From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com (klr650-digest) To: klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Subject: klr650-digest V1 #258 Reply-To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Sender: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Errors-To: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com Precedence: bulk klr650-digest Tuesday, September 22 1998 Volume 01 : Number 258 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 08:37:17 -0600 From: "Josh Sammons" Subject: (klr650) NKLR: MuZ Bikes Baghira: For me it has got 3 strikes against it. 1) Seat height, I need something a little taller than the KLR. Unfortuneatly this is 4 inches lower. 2) 3 gallon gas tank. I could live with it, just wouldn't like it. 3) the nearest dealer to me is in Loveland, CO. about a 5hr. drive. I do like the paint job, power increase, and the fact that I wouldn't see another one in NM. Mastiff: I like this bike. I love the head lights and just the look over all. I even like the blue paint job too. Again seat height, and 3 gallon gas tank is my only problem with it. Oh, yeah and it's a thousand more than the Baghira. I do have a problem with that. Josh '92 KLR650 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 11:24:07 EDT From: Triphenia@aol.com Subject: Re: (klr650) Valve Clearance All the talk about ZERO valve clearance has made me curious (and maybe paranoid). I took a look at the shop manual and can't understand how shims (or anything else) could wear and reduce the value clearance to ZERO. Help me understand this. Also, what does running at ZERO harm? Thanks, Pat 9,000 miles with no adjustments (yet) The shims don't wear, the valve seats do. All that bashing and heat (especially the exhaust valves) pound the valves deeper into the valve seats, which the valve springs are then better able to pull up through the head, closer to the cam shafts; hence the reduced gap between the cam lobes and the valve shim. The valve shim (held in it's "bucket" sits on the end of the valve stem.) Zero valve clearance can cause BIIIIG damage if it turns to negative clearance, that is, valves so tight that they don't even completely close. Hot exhaust gasses whistle through the leaky exhaust valve, very quickly burning the exhaust valve. A burned exhaust valve gets a little flat spot on the edge of the valve. If things get this bad, you will need a valve job and a new valve at the very least, perhaps a new valve seat too. Did you say "no" valve adjustments yet? Not even the 600 mi. warranty adjust? Get thee to a machine shoppery! Jeff ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 08:41:40 -0700 From: Mike Magier Subject: (klr650) More fan ??s OK - my contribution to the growing fan/thermo question barrage. 97 (dealer says 98, but manufacture sticker says 9/97) KLR650, bought new. From day one, has often gotten temp gauge 3/4 or more when piddling around in town. I live in 90-100 or more, but now it's cooling down outside, and there's no appreciable change in around-town temps. Yes, fan comes on at high temps, yes - it stays on for 10-20 seconds after parking. I've checked coolant level. That's about the extent of my mechanical expertise (what can I say - first bike). I'm picking up mechanical skill as I go. Just changed front brake lines, chain (oops, didn't know I was supposed to lube it more than every 800-1000 miles!!), bash plate. Removed front/rear wheels for tire change. Anyway, back to heat issues. I have never pinned the gauge, but it does get well up into the hotter portion of the gauge. The manual and the list often refer to the "thick" part of the gauge. What is that? On my gauge, there is a curved line that runs from C to H. The thickness of this line is uniform. At the upper limit of this curve (and I would guess at the upper limit of needle travel) there is a "hash mark" which is perpendicular to the curve. Is this the proverbial thick part? If so, I think it would be easier to just say pinning the gauge. (Or at least less confusing to us newbies/wrench idiots). Alternatively, is there a different configuration on other heat gauges where the curved line gets thicker as the gauge reads higher - kinda like on some gauges where there's a yellow or red "zone" on the gauge? Is my bike running too hot? It seems happy, and it cools down well at speed (unless it's 100 degress and 100 mph!!) Any input appreciated. Mike Magier (trying not to run too hot myself . . .) 97(8)KLR650 5800 mi. ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:00:18 -0400 From: "Steve Young" Subject: RE: (klr650) Valve Clearance My dealer swears they NEVER adjust valves at 1st service on the KLRs. There are no other dealers without going hours away, so what's a guy to do? - -----Original Message----- From: owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com [mailto:owner-klr650-digest@lists.xmission.com]On Behalf Of Triphenia@aol.com Sent: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 11:24 AM To: PAT_HENSLEY@HP-USA-om32.om.hp.com; klr650@lists.xmission.com Subject: Re: (klr650) Valve Clearance All the talk about ZERO valve clearance has made me curious (and maybe paranoid). I took a look at the shop manual and can't understand how shims (or anything else) could wear and reduce the value clearance to ZERO. Help me understand this. Also, what does running at ZERO harm? Thanks, Pat 9,000 miles with no adjustments (yet) The shims don't wear, the valve seats do. All that bashing and