Well, when everyone else is on summer vacation, I end up feeling like I’m on vacation too. Nice vibe! ♪
The engine stalled on the way before arriving at the shop! We managed to get here, but when I checked it, something seemed off. I’ll verify whether it’s an electrical or fuel issue.
The battery terminal is extremely corroded.
The battery terminal is quite corroded. It’s all powdery and looks like it might have been exposed to dilute sulfuric acid. When selecting a Pro Select battery, I’d recommend choosing a gel-type if possible.
Request to repair the round terminal. I’ve fixed it.
The exhaust pipe is running a bit cool and the engine’s not running right.
The spark plugs are pitch black. The area around the carburetor is soaked in gasoline, so there’s no choice but to disassemble it.
Carburetor Overhaul Rush Incoming?
I think this might be the first time it’s been disassembled. There’s quite a bit of corrosion overall. If we do this properly, it’ll cost a fortune, so we’ll proceed with a reasonable plan.
The Bandit 1200 is now a 20-year-old bike, and all the O-rings throughout are probably shot.
Even a Makita impact driver couldn’t loosen it. I used a chisel and removed it the old-fashioned way. An important person once told me: Whether a stuck bolt can be removed or not ultimately comes down to whether you’re willing to take responsibility. It’s all about that mindset.
In the end, no matter how gently you try, if something won’t come loose, it won’t. You need to approach it boldly, delicately, and methodically.
I want to clean the parts as much as possible.
I don’t think cleaning necessarily improves performance dramatically. But somehow, cleaning things up boosts the motivation of the person assembling it. I get the impression that cleaner parts mean fewer problems. *Though it’s mostly wishful thinking…
Float valve O-ring is shot and leaking sideways
The black rubber part in the image was completely shot. Normally, the silver part on the right opens and closes, and gasoline flows only through that passage. That’s how it works.
When this rubber part gets worn out, gasoline leaks from that spot and gradually the fuel level rises, causing the engine to run poorly.
Most stock motorcycles use negative pressure fuel petcocks, so if the engine is running, major overflow is rare. Also, if you rev the engine up, it’ll run okay despite the problem, so it can be easy to miss.
Time passes, and after replacing all the O-rings and adjusting the fuel level, we synchronize the carburetors and we’re done. The Bandit’s pilot jet is particularly small, so it clogs easily—watch out for that.
If an oil-cooled bike is running poorly and gradually getting worse, you might have no choice but to disassemble the carburetor.
We’ll clean the caliper and replace all the pads.
This time too, it’s been two years without much mileage, so everything was in good condition.
Brake fluid replacement time
The brake fluid was in good condition. However, if the reservoir tank side is dirty, the caliper side must be pretty filthy. I think it’s best to replace it before the top gets dirty.
After a few more minor checks, we’re all done.
Once the carb is sharp, the idle stabilizes and the throttle response is super smooth. All finished!
ポチップ
