Drz400 Thread

[Xylx]

Originally Posted by Achtung

That is the result of moisture contaminating ethanol enriched fuel. That is a very common thing to happen to carbs that sit for a long time with e10 or greater fuel.

It's definitely not the browner stuff from the carb photos above. I'm going with the ethanol theory. I finally found a place to get ethanol-free gas here in Boise. It involves having a card and paying a monthly bill from this station that is unattended. But it's worth it. I did wash the tank thoroughly with water, but let it sit for a month or so before installing it. Not much moisture here in the desert. So the best explanation is the ethanol explanation combined with the fact that it was in for servicing recently and they cleaned the carb so that might be how the moisture got in. Or wait wait it's coming back to me. I bought a Tusk gas cap recently with a one way vent hose and to soften it up to place it on the gas cap nipple I ran it under hot water instead of using a hair dryer. I will bet that's where the moisture came from. Wouldn't take much.

[coarsegoldkid]

Originally Posted by 150ron

Hit the trails today, went down a steep section too fast and met the wall

Got pinned between the bike and dirt, , does not look steep in the pics, but even with both front and rear brakes applied, i was still sliding down

Good times.



On the way home, i took the long way on purpose to get on the freeway and test out the new MRD pipe, this pipe definately shines in the top speed dept, pin the throttle and in no time was doing 90+, with plenty to spare, loving this new pipe.

Where be this?

[Starchamp]

Originally Posted by focallength

Anyone need a top end gasket set, i got one with my hot rods bottom end kit, but i need to buy a big bore gasket kit, willing to sell it cheap...

PM sent.

[150ron]

Originally Posted by coarsegoldkid

Where be this?

Rowher Flats OHV,

http://www.riderplanet-usa.com/atv/t.../ride_6350.htm

[150ron]

I got 2 questions for you guys, my bike has like 25 pounds of dry mud/dirt on it, id like to wash it for the firs time,

1), is it ok to use a pressure washer? my neighbor has one of those electric 1800 psi that i can use when ever i want.

2) does the bike need to be on and idling while i either hose it down, or pressure wash it?


Reason i ask, is my previous bike always gave me problems after washing it, it would almost not start back up, dont want to fuck anything up with water, i rather leave it filthy then mess something up.

[markjenn]

Originally Posted by 150ron

1), is it ok to use a pressure washer? my neighbor has one of those electric 1800 psi that i can use when ever i want.

Controversial subject. Some say "never", others say "with caution", and some say "all the time".

My take is that one of the low-pressure electric ones is Okay, but I'd be sure not to point it directly and/or close-range to things which you don't want to driver water into, such as wheel bearings, electrical connectors, carbs, etc. And I don't use a pressure washer all the time - if I think I can get it reasonably clean with a hand wash, I'll just do that. On the couple occasions I've had to use the really powerful ones at car washes, I am very careful where I point and at what range.

2) does the bike need to be on and idling while i either hose it down, or pressure wash it?

I would ride the bike afterwards to dry things out, but I would never be running the bike while I was washing it.

Reason i ask, is my previous bike always gave me problems after washing it, it would almost not start back up, dont want to fuck anything up with water, i rather leave it filthy then mess something up.

I'm sure there are exceptions, but most bikes are reasonbly weather-proof and you should be able to wash them and then have them start without issue. Sounds like you probably had a dodgy electrical connector or something else wrong.

While leaving them dirty may be preferrable to sand-blasting one with water, there is no reason you can't have a clean bike AND a good-running one too. Just use common sense.

- Mark

[BygDaddee]

Originally Posted by 150ron

I got 2 questions for you guys, my bike has like 25 pounds of dry mud/dirt on it, id like to wash it for the firs time,

1), is it ok to use a pressure washer? my neighbor has one of those electric 1800 psi that i can use when ever i want.

2) does the bike need to be on and idling while i either hose it down, or pressure wash it?


Reason i ask, is my previous bike always gave me problems after washing it, it would almost not start back up, dont want to fuck anything up with water, i rather leave it filthy then mess something up.

