with the notches in the key) after drying completely I dumped some dry graphite and it worked well. My thought was the WD40 would leave enough residual to collect dust and put me in deeper water soon. - --- Sarah Barwig wrote: > So, my key is being a bit finicky about going into > the ignition. Once > I settle it into the pins, it turns fine, but getting > it in and out is a > bit of a bear. Is it ok for me to put WD40 on the key > and use it to lube > up the pins? Or is that bad? Or is there a better > commonly available > substance? > > Sarah > > -- > Beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, > There is a field. > I'll meet you there. > -Rumi > > > > > === Rev. Chuck '99 KLR651 :^)>+ _________________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 11:40:41 -0500 From: "Preferred Customer" Subject: (klr650) Low Mount Fender Pic Anybody got a picture of this setup that we can check out? BG ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 09:40:09 -0700 From: "Vik Banerjee" Subject: Re: (klr650) (KLR650) Slick 50 - -----Original Message----- From: Chalz Milliken To: 'KLR650' Date: Monday, March 22, 1999 9:16 AM Subject: (klr650) (KLR650) Slick 50 >So I'm going to compromise. I will use less than the recommended amount >of Slick 50 for less than the recommended amount of time. > >If my engine explodes or something, I will keep the list updated. >I knew that extended warranty would be worth it!! Chalz, If you put slick50 in your engine and it explodes (not likely, but something else may happen) don't count on Kawi's extended warranty to fix the problem, most manufacturers are pretty finicky with their warranties and will ensure you followed the recommended maint procedures or had a dealer service your bike. I don't know how (or if) they can detect slick50, but if they do I doubt they will fix anything for free as it is not something they suggested you put in the engine. You could go after slick50, but I doubt you'll get satisfaction. I am not saying don't try it, just be realistic about the consequences if you do experience a negative side effect of some sort (perhaps not as catastrophic as you suggested, but maybe equally expensive) On that subject I'd recommend all the home mechanics on the list keep good records on the work you perform on your bike if its under warranty, even going so far as to document the more elaborate procedures (vale adjust) with pictures. Its not a big deal if you do it at the time and if you have to make a warranty claim at least you can show you followed the manufacturer's specs. Cheers, Vik ------------------------------ Date: Sun, 21 Mar 1999 20:48:38 -0800 From: "Darrel & Deanna" Subject: (klr650) NKLR: Army vs Navy Morgan- That lighthouse joke is classic. For technical accuracy sake though, the USS Abraham Lincoln is in the Pacific Fleet, (I rode her on her maiden voyage from Norfolk, where she was built, to San Diego on her way to first homeport of Alameda) homeported in Bremerton, WA. Here's a good one I hope you and our fellow listers like. Darrel A12 CPO, USN >Two army soldiers boarded a flight from Dallas to Atlanta. One sat in >the window seat and one in the middle seat. Just before take off, a Sailor >got on the plane and took the isle seat next to the two soldiers. Right >after take off the Sailor kicked off his shoes, stretched his legs and was >settling in when the soldier in the window seat said, "I think I'll get >up and get a Coke". > >"No problem", said the Sailor. "I'll get it for you". > >While he was gone, the soldier picked up one of the Sailor's shoes and >spit into it. When the Sailor returned with the Coke, the other soldier >said "That looks good, I'll get one too". > >Again the Sailor obligingly went to fetch another Coke for the second >soldier and while he was gone the soldier picked up the Sailor's other >shoe and spit into it. > >The Sailor returned with the second Coke and they all sat back and >enjoyed the rest of the flight. As the plane was landing, the Sailor >slipped on his shoes and knew immediately what had happened. > >"How long must this go on?" the Sailor asked. "All this inter-service >rivalry? This fighting? This animosity? This spitting in shoes and pissing in >Cokes?".......................... ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 11:52:33 -0500 (EST) From: Eric Winslow Subject: (klr650) Maiden voyage gone awry. Long. Hello. So, I take my new for me '94 KLR from Wash. DC to Long Island, NY on Friday (after changing oil, filter, and doing some basic checks). It performs beautifully on the trip up despite nasty traffic backups in various spots. Coming home, fill up the gas tank before departing. Stop once more before hitting the road for a visit and take off. Everything goes well until the toll booths for the bridge to Staten Island. The bike dies on me as I que up for the toll. It won't start up again. Battery power looks great, starter is working, it just won't catch. Different choke postions have no effect. After walking through the tolls, I push it to the side and am able to push start it down the nearest off ramp. Seems to run ok, so let's keep going. At the next set of tolls I accidentally hit the kill switch while trying to keep the revs up and get money out of my pocket. It starts right up, though. Maybe there's no problem, I think. The next set of tolls at the end of the Jersey turnpike it wants to die. I have to work to keep the revs up, but eventually lose it. Another