getting under the skin of a Gixxer
Posted: Fri Oct 06, 2017 10:12 pm
As some of you know I recently bought a 750 Gixxer k5 anniversary edition. Low mileage, 2 previous owners to myself, paperwork and bike as described... Mint but dull in the main to the seller having priorities elsewhere with a lovely young family. So for a couple of nights this week I removed fairings to take a closer look at what I have taken on, chain gloop everywhere where it could fling and that was the only downside, not a scrape, ding or crack to be found anywhere, headers still bright shiny. Great condition casings and covers. Full tool kit under the seat even a charge point for my optimate and the yoshimura baffle wrapped up that had been drilled from the tri oval can. The anni bike came with two cans a black carbon one and the tri oval polished ss one with anni badge. I dropped the oil and sieved it, no signs of excessive engine wear, it was clean and obviously a full synth. My Yorkshireness compelled me to put it back in the engine but I did not. New filter and 3+ litres of 10 40 fs from Westway lubricants. (From ebay.. best value oil money can buy)
My curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to know what the coolant was like, Analysis required. Got the engine coolant up to 100 deg c, let it cool then dropped the hose off the water pump and the fluid gushed into a receptacle. Common glycol ethanols are either clear green or blue. This solution was opaque green, not clear green and to my pleasure there were no globules of escaped engine oil from seal interfaces. Amazingly I found two mummified insects! Glycol must be a good embalmer! No need to hydrometer it I could tell by feel and smell that the solution was strong. ( My gained experience of frost protecting external boilers and static homes). I then bunged into rad a good dose of central heating cleaner with tap water (Cura,all metal system cleaner, BES supplies mucho inexpensivo unlike named brands costing 4 x as much and same stuff! ) I have raised the cleaner flushing solution up to a 100 deg c a couple of times and left it in till I can find the time to drop it , lift the fuel tank and remove the rad for an external bathing and cleaning. I reckon the coolant circuit does not get the level of attention that other important fluid circuits do on such engines and it is really a simple task that can give vital clues as to impending doom. I will be ordering up some inexpensive distilled water for the final solution of my Cura anti freeze/ inhibitor (BES supplies) same stuff that I use to winter protect folks exposed heating circuits. Remember, Anti freeze solutions can be flammable and intelligent thought has to be given to disposing of old solutions, so it says on the container. My recent acquisition is stacking up to be a good one considering the £4k I paid for it. Robust engine, legendary race pedigree and importantly low costs in use compared to other desirable middleweight sports bikes... I will post up some piccies for you guys to drool over when I have faffed and polished it up.
My curiosity got the better of me and I wanted to know what the coolant was like, Analysis required. Got the engine coolant up to 100 deg c, let it cool then dropped the hose off the water pump and the fluid gushed into a receptacle. Common glycol ethanols are either clear green or blue. This solution was opaque green, not clear green and to my pleasure there were no globules of escaped engine oil from seal interfaces. Amazingly I found two mummified insects! Glycol must be a good embalmer! No need to hydrometer it I could tell by feel and smell that the solution was strong. ( My gained experience of frost protecting external boilers and static homes). I then bunged into rad a good dose of central heating cleaner with tap water (Cura,all metal system cleaner, BES supplies mucho inexpensivo unlike named brands costing 4 x as much and same stuff! ) I have raised the cleaner flushing solution up to a 100 deg c a couple of times and left it in till I can find the time to drop it , lift the fuel tank and remove the rad for an external bathing and cleaning. I reckon the coolant circuit does not get the level of attention that other important fluid circuits do on such engines and it is really a simple task that can give vital clues as to impending doom. I will be ordering up some inexpensive distilled water for the final solution of my Cura anti freeze/ inhibitor (BES supplies) same stuff that I use to winter protect folks exposed heating circuits. Remember, Anti freeze solutions can be flammable and intelligent thought has to be given to disposing of old solutions, so it says on the container. My recent acquisition is stacking up to be a good one considering the £4k I paid for it. Robust engine, legendary race pedigree and importantly low costs in use compared to other desirable middleweight sports bikes... I will post up some piccies for you guys to drool over when I have faffed and polished it up.
I must start my own thread when I've plucked up the courage to investigate the mechanicals and maybe even ride it.