jon haney

Joe, I sent you a PM.

There was a used Ohlins on Ebay Friday, but looks like it's gone now. Send the stock shock to Ractech as well, for a new spring for your weight and gold valves. About as cheap as you'll get. If you go this route, let me know, and I'll send one in too. Maybe we can get a volume discount? (More than 1 for anything BlackBird should be a volume discount. LOL)

Not a VW guy. What is the problem with the factory coils? And what the hell is the JB Weld supposed to do in the second video? Besides make all the plugs fire together.

I almost cross-threaded the one on my old Yamaha 650 Maxim. It wasn't hard to fuck up, if you tried to do it one-handed. Managed to get it back in straight. The big problem with those bolts was rounding the 12mm hex on the top of the bolt. Seriously doubt he could cross-thread and get the cover anywhere close to seated. Like someone said, there is a lot of thread there.

You assumed wrong. Cartridge type filter with center bolt. Easy to chase the bolt threads with a thread file, but of coarse it's the aluminum case threads that get fucked. Do they even make Heli-coils for that size? Not going to be fun, for sure.

For the short winter storage, I just make sure I have non-ethanol fuel in the tank. Looks like you're in Nebraska, so guessing corn-free gas is as illegal as cocaine. LOL. Sta-bil or just about any fuel preservative. I use Briggs & Stratten Fresh-start in the yard equipment and the drag-Bird. It's cheaper than Sta-bil.

LOL. Although there are standard pistons out there with an 82mm diameter, that diameter would be custom for this engine. Plus, IIRC the wrist pins are 19mm diameter, which seems oddball.

Don't know short-hand. Can you give the long version of that question?

2mm is what is still available for piston kits, but I'm sure you can go 3mm safely. Problem with 3mm, or bigger, is that you may have to order custom pistons. Don't want to guess what those cost. PM Stan (cbrxxquad). He knows everything.

Don't know about the different timing, but a 99 or 00 rotor should fit on a 2001.

I looked very deep into this issue many moons ago. The rotor for carbed Birds is different than the ones for FI Birds, and are not compatible. Short of modifying your stock rotor like Superhawk said, the only avenue for changing ignition timing on an FI Bird is buying a Power Commander with the ignition mod adapter. Nothing $600 won't cover. This money would be better spent on a big bore kit. IMO

Don't forget to check the ground bolt beside the rear gas tank mount. It can loosen, and give the same symptoms as when the wire loom gets corroded.

Especially, since I said I was okay with a little surface rust. LOL

Joe, I would like to call "DIBS" on the whole tranny, if it just has mild surface rust. I am in no hurry, so just let me know when you know. The drag bike is making a little more tranny noise than last race. Hoping it stays together 2 more races. If it grenades, I'll likely need a whole, running engine.

How are the transmission gears? I will need an unmodified 2nd gear when I put the drag Bird back on the street.