New and improved KTM690 WUNDERFEST

[blakrj]

Originally Posted by olec

Guys,

One of the dealers up here announces now on their website that they have got information from the factory (KTM) NOT TO USE the Shell V-power gas, because it destroys the gas tanks in some way and debris / particles from this is then further on destroying the EFi system. I dunno how much is 'destroys' the EFI system, but the message is clear enough: do NOT use the Shell V-Power gas.

Anyone else heard about this? I don't think they're just BS us and making up something themselves. I believe they have got this information through some internal service bulletin or similar.

I'm calling BS on this. Please send me the link and I'll see if I can get some detail from lab guys. I believe that if this was the case, there would be a dealer bulletin at least.

[Roadracer_Al]

+1 - Like Biped, I use a very high percentage of Shell Gas (nearest station to my home, not brand loyalty) and have 11+K miles with no filter, pump or EFI issues.

I'm calling BS.

HOWEVER... it's not completely impossible that a local station had some kind of contamination problem, which would lead a dealer to believe the basic chemistry of the gas was causing reliability issues.

[R-dubb]

Originally Posted by Roadracer_Al

+1 - Like Biped, I use a very high percentage of Shell Gas (nearest station to my home, not brand loyalty) and have 11+K miles with no filter, pump or EFI issues.

I'm calling BS.

HOWEVER... it's not completely impossible that a local station had some kind of contamination problem, which would lead a dealer to believe the basic chemistry of the gas was causing reliability issues.

Keep in mind, olec is in Norway. Their Shell gasoline formulation may be very different than ours.

We've been hearing for years that gasolines with a percentage of Ethanol can cause problems. Seems that this is mostly a problem with sitting for weeks at a time. Bottom line, if you generally let your bike sit for more than a few days at a time use a fuel conditioner to deal with the water that the alcohol attracts into the system. Not new information, but not BS either.

[Noyah]

Nice

[bayarearider]

Originally Posted by Velociraptor

Thanks. The lower vent that comes out by the clutch is still hooked up and venting as usual The valve cover stuff is blocked off.

I saved this posting from the old KTM 690 mega thread and here is a way to do this. I have detailed pics as well but I am unable to attach more than 1 at a time.

Plug locations for sas removal/cannisterectomy

---

There's a few good resources out there for figuring out how to remove the SAS system including the resistors needed to wire into the system to keep the FI light from coming on. The only think i was unclear on was what ports need to be plugged and the size of said plugs since it is rather helpful to know before you dig into the project. The plugs i found in a multi pack at Pep Boys. I had taken the bike apart and measured the needed nipples to plug and non were exact so the multi pack let me choose the appropriate sizes. Also, i couldn't find just 1/2" plugs so i needed to buy these to get them. The plug locations and sizes are below:

3 plugs needed:
Top of Cylinder head (breather): 1/2" ID plug
Bottom of Airbox: 1/2" ID plug
Left side of throttle body: 1/4" ID plug

[Velociraptor]

Thanks for the SAS info!

[blakrj]

Originally Posted by R-dubb

Keep in mind, olec is in Norway. Their Shell gasoline formulation may be very different than ours.

We've been hearing for years that gasolines with a percentage of Ethanol can cause problems. Seems that this is mostly a problem with sitting for weeks at a time. Bottom line, if you generally let your bike sit for more than a few days at a time use a fuel conditioner to deal with the water that the alcohol attracts into the system. Not new information, but not BS either.

Absolutely on the water issue. Damn ethanol. In the USA, I believe that the EPA mandates a minimum of 10% ethanol in fuel, and there have/are talks of increasing it to 15%. Seem to recall the Scandinavian market had a 5% ethanol content (but may have changed). However, the fact remains that all fuels would most likely have the same/similar content ethanol, so no difference or reason to state that one brand vs. another is a problem. The difference at the pump is the additives in the fuel, and KTM. The only reason I can think of for them telling folks not to use V-Power is down to the octane. KTM specify a RON95, and depending on location V-Power runs up to RON100. i.e. per the exact letter of the Owner's Manual, it is not be 'recommended'

[Evil Invader]

This link still works;
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=708813

[Velociraptor]

Originally Posted by Evil Invader

This link still works;
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=708813

I found that one. There he totally blocks off the valve cover and runs the crankcase vent to the air box! So we have some that say you need to keep the valve cover vent functioning because it is involved with the crankcase pressure and others who say you can totally block the valve cover vent. I noticed on my 990 supermoto (and on the RC51 I used to have) that the SAS plate is NOT on the valve cover.

[Uller]

I have mine setup to vent at both the crankcase and valve cover and then into the airbox.

[Velociraptor]

Originally Posted by Uller

I have mine setup to vent at both the crankcase and valve cover and then into the airbox.

Best idea so far! Thanks!

BTW are you doing the Griptwisters Baja trip in April 2012? I signed up for it and David McKay said there was another 690 signed up as well as a 990 Adventure.

[ramjet]

Originally Posted by R-dubb

'11 was same as '09/'10. The side bar on that link clearly says 012, which will be coming very soon.

Didn't see that. Partly, truncated off on my browser for some reason. Thanks.

[Uller]

Originally Posted by Velociraptor

Best idea so far! Thanks!

BTW are you doing the Griptwisters Baja trip in April 2012? I signed up for it and David McKay said there was another 690 signed up as well as a 990 Adventure.

If i can get to the comp after work tonight I'll post up the part I made to make it work out cleaner than stock. It is a little hokey however, it works and uses parts that came from the original SAS system.

No, I hadn't heard of it yet. I have done his Oly loop a couple of times... I bet he does a great trip of Baja.

I don't know if my funds would allow a trip like that this upcoming year. (I need a raise)

I have been thinking of getting into racing and a Baja trip would just about take the entire years racing budget.

I owe you a PM. Sorry for the delay.

[Roadracer_Al]

I have an '08 which suffered from stuck-brake-lever syndrome and depleted the rear brake rotor prematurely.

I did several searches and found that DP offers one, and I bought it off Amazon. Despite being listed for the bike, It's not the right size - 220mm instead of 240mm. Looks like the 08 240mm rear rotor is a one-year part. I expect it is the same as the 950/990 rear rotors, although the 990 rotor has an ABS tone ring).

09 and later seem to use the 220. Is this accurate?

I'm wondering if the 09 brake hanger is a bolt-on, and will accept the 08 caliper.

Anyone have data on that?

[LukasM]

Originally Posted by Roadracer_Al

I have an '08 which suffered from stuck-brake-lever syndrome and depleted the rear brake rotor prematurely.

I did several searches and found that DP offers one, and I bought it off Amazon. Despite being listed for the bike, It's not the right size - 220mm instead of 240mm. Looks like the 08 240mm rear rotor is a one-year part. I expect it is the same as the 950/990 rear rotors, although the 990 rotor has an ABS tone ring).

09 and later seem to use the 220. Is this accurate?

I'm wondering if the 09 brake hanger is a bolt-on, and will accept the 08 caliper.

Anyone have data on that?

I am pretty sure all 690s use the 240mm disc, as do the 950 and 990.

Everthing smaller than 690 (including the old LC4) uses 220mm.