I fired up the SD at thirty three hundred hours this evening. Problems requiring parts have left it sitting in the lone stall for seven weeks. The lawn mower was removed from this stall to make laps round its home track six times since the SD was placed into dry-dock. It all started with the smallest of an oil leak in the lower banjo bolt at the inspection tube. The lesson learned is that not all, and I am pretty sure, very few leaks can be extinguished with more torque on a bolt. All this time I have been waiting for a five dollar part. There has been talk on this site about how reliable this bike is. That you need to get into nit picking before there is much justification for looking elsewhere for motorcycling enjoyment. Truth be told i can not recall using the word motorcycle and the word disappointment in to many sentences together. I had a Duke II and there were times that it took what seemed like eternity to get parts for it. Make no mistake the SD is here to stay, just wish when she went down over something simple it would mean simple time to remedy.
Up at six thirty for the Dutch TT. Go Yamahoppers..... Go Cal and Ben GOGo GO.
If all goes well it will be the lawn mower that starts to feel no Love.
DribbleDuke
2011-06-25 06:31:00 UTC
MADDOG53
2011-06-25 14:40:00 UTC
Wow ,,,, how long for a new bolt me thinking of just pluggin the bugger up and no banjo or site tube,,,,, put an exhaust on me lawnmower,,,,Yoshi,,, it being a Suzuki and all,,,,
DribbleDuke
2011-06-25 15:08:00 UTC
I purchase a new dip stick oil plug at the same time. It was from the Adventure series. I would and will remove the site tube when I figure out what size bolt will replace the original. Dry sumps create the sight glass problem and KTM could should have stuck one into the oil resivoire instead of thier tube technology. While I am typing this and while I sit here a continuall back thought keeps entering my brain waves. It is "that fuckking Semincelli". My day will continue this way. I will carry on with my day with the off and on thought"that fuccking Semincelli"
Any way I bet your lawn more has a site glass. Picture this, a KTM lawnmower. Cut to commercial, an overgrown lawn and the orange mower in the background with a busted pull cord.
Any way I bet your lawn more has a site glass. Picture this, a KTM lawnmower. Cut to commercial, an overgrown lawn and the orange mower in the background with a busted pull cord.
DribbleDuke
2011-06-26 16:11:00 UTC
Update,
Went out today for the seventy two mile loop. Stopped to pack my cheek up with Cope and looked down to see a oily left boot. Further investigation showed a leak in the lower banjo bolt at the site tube. Now leaking more than before I "fixed it" . I had been off the bike long enough to feel like it was a whole new bike to me. It made me think of owners that live in areas of snow and seasonal riding conditions. It must feel strange to get on a bike after a season shut down. It probably brings into play a little trepidation on the riders parts as they familiarize themselves back into the fray.
Any way, I get home whipe the bike oil off and closely inspect area. For the first time I see a little droplet forming on the plastic tubing one half inch above the base bolt. I am a little how you say embarressed, or should I say spell. With all the talk on this site about site tube failure, for me not to have inspected the tube and assume that it was the crush washer under the banjo was tantamount to stupidity. The reason that the bike was down in the first place was that I over torqued the bolt and snapped it in two where the holes weakend the bolt shaft.
On a side note, I saw a SDR at the local watering hole. I went home fired up the SD and did a couple wheelies past. just as a way of saying welcome to Los Alamos.
Went out today for the seventy two mile loop. Stopped to pack my cheek up with Cope and looked down to see a oily left boot. Further investigation showed a leak in the lower banjo bolt at the site tube. Now leaking more than before I "fixed it" . I had been off the bike long enough to feel like it was a whole new bike to me. It made me think of owners that live in areas of snow and seasonal riding conditions. It must feel strange to get on a bike after a season shut down. It probably brings into play a little trepidation on the riders parts as they familiarize themselves back into the fray.
Any way, I get home whipe the bike oil off and closely inspect area. For the first time I see a little droplet forming on the plastic tubing one half inch above the base bolt. I am a little how you say embarressed, or should I say spell. With all the talk on this site about site tube failure, for me not to have inspected the tube and assume that it was the crush washer under the banjo was tantamount to stupidity. The reason that the bike was down in the first place was that I over torqued the bolt and snapped it in two where the holes weakend the bolt shaft.
On a side note, I saw a SDR at the local watering hole. I went home fired up the SD and did a couple wheelies past. just as a way of saying welcome to Los Alamos.
MADDOG53
2011-06-26 20:44:00 UTC
Los Alamos,,,,,Los Alamos,,,,,,big place is it
DribbleDuke
2011-06-26 20:46:00 UTC
Post missing.
MADDOG53
2011-06-26 20:55:00 UTC
Post missing.
DribbleDuke
2011-06-29 01:06:00 UTC
she's back on track. Went to the farm supply and got the wrong tubing. Then while sitting on a bucket in the shop at work, lo And behold the drain line on the battery of tge Kawasaki Mule looked like the right thing. Used it and no leaks. By the way it is see thriugh clear, not like the milk white clear from the factory.
Anyone want to speculate as to wether tis fitting is under any pressure while the engine is running?
My gut says no but I am not certain my gut is right.
Anyone want to speculate as to wether tis fitting is under any pressure while the engine is running?
My gut says no but I am not certain my gut is right.
rocketchick
2011-06-29 02:23:00 UTC
My sight tube just cracked So i was wondering the same thing.
Will a clear vinyl tube work?
Will a clear vinyl tube work?
DribbleDuke
2011-06-29 04:08:00 UTC
Post missing.
Aussieduke
2011-06-29 09:17:00 UTC
Rather than being bent over and reamed by the dealer, go to you local RC toy shop. Get some full silicone
" Tylon " tubing clear. It's rated to 300 degrees. Cut a piece 8cm long..... Install and fixed!
I got a metre of the stuff for 8 bucks. Enough to last a lifetime. I carry four spares to give to SD riders I meet on the road.
I twitched a bit of tie wire on each end over the banjo bolt cause I'm suspicious, but have done a dozen rides since, no probs.
I too thought it was the banjo leaking , but seems the tube always cracks behind, where it's hidden.
" Tylon " tubing clear. It's rated to 300 degrees. Cut a piece 8cm long..... Install and fixed!
I got a metre of the stuff for 8 bucks. Enough to last a lifetime. I carry four spares to give to SD riders I meet on the road.
I twitched a bit of tie wire on each end over the banjo bolt cause I'm suspicious, but have done a dozen rides since, no probs.
I too thought it was the banjo leaking , but seems the tube always cracks behind, where it's hidden.
rocketchick
2011-06-29 11:55:00 UTC
Will try to find that clear tube... Thanks guys.
sequentialshift
2011-06-29 19:48:00 UTC
The new replacment part for the sight tube from KTM is now clear flexible RC fuel line .....but costs more as you get 2 new banjos with it .
rocketchick
2011-06-29 19:52:00 UTC
Post missing.