Messages

1

Tech Talk / Re: straightening fork legs

« on: Yesterday at 06:57:53 pm »

 Most send them to RAD hardchroming in Brisbane, best in the business and great people to deal with. Straightening isnt a difficult job with a press and a pair of Vee blocks. All they are are hydraulic rams and Im sure there would be a few Hydraulic workshops in the are who can help you out or ask an engineering workshop  if they would take a look
.

2

General Discussion / Re: Election 25

« on: May 08, 2025, 12:24:22 pm »

There is a way to discuss and forward opinions and there is something else.

I didnt vote for the coalition but getting personable isnt the way to communicate.

I must say Mr Dutton has been gracious unlike some other politicians who could do well to learn humility and grow from the facts. Its an honour to be chosen not an opportunity to grandstand.

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General Discussion / Re: Election 25

« on: May 06, 2025, 04:47:40 pm »

I dare say less than 75% of the population actually know what politicians do apart from act like kindergarten brats  on Parliament question time and shake peoples hands and pose for cheesy photos every 3 years. The real politics planning the work (create policy) call for tender and liaise with suppliers then hopefully get elected and work the plan is not common knowledge. They arnt as lazy as they appear to be and Dotting I's and crossing T's  with an endless chain of safeguards to ensure due process has been followed is lengthy and laborious, Nothing worse than dealing with the general public as they are all experts.

With an election and most of the populace none the wiser, all that hard work has to be sold to the people and a flashy smile and a bit of flattery never goes astray and if that's not enough apparently a free set of steak knives are the answer. Even a catchy song and dance number will work if you have Trouble with a capital T right here in river city.

With compulsory voting those with no clues are being asked to choose and invariably they will always choose what gives them an endorphin rush and choose the book with the prettiest dust jacket when they have nothing else they can understand or are being shown. Sad but that's what democracy has become.
I do wish politics was taught in schools as part of a life skills module so at least they would be semi-aware of their onus of being adult.

I do agree the parties should get back to their roots however convincing a politician that a carnival atmosphere and advertising isn't worth it  will be a hard task as its ingrained since roman times.(True, the word Idiot referred to anyone who wasn't a politician) though if anyone was to look at Clive's efforts less propaganda may gain some traction. Annoying the heck out of people with compulsory bombardments by any form is never appreciated. I would appreciate being told the facts and the actual benefits rather than the doom and gloom if i don't heed the warning/comply. What When and How are all the basics anyone  needs to consider and flashy advertising reeks of snake oil and i walk away. One doesn't see RR advertising do we? Less carnival means less clowns and less fairy floss  and the politicians can get on with the job of real politics and present a plan containing nothing but well considered substance.

Perhaps the High court could take another look at its ruling as it ruled, Political advertising does not have to be factual however it cannot be intentionally misleading. If that's not leaving the barn doors open on the stables I don't know what is. Who could not see a barrister rubbing his hands together with that wording as even i read the words Ala carte.

 What's done is done and Its doubtful much if anything will change what we have  so after 3, everybody have a big sigh for poor Clive and Co . Awwwww.   My money is on the money as climate is already a commodity  

4

General Discussion / Re: Election 25

« on: May 05, 2025, 08:56:05 pm »

In order to sell an item first know your potential buyers. Entice them with a taste  then  more detail so they want to know more and close the sale with a promise of a great life. I have watched carefully for the past 6 months and seen a possible ALP minority on the horizon and as every day passed it was looking more likely. I too did not expect the depth of resolve which has been shown. 

The Coalition missed a few of the sales steps. Everyone wants to see whats in it for me .This was the first election that featured a large proportion of younger and new voters. I read some where about 30% and they were ignored completely by the LNP and responded in kind.

Two items were put up as selling points the Fuel excise cut that we've seen ad nauseum and the Nuclear plan. They followed that up with a reduction in jobs and a reversal of the WFO policy. The prospect of having your base income attacked was seen  as not a benefit rather a cut to what the people already had. The housing policy still left new buyers with a distant dangling carrot which disappeared a few years later. Again nothing for the younger voters and the midrange were about to lose what they had and wanted.

