Author Topic: Winter (Read 29072 times)

adeejaysdelight · « **on:** 29 November 2011, 05:16:11 pm »

Hi Everyone,

I plan to take my Fazer 600 off the road for 2 or 3 months, as of tomorrow. Not because I mind riding in the winter (I have a CBF125 for that), but because I have a list of things I want to do. I bought the bike 5 or so months ago, in OK condition. She needs a bit of TLC though, and winter is a perfect time for me.

I have made a list of what needs doing, and my budget is only £200 (+/- 10%). I will do all of the work myself, with a bit of help from a mate (when needed) who is a mechanic.

I am not including the cost of any additional tools I may need, although I doubt there will be any. Also, I already have some of the stuff required, and will not include the cost of that either. I have not included an air filter in my service either, as I fitted a K & N within a few days of getting the bike.

Winter Work on Frazer

Braided Brake Hoses (Full Set F/R)/ Brake Fluid Change

Calliper Re-Condition/Seals

Wheel Alignment

Spark Plugs

Oil Change (Already have it)

Engine Re-Paint

Philips MotoVision Headlamp Bulbs (Both)

Heated Grips

Clean Inside Lamp Reflector

Investigate Tapping Noise from Engine

Clean Carburettors

Remove old alarm and fit new alarm with remote start

Fit GPS holder with 12V Auxiliary socket (Already have GPS holder)

Genesis Performance Chip (Already have it)

It might seem ambitious on just a £200 budget, but I recon it is possible.

I will keep you all posted on progress and tell you where I got the stuff from as I go. If any of you have experience of any of these jobs and have some advice, great. It all helps.

Cheers

Fazerider · « **Reply #1 on:** 29 November 2011, 07:34:05 pm »

Good luck with all that, but what is that Genesis performance chip supposed to do for a carburettor equipped bike?

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #2 on:** 29 November 2011, 07:45:44 pm »

That's a good point. I actually bought it for a CBR, but sold that bike before I fitted the chip. I have contacted the manufacturer of the chip, in Canada. They very kindly offered to exchange the chip I have for the correct one. I had considered that point, but these guys have been doing this for years and I admit I am investing a little trust in them. We'll see how it goes. The worst that can happen is I have a different chip from the one I have now, and it still won't do anything. Nothing lost really, except a stamp

limax2 · « **Reply #3 on:** 29 November 2011, 09:02:36 pm »

I think Fazerider is probably wondering where you are going to fit the chip! The only chips I have come across on my FZS600 are in the paintwork $:\$ . Of course I could be wrong.
Nice list of mods.
I find a 12v auxiliary socket very handy and have fix it into the fairing side panel. Connected straight to the battery with an in-line fuse. Some prefer to come from a feed that is only live when the ignition is on.

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #4 on:** 29 November 2011, 10:08:41 pm »

I think I will fit the socket under the seat, in the big box area with a permanent feed for phone charging and so on... As for the chip, if it's the same size as the one I'm returning, it will fit away nice and neat. I am not commited to a location yet, but when I get her in bits, it will become clear (I hope). The biggest job for me will be sourcing that engine noise and fixing it. Looking forward to getting the hoses on. The breaks are all spongey and soft. They stop the machine, but could be a LOT better.

richfzs · « **Reply #5 on:** 29 November 2011, 10:19:21 pm »

What is this chip supposed to do?

alan sherman · « **Reply #6 on:** 29 November 2011, 10:21:57 pm »

Good stuff. My input:

Braided Brake Hoses (Full Set F/R)/ Brake Fluid Change - The club used to get a discount from HEL braided brake lines. From memory it is cheaper to buy clear plastic rather than coloured. Do get stainless banjos as anodized will
chip and fur up.

Calliper Re-Condition/Seals. Front is a good move. Rear - don't bother, try to get a FZS 1000 caliper instead as it is much better.

Wheel Alignment, Spark Plugs, Oil Change (Already have it) - Service. Include balancing the carbs.

Engine Re-Paint - Smoothrite in a spray can works well. Been using it for years! Not heat proof but seems to last just fine.

Philips MotoVision Headlamp Bulbs (Both)

Heated Grips - Only good if you wear summer gloves. Winter gloves are thick with insulation. This insulation keeps the heat from the heated grips out!

Clean Inside Lamp Reflector

Investigate Tapping Noise from Engine - Likely the camchain tensioner. Search for it on here or the old site (where is hot poop?)

Clean Carburettors

Remove old alarm and fit new alarm with remote start - Why if you are short of cash?

