Oil-cooled Katana here★ We’ve successfully completed the wiring rework (though there are still a few things to check…)
The engine fired right up♪ Phew!
It’s always a relief when it starts without a hitch! I keep double-checking everything, but I’m still worried.
Today we tackled some of the finer details, and we’re calling it here for now.
With old bikes like this, you have to be careful about how you mount the rear suspension and swingarm, and how tight you tighten everything.
On this Katana, I adjusted it with shims, but even when the suspension mounting bolts are properly tightened, the suspension ends up loose and wobbly.
We want the suspension to move freely. Dual shocks are literally two shocks—double the number, simple as that.
And because they’re mounted farther from the pivot, the leverage ratio doesn’t work as well compared to a monoshock, and the spring rate is low—in the 2-kilo range.
That’s why reducing friction is the most important thing.
You need to let both the top and bottom float freely and move smoothly, and grease them up too. (It’d be perfect if they were pillow bearings.)
Same goes for the swingarm! The pivot width is pretty vague, and it’s not even adjustable (you adjust it with shims), so if you tighten it too much, it won’t move at all.
The trick is to assemble it so it moves smoothly★ up and down while keeping side-to-side play to a minimum★
Just doing this much brings it back to life★
Woohoo!
That alone makes a huge difference! ★
Woohoo!
