Basically, I don’t do engine work for others. I only work on my own bike.
When compression is solid, cold-start performance is outstanding.
When the valve area seals properly, it feels absolutely wonderful.
Air-cooled engines that open right up are truly amazing.
You can check most things without even removing them.
It’s sad how rare air-cooled bikes have become these days.
With some water-cooled bikes, it’s faster to just drop the engine and do the work.
Valve sealing is super important.
Just valve face polishing, seat cutting, and lapping alone can have dramatic results.
Removing carbon from the piston head won’t make much difference, I think.
I should find some time soon and do a head-only OH to refresh it.
Carburettor maintenance is important too, but when the fundamentals are solid, that’s what really gives you that satisfying feeling.
Too much valve area leakage means poor cold starts.
You can get terrible cold-start performance or weird fouling issues.
It’s less common with four-valve engines, but you see it all the time on older Z and GS models.
The fact that I’m thinking about engine overhauls while parts are still available shows how much time has passed.
