February 22, 2009
F1: Stretching Our Wings
My goal for the weekend was to get the idle set on the F1, a task which takes but minutes on other motorcycles. However, the body work is so snug that in order to get a screw driver on the air screw, the body work has to come off. Further complicating the procedure is that in order to set the idle, the bike needs to be thoroughly warmed up.
Careful readers of this blog will note that as of last weekend the bike was not starting. This continued even after the needles were returned to their middle position. Then it occurred to me that I had not tried the "Italian Tune-Up" ie changing the spark plugs. The P.O. had supplied the bike with new Iridium plugs, but I ordered some regular NGK's just in case. I gapped them per the manual's instructions, installed them, and the bike fired right up. In fact the motor was racing. So I checked the opening of the carbs and after some fettling I discovered that the forward carb's cable was not properly connected to the throttle slide. Once that small detail was addressed, I was able to get the carbs opening and closing in sync.
I took the freeway to Tramway, trying to set the idle lower at each stop. Fortunately, there were not that many between Dawn's and the freeway. Whilst at Dawn's, we motorcyclists ogled a 1952 Bentley (basically a 20's replica built with 50's running gear), with a beautiful straight-8 engine and giant vented drum brakes. After a couple of conversations about the F1 with some fellow bikers (one of whom had had an 86 way back when), I was off to return home to set the idle.
Once the bodywork came off, the bike refused to start, a fault soon traced to a wire coming loose from the jury rigged ignition switch. Once that detail was attended to, the bike fired right up and I was able to set the idle to a reasonable rpm. While the bodywork was off, I checked the color of the plugs just to check that the carbs are not running too rich. Indeed, the plugs looked nicely tan and so I think I shall leave the needles in the middle position for the time being.
The next ride will probably be a Madrid Loop, but that will have to wait until I return from another trip east. Hopefully there will not be too many of these trips this spring, as there are many roads I wish to explore on the F1.
Posted by Underblog at 4:20 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 14, 2009
On the Lift Again
Yesterday I spent a good while with the F1. First, I put some thread sealant on the oil cooler threads. Then, I went off in search of the correct o-ring for the gas tank. I will have to make a second trip to GPS for a proper replacement to the cracked one that is on there now. I also lowered the needles a notch, but could not get the bike to start, only cough through the carbs. I raised them back to the middle position and we'll try again tomorrow.
Posted by Underblog at 5:07 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
February 11, 2009
Underblog Rides Again
I rode in to work today. Usually this would not be noteworthy, but a combination of cold weather and unscheduled time away from home has kept me from riding for several weeks. This morning was cold but the ride home did not even warrant the heated grips.
I replaced the fuel taps on the F1, and zip-tied on some scrap rubber to protect the tank from rattling against the frame. Before I replace the body work on her, I want to put thread sealant on the connections to the oil coolers. Insurance and a trip to the MVD, and she is ready for the road.
In other news, I am hot on the case of making another vehicle purchase I cannot afford: an ST4S for sale locally. Jonesy says they are hard to work on because of the body work, but folks which own them say that they are just the thing for sport touring.
Posted by Underblog at 6:15 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack