|
Post by shaunthe2nd on May 21, 2018 13:57:26 GMT 1
wow looks great, well done, and hope you enjoy riding it.
|
|
|
Post by Tobyjugs on May 21, 2018 14:36:32 GMT 1
Why draw attention to stuff as mundane as brake lines, coolent hoses and fastners with bright colours ? What do you think now Mr Begbie?
|
|
|
Post by philmill on May 21, 2018 14:41:08 GMT 1
Frikin awesome, great colour choice. I love it...
Phil
|
|
|
Post by yamark on May 23, 2018 5:20:48 GMT 1
Mouse, I've been a touch busy over the weekend (as you know), and missed your spectacular unveiling! Brilliant, just brilliant, I don't know how you've managed to improve the bike, but you have. The pipes are in perfect proportion now and appear to have loads of ground clearance.
Can you get Satnavs that warn you of Chip shops!
I would love to see the smile on your face when you get into the "wiz band"
You should take up boxing - you always pick yourself up and win , you never stay down.
Well done mate, Mark
|
|
|
Post by mouse on May 23, 2018 21:44:52 GMT 1
Thanks chaps, Shaunthe2nd Philmill, Rostrumorhospital and Yamark your compliments are really appreciated.
Yamark will get back to you on the ground clearance, as confidence is a bit low at the moment and i'm not riding quite like i was! I hope you manage to get everything sorted for Mr Moores visit, if i can help, let me know.
Well, i've put 200 miles on her, what can i say but...Bl***y Fantastic! A huge thankyou to Muttsnuts, the pipes work so well, she really is like a different bike, when you get to 7k she takes off and pulls like a train all the way to the red in every gear, really, really usable and great fun! Just the way it should be.
Had a problem with the powervalve servo packing up yesterday, but i opened up the unit and cleaned and fixed it. Somehow the little cogs and become 'unmeshed'! Weird but all working now and that has been the only problem, well apart from confidence, but i'm working on that!
Mouse
|
|
|
Post by donkeychomp on May 23, 2018 23:07:40 GMT 1
You'll get it back mate a bad spill always shake you up. I still get very nervous of any cars waiting to pull out of a side road as I approach them...Glad the bike goes as well as it looks, it's art really, you could hang that on a wall!
Alex
|
|
|
Post by andy71330 on May 23, 2018 23:24:56 GMT 1
Wow, a new standard has been set, that is a lovely Lc2 hybrid, well done buddy after all the sh*t you've been through, nice one
|
|
|
Post by dusty350 on May 24, 2018 7:14:42 GMT 1
I echo the comments - saw the bike on Tuesday and it looks stunning The blue is such a lovely colour - really suits the bike and the quality of finish on everything is second to none. And she gets ridden - hard - so no show pony !! ;)You don't see too many hybrid Lc2's compared to Lc's, but I think that's gonna change Glad you got the servo sorted too. Dusty
|
|
|
Post by dono on May 25, 2018 12:55:33 GMT 1
Blimey, don’t know how I’ve missed this... she looks fantastic. well done mouse, hope you have loads of fun on her. You’ve done an amazing job! Cheers Mark
|
|
|
Post by morgy on May 30, 2018 11:11:49 GMT 1
I've not been on for a couple of months but have just caught up on your thread Man you work fast and have done a great Job!! I hope she goes as well as she looks..
Thanks for sharing Mark
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Jun 13, 2018 10:06:20 GMT 1
So been putting more miles on the 31k recently and had a few few issues.
Powervalve servo failed, as mentioned previously
Speedo cable snapped!
One horn fell apart!
Temperature gauge failed!
Then a puncture!
Anyway all of these are easily fixed, HOWEVER...
Last year my engine was completely rebuilt, tuned and had a new 'Wicked' billet head fitted, this uses 'o' rings instead of a gasket.
About two weeks ago i was out on the bike when suddenly and without warning my left hand side is covered in coolant, head to toe, the bike, rear tyre etc. I pull over to discover that the cap has been blown off the expansion tank (it sits behind the headstock on a 31k) and blown coolant over me and the bike. I limp home.
Made a few phone calls and the general feeling is a problem with the cylinder head (i'm no mechanic). Took the head off to check for anything obvious, cracked dome, broken 'o' ring etc. but nothing is wrong that i can see. Fitted new 'o' rings in the head and I then purchased/fitted a larger rad from Norbo and bought a 'Trail Tech' digital temp gauge to get an actual reading in centigrade instead of relying on the standard Yamaha gauge. Put it all together and filled the cooling system with water, just in case!
Go out again, manage three miles at no more than 4k and bang! Same thing, blows cap off the expansion tank and water over me, digital gauge is all over the place, but when i pull over with the engine running the temperature drops!
It has to be the head, pressurising the cooling system.
So i dig out my old standard Yamaha head and fit that along with a genuine gasket. I have since done 250ish miles and no problem. She goes just as well, there is no difference in performance. Seems to have cured the problem!
It seems that the bike had been running hot from the first time i fired her up, in my ignorance i assumed that the temperature was ok as it sat at the same point all the time on the stock gauge, only when i fitted the digital gauge did i realise that that temperature was close to 80 degrees! But why did the engine run fine for 1,500 miles and then overheat without warning and then again after 3 miles with a bigger rad and new 'o' rings etc??
So, Wicked heads, has anyone else had a problem. It is a lovely bit of kit, but not cheap at nearly £300. The engine builder is going to take a look at the head as soon as i get it to him.
I have since found out that there have been several people having problems with these heads when used with a big bore engine but mine are tuned Yamaha barrels.
Engine spec is now tuned YPVS, standard head, no thermostat, bigger rad, stock carbs and airbox, Mutts's pipes.
So anyone else had any problems/thoughts with these heads?
Mouse
|
|
|
Post by donkeychomp on Jun 13, 2018 10:31:39 GMT 1
Sorry Mouse to hear all this. Have you got the right thermostat fitted?
Alex
|
|
|
Post by dusty350 on Jun 13, 2018 14:44:04 GMT 1
Blimey mate, not had much luck I've got a Wicked head on mine but never run it (yet!) I hope there isn't a design fault with them. I certainly found the billet petrol cap didn't vent like it should - looks great but doesn't exactly work !! Good thing is for you is you should be able to get an exchange I would imagine, as someone built it for you. Alas, mine was bought a couple of years ago and fitted by me so any problems may not be covered by a warranty Good luck if you get another. Regards Dusty
|
|
|
Post by bazzer5115 on Jun 13, 2018 19:07:52 GMT 1
Hi mouse, My wicked head on my 421 cheetah cub engine is now being used as a very expensive paper weight. Simply not fit for purpose,as you say,looks the business but but no use for use on a motorcycle!!! The first one I had lasted approx 1,200 miles and like yourself on a ride,foot slipped of footrest and I looked down and coolant all over left side of bike! Nursed the bike home carefully watching the temp gauge(luckily I was quite close to home) On inspection one dome had a crack in it(hardly noticeable,but you could see it-just) Was sent another (took about 4weeks!!) apparently a modified version.There were 4 bridges between cooling fins on underside of dome,but they were still machined with a square edge and not a radius as I know will be more crack resistant. Was hoping the bridges would cure the problem, 300 miles later coolant all over left side of bike!!!!!!! On inspection one dome cracked again!!!!! 5 weeks later been sent another version only thing is it is the same design,with sharp edges instead of radius as I suggested to wicked motorsports. In the meantime I have bought a chariot head and no problems at all yet. Apparently most of these wicked head domes crack!!!!!! Not fit for purpose if you are like me and ride the bikes. Chariot heads are the way to go,no reported problems at all👍
|
|
|
Post by bazzer5115 on Jun 13, 2018 19:24:26 GMT 1
I’ve built a few tuned ypvs engines and always use Yamaha head(modified for compression/squish) Never had a problem(always use genuine head gaskets) Glad you now running decent digital temp gauge as temperature on tuned engines very important. Yamaha gauge is simply not accurate enough. I never run a thermostat in my engines,the Yamaha stat is no use as it doesn’t open until 77 degrees which is too hot for optimum performance (I believe it fitted at that range for emissions) All my engines tuned ypvs run with no stat,oversize radiator,std impeller(tried high flow ones)and generally run about 60/65 degrees. They reach 70/75 when being seriously thrashed on hot day,but soon cool down when I ease off a little.👍
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Jun 13, 2018 21:27:45 GMT 1
I’ve built a few tuned ypvs engines and always use Yamaha head(modified for compression/squish) Never had a problem(always use genuine head gaskets) Glad you now running decent digital temp gauge as temperature on tuned engines very important. Yamaha gauge is simply not accurate enough. I never run a thermostat in my engines,the Yamaha stat is no use as it doesn’t open until 77 degrees which is too hot for optimum performance (I believe it fitted at that range for emissions) All my engines tuned ypvs run with no stat,oversize radiator,std impeller(tried high flow ones)and generally run about 60/65 degrees. They reach 70/75 when being seriously thrashed on hot day,but soon cool down when I ease off a little.👍 Hi Bazzer that is really interesting, both my hybrids seem to run the same temperature as yours now, no more than 70/75 when thrashed, God knows how you keep them any cooler and yes they cool down v quickly too. Here is a pic of the 'trail tech' temp gauge, it is really neat, battery powered (so far the battery on my other hybrid has lasted about 5 years!), tells temp plus max temp reached and the time! There is a sender plumbed into the rad hose from the top of the head.
With regard to your 'wicked head' did you get your money back? It is a lovely bit of kit but if it does not work i do not want to just kiss £300 goodbye!! I hope i can get it fixed and working, mine has not cracked a dome but clearly there is a problem.
It p****s me off that an item can be sold when clearly it does not do what it is supposed to do!
Mouse
|
|
|
Post by Tobyjugs on Jun 13, 2018 21:41:28 GMT 1
I've got a Wicked head and a Chariot head. The difference is night and day, I think the Wicked head lets too much coolant flow over the head and not enough into the barrel or liner space. I copied the idea a bit when i modified my standard head for removable domes. I felt due to my modified head there was not enough heat transfer from the engine. This was proved when i fitted a standard head on the engine. I am now modifying the removable dome head so all the coolant follows the path of the original cylinder head.
|
|
|
Post by donkeychomp on Jun 13, 2018 21:55:37 GMT 1
Wow. Never heard of Chariot (apart from Ben Hur and Boudicca) but that Wicked thing clearly is wicked...
Alex
|
|
|
Post by bazzer5115 on Jun 13, 2018 21:59:23 GMT 1
I very much doubt if you will get your money back from roger of wicked motorsports. He doesn’t admit there is a serious problem with his domes. He just sends me out a “new version” and will not listen to advise that when you machine the cooling rings in underside of domes they would be better with a slight radius. Basic engineering knowledge that a sharp edge is more prone to cracking than a radius edge. I have not tried the “mark 3 version” he sent me because I’m fed up with being unable to use bike whilst waiting for the next version to turn up and have lost faith in the product. The chariot head is proven not to cause problems. They don’t look so nice but I want to ride my bikes Don’t know if they available for 350ypvs as my problems are with 421cheetah cub motor. I would just keep to the ypvs head,I’ve had no trouble with these on my tuned hybrids
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Jun 14, 2018 8:31:58 GMT 1
I've got a Wicked head and a Chariot head. The difference is night and day, I think the Wicked head lets too much coolant flow over the head and not enough into the barrel or liner space. I copied the idea a bit when i modified my standard head for removable domes. I felt due to my modified head there was not enough heat transfer from the engine. This was proved when i fitted a standard head on the engine. I am now modifying the removable dome head so all the coolant follows the path of the original cylinder head. Interesting stuff Tobyjugs, so another 'Wicked' head that does not do as it should! I don't know if my head had the same problem as yours as i think mine was pressurising the cooling system somehow, maybe the 'o' rings are at fault?? Mouse
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Jun 14, 2018 8:34:32 GMT 1
I very much doubt if you will get your money back from roger of wicked motorsports. He doesn’t admit there is a serious problem with his domes. He just sends me out a “new version” and will not listen to advise that when you machine the cooling rings in underside of domes they would be better with a slight radius. Basic engineering knowledge that a sharp edge is more prone to cracking than a radius edge. I have not tried the “mark 3 version” he sent me because I’m fed up with being unable to use bike whilst waiting for the next version to turn up and have lost faith in the product. The chariot head is proven not to cause problems. They don’t look so nice but I want to ride my bikes Don’t know if they available for 350ypvs as my problems are with 421cheetah cub motor. I would just keep to the ypvs head,I’ve had no trouble with these on my tuned hybrids That doesn't fill me with confidence! Did you buy direct from Wicked? (no need for names). I thought that if an item was 'not fit for purpose' you were guaranteed your money back, or is that just in cloud cuckoo land? Agree about the stock head not looking so nice but as you say, they work. It is a pity that people are not made aware that 'Wicked' heads have a problem! Mouse
|
|
|
Post by muttsnuts on Jun 14, 2018 8:38:00 GMT 1
cracked domes is the most likely culprit, I am moving away from wicked heads and starting to use other makes including chariot, I am just sorting out some new suppliers now for heads, once I've got a few in I'll take a look at them and see which I think are a good optipon, but will need to trial them for a while to see if they are upto the job
|
|
|
Post by mouse on Jun 14, 2018 8:45:07 GMT 1
cracked domes is the most likely culprit, I am moving away from wicked heads and starting to use other makes including chariot, I am just sorting out some new suppliers now for heads, once I've got a few in I'll take a look at them and see which I think are a good optipon, but will need to trial them for a while to see if they are upto the job This is good news Dave, as i, as well as a lot of other people do value your opinion. The domes on mine have no visible cracks and the 'o' rings were intact, but who knows what happens when everything is bolted down and working under pressure? Will be very interested on your results. It seems very clear to me that i am not the first to experience problems with these heads! Mouse
|
|
|
Post by muttsnuts on Jun 14, 2018 8:51:24 GMT 1
Hi Andrew, the cracks are hard to see, but they are there, easiest way to check for them is to look on the outside of the dome (bit that is facing the water) and look for a fine black line etc which is where the crack will be as the carbon/oil from the combustion process leaves a trace when ti bleeds through into the colling system - just had one last week do this, got replacement does but got a Chariot head coming as well to replace it
|
|
|
Post by bazzer5115 on Jun 14, 2018 10:27:46 GMT 1
You’re dead right Dave,they are hard to see,but with very close inspection you can see them on the dome but as you say both of mine had the telltale oil/carbon evidence on underside. Seems to me about time he(roger-wicked motorsports) got some bad press regarding these heads. Cost me a lot of money and lost riding time. I get my stuff from Martin at mad biker designs,who is a genuine good guy,but unfortunately he is stuck in the middle of this. He has also suggested a mod to the machining process,but just falls on deaf ears! Roger just sounds like a typical arrogant yank who thinks he always knows best and doesn’t listen to anybody. You pays your money and takes your choice-he won’t be getting more of mine. I always use mad biker designs for my tuning stuff,as said a good guy who knows his stuff,and he helped me out the best he could over this matter-but his hands are tied!!!!
|
|
|
Post by muttsnuts on Jun 14, 2018 12:35:11 GMT 1
yeah Martin is a great guy, deal with him a lot, as you say his hands are tied, like mine are when things go wrong, the buck tends to stop with me as well, I get little or no joy out of my suppliers, so I end up fronting the cost, but so be it, better to keep a customer happy if you can, its frustrating at times, but that is why I try and test and prove all the products I use/sell, of course like in the case of the heads, the problems don't arise until after some significant usage, so not always possible to dodge the not so good stuff
|
|
|
Post by 4l04ever on Jun 14, 2018 13:35:30 GMT 1
|
|
|
Post by Tobyjugs on Jun 14, 2018 19:21:27 GMT 1
I've got a Wicked head and a Chariot head. The difference is night and day, I think the Wicked head lets too much coolant flow over the head and not enough into the barrel or liner space. I copied the idea a bit when i modified my standard head for removable domes. I felt due to my modified head there was not enough heat transfer from the engine. This was proved when i fitted a standard head on the engine. I am now modifying the removable dome head so all the coolant follows the path of the original cylinder head. Interesting stuff Tobyjugs, so another 'Wicked' head that does not do as it should! I don't know if my head had the same problem as yours as i think mine was pressurising the cooling system somehow, maybe the 'o' rings are at fault?? Mouse Hi Mouse i have never tried the head only looked at it and the design does not inspire me.
|
|
|
Post by Mr Kipling on Jun 15, 2018 22:14:21 GMT 1
Hi Mouse may I ask what u torqued the head too ????
|
|
|
Post by tsa on Jun 16, 2018 13:40:42 GMT 1
Wicked stated on their website a while ago "that all parts sold with no warranty"
|
|