R1 Shed Time

Daily commute of 160km is the R1's main use these days and 5-6 litres per 100km was the norm after fitting smaller main jets and dropping the needles one notch, up until a recent Wednesday return trip to Gisborne. A fill of E10 fuel may have contributed to a loss of power near Diggers Rest on the Calder Freeway and then a shut down of the motor very soon after. The fuel pump was working away which indicated low fuel so a call to daughter Melissa to bring a can for top up was answered, Wife Val happened to be on the road and pulled up also. Five litres of fuel in and the bike started but was not happy, running on three but it finished the trip to Gisborne and entered the shed.

Being in a rather agitated state over being stranded I proceeded to balance the carbs after checking the recently fitted Iridium plugs. No change to the three cylinder beat. I had noticed that the bike was getting a bit hard to start and so had done the plug change without any other checks. Car to work the next day and on Thursday night a more ordered approach to the problem. Compression test reveals no pressure in cylinder two. Radiator drained and removed with a note that it needed a clean out. Exhaust off, engine out (five bolts), disconnect a few wires and lower with a trolley jack.

Head off, cams out, then kero in all ports reveals a stream out of one of the exhaust valves of cylinder two. Order a valve tool on the web www.valvetool.com.au and strip the ’98 head off the spare motor which had not been fired since rebuild. Fit the ’98 head to the ’01 motor, torque down, fit cams and check all valve clearances which were in spec. Too tight can cause valve burning.

I was unable to measure the damaged valve clearance as the valve had pulled into the head. But the valve next to it was okay so the lack of valve clearance as a possible cause remains a mystery.

Saturday and Sunday to reassemble and fire up after the ether spray trick. Runs okay. Balance the carbs which are now fitted with standard mains and needles in the standard slots. Commute Monday to Friday, ready for the Highlands ride which on the Wednesday looked rather unlikely.

On the web again and order a replacement valve, oil seal and a bottom radiator hose that seemed a bit soggy at the engine end. Stadium Yamaha in the US happy to take my PayPal money. Parts are cheap but factor in $100 for UPS delivery around Easter maybe.

Fuel use on the commute only slightly up so no alarm bells in that area. Not so good on Sunday as it turned out …

Geoff Jones