I wash mine with a small electric pressure washer after every dirt ride, I spray on truck wash and let it dry (CT18) and then pressure wash it all over and under, just adjust pressure so that your not ripping the stickers off. I never leave it running and I started up afterwards and it always starts first time. Then I oil the chain and check if the air filter needs cleaning. I never let caked on mud stay on my bike.

[Gadget678]

Originally Posted by 150ron

I got 2 questions for you guys, my bike has like 25 pounds of dry mud/dirt on it, id like to wash it for the firs time,

1), is it ok to use a pressure washer? my neighbor has one of those electric 1800 psi that i can use when ever i want.

2) does the bike need to be on and idling while i either hose it down, or pressure wash it?


Reason i ask, is my previous bike always gave me problems after washing it, it would almost not start back up, dont want to fuck anything up with water, i rather leave it filthy then mess something up.

You'll get mixed responses about this one. My theory is that if you can ride them through tank deep water, washing it won't stuff anything up.
I always pressure wash mine, I just try to avoid putting pressure on the bearings (wheel, linkage etc). Don't get too close to your stickers- you'll lose them.

I wash mine with the engine off, otherwise it gets hot sitting at idle...but I always run it afterwards. Or you could use one of those butt plug things in the exhaust.
Once it's all clean, I give my whole bike a spray of WD40/CRC/whatever is around.... it makes the next wash easier, and helps prevent surface rust (especially if you've been anywhere near salt.)

[Gadget678]

I must type slow.... There was no responses when I started.

[mark1150]

Originally Posted by Gadget678

You'll get mixed responses about this one. My theory is that if you can ride them through tank deep water, washing it won't stuff anything up.
I always pressure wash mine, I just try to avoid putting pressure on the bearings (wheel, linkage etc). Don't get too close to your stickers- you'll lose them.

I wash mine with the engine off, otherwise it gets hot sitting at idle...but I always run it afterwards. Or you could use one of those butt plug things in the exhaust.
Once it's all clean, I give my whole bike a spray of WD40/CRC/whatever is around.... it makes the next wash easier, and helps prevent surface rust (especially if you've been anywhere near salt.)

Here's a tip to avoid getting water in the exhaust, instead of buying a dedicated bung, you can use a used latex / rubber glove from your garage.
Nothing wasted, and you'll get two washes from a pair, plus they fit over most exhaust tips, from DRZ to GS, and being inherently stretchy they will stay in place until you remove them..

[dasvis]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F73sM...e_gdata_player

[carbon_unit]

Originally Posted by 150ron

I got 2 questions for you guys, my bike has like 25 pounds of dry mud/dirt on it, id like to wash it for the firs time,

1), is it ok to use a pressure washer? my neighbor has one of those electric 1800 psi that i can use when ever i want.

2) does the bike need to be on and idling while i either hose it down, or pressure wash it?


Reason i ask, is my previous bike always gave me problems after washing it, it would almost not start back up, dont want to fuck anything up with water, i rather leave it filthy then mess something up.

The mud usually comes off easier if you wash it as soon as you get home. The sooner the better.
I always use a tire brush and just a garden hose after each ride and it comes right off. I never need to use my pressure washer on the bike.
If you let the mud dry overnight it is considerably harder to clean off.
If you keep it clean all the time it isn't such a big job either.
My bike has been muddy enough that it more than half filled a 5 gallon bucket when I cleaned up the driveway after washing it but you would never know it by looking at it.

[okietrailboss]

anybody have starting issues under 50deg fahrenheit

[focallength]

Just be ready to grease and check, the engine mounting bolts, swing arm bolt, bearings on a regular basis, but you do that anyway right? Id avoid any direct pressure, just pressure wash from 6 or more feet away. Personally ive only needed to pressure was out dried caked on mud and still a constant stream from 6 feet away worked fine.

On another note, being as the.bike is new to you, you have pulled the swing arm rod and greased the crap out of it right...right...

[150ron]

Thanks for the tips guys, the mud is dried up, on top of other dried up mud, on top of ... you get the point its so thick i gotta stab it with a flat head screwdriver to get it to knock off, lol

As far as greasing, guilty as charged, havent done a thing.