heat (especially the exhaust valves) pound the valves deeper into the valve seats, which the valve springs are then better able to pull up through the head, closer to the cam shafts; hence the reduced gap between the cam lobes and the valve shim. The valve shim (held in it's "bucket" sits on the end of the valve stem.) Zero valve clearance can cause BIIIIG damage if it turns to negative clearance, that is, valves so tight that they don't even completely close. Hot exhaust gasses whistle through the leaky exhaust valve, very quickly burning the exhaust valve. A burned exhaust valve gets a little flat spot on the edge of the valve. If things get this bad, you will need a valve job and a new valve at the very least, perhaps a new valve seat too. Did you say "no" valve adjustments yet? Not even the 600 mi. warranty adjust? Get thee to a machine shoppery! Jeff ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 11:14:03 -0400 From: "Christian Kindarji" Subject: (klr650) trip Tampa-Montreal-Tampa (Fixed posting) (NKLR) I'm sorry guys but it seems that every time I try to re-send this message with the missing part it just sends an unfinished old post, hopefully this one will make it. First I would like to thank everybody who helped me getting myself ready for the trip, then I would like the thank the List and all those people that keeps it alive everyday. Thank you everybody. Although I'm not a hard-core biker but a person that enjoys driving my bike everyday, I learned a lot from your everyday postings and I did my first oil change and oil-filer change in the middle of my trip (and very proud of myself should I add). I have still a lot to learn about sprockets, dynajet, ... Here's a summary of my trip (Not technical though): when I first thought about it , I told myself the idea was crazy and I was expecting my wife to freak out! But guess what , she didn't! I guess she knew I needed the challenge So I started planning for the trip. Tampa , Montreal on my KLR650 is definitely easier said than done . Believe me when I say it, because I did it! 1500 miles is not a short trip! What is the safest , shortest way? Let's start! First, the maps! Of course, my PC (stands for Perfect Companion!) was a great help, I used Rand-McNally Deluxe Edition of TripMaker and printed 3 copies of the itinerary (one for my wife, two for me in case I threw one out of frustration on the road!) I knew I had to travel light , so clothes, tools, 1st aid kit, blabla...backpack, my alarm set at 5A.M (as if I 'll get any sleep that night) and I went to bed... 5:00 AM I am actually going to do it ! Shower.. 5:30 AM VRRRRRRRR.... I am on my way.... 10:30 AM Have you ever been on a motorcycle for more than an hour? 19 or 20 for example? I guess God didn't create the back for this particular purpose in mind! I had some weird reactions : while my lower back was busy aching me increasingly , my legs were spreading and spreading.... When I looked really funny on the bike , I had to stop , rest , refuel, leave a message for Nathalie on the beeper with the miles I have already put behind me! My first encounter was at Virginia : Tattoos on his arm, ring in his ear, and his eyebrow, and his nose and his lip and his tongue, Kevin and his custom bike were going my way (Albany) too! He ended up calling me "slave driver!" because I wouldn't stop every hour for his "smoke"! He thought about making to Albany in 3 days, I promised to get him there next day. 2:00AM winds were blowing and it was getting pretty wet and cold, we had to stop for the night. I have to tell you we shared a room that night , I can't recall everything that happened but I only remember waking up with a pierced ear and "Kevin for ever " tattooed on my arm! (Please note that it was a joke , I also informed my lawyer about this comment just to make sure nobody can sue me because of it and that it is not Starr report material!) 5:00 AM A man with a mission! that's me! "on the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again..." "Riding on the highway, looking for an adventure..." It's funny, all those songs we always hear and hum along but only one sticks in your head for that day and you sing it again and again and again... At the risk of something romantic , I enjoyed those sunrises and the views ! Those beautiful colors that change by the second , all the serenity of the mountains, the freshness and the smell of mornings. Where are we every morning when those beauties are unfolding ? This is really breathtaking .I am trying to take in as much as I can (I remembered Forest Gump and his desire to run for years). I guess our species have weird needs sometimes: to challenge oneself to ones limits .... Miles are running so quickly before me and I noticed that after all those miles , I could tell how many different kind of gravel, pavement materials they used on those highways. Different shades of gray, different shades of black...I also encountered an alligator making his way to the river, lots of road kills (raccoons, snakes, a deer, a mountain lion !!!), and oh let's not forget the thousands of insects dying on my helmet and that big moth that crashed on my visor (needed 10 minutes to clean up this one). Miles are running so quickly before me. Every 2 hours , stop , refuel, rest for 10 or 15 minutes and on my way again... Parted with Kevin in "Albany" that day as promised, apparently he said that I was "The Man !!!". Pretty soon it was like a routine and by the end of the day , I was approaching