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With the MOT looming and with a couple of wangled gaps between other jobs I got round to a couple of jobs on the Falco this weekend.

I'd noticed the gearchange wasn't quite as crisp as usual so yesterday I had the linkage apart for a clean and re-grease of the rose joints and a clean up and lube of the lever pivot on the footpeg. All needed doing so hopefully I'll notice the difference tomorrow on the way to work.

The other morning it did its run on one cylinder trick when starting up (not surprised as I'd just started it when cold the night before to put it in the garage - always makes it a bit more iffy to start the next day). That coupled with the non starting issue a few months back and I thought I'd better have a look at the plugs.
So up with the tank and then off with the upper auxiliary oil tank (sometimes referred to as the air-box) to get at the plugs.
Of course the upper auxiliary oil tank contained more oil than I would like it to and it looks as though when resting some makes its way into the TBs. The air filter was also lubricated with as much engine oil as K&N filter oil.

It was no great surprise then that the plugs came out looking extremely black (.... and this is a case that proves that black certainly does NOT make it faster).
So cleaned the plugs and then found all the gaps needed closing up a bit (always a bit nerve-wracking when adjusting iridium plugs with very fine centre electrodes).
Put the plugs back in but then didn't really have time to properly clean my K&N filter .... but leaving it as it was would soon foul the plugs again.

I remembered that I had an old carbon plate that could replace the upper auxiliary oil tank and that had a filter that mounts over the velocity stacks - so decided I'd give that a whirl.



Hopefully will be an even happier Falco tomorrow for having had a bit of basic maintenance.

Careful

You will be taking the baffles out next

Aladinsaneuk wrote:Careful

You will be taking the baffles out next

The baffle (singular) has only just gone back in after about 6 months of being out.

careful you'll be suggesting irresponsibility next

I look forward to the verdict when he gets back today..

Ride to work:

• Starting was far more eager
  Pulling at very low revs was much stronger
  Not sure how much due to Renegade and how much due to clean & gapped plugs and not breathing through an air filter that needs engine oil washed out of it.
  One thing I have noticed when I opened it up is the real reason that Pete recommends ear plugs - crikey its loud!
  
  Nice gearchange restored too

Did a bit more work today.

Pulled the wheels out to check the brake pads (need some new rear pads).

While I was at it I found my Scottoiler has suffered some damage - the pivot that the dual injector mounts on had snapped off.
Repaired by turning the mounting upside down and providing a bolt to act as a replacement pivot - better than new.


Of course while the wheels were out I decided that perhaps summer is arriving so the stickier rubber and carbon rims went in.
Now I'll have to learn how to ride the thing again - I remember last time I swapped them the change was dramatic.

D-Rider wrote: Now I'll have to learn how to ride the thing again

Search function?

Ive heard of this 'search function', what does it do? Does it make you go faster ?

D-Rider wrote: Of course while the wheels were out I decided that perhaps summer is arriving so the stickier rubber and carbon rims went in.
Now I'll have to learn how to ride the thing again - I remember last time I swapped them the change was dramatic.

Didn't need to re-learn it - yes it responds quicker but didn't seem quite so mad as last time I changed the rims - probably because this time I had scrubbed-in tyres

Did a few more jobs on the Falco this weekend.

Tried to adjust the CO with the Gunson Gastester I obtained.
Fekkin useless thing that is !
Anyway balanced the TBs with the Carbtune manometers and did a few other bits and bobs.

Came to put it away. Started it up and left it running for a bit. Thought "what's that strange feint smell?" After a bit of looking round I noticed a significant dripping from the bellypan - yep a coolant leak - and I've not even touched the cooling circuit.

Think it might be coming from that 3-way manifold thingy - but it's hard to see in there and I'd run out of time to investigate.
Falco off the road until I can find the time to sort it.

Just a tad annoyed!

I'd run out of time to investigate.

perhaps the search facility could help??

Can it find time?

Well the bike had it's little joke and then got on with life.

Had a look at it tonight and not a drop was coming out. I certainly didn't imagine it yesterday as there was coolant residue today in the area that it seemed to be coming from.

Gave it a pretty thorough check over. I did find a jubilee clip (on the 3-way manifold) that wasn't as tight as it might have been and nipped it up, topped up the coolant and hopefully we're good to go.

Oh don't you just love a bike with a sense of humour

yes, but i did divorce her