What did you do to your motorcyle today?

[jetta90]

So a few weeks ago dragged home a 1988 Suzuki Katana 1100.  I know I know....it's not a vintage bike and not exactly popular.  Don't really care....it needed a home so why not...

This poor beast is in rough shape.  Probably hasn't run in 10+ years, was kept outside under a tarp.  It's beyond grungy, needs lots of work, needs a few bits.  Let's just say that even when it ran it was ridden hard and put away wet
many times in its riding life.  The motor oil that's in it is blacker and darker than most of your souls!

Did several compression checks to see if the motor is in ok shape.  Here you go....

Compression checked when it came home - motor cold and only the devil knows when last run:

100 lbs     30 lbs     80 lbs     130 lbs      

Compression checked after valves were adjusted - motor cold and still only the devil knows when it last ran:
Valves were very tight!

104 lbs     40 lbs     82 lbs     143 lbs    

Compression checked after pouring my preferred mixture (diesel and automatic transmission fluid) down each cylinder.  Letting it sit for a few weeks.  Then organized to start it up to get some heat into the rings/pistons and head.  Silly thing started and smoked worse than the 2 strokes I love so much.  Compression test with the motor slightly warm:

121 lbs     143 lbs    145 lbs    155 lbs


I had added a little more of the diesel/atf mixture after the last start up a couple weeks ago.  Motor started up well again and I let it run in order to get some heat into it.  Ran it on and off for about 45 minutes.  Had to shut it off now and then as the amount of smoke the burning diesel/atf was making was considerable.  Compression test with some good heat in the motor:

144 lbs    145 lbs     144 lbs     150 lbs.

Very nice improvement on the last compression test.  Still not quite where I'd like it to be but the numbers have come up nicely and are now more even right across the 4 pots.

Rings were (and probably still are) gummed up in the ring lands.  Combination of the "mixture" and heat more than likely helped free up some bits in there.  I think with a few hundred running kms that motor might just settle in and work out well.  Unfortunately, the bike is no where near running condition.  But it does feel like the motor could be a workable one.  Another long term bike project!  

[rz5mark]

6 lbs over 4 cylinders, seems really good to me. Is that the model that had the electric windshield ?

[jetta90]

6 lbs over 4 cylinders, seems really good to me. Is that the model that had the electric windshield ?

Yes it is...
How exotic is that!! lol

[kilowop]

Good catch.  Taken proper care, those engines were bulletproof and ran strong.  A friend from Princeton had one, not sure, but similar vintage.  It was a nice dark red colour and had the electric windscreen, which really wasn't of much use with it's limited range. I played silly ass with him one day outside Summerland.  I was on my 81 CBX running strong, and his Katana just ran away from me in top gear, and even when I dropped a gear, he was gone.  I had to be down in 3rd gear before I could stay with him, still in top gear.
CHEERS

[754]

32  years old isn't vintage ? When  did that happen.. 

[jetta90]

32  years old isn't vintage ? When  did that happen.. 

It'll be more vintage to some, and a little less vintage to others.  For me - it has a frame with wheels, a motor (hopefully coming back to life), brakes (none functional at this time), so it's all good.  The potential is there. 

[fffCycles]

It will be a nice ride Claudio, that will be for sure. Nice it has come back with a little treatment.
Frank

[rz5mark]

Nothing with the motorcycle, but I built this bead breaker. Just slip a piece of wood on the rim and the tire (bottom) and pinch from the top with the electric impact or 1/2 ratchet/breaker bar.

[Runningdog]

Nice....repurpose stuff you have hanging around.    How big is that c-clamp?    Stealing technology???   Naw, not me.

[rz5mark]

About a 10" opening.

[hardrockminer]

Working on the carbs on Sweetum's KZ550.  They are TK 22's.  Had a problem with the engine revving up to 3500 rpm while in warm up mode and with the petcock in the "On" position.  Turn it to "Prime" and the revs would drop.  I thought maybe a plugged vacuum hose so I removed the carbs and found that the choke valves had all slipped off the choke lever and were in the down position.  (The vacuum hose was fine.)  After repairing everything I re-installed the carbs on the bike, a difficult chore due to the air intake...similar to KZ1000's after 1976.  Then I realized I hadn't attached the throttle cables and I couldn't do it unless I removed the carbs.  So I removed them, attached the cables and re-installed on the bike.  But somehow in the process I dislodged the choke lever and all the choke valves fell off the lever arm.  That is now fixed and I'm ready to button things up. 

[stanfromhell]

Nothing with the motorcycle, but I built this bead breaker. Just slip a piece of wood on the rim and the tire (bottom) and pinch from the top with the electric impact or 1/2 ratchet/breaker bar.

Great idea

[rz5mark]

I finally got the rdz back together.

[Runningdog]

Nice, Mark.  Swingarm area looks OEM, like it's supposed to do.

[kilowop]

YOU DUN GOOD BOY !!