Project: Mumbles

russell664 · 6 Feb 2017 at 21:21

Hi all just got a project bike which has been sat around for a while, and looks a little sad and run down.

She is a late reg K2 (Just like my other SV! :cool:

) and she is now called mumbles. Seems like a fitting name.

At the moment I have identified the following things which need to be looked at:

Rear Subframe Rust Removal and Re-Spray
Front Subframe Rust removal and Re-Spray
Both front and rear brakes to be re-built
Correct the choke (The choke switch just springs back?) No idea on that one yet

She turns over - and at the moment will not start, fuel seems good though. I had the odd sputter, but not much more - need to check for a spark on both cylinders if she doesn't fire up tomorrow.

The fairings have been covered in grout, yes grout of all things :smt104 so I will need to clean those up and see what damage lays underneath, if they are bad I might have it re-sprayed in British Racing Green. :cool:

Here are some pictures of how she looked when I picked her up:

The above pictures where fresh out of the shed - looking a bit naked (ooerrr!)

These pictures where when she arrived in my garage - to the right is my baby done quite a lot of work to that bike too mainly a bar conversion, she is ready for the ride to Le-mans this year!

Stay tuned for the next update!

MowyTone · 6 Feb 2017 at 21:30

Check the vacuum hoses as it sounds like it could be a problem there

russell664 · 6 Feb 2017 at 21:35

Thanks MowyTone - Am I right in thinking the vacuum hose which goes between the carbs/tank? Without looking i'm not exactly sure where it is.

I did however, check some pipes for cracks/hardness and they seemed supple enough with no holes.

Quick question, those slides on the top of the carbs, do they get moved by the choke, or do they simply move away when more airflow is required? I need to read up on the carbs, but I noted that the choke didn't move them is all.

IC3 · 6 Feb 2017 at 23:03

Why did you get 2nd SV?

BigRazer93 · 6 Feb 2017 at 23:51

I know the choke plungers get crudded up on these and seize. A lot of running issue occur from this. Either new choke cable or plenty of lube and elbow grease to get it going again? See what I did there?

Also, I would change the fuel, even if it seems good, it's probably not. I think there is a gauze filter I think it's called in the tank, might be worth checking on that too.

Give it a general service, fresh fuel, new plugs, oil, and filters, fresh lube on all cables, should be good to go?

Might be worth swapping the calipers out too for pre refurbished ones instead, it worked out cheaper for me on my k3 when they needed doing.

If you don't find sufficient biting point at the lever, do the MC too, not a big job!

MowyTone · 7 Feb 2017 at 07:57

russell664 said:
Thanks MowyTone - Am I right in thinking the vacuum hose which goes between the carbs/tank? Without looking i'm not exactly sure where it is.

I did however, check some pipes for cracks/hardness and they seemed supple enough with no holes.

Quick question, those slides on the top of the carbs, do they get moved by the choke, or do they simply move away when more airflow is required? I need to read up on the carbs, but I noted that the choke didn't move them is all.

From what I remember it's a vacuum circuit. Without a proper vacuum the fuel tap will not open properly either letting a little or no fuel through.

Don't know about the choke tbh as I never looked at it on mine. If it's anything like the CBR the cable just attaches to the throttle body and pulls the throttle out

russell664 · 7 Feb 2017 at 08:18

IC3 said:
Why did you get 2nd SV?

Because I like SVs and the story of getting this bike wasn't ordinary i'll be honest.

Plus I love my SV - and intend to keep it for a long while. My next bike will be a Ducati of some sort - Monster or 1098.

Ben-Irvine93 said:
I know the choke plungers get crudded up on these and seize. A lot of running issue occur from this. Either new choke cable or plenty of lube and elbow grease to get it going again? See what I did there?

Also, I would change the fuel, even if it seems good, it's probably not. I think there is a gauze filter I think it's called in the tank, might be worth checking on that too.

Give it a general service, fresh fuel, new plugs, oil, and filters, fresh lube on all cables, should be good to go?

Might be worth swapping the calipers out too for pre refurbished ones instead, it worked out cheaper for me on my k3 when they needed doing.

If you don't find sufficient biting point at the lever, do the MC too, not a big job!

Thank you, I will change out the fuel I reckon, but I need to check if there is actually a spark first - without that i'm going nowhere!

I assume get a spark plug, plug it in the end of the HT Lead and ground it again the cylinder head? There should be a spark, only time will tell. Again, she tried to start towards the end, but the battery died.

MowyTone said:
From what I remember it's a vacuum circuit. Without a proper vacuum the fuel tap will not open properly either letting a little or no fuel through.

Don't know about the choke tbh as I never looked at it on mine. If it's anything like the CBR the cable just attaches to the throttle body and pulls the throttle out

Looking at pictures I think I know what I need to check, watch this space! I just need it started, even poorly, just so I know there are sparks etc... I have a feeling i'm taking the whole thing apart very soon.

Fireskull · 7 Feb 2017 at 10:20

Unplug the fuel line that goes from the pump/regulator to the carbs, but leave all the vacuum hoses connected, then try to turn over the bike, it should create a vacuum and fuel should come out of the hose thats unplugged, best way of checking the tap and fuel pump are working, FYI neither were working on my old SV that had not been run for years, had to rebuild/replace both.

If its full of fuel and its not run for a years? and the carbs haven't been drained then they are most likely gummed up, so a carb rebuild kit is most likely in order also... the inside of mine were yellow with nasty deposits everywhere and the fuel strainers in the floats were in bad condition.

