A larger group than usual in Baja.

inte · 10-18-2006, 07:18 PM

7 of us are leaving for a quick Baja trip day after tomorrow ...

...seriously guys ... my bike is almost ready. I was working on it today:

See?

I already got the new handle bars on.

rokklym · 10-18-2006, 07:47 PM

Umm.. I hope you don't need to eat,work or sleep before you leave, otherwise you might be cutting it close!

I'm looking forward to your ride report. Yours always have amazing pics and are fun to read.

inte · 10-18-2006, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rokklym

Umm.. I hope you don't need to eat,work or sleep before you leave, otherwise you might be cutting it close!

I'm looking forward to your ride report. Yours always have amazing pics and are fun to read.

Looks worse than it is really - just had to replace the head gasket. Getting to the thing requires taking off a ton of stuff, flushing all the fluids, etc...

Actually got the motor back together already - just takes a few hours for the full teardown & rebuild. I've done three of these now, so it's getting easier each time ... at least I think. Final judgement will of course come after I actually fire the thing up...

Only concern is the suspension - it's at Precision. Talked to them today & I'm told it'll be ready tomorrow...if that's the case & it's all working properly - stick the suspension back on & I'm good.

I'm also waiting on a temperature sensor for the head - if that doesn't come in tomorrow I'll just plug the hold with the old busted sensor, bleed the coolant system & run it like that until the new part shows.

inte · 10-18-2006, 08:16 PM

The problem was actually evident.

I replaced what I thought was a blown head gasket on a '95 LC4 - bike wouldn't even run - HUGE amounts of white smoke, even sounded weird. Once the motor was apart everything looked great - including the gasket. Couldn't really explain, so I buttoned everything back up & the bike ran better than ever for the rest of the time that I owned it.

FWIW - that 620 was SERIOUSLY fun ... much more of an aggressive machine than the 640, though arguably more punishing.

I was concerned because I just purchased this 640 on August 25th. It's an '02 with only 1087 miles on it when I took delivery - it had acutally just been registered for the first time in '05 or '06!

So ... this obviously concerned me after my 2nd big ride:

I was told that if coolant sits for a long period of time (as might very well have been the case with this bike) it becomes caustic.

Upon pulling the head gasket, I'm pretty sure that was the case based on the appearance of the gasket & cylinder/head surfaces:

Regarding tackling a project like this ... just take one step at a time ... organize your parts, etc... I like to put the same bolts back in the same exact hole they came out of in the engine - just scrawl a quick sketch of the part your working on, draw circles where the bolts go, & tape them to the paper.

Old boxes work great for storing various parts.

Of course, KTM recommends using Motorex boxes...

Hammer · 10-18-2006, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inte

I was told that if coolant sits for a long period of time (as might very well have been the case with this bike) it becomes caustic.

If you question the condition of your coolant, there are test strips available to check acidity. I have a grundle of them on hand.
It doesn't usually go bad in a year or 2, but who's to say? Some of the newer stuff has different additives, and may degrade quicker....
Happy trails in Baja! Leave a l'il Ta-kill-ya

behind for my trip in spring!

Hasta!

RMac · 10-18-2006, 08:35 PM

wachs · 10-18-2006, 08:46 PM

HEY! where'd you get those fat pegs?!?!?

ktmnate · 10-18-2006, 08:53 PM

way to rub it in! I will actually be in LA this weekend with no bike. This sucks. I'm waiting for a quality ride report (Like you have ever had any bad one's?)

Nate

Ignore Amos · 10-18-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inte

7 of us are leaving for a quick Baja trip day after tomorrow ...

Bastards!

I'm moving to San Diego...can't stand this feeling that I'm left out all the time!

Zen Slug · 10-18-2006, 09:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ktmnate

way to rub it in! I will actually be in LA this weekend with no bike. This sucks. I'm waiting for a quality ride report (Like you have ever had any bad one's?)

I hear dustjunkie has an extra 1150 laying around somewhere

ktmnate · 10-18-2006, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zen Slug

I hear dustjunkie has an extra 1150 laying around somewhere

I could never pilot that bike like him. I would look like I just started riding. Besides, I'll be working. Driving down on Sunday for a meeting and then another meeting Monday then it's back home.

Zen Slug · 10-18-2006, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by inte

I was working on it today:

And here I was stressing out about putting a new tire and HD tubes on my bike and wondering if it's okay to use wheel bearing grease on the lip of my air filter

At least you've got a garage!

