Hello
Motoman,
I just read your article on Break-In and I am
curious if it is good to break in a regular street bike the way that
you explained. I saw the pictures of the Honda F3 piston, and I know
a picture is worth a thousand words, but it just doesn't seem right.
I am however open to trying your method as I have just purchased a
2001 Yamaha R1, and need to break it in. I do not know a dyno that
is close to me, and don't have the $$$ to spend on dyno runs, so
what do you suggest for breaking in a new bike on the
street?
Thank you, and I appreciate your help and advice
!
~ Mototune USA Fan |
Dear Mototune USA
Fan: I recommend the same break in method for any engine.
Streetbike, racebike...even cars! The problem with a using this
method on the street with an R1 is that you'll have to exceed the
speed limit a lot and do plenty of "excessive acceleration"
...
That's the reason I recommend using a dyno to do
it.
While you probably never read about this method in the
bike magazines, my idea isn't new. I've been doing it for 15 years,
and it's the only way to get maximum ring seal every time ! ~
MotoMan |
Dirt & Dust... What's
the Big Deal ???
Mechanics usually have dirty hands ! Tools
are usually greasy & grimy ! Engines are supposed to be dirty
! So why bother ???
If you want to be the
best, pay close attention to this page !! This is the most important
lesson I can teach you.
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This picture was taken seconds
after the cases were split. As you can see, airborne dust has
already begun to accumulate on the oily
crankshaft.
Oil Attracts Dirt and
Dust...
Dirt and Dust
creates:
Friction
And...
...it's all about friction
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About 6 years ago I bought a
computer program that estimated power. You could input the actual
horsepower reading that you got from a dyno, then it would calculate
the power gains from changes to the camshafts, or carburetors etc.
It was kind of like having a dyno in your computer, and the
predictions were very accurate. I never really found it to be of
much use though, because it would always recommend things that made
an engine peakier, and that's the wrong thing to do on a motorcycle
engine.
The one thing it was good for,
was that it made me realize just how much power gets lost to
friction.
An engine I was developing at the time,
had dynoed at 114 rear wheel horsepower. To my amazement, the
program calculated that the engine actually had 160 hp at the
"piston"....
In other words... ...the motor was losing 46 hp to friction
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Always Remember: It's much
easier to lose power
in an engine than it is to gain it !
How do you keep from
losing the power you're trying to gain ??
By Keeping Everything
Perfectly Clean.
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The first project is to clean
all your tools. If you've been using them to wrench at the racetrack
or on a dirty bike, you've got to clean them before you use them on
an engine.
If possible, keep your engine building tools
separate from your track wrenching tools. Otherwise clean them after
each weekend outdoors.
Now that your tools are clean, what
about the motor ?
Before you remove the
carburetors from the motor, be sure to clean all the dirt and sand
from the area near the intake ports. Then immediately cover the
ports with duct tape to keep dirt from getting into
them.
All it takes is
one grain of sand to ruin the valve seal !
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If you're taking the engine apart
further you'll have to clean the engine itself.
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This R6 engine is typical. Look
at all the chain lube crud and dirt.
All that dirt will
get on your clean tools. And as soon as the cases are split it will
fall into the motor...
Don't even think about removing a bolt
until the engine is 100% clean
!!
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Never Contaminate Your
"Tool"...
Even the "cleaned" outside bolts will always have a
little dirt on them, which will contaminate your tool and transfer
dirt to the inside (oily) bolts.
Clean your tool after
you use it on an "outside" bolt, before you use it on an inside
bolt.
********************************* Keep on reading my friends
!! |
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Once the clean parts are removed
by your clean tools, the way to keep everything
clean is to bag the "outside" bolts. Then set all the clean parts in
a freshly washed rubbermaid container.
Always keep the lid on when the
parts are being stored.
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I use the rubbermaid container lid to catch the excess oil,
and to keep the engine on a clean surface
at all times.
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So...
How Clean
Should Your Parts Be ???
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MotoMan
Says:

" Clean Enough To Eat
Cheerios Out of the Oil Pan !! " |
 Cheerios
!
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Wash your parts the same way
you'd wash dishes. Use Soap and Water !!
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Sport of Motorcycling!!
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Your Friends About Power News !!!
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