Red: Going Big Bore

Since getting Ivy running I've been able to compare her with Red side-by-side.  Seems crazy, but Ivy just feels much torquier, especially winding up in second gear.  Then again, she does have Roxy's old jug along with brand new rings.  But Roxy's cylinder is standard size and nothing special as far as I know.  Not sure how that could translate into such a big difference in the feeling of torque.  Maybe it's the exhaust?  Either that or the carb.  (Ivy's currently running the Sheng #1)

Decided to take the leap and install the DRATV Big Bore into Red now that she's feeling "under powered".

• Installed the 5 piece ring set before heading downstairs.  No issues getting them on.  Helps that I had some recent practice doing Ivy's new rings.
• Also filed down an old knock pin until it fit easily into the top right hole.
• Disassembled the top end.  The new pick set was handy getting the wrist pin circlip out.
• The old case-to-jug gasket was looking a bit brittle so swapped it out with a new one.
• Filed down the end of the knock pin a bit to make sure it fit flush into the case.
• The new piston went in ok.  Followed the standard setup for placing the gaps.
• It was VERY fiddly trying to get the jug over top of the rings.  Was constantly worried about knocking a ring out of its groove or messing up the 3-piece oil scraper somehow.  Finally just got it on after constant fiddling.  Maybe next time the strategy would be to insert the piston into the jug up to the rings before installing it to the crankshaft.  Or, get a piston ring sleeve thingy.
• Used the thicker copper gasket provided by DRATV to help with clearance.
• Slowly torqued the head cover nuts to 10 ft lbs.
• For some strange reason, it was VERY hard getting the advance back onto the end of the camshaft.  Why???
• With everything back together, she started right up.

Shakedown: ran quite a few laps from about 17th to 25th, keeping the revs varied.  No smoke!

But she suddenly cut out on 25th and Lake.  Feared the worst, but after making it back to the garage realized I'd simply run out of gas!

But... biggest disappointment was that I simply did not feel like those extra 14cc's made any difference at all.  Didn't really feel that much extra torque.  Didn't feel that "surge" in second gear that I was comparing against Ivy.  Very strange.

Thinking of swapping back to the Sheng as a test.  Maybe that old Keihin is just not breathing as well?  What could be giving Ivy that extra feeling of power???