G.Kennedy · 10-18-2006, 09:16 PM

I am ready ... 640 is back together w/ my newly reworked suspension. It will be interesting to do the same loop on the bigger bike.

Swiped the fender off the EXC ... cuz it knows the way (always hated the ADV fender)

G.Kennedy · 10-18-2006, 09:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wachs

HEY! where'd you get those fat pegs?!?!?

Fastways

DirtyVFR · 10-18-2006, 09:48 PM

7 or 8?

10-18-2006, 07:18 PM	#1
inte ^OP neophyte serendipity Joined: Dec 2002 Location: USA Oddometer: 2,728	A larger group than usual in Baja. 7 of us are leaving for a quick Baja trip day after tomorrow ... ...seriously guys ... my bike is almost ready. I was working on it today: See? I already got the new handle bars on. __________________ ---------------------------------------- Sum, ergo Cogito, ergo Dubito pullus. http://blog.motorrad-adventure.com Twitter: @adventurephotog

10-18-2006, 07:47 PM	#2
rokklym one man wolfpack Joined: Nov 2004 Location: Westby Wisconsin Oddometer: 4,308	Umm.. I hope you don't need to eat,work or sleep before you leave, otherwise you might be cutting it close! I'm looking forward to your ride report. Yours always have amazing pics and are fun to read. __________________ Check out the Blog! MotoGraphic MotoGraphic Tumblr Chad Berger KTM950ADV, DR650 Lone Wolf Expeditions

10-18-2006, 08:16 PM	#4
inte ^OP neophyte serendipity Joined: Dec 2002 Location: USA Oddometer: 2,728	good thing about the tear down... The problem was actually evident. I replaced what I thought was a blown head gasket on a '95 LC4 - bike wouldn't even run - HUGE amounts of white smoke, even sounded weird. Once the motor was apart everything looked great - including the gasket. Couldn't really explain, so I buttoned everything back up & the bike ran better than ever for the rest of the time that I owned it. FWIW - that 620 was SERIOUSLY fun ... much more of an aggressive machine than the 640, though arguably more punishing. I was concerned because I just purchased this 640 on August 25th. It's an '02 with only 1087 miles on it when I took delivery - it had acutally just been registered for the first time in '05 or '06! So ... this obviously concerned me after my 2nd big ride: I was told that if coolant sits for a long period of time (as might very well have been the case with this bike) it becomes caustic. Upon pulling the head gasket, I'm pretty sure that was the case based on the appearance of the gasket & cylinder/head surfaces: Regarding tackling a project like this ... just take one step at a time ... organize your parts, etc... I like to put the same bolts back in the same exact hole they came out of in the engine - just scrawl a quick sketch of the part your working on, draw circles where the bolts go, & tape them to the paper. Old boxes work great for storing various parts. Of course, KTM recommends using Motorex boxes... __________________ ---------------------------------------- Sum, ergo Cogito, ergo Dubito pullus. http://blog.motorrad-adventure.com Twitter: @adventurephotog inte screwed with this post 03-03-2008 at 08:56 PM

10-18-2006, 08:35 PM	#6
RMac Cheese! Joined: Aug 2004 Location: Stumptown Oddometer: 1,786	__________________ "it's easier than just waiting around to die" Townes Van Zandt

10-18-2006, 08:46 PM	#7
wachs just passin' through Joined: May 2005 Location: Tumalo, Oregon Oddometer: 4,157	HEY! where'd you get those fat pegs?!?!? __________________ Wait till you see what's next!

10-18-2006, 08:53 PM	#8
ktmnate Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2003 Location: Somewhere Oddometer: 2,994	way to rub it in! I will actually be in LA this weekend with no bike. This sucks. I'm waiting for a quality ride report (Like you have ever had any bad one's?) Nate

10-18-2006, 09:16 PM	#13
G.Kennedy ... Joined: Oct 2002 Location: Venice, CA Oddometer: 1,848	I am ready ... 640 is back together w/ my newly reworked suspension. It will be interesting to do the same loop on the bigger bike. Swiped the fender off the EXC ... cuz it knows the way (always hated the ADV fender) __________________ '85 K100RS '05 525EXC '08 Hypermotard G.Kennedy screwed with this post 10-18-2006 at 09:26 PM

10-18-2006, 09:48 PM	#15
DirtyVFR Throttle Twister Joined: Nov 2002 Location: Southern Cal Oddometer: 152	Counting Down... 7 or 8? __________________ Asphalt ate my knobbies.

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: .
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode