So I spent the weekend getting the carbs off the VFR. Took a week of soaking the boots with Wd40 and then an hour with a lever to get them off.
I’ve just purchased some new fuel lines and fuel o rings which will go on when I strip it down.
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Looks like something has been leaking or is that WD40 residue?
Yep, a seal has gone somewhere or maybe one of the float bowl gaskets. I’ve got a set of them on order too. First stage will be to clean up all the gunk off the outside with degreaser before starting to strip it down.
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My first ever motorcycle chain removal. Exactly the same as the Cervelo but with really MASSIVE tools. I used the Dremel to take the top of the rivet off before pushing it through, just to make it a bit easier. Hurrah.
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Are you planning on refitting it yourself?
I’m not sure I’d trust myself with a motorbike chain after having one break once and take a huge chunk out of the swingarm inches away from my leg. (I had the chain fitted by a shop and they used a split link (which broke) on a GSXR1100 - I’ve never had a split link since)
I’m not sure and it’s such a long way off I have even thought about it. There is a mobile motorcycle mechanic on our estate so I’ll probably get him to do some of the complicated stuff.
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A standard rivet that you peen the ends isn’t a problem, almost easier then taking the old chain off. I’m with @JaRok2300 though, would never be happy to fit a split link on anything with reasonable power.
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My bicycle chain tool works on my bikes, but then they are all sub-40HP MX bikes with £17 chains that get chucked after about 2K miles. Never had one fail though.
It’s std to use split links in the race padock on bike of all sizes, never considered it an issue. Fitted in the right direction and in good order obvs.
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Yep and plenty pull up with chain failures, especially on the roads 
Joking aside, I take your point. But on a road bike I would always choose the security of a riveted link when you rarely, if ever, remove and refit the same chain.
I have got as far as looking at what colour chain I’d want (what a tart!) and the ones I’ve looked at all offer a rivet type link. I assumed it was a self fulfilling thing, order a 520 chain in gold and automatically get a rivet link? But I will pay attention at order time, might as well do it properly.
I’ve looked up calliper refurb prices, about £100 each. That’s for them to do the work, the kit is about £40 each.
Suddenly I can see why ‘recently refurbished’ bikes are so expensive.
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Engine is out and currently sitting on the kitchen worktop. It was a bit sweary but mostly ok. Everything is labelled and bagged up so hopefully rebuild will be simple-ish. Rain tonight so everything has to be packed away and put back in the garage otherwise I’d have taken the brakes off.
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Are you the one in the rucksack? 
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Ukraine?
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Barking 
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Dear lord, I’ve just seen the end can on that busa. How to make an ugly bike uglier 
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Yeah it wasn’t a looker.
I spent a chunk of yesterday doing a bit more work on the VFR. I stripped out the fuel pump, filter and associated lines to replace with new, only to realise I’d bought the wrong diameter tubing. 
Anyway, correct stuff now on order.
As I’ve got the carbs off, I’ve been advised to replace the o rings in the cooling system, which otherwise are not accessible, so they are on order too, with a few other gaskets and seals.
Finally got around to draining the tank. The fuel in there was minging and quite a lot of silty sludge came out. I’ve whacked 6 litres of coke in there to start breaking down the gunk, but I think I’m going to send it off to a specialist to get it sorted properly, lines and also get the ding out of the top.
Also delves a bit deeper around the cylinder heads, just clearing out all the oily crap and giving it a good clean. All the main gaskets look sound, so I’m going to leave them.
My main job today is to figure out how to get the clutch slave piston out of its housing. It is well and truly corroded in there. It was suggested to pump grease in behind it, but no dice. So again, a cola dip to see if I can break down the corrosion.
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That’s a mess but you’ll get there. Struggling to figure out where the fuel pump is sitting, is it in that flange you’re holding?
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