Fit GPS holder with 12V Auxiliary socket (Already have GPS holder) - I fitted a aux socket under the saddle to charge phone. Waterproof sockets are more expensive so you can save a bit of cash there by siting the socket there.

Genesis Performance Chip (Already have it) - Waste of time!

Don't forget to check bearings, chain and sprockets, and fork oil.

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #7 on:** 30 November 2011, 12:15:22 am »

Thanks for the input Alan.

. I find the heated grips I have on the wee (R & G) bike fine with my winter gloves (TUZO). To be honest, as the bike is off the road for winter, I might not need them anyway. As far as the re-paint goes, one of my neighbours is in the powdercoating/re-coating industry and recomended a brush on paint as the spray can get a bit messy if you are not used to it, which I am not. I am not much of a sprayer...I put up another post entitled engine noise regarding the, erm, engine noise. I though it may be the cam chain. I'll check that first. The alarm that is on it does my head in. It self-arms after about 15 seconds, which I find a pain. I have an alarm from another bike that I will see if I can modify. The manufacturer recons not, but I'll try. The Performance chip I have already. Have you had experience of these on a big bike? I put one on a 125cc, so its hard to tell if it made a difference to its 11BHP! Chain and sprockets are good. New renthal kit fitted just before I bought the bike and its mint. Fork oil, good point sir. Its on the list.

Cheers

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #8 on:** 30 November 2011, 11:53:27 am »

The paint arrived today. The engine repaint is the first job to be done. I am still waiting for the brass brush bits I ordered to help remove the pits and rust spots around the bolts.
Once I have the engine painted I can get the tank off and have a look to see what this noise is (Cam-chain?). I am hoping the chip will have arrived by then too, so I can fit that whilst I have good access. The 12V socket will go in at this point too, as I want a charger for a GPS mounted up near the handle bars and no tank will make this job easyer.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/110779413090?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp4712.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D110779413090%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

rustyrider · « **Reply #9 on:** 30 November 2011, 07:14:37 pm »

I think the point everyone is making but you seem to be ignoring is, where do you intend fitting the chip? You can only chip the ECU on a bike (or car) that has an ECU which is only a bike (or car) that has fuel injection. You have carbs, you do not have fuel injection so you do not have an ECU so you do not have anywhere to fit a chip.

wraith600 · « **Reply #10 on:** 30 November 2011, 07:38:01 pm »

the only " chip " ive ever encountered that works on a gen 1 fazer is the NICKO G PACK

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #11 on:** 30 November 2011, 08:29:26 pm »

RustyRider, I am not ignoring the issue. I had said in an earlier post that I had though about it and don't know if or how it will work. All I can say for sure is that the guy from the chip manufacturer knows the situation with my particular bike and recons they have something for it. He never said what though, could be a sticker

. He could be wrong about the chip, I could be wrong in the understanding of his explination. There is nothing to be lost here, so it's worth a shot. I will keep you posted.

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #12 on:** 05 January 2012, 12:35:24 pm »

I got my engine painted using this...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Engine-Enamel-Heat-Resistant-Paint-Gloss-Black-250-ml-/110797059709?pt=UK_DIY_Material_Paint_Varnish_MJ&hash=item19cc04f67d

And I got a set of rebranded Oxford Grips from the shop below for just £28 delivered! They are the same as the oxford ones only they say Roxter and the switch is different. But for that kind of money, who cares.

http://www.bikerswear.co.uk/

I also got a set of braided hoses from here...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/250519011312?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.co.uk%3A80%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_trksid%3Dp4712.m570.l1313%26_nkw%3D250519011312%26_sacat%3DSee-All-Categories%26_fvi%3D1&_rdc=1

These hoses are official HEL product. Top of the range item for just £50. Rock on

And am lucky enough to have a sister-in-law who asked the missus what I would like santa to being me. I suggested this, and got it ;-)

http://www.motorbikealarm.co.uk/node/47

Fitting starts today when I finish work. Well, I'll start with stripping the bike of plastic, tank and so on anyway.

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #13 on:** 05 January 2012, 07:23:56 pm »

Looks all right for a first attempt...

Fazerider · « **Reply #14 on:** 05 January 2012, 08:33:55 pm »

Hope the paint stays put and doesn't turn to crap like all my attempts do!
And heated grips are amazingly effective. People kept nagging me to get some, in the end I did... and then couldn't be bothered to fit them for ages 'cos I knew half a dozen Watts wasn't going to make any difference faced with a wind-chill of -40ºC and winter gloves insulating my hands from the puny amount of warmth. I was wrong. I can now manage a commute home down the M3 in freezing conditions without suffering the horrible pain of thawing fingers once I get home.

topgun44 · « **Reply #15 on:** 06 January 2012, 12:09:08 am »

so you did not take the engine out off the frame before u paint it

and that alarm is sorry but crap i have one last year it in the bin know

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #16 on:** 08 January 2012, 07:06:49 pm »

No hoist to get the engine out I'm afraid...It is better than it was, belive me. As far as the alarm goes, I have one on my CBF125, and it has worked without fault for 3 years. I have also fitted one to my CBR600, my friends Blade and my neighbours Yam XJ 1300. All working fine

. Maybe you got a duff one, or fitted it incorrectly? What specific issue did you have with it?
The old system is out now anyway, and I put the new one in yesterday, although I can only get the remote start working with the key in. Did the Fazer come with a factory fitted immobiliser as standard?

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #17 on:** 08 January 2012, 07:24:54 pm »

Fazerider - I have never painted an engine before, but my neighbour is in the powder coating type industry and gave me some pointers. The prep took a good 4 hours to get rid of all the crap. I then jet washed the engine with it running and let it dry. I used a hairdryer to finish it off then gave it a first coat after letting the engine cool down a bit (hold your hand on the fins for around 10 seconds, if you can do that without pain, its good

. I let it dry for 24 hours as instructed, then ran the engine for 10 minutes to get rid of any condensation on the engine. Let it cool down...and gave it another coat. The paint is nice and thick and freshens the engine up. I would have liked to remove it to do the job, but there is only so much time/money to invest in a 12 y/o bike. Over all I am happy with the outcome, although maybe some people may not be. Glad you, like me, enjoy the benefit of a little head on the hands during the winter. I found on my CBF that the addition of hand guards, it is even better. The guards break the wind and keep the worst of the rain and snow off, allowing a litter vortex of heated goodnes for my hands to get a proper sweat going, which is always nice

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #18 on:** 08 January 2012, 07:29:33 pm »

CBF, With said hand guards.

Fazerider · « **Reply #19 on:** 08 January 2012, 08:33:04 pm »

Must admit I've not tried painting the engine, but my efforts at halting the rust on the frame have had no success.

I've been thinking of fitting handguards to stop the worst of the windblast on the motorway, which ones did you get?

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #20 on:** 08 January 2012, 09:29:30 pm »

I painted the frame too, although not all of it. I preped the frame as I did the engine. I bought some steel brush drill bits, which cut the job in half, and finished with wet/dry paper. Managed to get all the rust off and touched up the affected areas. Now all the plastic is off, I will do the same with the rest of it. I am just using the same engine paint for this too, as it is waterproof with a rust inhibitor built in and the color is pretty close.
As for the grips. I generally use R & G numbers. This time I sourced a set of ROXTER grips, which are re-branded Oxford grips. On review, they do very well. I managed to get them for just £28! I put a link to the company I got them from up there /\
I could have had the engine powdercoated for cost price, but getting it out would have been hard work. I have a 4 ton lift in work that would have done it, but I would have had to ask my friend to help me with that one. Transporting the engine would have been hard too, as I drive an MX5 witch has less storage room than the Fazer

bikerboys · « **Reply #21 on:** 08 January 2012, 10:09:59 pm »

looking good mate

I like the look of that paint I just wonder the Heat resistant is up to the job

the paint will resist temperatures of 180 C continuously, and 220 C intermitantly.

as I would not mind painting my as well.

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #22 on:** 08 January 2012, 10:46:57 pm »

I specifically ordered engine paint from this mob after speaking to them about my intended use. They assured me it would be up to the job. I don't know exactly how hot this engine gets, but I'm sure its hotter than 200

!

I will let you know if I have any issues with it.

Fazerider · « **Reply #23 on:** 08 January 2012, 10:54:56 pm »

Getting the engine out involves a lot of fiddling about disconnecting hoses and stuff, but it doesn't require a hoist. I've swapped the engine out on my own a couple of times using blocks of wood to get it at the right level and some longer bits as levers.

adeejaysdelight · « **Reply #24 on:** 08 January 2012, 11:54:51 pm »

I drop everything. Keys, wallet, torch...The engine WOULD end on the ground if I never had it attatched to a hoist. Good on you for giving it a go though.
I read that in order to adjust the cam chain you have to remove the carbs too, is that right?