I'm finally there... the refurbed '94 ST1100 will get the upgrade...

ST1100Y said:
Ze mug is by courtesy of my GF... :cool:

The '94 was bright and yellow before, still got almost ran over twice... :confused:
A circumstance making all "high viz" debates nil and void... :shrug2:
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Yeah, it seems no matter how much high viz one has they're still invisible. :scared2:
 
John OoSTerhuis said:
WOW! Great job, Martin! Talk about hi-viz!!!
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Yeah failed the MOT in 2023 as "anything reflective" got banned by 2021... :confused:
Making a new livery in non-reflective lime day-glow is a project I've put on the back-burner for now...

Anyway, had to replace the neutral switch on this beaST (wouldn't pass the MOT with a faulty safety circuit...)
as Murphy dictates of course with a full fuel tank; relied on my trusty shake pump to first drain 20ltrs into my steel jerrycan before lifting the tank out...

Replacement of the switch didn't take much effort then, but I discovered something/a possible issue on the Chinese 40A alternator:

with no load (headlights off) the dash-lights flicker (hence voltage fluctuations) plus I see up to 14.8V at the battery (it's a LiFePO4 and quite happy with +15V charging...), with added load by head- & taillights the flickering stops and the max voltage at the battery terminals is steady <14.5V...

Over the always crappy idling with shifting RPMs I also pulled the carbs to clean the jets...
About every one of them had at least one of it's 9 orifices clogged...
Put back together, started, still not fine... also replaced the spark plugs, better, still not perfect... might need a sync, ran out of time though...
I'm afraid a full carb rebuild seems in order... likely a slight leak somewhere...
OTOH does it rev up perfectly without the previous occasional cough and hesitation, and it really likes to pull max power above ~3500rpm, always did...
But before all that I'll also perform compression tests to figure out if such would even be worth the efforts...
The harsh noise of the cam drives (reduction gears) also hasn't quiet down, it grew even more noticeable...
I do have a spare set of cams and drives on the shelf, but will go there only if the jugs are still OK...
(dunno if @Uncle Phil can detect a similar sound any of his high mileage ST's, on this '94 those gears growl like a coffee grinder...)

Replaced the brake fluids as I need to get through the annual MOT next Friday... but will have to make some decisions on this rig over the winter...
 
ST1100Y said:
(dunno if @Uncle Phil can detect a similar sound any of his high mileage ST's, on this '94 those gears growl like a coffee grinder...)
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My ST1100s all make 'different' sorts of noises - kind of like the feller when he swings a leg over them ... ;)
 
Uncle Phil said:
My ST1100s all make 'different' sorts of noises - kind of like the feller when he swings a leg over them ... ;)
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Guess my "noise" when I started the `94 this morning (intended to pay the MOT station a visit in the afternoon), and instantly smelled gas while the engine was idling...
a nice puddle of combustible liquid accumulating around the main stand... ooch... :cautious:
All fine while testing in the shed last Saturday and after arrival from there, no leaks shown while being parked the entire week either...
And its a bit too much for a stuck float needle, which would only pool below the drain line on LHS, not dead center, hence dripping from the valley, my first guess are disintegrating bowl gaskets... damn ethanol... :rolleyes:
Will have to see if a Canadian spec carb bank turns out compatible to that EC spec model... :unsure:
Threw a few layers of kitchen paper towel underneath the bike and the riding gear on the backseat of the Toyota to get to the office...
 
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Alright, MOT passed! :cool:

If I wouldn't have decided to replace the fuel filter on a 30 year old bike after re-installing the carbs, the fuel line might have not failed... yet... or unexpectedly somewhere down the road... methinks there more age related things up ahead...

Anyway, with the tech inspection done I got time to deal with all issues during the winter...
- replace cams
- adjust valves
- inspect feed & wiring to the coils
- knock the cabs apart and check/rebuild everything in there
- bring the audio up to date by installing a SENA Freewire BT interface
That crappy idle just bugs me... above ~2500rpm all is smooth, perfect and it takes off like a stabbed rat... weird...
 
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