Roxy: No More Leaks

Whew... the oil leak at the breather hose really was just a case of the hose being loose.  When I detached it, I found that the rubber had become rock hard at the end.  Is it possible that it was baked by the overheating engine?  Being rigid it must have then leaked.  I snipped off the hardened portion and reattached the now pliable end along with a ziptie.  Problem solved!

Roxy: Odometer Log - 17,615

Filled up on gas.  Used 91 octane this time.
Air in tires was low at 18 front, 20 rear.  Line for the air pump so didn't fill them.

Roxy: Sizzling!

After Wednesday's ride, noticed that oil was leaking from the intake cover again.  Also, water would sizzle on the fins of the head, which I'd read was a sure sign of an overheating engine.  A lean mixture can cause overheating, and it seemed probable that switching back to stock jets had leaned things out too much.

I was hoping for an easy fix, so I just swapped out the stock jets with the silver ones that were in the bike originally.  So now I have the two silver jets in the "C" carb.

She started up cold on one kick after the swap, but wouldn't idle until I dialed in the air screw.  It's now only 7/8 turn out!

Rode Balboa again today, and was worried when I saw the oil leaking again on my way back.  I thought the oil leak was another symptom of the overheating.  But after getting back to the garage, I found that water wouldn't sizzle anymore.  The head was definitely much cooler.

The oil leak is still worrying.  I wonder if the overheating may have distorted the rubber or somehow caused it to loosen up.  I'll just try tightening things up first.

So now it looks like the silver jets are larger than the stock 85/35.  I just ordered some micro drill bits so I can figure out exactly what size they really are.  You find the largest drill bit that fits through, then you measure it with a caliper.

Roxy: DuPont Teflon

Cleaned and re-lubed the chain with DuPont Teflon Chain-Saver.  Hope it lives up to its reputation for having zero fling-off.

Used 2 parts Pine Sol to 1 part water for cleaning.

Also realized that simply adding cardboard under the center stand is enough to get the back wheel off the ground (duh).


Nothing like a clean chain!

9/20 Update: a little fling-off, but definitely nothing compared to what the Lucas did.  Unfortunately, any saddlebag on the left side will inevitably get sploshed over time.  But will definitely be sticking with the DuPont.

Roxy: Odometer Log - 17,594

Filled up on gas and calculated 76 mpg on this carb.

But not a great GGP ride.  Stalled a couple times in the garage, stalled when slowing for a turn in GGP, and very hard hot start at the gas station.  Also rode with headlight on (up until the GGP stall).  Wonder if that could have been a factor...?

But battery good at 6.4v and spark plug toasty brown with no more signs of build-up.  I think it's just trying to learn her warm start quirks.  Will need to test 5-10 min warm starts for awhile until I figure it out.

One post suggested kick once with ignition off, then kick with ignition on.  Reasoning is that an air-cooled bike needs a leaner mix to start when warm.

Roxy: A Quick Fling

Fling-off from using the Lucas lube.  Not horrible, but I'm eager to see how clean the DuPont Teflon is in comparison.

 

Roxy: Chain Cleaning [15,575]

I should have really cleaned and lubed the chain as soon as I got her.  Hard to say, but for some reason I doubt the PO was doing regular chain maintenance given he didn't even keep the oil topped up.


The cleaning station setup.  Unfortunately, there was no way to get the rear wheel to rotate, even by weighing down the front end, so I just had to keep walking the bike a few feet every time I had to move the chain. 

Dirty chain.

Cleaned and lubed.  Just used 50/50 Pine Sol mix in a spray bottle for cleaning, along with a nylon bristle brush (love that Pine Sol!).

Using Lucas chain lube, since that's what they had at the auto store.  But I already ordered a couple of cans of DuPont Teflon Chain Saver, since I hear that's the gold standard in good, no-fling chain lube.