I think it might live ....

[D-Rider]

Ah - looks as though I took something at face value that had been posted up somewhere ... they are indeed both AGM batteries:

Have found something that explains a little about the YTX and the newer YTZ batteries:



The following are from Yuasa:


http://centuryyuasa.com/data/portal/000 ... 646869.pdf


http://www.gsyuasabatteries.com.au/file ... ochure.pdf

[HowardQ]

For what it's worth I bought the the other one shown a few months ago -

The YTX41-BS MF, it cost me £65 from a small local bike shop, who are always really good on prices.
So your price looks quite good to me Andy.

[D-Rider]

Had a day working on the bike.

First job was to fit the battery ..... they're not easy to get in and out are they?!
Anyway the more compact Yuasa YTZ battery is in .... though the fact it is more compact meant that I had to make up some spacers to fill the space below and at the top under the clamp. Both were needed due to the shape of the top clamp.
I guess that's a bit of a down side in not going for exactly the same battery as OEM fit.

Anyway ..... it now runs ......

Next job was to change the chain .... I was certain I knew where my chain riveter tool was .... I was wrong. Searched for ages but still can't find it - so that will have to wait for another day.

Moved on to the next job .... fitting radiator/oil cooler grilles. Have been intending doing this for years.
Anyway, I fitted a set of these: http://www.mikesgrilles.com/Apr_Falco.htm
(picture not my bike)



I'm pretty pleased with them.

I then moved on to fitting my RSVR top yoke - one of these:
(picture not my bike)

The first job was to remove the ignition switch. Those of you that have removed one will know that it is secured with a security bolt and you need to cut a slot in it with a dremel type thingy. I then found my dremel (not a real one I add) wouldn't work ... so I took that apart ... and failed to fix it. Looks like I need a new one. Anyway with a bit of improvisation I removed the bolt ... by which time it was getting dark and cold (and although it had seemed warm in the sun earlier, the garden is still covered with snow) - so I've packed up for the day.

[D-Rider]

This is turning into a Blog !

Well, despite having the battery fitted and the bike running at the weekend, for the hell of it I've been persevering with the scooter for commuting.
Having bodged the exhaust for the MOT it has been getting steadily louder by the day.
Last night things had got so bad that some of you living in Scotland may have been aware of a background buzzing at the time I travelled home from work.
Not wishing to make my ears bleed this morning I decided to take the Falco.

The new battery is brilliant - it will turn the engine over time and time and time again .... then after a break do it all again then again.
Yep ... the Falco has got pissed off with me riding a scooter and just didn't want to know.

Gave up and took the super noisy scoot to work again .... forgetting my ear-plugs FFS.

Goodness knows what's up with the Falco. Going to have to pull the plugs and see whether it's sparking.

In the meantime ebay has been hit for a scooter exhaust.

Stupid crappy Italian bikes (LOL)

[HowardQ]

Just to piss you off Andy.
I started mine a week ago, been stood since mid December, and as always, first time on the button, as it nearly always has done all the time I've had it other than when the old batterey was Iffy.
Not been constantly on the trickle charger, just normally Friday nights in case the weather turns out to be extra nice for the weekend.
Rest of the time the charger is on the ZX9R, which has a Datatool System 3 fitted, so it needs it more (no alarm on the Falco).
Hope you get it sorted quickly!
Oh and some sunny weather this weekend would be nice!

Luvverlee reliable Italian bikes (LOL)
Perhaps the Black ones are faster starters as well .... sorry ... I'll shut up

[D-Rider]

I found out why it wouldn't start ..... lack of compression on the front cylinder!

.... not as serious as it sounds .... one of the plugs had worked itself loose.
I remember some reports of this on AF1 - must admit I did wonder whether they'd tightened them up right but now I've had the same it's something I'll be keeping a closer eye on it.
Anyway, a new set of IXU27 Iridiums are now fitted and it's running again.

I also changed the air intake snorkel and frame inserts for the early model variety (TBH that was so much hassle I'd probably not recommend that to anyone unless it makes a massive difference - which I doubt it will).

Did a few other jobs too .... and it's now ready to take me to work tomorrow.

[fastasfcuk]

you hope.

[D-Rider]

you hope.

No problem - started first press of the button.

Felt a bit strange to ride compared to the scooter though!

Actually, when it started I thought "this sounds a bit strange". I quickly realised that the reason is that I've fitted the early model induction kit. No idea what it does for performance but it certainly does make a significant difference to the induction noise.
There is no doubt in my mind that the primary reason they changed it on the later bikes was to quieten them down.

It was certainly running much nicer this morning than it has for some time .... but I'm sure that's mainly due to the fact that all of the plugs are screwed in tightly (and them being a nice new set will help a bit too).

[HowardQ]

Congrats Andy.
You have finally found the secret of the faster Falcos, (well one of them anyway), and also found a back door way to have one.
I assume you did not do this just for the fun of it, so have finally accepted what we owners of early Falcos knew all along.
The early Black and Red ones always had these intake snorkels, now you can finally enjoy the extra performance. (You just need to respray the mud coloured panels Black and the transformation will be almost complete).
Enjoy !!!

P.S. Glad you got the bike sorted.
Think it was Falcomonkey who was the first one with a loose plug problem like this years ago!

[mangocrazy]

So Andy, do the 'noisy' snorkels make any difference to power?

[D-Rider]

So Andy, do the 'noisy' snorkels make any difference to power?

No idea Graham .... the bike has never been near a dyno and I can't judge whether I can feel a difference because:

• 1) I'd not ridden it for a fortnight as I've been sorting out it's unwillingness to run
  2) Today I've only ridden on urban roads to work with no real opportunity to open it up
  3) Prior to that it's probably been running without proper sealing around that plug for some time - so it will be running smoother and making more power as a result of that being fixed .... ie- I have no real baseline for comparison
  4) the past few months have been on horrible winter roads - so again I have no baseline to help me compare
  5) TBH I'm not really after extra top end - I am always after usable performance - ie smoothness of pick-up and general rideability - these are the things that matter to me on the road.

..... all a long-winded way of saying "Dunno"

[Aladinsaneuk]

of course it makes a performance difference - well - must do as they were fitted as standard to the faster colour....

[D-Rider]

Whatever

[Olig7475]

Andy, great news about your bird, I always worry for the rest of us when the ‘knowledgeable ones' birds don’t work!!!!!

How is the RSV-R top yoke job coming on! I'm watching that one with some interest, are you fitting a corresponding bottom yoke?

Cheers

[D-Rider]

Andy, great news about your bird, I always worry for the rest of us when the ‘knowledgeable ones' birds don’t work!!!!!

How is the RSV-R top yoke job coming on! I'm watching that one with some interest, are you fitting a corresponding bottom yoke?

Cheers

Yeah - I'm glad it's going again too

The RSVR top yokes do fit - the standard RSVR will go on the standard forks and the RSVR Factory ones will fit on Ohlins forks that came from a Mille-R (like I have). The forks already have the bottom yoke they came with.
Up until now I've been using a top yoke that Syltiz lent me (basically a Mille-R yoke) - but I thought I'd better get my own and do like the appearance of the RSVR ones.
It's now on there but there is a minor technical issue to resolve - I'll explain that when I've fixed it.

Also, although I have a bronze Falco and this RSVR yoke I have is a sort of bronzey colour, it's the wrong sort of bronzey colour and doesn't really go .... so it will be coming off again for a visit to the powder coater.
So a little more work to complete it all but the temporary fit shows it's going to be nice when finished.