A fuel excise carrot disappeared in 12 months then a huge void was never going to win hearts or minds so what about playing the Ace card, the Nuclear? No coalition member which i viewed was willing to offer much detail to the voters at all whom they were to ask tax dollars for. Call it the Suzuki RE5 rotary that almost decimated the party. It all made the coalition carrion and easy pickings as the holes grew wider.

Mr Dutton was never a great choice for the public having scraped in to his seat in 2022 by quite a small margin. His history in previous portfolios was not stellar and the people were looking for a reason to vote coalition and none was forth coming and disclosing the actual budget a few days prior to the big day begs the question what was Angus doing for the last three years as it wasnt polishing the  budget. The entire massive junk mail campaign featured degrading information on all the other parties and nothing of the LNP achievements. 2 addressed priority paid  mass mailings and 7 unaddressed. It was a hate campaign and young voters dont read much paper and those who do want good news  not bad after bad after bad as that creates a name association.

Australia is no longer the conservative country of old, the events from overseas do effect a trading nation usually detrimental for the sitting party who distanced themselves from it. Younger and undecided people dont vote for who they want rather they vote against who they dont want which is evident by the results for the green  and other minor parties losing seats. In short the coalition campaign could have been run better by virtually anybody. I feel the worst is some big names from the front bench who were complicit to the mess still appear to hold the same mind set and Australia deserves much better and a modern party who listens and represents a modern Australia.

5

Tech Talk / Re: PVL Timing

« on: April 18, 2025, 08:08:30 pm »

Sounds like your test method was fine

The options are

Poor installation method.
Old stock shrunk seal
Worn case/shaft

The more i read of the history the more i would be looking at the case. Spun bearings can do that.

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Tech Talk / Re: PVL Timing

« on: April 17, 2025, 02:36:19 pm »

What pressure did you use to test? I ask as over pressuring can damage a new seal. You can get lucky and reposition the seal lips if not ton on assembly. I recall your previous issue with the seal not fitting thus not sealing.

7

Tech Talk / Re: Wiseco Ring End Gap

« on: April 10, 2025, 05:31:46 pm »

 Wasp is correct  and the gap should be fine.  My calcs are not too far off your actuals and bearing in mind a higher compression means more heat thus more expansion.
 

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General Discussion / Re: New Members

« on: March 19, 2025, 09:47:11 pm »

What i and many guys i know still use the knowledge base that is the core of the website, OZVMX was one of the premier places for spot on knowledge world wide  and still is according to google. As for the day to day humdrum stuff Buy Swap Sell wanted Bookface handles that as it has a wider audience even if its not only on the OZVMX bookface page. Specialist groups cater for the odd and sometimes a few pearls of wisdom from people who helped make the history chime in. You can almost hear the youngsters chins drop.

Im glad this website is still up as my memory isnt as good as it use to be but just like looking for a tool or a part in my
shed, I know where I seen it last. Likely the reason new to the game prefer just to ask on facebook and decide for themselves who is full of crap or ask an AI robot than do a bit of research on reputable websites. Takes a while to learn where not to ask for advice and thats Bookface or Scambook whatever you call it.

Many of my mates I met via this place are on Bookface and we chat from time to time  though only a few contribute to the bike pages. When Bookface gets taken over by AI or the scammers or has a meltdown, the a few who know about this Website will come back and just maybe all the contained experience will be again used. Unless MA find away to tax that too.

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Tech Talk / Re: PVL Timing

« on: March 13, 2025, 09:27:46 pm »

Spare nozzles are pretty handy. Cut the nozzle on a 45 degree angle or whats comfortable for you to hold while working on the engine. Then on the tall side nip a small Vee out of it so its about 2mm wide. Thats how wide your sealant will be, the height will squish down giving you a full cover of the case surface. Wider surface needs a wider Vee. Squeeze too hard you get more sealant travel too fast and you get less. Do a few practice lines so you get the feel and squish it so you can see how wide the bead ends up.

