Last few issues with the TDR

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

Its been going good for a few weeks now, hasn't fouled any more plugs and ticks over fine etc etc...

A few issues/niggles i have left, im pretty sure what to do about most of them but ill get a second opinion from you guys to be sure.

Firstly the bike is a pain in the arse to start, strangly its fine at home but not at work, it goes first or second kick when ive just taken it out of the garage in the morning but when i try and start it at work it takes at least 5 kicks, usualy a few more to get it going, choke or no choke makes no difference, once its started it runs fine again Confused

Secondly the head race bearings seem to be nocking when i brake hard, under normal riding/braking i dont feel it but when some twat pulls out on me down the lanes and i need to haul it to a stop in minimal time i can feel a very distinctive nock through the bars, before i got the bike MOT'd i had a similar issue but i just had to tighten them up a little bit and gave them a good dose of grease and the problem was sorted, do you think they just need tightening again or is it time to replace them?

Thirdly, the bike feels underpowered, like its struggling to accelorate, i was worried that it was a rebuild time however this morning i noticed my front disk was very hot, when i rode home after work they were very hot again, im putting the feeling of lost power down to a binding/rubbing front brake, correct diagnosis? whats the solution?

Finaly, the battery isnt charging at all, ive checked all the connections and they're fine. All the lights etc work fine when the bike is running so its not a major issue but it would be nice to have some power in the battery so the lights dont fade when im stopped at traffic lights, its a fairly new battery (nov 2007) but it sat through the winter unused and i left the parking light on Brick Wall

so it was fully drained of power. knackered battery or knackered charging system? I cant check at the moment since the multimeter has been misplaced Laughing

Also i think connected to the battery issue, my indicators wont flash unless the headlight is switched on (full/high doesnt matter) if the headlight is off they come on but dont flash... whilest i ride with my headlight on at all times anyway it is still a little annoying.

any answers will be appriciated Karma

c_dug
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cal91 · Nearly there... Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Karma :

my bike knocks under heavy front breaking! is that my head bearings Confused

My bike is on a 54 plate and has only done 12,000 miles-ish.
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c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

AFAIK its the head bearings, not too hard to change to be honest although you might get lucky like i did the first time and get away with a re grease and tighten...

c_dug
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c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

bump... anybody Sad

c_dug
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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Sounds like you have fried the battery. It is only a tiny little thing on the TZR, and presume the TDR is the same. Even if the regulator / rectifier is probably fine, if you do need one they are not that expensive (shared with a few other Yamahas probably, the one on my TZR250 is the same as the one on my FZR600).

Sounds like you need to strip and clean the caliper. Those 4 pot calipers are renowned for problems in winter. Take the caliper off, pump the pistons out as far as the will go (keeping them even) then disconnect the caliper and undo the 4 bolts holding the 2 halves together. With luck the pistons should come out easily now. Carefully take the seals out (or buy new ones so you do not have to care about the old seals). Clean very thoroughly in the grooves the seals live in. Check the pistons. Reassemble (have the seals soaking in brake fluid for a while first), put on the bike and bleed through.

Could be the steering head bearings, although it might be worth checking the fork bushes as well (they seem to sometimes make a similar noise).

For the starting issue, check the plugs and also possibly check the reed valves.

All the best

Keith
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ms51ves3 · Super Spammer Joined: 07 Jun 2007 Karma :

Do you do some heavy braking before you arrive at home/work e.g. riding around lots of little streets?

My scooter brake is red hot when I get off but it isn't binding.

To check if it is binding, take a small ride and only use the back brake and see if the front brake is hot.

c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

@ Kickstart i have an R1 blue spot calliper on it at the moment, should i do the same thing though with regards to taking it apart and cleaning it?

Also @ ms51ves3 i will try that Thumbs Up

c_dug
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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

In theory yes, but in practice you cannot split the caliper in 2 so it will be far more fiddly to do. I had a blue spot caliper on my TZR but swaped back to the original in a (forlorn) hope to get some feel.

Think you can get a tool to take the blue spot plugs out of the Yamaha calipers (not officially supported by Yamaha).

All the best

Keith
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chris-red · Have you considered a TDM? Joined: 21 Sep 2005 Karma :

I can help you clean out the calipers if you want, I'm doing mine tonight if you wanna pop round it is a peice of piss and improves braking no end.
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c_dug · Super Spammer Joined: 04 Sep 2007 Karma :

Definetly as long as im not working, when are you doing them?

c_dug
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cal91 · Nearly there... Joined: 16 Apr 2008 Karma :

Sorry for being a pain and hi-jacking your question but does anyone know how to tighten the head bearings on a TZR? Is it hard to do and is it a long job? plus how to you regrease them because i dont want to have to take the front end off.

Thanks
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Kickstart · The Oracle Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :

Hi

Very few bikes have grease nipples on the steering head bearings. As such expect to have to drop the front end out.

Tightening them is a bit of a pain on some bikes just due to things getting in the way (well, compared to how easy your would think it should be). But other than the time it is not really a difficult job.

All the best

Keith
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