[ti]thumbs up[/ti]That's Better
Jun 3, 2018 9:05:21 GMT
terryc, Somersetdreamer, and 7 more like this
Post by chyangwel on Jun 3, 2018 9:05:21 GMT
Since stepping back into the ownership of a Superdream, I have been somewhat disappointed with the performance. When riding I would be constantly going up & down the gears to get any sort of performance. Hills seem to be an obstacle and I would have to really cane the bike to achieve 70MPH on a flat duel carriageway. I kept thinking to myself I’m sure my original Superdream back in the 80’s wasn’t a struggle like this to ride.. But it has been a lot of years since I rode one and I’m used to riding more powerful bikes so perhaps this is how it is and if so maybe I wished I hadn’t bought this and had my memory of this great bike dashed on the rocks. The final straw was when out riding with my wife, her on her vespa GTS125 and me on the dream. I was finding it quite difficult to keep up with her...
I’ve had the carbs off and given them both a really good clean replaced them and balanced with a pair of vacuum gauges. Replaced the spark plugs with the correct ones cleaned the air filter check the fuel lines, checked the valve and ignition timing all to no avail. Still seemed low on power. The engine always sounded as if it was retarded and had no punch.
Although the bike has only covered just over 9,000 miles it had been laid up for several years. So last weekend I decided to try a compression test and behold here was the problem. 90-PSI on the left and 96-PSI on the right. So over the bank holiday Monday I stripped the engine to find the rings stuck in the pistons. I freed them quite easily but decided as I had the engine stripped I may as well replace them. So over the past week I removed the valves cleaned and ground them in (it’s been quite some time since I’ve done that LOL) honed the cylinder bores and cleaned everything off in readiness for the new parts.
I spent yesterday re-building the engine and finished around 3 o’clock and went for a road test. What a difference, the bike now pulls a lot better and definitely has more power on the hills no longer having to keep going up and down the gears and on the dual carriageway I could get 70 quite easily and even had confidence to pass other cars. I didn’t what to push her too hard as the new rings will need a few miles to bed in. But definitely more like the Superdream I remembered and the engine sounds a lot more punchy. I also replaced the leaking gear change oil seal. So all in all a good few days work and not that expensive ether..
I’ve had the carbs off and given them both a really good clean replaced them and balanced with a pair of vacuum gauges. Replaced the spark plugs with the correct ones cleaned the air filter check the fuel lines, checked the valve and ignition timing all to no avail. Still seemed low on power. The engine always sounded as if it was retarded and had no punch.
Although the bike has only covered just over 9,000 miles it had been laid up for several years. So last weekend I decided to try a compression test and behold here was the problem. 90-PSI on the left and 96-PSI on the right. So over the bank holiday Monday I stripped the engine to find the rings stuck in the pistons. I freed them quite easily but decided as I had the engine stripped I may as well replace them. So over the past week I removed the valves cleaned and ground them in (it’s been quite some time since I’ve done that LOL) honed the cylinder bores and cleaned everything off in readiness for the new parts.
I spent yesterday re-building the engine and finished around 3 o’clock and went for a road test. What a difference, the bike now pulls a lot better and definitely has more power on the hills no longer having to keep going up and down the gears and on the dual carriageway I could get 70 quite easily and even had confidence to pass other cars. I didn’t what to push her too hard as the new rings will need a few miles to bed in. But definitely more like the Superdream I remembered and the engine sounds a lot more punchy. I also replaced the leaking gear change oil seal. So all in all a good few days work and not that expensive ether..
but fitted new rings, ground valves in and yes actually start doing a few overtakes 