Dogbreath · 7 Feb 2017 at 12:24

The slides in the tops of the carbs move with increasing airflow, since they are CV (constant velocity) carbs. The choke cable operates small round 'plungers' that open up an extra fuel circuit in the carbs. They are extremely prone to getting seized, and getting them out can be a problem sometimes.

These SV's have a small diaphragm fuel pump which is operated by vacuum pulses from one of the carbs. It's a flat, square shaped thing with three hoses connected to it (fuel in, fuel out and vacuum).

My dad has a K2 and it's always a nightmare to start after being stood for a while (only gets used in the summer), and it usually runs like a dog when/if it does start. A carb strip down and clean is usually needed to get it running properly then.

Look out for corrosion within the wiring loom as well. Not just the connectors, inside the actual loom there are ground and power wires joined together by crimp connections that rot.

russell664 · 8 Feb 2017 at 22:11

Thanks for all of the help and suggestions - It is really appreciated.

Now, I can say that Mumbles fired into life along with a hell of a lot of dust and crap out of the exhaust!! It was like a whole bottle of talc went off

I have a video of her running, roughly, mainly due to the air box sucking onto the top of the carbs as it wasn't on (Kinda just sitting around), if anyone is interested?

So the things what have happened... Well she had a wash so I could see what was underneath all of that gunk, and I put the exhaust and front sub-frame on along with the lights and cluster gauges:

I do however want to go through the loom and do the useful plugs/oil/filter etc... Turns out that she has covered 28k miles!

More to come.

IC3 · 8 Feb 2017 at 22:42

russell664;30478143 said:
Because I like SVs and the story of getting this bike wasn't ordinary i'll be honest.

You got me interested, lets hear the story!

russell664 · 8 Feb 2017 at 23:29

It's isn't super interesting, but it is definitely different.

I was just outside ASDA getting some money out and this guy pulled up on an old GS, we got talking and he went into the shops, but left his iPhone on his tank... Knowing the area I waited around for him to come back so the local yoofs didn't steal it.
Another guy wandered up to me and said that his father in law had the same bike as me, and that it was threw down the road and left hanging around for quite a few years - I said that I'll take a look in a few weeks time.

Some kids asked me to give a cheeky rev of course I'm a child and made a *little* bit of noise with a few pops to boot

The guy with the GS came back and was actually surprised that I waited around for him haha, apparently I'm a nice lad. Apparently... Anyway.
I got the full fairings at first and some paddock stands for my bike, then basically we had an agreement. I do some training, and then I'll have the bike. Given that I work as an IT guy, but also an internal trainer I was happy with that. The only difference being one to one stuff.

I think he wanted rid, as it was in the way and clogging the shed! Fast forward, and that's how Mumbles is in my garage.

Different, and equally odd. However, I have all the service history and V5/keys the lot!

TallPaul_S · 8 Feb 2017 at 23:42

Nice! Can't beat a (virtually) free bike

BigRazer93 · 9 Feb 2017 at 07:37

I bet you with a decent service, carb strip down clean and balance, be working sweet as a nut.

I remember my k2 waterpump paint flaking, bit of bbq paint worked a treat!

russell664 · 9 Feb 2017 at 08:28

TallPaul_S;30485117 said:
Nice! Can't beat a (virtually) free bike

This is it, she might be a track bike, or... my brother wanted my bike after his test but it's mine and he can't have it ever. He can ride it but not have it. So potentially when he turns 17 with an A2 license, he can use Mumbles!

Ben-Irvine93;30485511 said:
I bet you with a decent service, carb strip down clean and balance, be working sweet as a nut.

I remember my k2 waterpump paint flaking, bit of bbq paint worked a treat!

Do you think?
I am currently doing some Microsoft Certification (Office 365) with exams later this month - so will stint progress. I have however got a new battery for my bike along with an Optimate 4 it starts but dies after.

I still need to replace the choke cable with a longer one on mine though - any idea if you can split the choke cable just above the 'Y' piece? It would save me having to go all the way into the carbs is all.

So Mumbles has a new 'old' battery from my other SV - I have some barely used plugs that I will stick in over the weekend. I think after that I need to look into these fairing covered in grout - not sure what to do with those yet... Any idea welcome.

Dogbreath · 9 Feb 2017 at 09:41

russell664;30484852 said:
I do however want to go through the loom and do the useful plugs/oil/filter etc... Turns out that she has covered 28k miles!

I'd drain the coolant and flush the system out with a hose as well.

russell664 · 9 Feb 2017 at 20:57

Dogbreath;30485873 said:
I'd drain the coolant and flush the system out with a hose as well.

Good shout - on my to-do list.

Okay, a bit of progress, I fixed the choke

Turned out the PO put the spring in the switch gear the wrong way around, but now the choke doesn't spring back - success.

Now another - minor, but annoying thing, on both bikes. The switch gear housings are dull and have light scratches on them, I have tried T-Cut and a bit on Armorall plastic polish, but they still look dull and scratched. Really, really annoying, they should be shiny black!!

Any idea how I can get the light scratches out, and make them look like new?

MowyTone · 10 Feb 2017 at 07:20

Dunno about the scratches but a bit of WD40 on a rag can darken black plastics

Edit: Failing that use a acid to bring it back to fresh plastic? Brake fluid? You'll need it off the bike and rise with water if you use brake fluid

russell664 · 10 Feb 2017 at 08:04

Hmmm, I don;t think that using Acid nor brake fluid would be a good idea.

I might give T-cut a go again tonight - it brought the scratches to the surface, so maybe a bit more rubbing and they will be gone. I might try some WD-40 on a rag to bring them up!