No vibes now vibrates

[Danny]

Hi all I know what you are going to say argh another idiot complaining of the engines characteristics. Well the story goes like this I'm 27 was in the trade for 8 years and I have never owned my own bike as I had a company bike, I always a a bit of a soft spot for VTR's but never took the plunge. In January I was made redundant (I'll let you guess who I worked for) so with the poor amount of money the government paid out for redundancy I wanted to buy a bike for. (A) mode of transport to and from my new place of work (Now not in the industry) (B) some fun. So I went on the hunt for a Firestorm one popped up for £1500 from a trader almost sounded too good to be true so I call the guy to organise a viewing no problem and off I go. So once I get there hour and half drive and have a look around body work is nice and bright a few light marks on the left and right hand side (stand still drops) dealer history to 16000 miles all stamped and it has currently done 25000 miles so a couple missing but no biggey. At 18000 the CCT's went so the previous owner decided to do it him self which for him was a mistake and got the timing wrong and done the exhaust valve so off to a dealer it went for the repair to be done. So after I test rode it all feeling good I bought it got home with a big smile, the next day took it out for a ride and it sounded rough as in the exhaust is blowing big time coming down through the gears and there was an all mighty bang some poor woman on the opposite side of the road dropped her shopping and from there a can of worms was opened. So list is made break pads need copper grease, Front break leaver needs stripping as that was sticking, New pair of tyres and oil and filter change.

Now after all that the problem I have is I done the oil and filter and about 100 miles after it really started to vibrate above 5000revs up to the red line and there is a lot of engine noise coming from what sounds like the air box.

And does any one know where I can get a complete set of exhaust gaskets for cheap.

[Miztaziggy]

Is the exhaust definitely blowing, or was it just popping and banging as you let off the throttle?

If it is just popping and banging, then there is probably a slight air leak, but most of the VTRs have it, and do it. Personally I quite like it on mine.

I hope you arent going to put copper grease on the brake pad, you will never stop!!

As far as I know, they all vibrate somewhat. If yours vibrates 'too much' and feels to be lacking power, chances are that when the CCTs were done the cylinders were put back in the wrong position. They get put back 180 degrees out IIRC when people use the manual to work out how to change them.

I might be wrong though...someone more knowledgeable will tell you better.

[Miztaziggy]

Oh and exhaust gaskets are on e-bay. The ones between exhaust and cylinder and a couple of quid.

The carbon ring that goes between the mid section and the end pipe is on there too, but those are about £10 I think.

[Danny]

Thanks I definitely wont put on the pad it's self Just on the back and the pin. It's very hard to work out where the vibration is coming from all I know is that it started about 100 miles after I changed the oil and filter it come in at 5000 RPM and all the way up from that and it goes through the whole bike, there is alot more noise coming from the air box as well.

The other thing is has any one else had starter motor problems as mine struggles to turn over from time to time especially when hot. I have had the battery and reg rectifier checked and both are fine and charging so a bit unsure about that one.

[Danny]

Its definitely not lacking power

[Wicky]

Re. Vibration - Could be engine damage resulting from the previous CCT damage throwing the timing, damaging as you've confirmed valves but it could have caused problems deeper down as well difficult to fully diagnose without a stripdown.

Get the crushable copper ring exhaust gaskets as one's advertised on ebay for the VTR can be not the right diameter. Try Lings or David Silvers. For the link pipe to header gaskets again try the dealers previously mentioned or Wemoto. Check the carbs are properly and securely connected back onto the stubs and onto the airbox.

Also were manual CCTs fitted after the OEM one's let go? You should put them on the shopping list but also get to the bottom of your vibration problem. Check the transmission chain & sprocket/cush drive, bearings etc. to rule them all out.

Did you get a warranty when you bought it?

[bazza696]

you say that the oil needs changing, funny thing is; mine will start to vibrate if the oil level gets low and it does this when the oil needs changing as it burns off old oil.

I would recomend a full service and see what happens, if she still vibrates start looking at other things. DOnt want to chase something that is not there.

[Miztaziggy]

You mentioned struggling to turn over when hot.

If you have manual CCTs, then they sound like they might be too tight. They only need to be wound in until finger tight, and tight is the wrong word. I did mine as tight as I could with my fingers, and that turned out to be too tight, they squealed when I started the bike when it was hot.

[oldbikeman]

If you can post a little video of your bike running then some one will be glad to give a accurate diagnosis .It really isn't safe to just go on a description.

[tony.mon]

If it will rev through to the redline when in gear (i.e. not just in neutral) then the timing isn't 180 degrees out.

But if it feels as though it's gasping for air over 5000 or so, and refuses to rev out, that's the problem.

Too tight manual cct's may well be an issue, most bikes with charger/starter/cabling problems will struggle when cold, not the other way round.

Don't forget the drive chain, it's easy to get these too tight.
The adjustment needs to be done when someone roughly your weight is sitting on the bike, otherwise it gets too tight when suspension is compressed, giving the symptoms you describe re vibration.

You need more slack with it just sitting on the sidestand than you think.

[Danny]

Thanks all for your replys I'm taking her to a Honda master technician tomorrow for a full all over I'll post tomorrow with the findings.