SMALLKAT

[Smallkat]

I am going to try another master cylinder at some point. Just waiting for something cheap to turn up on ebay. Looks like a dl1000 might do the job.

I have used a Bandit12 one as I needed something with a mirror mount.

[Smallkat]

Just as a quick bodge, I put a thin nut between the brake lever and the master cylinder piston. This took up the slack and seemed a great improvement.

Anyway, 3 miles down the road we came to a halt with the front brakes locked on solid. It was odd, as you could push the bike along before I set off, but the pads must just have been rubbing enough to cause heat build up.

Also, despite having run perfectly 2 weeks ago, it now seems that it doesn't want to fire on the outside right hand pot now. The idle is low and uneven and it won't rev out properly. I cleaned the plugs (new Iridiums, just put in by previous owner) and tried another test run, but it's not happy. I'll get some new plugs during the week (standard type) and swap them out just in case that's the issue. The issue is hot and cold, so I was thinking the coils are probably okay.

[fossie]

When it's parked up do you put a block under the stand to keep it upright? The float bowls hold very little fuel so when just on side stand the outside ones expel first leaving the residue to coat the tiny needle valves in the pilot ....400's eh?

[Smallkat]

Damn these small Kats.

Thanks for the tip. I will get the pilot needle out and have a spray round with some carb cleaner.

[Smallkat]

Right... E10 fuel drained out from tank (it was all I could get last time I went out). Carbs drained. Refilled with ethanol-free fuel.

Pilot screw out out No.4 carb, spray hole with carb cleaner, replace screw.

Now right hand pot fires, but No.1 (left hand) doesn't. Pilot screw out of No.1 carb, spray hole with carb cleaner, replace screw. Still no fire. Change plug. No fire. Check both plugs against head while engine running, both plugs spark.

I'm going to have to take the fucking carbs off again, aren't I? Unless someone has a bright idea. No, I'm not setting fire to it. Yet. I have been looking at a new GSX-S1000GT or a GSX-S1000, both with trick up and down quickshifter, or a Ducati Monster, or a Moto Guzzi V100 or anything apart from this collection of non-running shit I have. I know it's my own fault.

[Lexdba]

Try a mid-2000 BMW oilhead boxer. Mine has 200.000K's on it and still starts on the button.

[Smallkat]

I like the R Nine T. I will add that to my list of possibles. The Buell is definitely going, Tinykat is going and one of the X7s when I finish it. I should have enough money for something nearly new then.

[Smallkat]

Hi All,

After a winter hibernating (because I was angry with it). Smallkat is running again. I had the carbs off (no shit) and this time the pilot jets were blocked with a clear varnish-like substance. I am wondering if I put E10 in at the last fill-up? It was so long ago, I can't remember. I am slightly mystified that when I cleaned the carbs and installed the Litetek O ring kits, I seem to have left the old pilot jets in. What was I thinking?

Anyway, with new jets installed and the traditional fight to get the carbs on, it eventually started. I've been on a 30 mile test run and all seems fine. Now, I can't seem to find the valve clearance settings. Could somebody point me in the right direction? I am sure it must be on here, but I can't find it.

[Lexdba]

I have this on the GSX400.

[Smallkat]

Thanks for that Lex.