push through the tolls. I get it started again after a short delay by working the throttle a bit as I hit the starter. It still doesn't want to idle smoothly. I crank up the idle speed to help me out, sometimes it will idle at the higher setting, but other times it will want to crap out. Next tolls, same problems, get it going, moving down the road I now notice that the temp gauge is rising. It was fine until then. I slow down which helps at first, but some miles down the road it's rising ominously, so I pull off at a handy exit. After letting it cool down it starts right up like nothing is wrong (with choke, it had cooled that much). Anybody have a clue as to what might be going on here? Once it was rolling the power seemed to be fine. I figure the first problem might be unrelated to the cooling problem. Maybe I got a bad batch of gas in NY before hitting the road? Any thoughts would be appreciated. Now I need to go back and pick the bike up from Aberdeen, Maryland where I left it. I wonder if it just might act like nothing happened. Puzzled in DC. Eric Winslow ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 10:02:39 -0700 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) Maiden voyage gone awry. Long. >Anybody have a clue as to what might be going on here? Once it was >rolling the power seemed to be fine. I figure the first >problem might be unrelated to the cooling problem. Maybe I got a bad batch >of gas in NY before hitting the road? Any thoughts would be appreciated. > >Now I need to go back and pick the bike up from Aberdeen, Maryland where I >left it. I wonder if it just might act like nothing happened. Eric, on problems that could be gas related or spark related and are difficult to trace I like to build a base to build on. So, for me, the first thing I would do is pull the carb and give it a good cleaning and inspection with special attention to the pilot jet, floats, and diaphragm....be careful not to lose the needle collar...then when you get it back on you can be pretty sure it is not fuel related...put an inline filter along with it and look for any rust in the gas tank...My guess is that will correct it... Kurt ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 12:04:02 -0500 From: Mike Ratta Subject: (klr650) opinions on big gun pipe and FCR41 carb Just look my KLX out for a ride late last week with the new pipe and carb. I was grinning like a madman the whole way. What a difference. I highly recommend both of these mods to KLR and KLX owners. Rolling the throttle produces some unbelievable low end torque. ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 10:16:22 -0700 From: "Fred Hink" Subject: Re: (klr650) Low Mount Fender Pic - -----Original Message----- From: Preferred Customer To: KLR 650 Date: Monday, March 22, 1999 2:45 AM Subject: (klr650) Low Mount Fender Pic >Anybody got a picture of this setup that we can check out? >BG > > > I have a photo of just the low fender I can send to you. Fred ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 12:29:04 +0000 From: Jeffrey Doyle Subject: Re: (klr650) Maiden voyage gone awry. Long. > problem might be unrelated to the cooling problem. Maybe I got a bad batch > of gas in NY before hitting the road? Any thoughts would be appreciated. > > Now I need to go back and pick the bike up from Aberdeen, Maryland where I > left it. I wonder if it just might act like nothing happened. > > Puzzled in DC. > > Eric Winslow Eric, It does seem that the bike started acting up not too long after you got the gas. If there was a lot of water in it your carb would definitely be effected. Was this '94 machine left idle without being ridden by the pervious owner? Was the gas left in the tank for a long time? It almost sounds like something is restricting your fuel flow either through the petcock or the carb. For the fact that your engine was running hotter that's a sure sign right there you're running lean. In other words it's not a spark problem, not an air problem, it's a fuel problem! There may have been impurities in the gas that took a while to build up in the fuel system under use. If you hadn't said that the bike was filled up with gas I'd think you were running low on gas and everytime you speed up, slowed down, went uphill, or downhill, the gas level in the tank change around the internal fuel pipes that feed to the petcock (high one for normal and low one for reserve). Jeff A2 ------------------------------ Date: Mon, 22 Mar 1999 12:43:48 -0500 (EST) From: Eric Winslow Subject: Re: (klr650) Maiden voyage gone awry. On Mon, 22 Mar 1999, Jeffrey Doyle wrote: > Eric, > > be effected. Was this '94 machine left idle without being ridden by the > pervious owner? Was the gas left in the tank for a long time? It The bike was fairly idle for a year before I bought it. Maybe something worked into the fuel line at the wrong time. But it still ran strong on the highway, even if it wanted to quit on me when I stopped. Would this be consistent with restricted fuel flow? > almost sounds like something is restricting your fuel flow either > through the petcock or the carb. For the fact that your engine was > running hotter that's a sure sign right there you're running lean. In > other words it's not a spark problem, not an air problem, it's a fuel > problem! There may have been impurities in the gas that took a while to > > Jeff > A2 ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V2 #166 ****************************