I spent a little time with the F440 today. First an update from last weekend.
I got the fresh slicks on last weekend and fired it up for a test run. As soon as it started, the carb bowls started spraying fuel everywhere. Who puts plastic bowls on a carb anyway??? Shut it down ad pulled the carbs.
Pulling the carbs the boots disintegrated, so I came inside, ordered a new pair of boots, and checked the price on bowls for the Lectrons... $50 each for plastic, $150 each for machined aluminum.
Went to the cabinet and pulled out a pair of Mikuni TMX flat slides and a pair of VM round slides. Wanted to see if either would work with the existing throttle cables. The TMX's work just dandy with the throttle cables, so a quick cleaning to be sure the jets weren't clogged.
now, back to your regularly scheduled today.
Put the carb boots on, slipped the TMX's into the boots and tightened up the clamps. Easy peasy.
Checked to see if I had enough throttle response.
closed at idle
Attachment:
carb1a.jpg
And WFO with the pedal against the stop.
Attachment:
carb2a.jpg
Cool beans, now on to the next change I want to make. The guy I bought it from did some Solo and some hillclimbs in it. I looked in the big ol' box O spares and found several more front sprockets. A bit of digging and I found what I wanted, a 15 tooth.
So I go to loosen the socket head screws in the locking collar... no dice. Added penetrating oil, ate lunch, went back, and still no dice.
Searched for my torch, couldn't find it, but found the propane bottle in a box of stuff from the move.
Off to the store and buy a torch. Got one that will be happy with Propane to Mapp gas. Applied LOTS of heat... still no dice.
So I grabbed the TIG torch and welded a nut on top of the socket head cap screw. Sheared off the nut without loosening the bolt.
At that point I said Phuck it and grabbed the angle grinder and cutoff wheel. 2 minutes later the lock collar was in the trash can.
Then I got to spend another hour getting a stuck sprocket off of the jackshaft where it had evidently been happily living for a couple of decades.
Once I got the sprocket off, I grabbed some 220, 440, and 1000 grit sandpaper to clean and polish the axle where the new sprocket would go. Then some grease / antiseize applied, a new key installed and bolted up.
Attachment:
sprocket1a.jpg
That swap changes my final drive ratio from 3.33 to 4.0:1
I'll give up top end, but it should accelerate like nobodies business.
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