the Canadian border... I was getting really cold and I had to stop for 20 minutes inside the Customs station to warm up again... I started the motorcycle under the rain , but what the heck, I have seen worse... The rain turned into a crazy storm , winds were pushing cars off the highway, so I along with many cars had to pull on the side and stop . Water was pouring in and no bridges in the horizon I was chilled to my bone. One car driver took pity on me and let me in his car to warm up. Have you ever been drenched to the bones? shaking? and not being able to articulate a single word? Yep! That was me! The car driver blasted the heaters in the car. 10 minutes later storm had passed, back on the bike. Next stop my father's place in Montreal. Forget about my glorious arrival! All I could think was a hot shower and dry clothes! Not even Demi Moore herself could have made me happier at that point! I will never forget the expression on my father 's face. He didn't know I was coming and he was trying to figure out how the heck I was standing in front of him and why I WAS SOOOO MISERABLE? Shower , dry clothes and an hour later , the VIBRATIONS in my head were still there ! BUZZING IN MY EAR ... WOULDN'T STOP! Pretty uncomfortable feeling but I DID IT! so I didn't mind the buzz . I was thrilled to tell myself that I DID IT ! What I didn't realize at that particular thrilling and happy moment of my life is that I will have to do it all over again in 4 days! Well, the way back was tiring and problem free, but on that bike was a man , renewed with the knowledge that this was a kind of a rerun (been there, done that), a man wizened by the fact that the human mind is a strange box . It believes everything that you feed it : you can tell it you can do it and it will! The great gift through it all is our WILL . This is where everything starts and becomes reality . The only thing still bothering me though are those VIIIIIBRAAAATIOOONS. If only they would stop! Christian - KLR650 '98 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 10:15:11 -0600 From: "Fred Hink" Subject: Re: (klr650) Valve Clearance - -----Original Message----- From: Steve Young To: klr650@lists.xmission.com Date: Tuesday, September 22, 1998 10:02 AM Subject: RE: (klr650) Valve Clearance >My dealer swears they NEVER adjust valves at 1st service on the KLRs. >There are no other dealers without going hours away, so what's a guy to do? You have a couple of options. You could pay your dealer to check your valve clearance or do it yourself. You should get the TWO service manuals for your bike and then check out this article... http://www.geocities.com/~klrdsn/page4.html Engines with double overhead cams don't require valve adjustment as often as most other type of head arrangements. But factories do make mistakes and if you didn't catch a gross misadjustment for several thousand miles then you are looking at serious valve damage. For your own piece of mind you would feel better getting it checked. It will probably be adjusted correctly but until you check it out you will never know. Fred Hink ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Arrowhead Motorsports http://cctr.umkc.edu/user/khink/moabmc/index.html 435-259-7356 ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:34:19 EDT From: Cloudhid@aol.com Subject: Re: (klr650) More fan ??s On 9/22/98, magier@bentonrea.com wrote: snip >97 (dealer says 98, but manufacture sticker says 9/97) KLR650 It's common for products to be in the manufacturing cycle one year and sold the next as that year's model. My '96 A10 was made in 6/95. The 'A~' designates model year not manufacturing year. The '87 model = A1, thru the '99 model = A13. So some of us list our bikes by model # and others by model year. >The manual and the list often refer to the "thick" part of the gauge. >there is a "hash mark" which is perpendicular to the curve. >Is this the proverbial thick part?...easier to just say pinning the gauge. Well the right hash mark on mine is thicker than the others. Mine's never been hot enough to confirm that it pins on the thick line. It may be capable of going past the thick line. >Is my bike running too hot? It seems happy, and it cools down well at speed Doesn't sound too hot to me. Riding in the desert on a hot summer day, does activate my fan, but the needle's never read more than 3/4. Unless you're close to the right mark or boiling over...be happy. Redondo Ron (who's never been a big fan) ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 12:03:55 -0600 From: rkk@mail.utexas.edu (roger kriegel) Subject: (klr650) GAS MILEAGE i read something on web about the klr 650 getting up to 63mpg using d-200 engine treatment and d-500 fuel conditioner...has anyone else experienced this. the following is the info i read: http://www.lgr.lv/marshal/case4.htm thanks roger Roger the Artful Dodger hm (512) 416-9997 wk (512) 444-0716 rkk@mail.utexas.edu 2809 west william cannon dr#d101 Austin, TX 78745 ------------------------------ Date: Tue, 22 Sep 1998 13:27:16 -0600 From: "Kurt Simpson" Subject: Re: (klr650) Valve Clearance > >>My dealer swears they NEVER adjust valves at 1st service on the KLRs. >>There are no other dealers without going hours away, so what's a guy to do? My '98 had 2 valves that were tight at 550 miles...I used the chart in the service manual to get the correct shims...Check them or have them checked! Kurt A12 ------------------------------ End of klr650-digest V1 #258 ****************************