Foxy Stoat seeks Pig

Without wishing to tempt fate i've been upright since i started in May 2016. Surprising as i almost wheelied into a bench on the CBT* Although had some bloody near misses and thought to myself that was tupid and to stop doing that. Did managed to lose balance riding up the drive and kind of dropped it onto the wall, but i half caught it so it doesn't count. Another near miss i will call it.

*not sure how i wheelied a Honda CG when i cant wheelie my FZ6

Maybe i should try the Sealmate again. Maybe i was just using it incorrectly (youtube vid makes it look so easy). but i could see exactly how it fits into the seal. i only removed the dust cap/cover nothing else.

Looking a at a couple of these http://www.wemoto.com/bikes/yamaha/fz6-s_fazer_non_abs___floating_calipers_5vx/04-05/picture/fork_oil_seal_-_single_oem/

They suggest they are a genuine Yahama part

Was looking at WEMOTo for parts, should i be looking elsewhere?

Ha ha Rescue Remedy, i used plenty on my MOD 1 and wedding day! As well as plemty of Brandy...for my wedding of course.

Forgot to take it for MOD 2

Didn't get on with the sealmate at all. In fact couldn't even get it wedged in the seal after removing the dust cap/seal. So looking ahead i'm going to try and take forks out and replace the oil and seals. Just need to research (in great detail) the whys and hows first. Tools wise I should be ok but need a head stand to lift the front.

At the time both seemed as bad as each other i.e. a complete nightmare. looking back now though I was far more confident/at ease with the MOD 1. MOD2 definitely worse for me. I passed both first time though so can't grumble. Was a little concerned when the examiner kept telling me to speed up, make sure you keep to speed limit and make progress.

Ah right so maybe not a permanent fix then. I think the seals themselves are about £6 each, its the faffing about getting the forks out I need to man up for. . Should be ok, I will need to get a head stand though.

Thanks all. Will give the SealMate a try first. Worth a try for £6.

I bought one recently, it was tiny!! My own fault for not reading the description properly, it clearly states the size but I chose to ignore it. On the look out for a proper sized one now.

Happy with the pass obviously but fork seals are weeping slightly. I haven't done any research yet but how tricky is it to replace fork seals on a FZ6. Garage has quoted approx. £200 but I'm keen on giving it a try if it's within my capabilities and I don't need any specialist equipment.

Actual advisory note is:

Front Front shock absorber has light misting of stanchion (2.3.3)

Nice one

I took MOD1 in August 16 and MOD2 end of September. Not really my choice though but that was the earliest I could get a test date. If I had enough annual leave I would have got it done it all in a week though. I'm just impatient like that.

Did anyone ever feel like they were never going to get there? Seeing people with bikes and riding and feeling like no, thats never going to be me, I can't do that.

 

Yes, about half way through my CBT last May. I thought I would never get it. In all honesty I probably shouldn't have gone out on the road I was that bad. After I somehow got my certificate I got a 125, practice, practice, road miles etc and never looked back since......plenty of shoulder checks though

 

This is literally like me, yaaay! Haha that makes me feel better!

Just keep at it I literally haven't stopped riding since. Through the Summer on my 125 and though the Autumn and dark cold winter on a 600. Now enjoying the much dryer roads. I do regret not 'discovering' bikes 20 years ago though.

Did anyone ever feel like they were never going to get there? Seeing people with bikes and riding and feeling like no, thats never going to be me, I can't do that.

Yes, about half way through my CBT last May. I thought I would never get it. In all honesty I probably shouldn't have gone out on the road I was that bad. After I somehow got my certificate I got a 125, practice, practice, road miles etc and never looked back since......plenty of shoulder checks though

The service manual suggests it's a reservoir not expansion tank. I also filled directly into the radiator and at that point the correct level was showing on the reservoir. I have checked after todays ride (20 miles) and all seems fine at the moment.

Ok thanks all. I will see how it goes week.

you could have had an airlock in there

Just keep an eye on it

So as the level has a dropped does that suggest the airlock has gone?? I will keep an eye on it through the week. And now that lighter evenings have arrived it can tinker after work if needs be. Hopefully won't need to though.

I've had a faulty water pump let coolant into the crank case, so it might be worth checking your engine oil - if its brown and smells sweet, with emulsified oil on the sight glass, that would be a sign of coolant in your oil. small leaks/cracks can close up by the time the engine is warm.

is the bike over heating at all?

to be fair its probs just a pocket of air as was suggested already

Oil is clean, that was changed as well. Bike not over heating.

I replaced my coolant last weekend. I filled up to the correct fill level on the reservoir. I've done about 100 miles tops this week and I checked the level earlier today. The reservoir was only 3/4 full. So I topped up again.

Would the level have dropped as the coolant worked its way around water pump and radiator during the 100 miles I've done?? Certainly no leaking anywhere.

Thanks

Why are people stripping so many threads!!??

Stop using torque wrenches and do it by feel. Mark the nut/bolt with Tipex and check them regularly for rotation if you're worried​.. once happy they are not moving scrape off the Tipex. No threads stripped!!

School boy error from me. Went in far too heavy handed with the torque wrench on my first time of using one. Had to buy another sprocket carrier which wasn't expenisve but meant my bike was off the road for a week.

Changed the oil on Sunday and and refitted the sump nut and filter by feel, not a torque wrench in sight

I used some thread locker and went 50nm to 60nm then stopped at 70nm. I didn't want to push it any further.

I also only went to 70nm on the rear sprocket nuts because the recommended 100nm strips those aswell.

Are these genuine yamaha fittings or generic ebay replacements ?

Can't say for sure as they were already on bike when purchased. I then changed sprocket and stripped two of the nuts

So then i got another sprocket carrier and the nuts looked the same as before they have two clip type looking things on them

I used some thread locker and went 50nm to 60nm then stopped at 70nm. I didn't want to push it any further.

I also only went to 70nm on the rear sprocket nuts because the recommended 100nm strips those aswell.

How easy of a job is it to replace chain and sprocket? Is it do able for some one with basic mechanical ability but knows nothing about bikes or is it best left for a garage to do?

I have done sprockets and chain and I'm a novice. make sure you loosen front sprocket before removing chain though

I would say its really not difficult..... but I changed mine and it all seemed fine.

Then I heard unusual noise and checked front sprocket, and the securing nut and washer have gone

New nut arrives tomorrow and I will double check torque and securing. In my defence a little googling and I am not the only one to of had that issue with an FZ6.

You are definitely not alone with that. Check this https://themotorbikeforum.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=61678&p=958900#p958900

That was my first week of riding to work, not a great start. Bloody paranoid about it now, I check it every week and have a spare nut and washer kept under my seat. Also the manual says torque nut to 90nm but that just strips the nut.