Inazuma 1200 Oil-cooled Katana oil-cooled maintenance, Deco-mainte, inspection, and other work requested.
Here’s a belated work report.
We start with oil-cooled maintenance. When removing the generator and starter motor, we take the opportunity to clean and apply rust preventative to areas that are only accessible at times like this, so everything is in good shape next time.
Generator and starter motor O-ring replacement.
It’s a small thing, but keeping it clean really improves both the feel and the condition of the bike.
How do we do it? We attach a stainless steel brush (disc type) to a Makita drill, clamp the generator boss in a vise, and go “Whirrrrr!!” and it’s done in no time.
The slider mounting bolt was bent, so we replaced it.
The damper condition was in pretty good shape. (Though there are some cobwebs…)
Gravel tends to accumulate in the damper grooves, so we clean it out at times like this.
When we apply grease before reassembling,
• It goes in easier
• The case side wears less (or so it seems) and becomes smooth.
• Gravel seems to have a harder time getting in? Maybe.
That’s the idea.
On the later models, we use the type with stripped threads. (The bolt-and-nut connection becomes bolt-only, making removal and installation easier and possibly saving a bit of weight.)
We remove the head cover to inspect. We check that the cam chain goes all the way around with no one-sided stretch, and we verify the play by rotating it forward and backward.
The automatic cam chain tensioner sometimes doesn’t tension well and can seize up, so we crank it to check and adjust by hand if needed.
#1 IN
#1 EX
#2 EX
#2 IN
#3 IN
#3 EX
#4 EX
#4 IN
Overall, the cam and clearances were in good condition.
The mileage is low and everything looks clean, so we’re confident.
We painted the bolts and reused them.
We also replaced the spark plugs while we were at it.