10

KTM / Re: Dark clouds hanging over Mattighofen

« on: March 09, 2025, 07:27:40 pm »

 A KTM as a military vehicle? naa.

History has shown a more utiltarian choice rather than a high strung bike, I can think of WLA harley Indians. Enfields  and BSA, Australia liked the BSA B40 Suzuki GS400 and the Kawasaki W1. All the models i can think of have been solid medium range road bikes with the KLR650 being the most sporting although even that was given an agricultural Diesel engine  for some markets.

 Offroad ability has never been a consideration rather ease and length of maintenance periods, reliability and i guess pricing. With advanced signaling and communications i doubt bikes would feature much in any conflict as they were mostly used as dispatch or for Military police. Orange isnt the best shade for camouflage so thats an additional cost im sure neither party would be willing to cover when so may other choices  are out there.

11

KTM / Re: Dark clouds hanging over Mattighofen

« on: March 01, 2025, 11:09:46 pm »

So KTM have filed for bankruptcy with over 2 BILLION Euro debt and a stockpile of 300 thousand unsold bikes.

This doesn't fare well for the groups other brands like Gasgas and Husqvarna.

2 companies are in "talks' with KTM namely the Indian Bajaj and Chinese CFMoto.
CFMoto has had a business partnership with KTM for some years building small bore KTM badged bikes for the Chinese market and holds shares in KTM. The latest much upgraded products from CFMoto to hit the world stage are KTM so it would seem a foregone conclusion CFMoto would take full control if it chooses. February was the cut off for KTM to keep self managed so now we wait.

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Tech Talk / Re: PVL Timing

« on: March 01, 2025, 10:08:02 am »

Walking is a reference to seals or bearings moving along the shaft if not secured. An alternative to a shim is epoxy.

13

Tech Talk / Re: PVL Timing

« on: February 28, 2025, 10:24:15 pm »

0.6mm "should" be okay if you use a sealant to stop the seal from walking and they do and can give erroneous readings. When testing remember no more that 8 PSI, any more and your causing problems as your over charging.

The working differential pressure tween the case and the created low pressure in the combustion chamber that rises the charge to the combustion chamber is much less like 4-6PSI unless its hyper charged like snowmobiles with superchargers or turbos. The expansion chamber reflection wave scavenging sucks a lot higher PSI though its effect is reduces the further its length. Once you get the bottom end solid you can think about the top end carburation exhaust and squish but it all starts with the bottom end being rock solid and without that your confusing errors. 

I work mostly with small bores and a wipe with Hylomar on all sealing surfaces is my go to if it needs it or not and has never caused me to double think and i rarely test bottom ends though you shouldnt be able to just push a seal in raw with your fingers and expect it to hold up at RPM.

Fairly obvious your sucking air and gearbox lube which points directly to the RH seal (or centre gasket/sealant) and you mentioned a rough surface on the seal journal which i cant comment on how it  occurred but I have suggested a possible go around with a sealant. Unsure how that happened as the japs are pretty good with machining though a shim loctited in the journal could be the answer if you feel the journal is beyond spec with its imperfections. One for you and you machine shop.

14

Tech Talk / Re: PVL Timing

« on: February 27, 2025, 08:11:37 pm »

Looks like you found the smoking gun. Grab the verniers and measure to ensure the seal is actually to spec and the cases.  Same as fork seals , if you soak them for an hour in oil they will soften and swell a bit but a better idea is a sealant. I use Hylomar though Yamabond should work okay or you could go via one of the Loctite  products like 648 retaining compound. You local bearing shop should have what you need so have a chat with them.

15

Tech Talk / Re: PVL Timing

« on: February 23, 2025, 02:16:48 pm »

Fingers crossed you get to the heart of the issue. One other place that air cooled big bores have leak issues is the base gasket Im sure i read on this site where a CR500 was literally eating them. I dont recall the fix for it  but it is an area to also look at.