Mikuni Fun and A Good Ride

Well, after all the fun I had with my Mikuni, it's finally running, and quite well by all accounts. I ended up buying a new carb after the air jet was mangled in the one my friend gave me. I got the jetting pretty much as recommended by a few guys on this site and Murray @ CycleCraft in Perth, with the exception of the needle jet. Most recommend a 159-P0, I had a P2 laying around so I ran with that 'cause they're bloody expensive! Spent Friday night making up some bits, throttle cable, bracket for the ignition switch, fuel line with a filter and rerouted the oil tank breather. Got it all mounted on Saturday with a UniFilter foam pod (#PS57) and it was idling way up and wouldn't come down. I searched for air leaks and man! The used 2into1 manifold was warped like hell! I could fit a 0.25mm feeler gauge in the l/h inlet and almost the same on the r/h too. I'm actually embarassed I hadn't noticed it during fitting. Sunday I managed to get it flat, fit it all back up and presto! Started 1/2 kick and purrs like a kitten. Took it all apart again to clean out the threads on the head. I've been messing with carbies so much, each time thinking I've solved the problem, there was a build-up of Loctite in them. As luch would have it, a tap and die set a family friend gave me had the right threads! Today after work, got it all back together (hopefully the last time...... for a while anyway) and went for a quick 40 minute ride. This was the first "proper" ride, out on the expressway to open her up and through some twisties to really enjoy. I'm still a bit nervous, and will be for the next few rides I think, the last time I rode my Norton it dropped a valve, you don't quickly forget a sound like that, even 10 years on. It was flawless and took me back to my 20's. Only thing I can say I'm not happy with is the headlight. It's an H4 with high output alternator, but it projects 2 beams out the side with a large black spot in the centre. In my experience with nighttime enduro's, this is usually down to either the type of globe or the lens. I will investigate later.
I'm damn happy, and weather permitting, am looking forward to a ride this weekend.
Checked out a swapmeet on Sunday, met up with AussieCombat. Great guy! His bike looks sweet too, aside from a lack of pinstriping on the tank, looks exactly like my first Commando. We were eyeing up a timing case cover for a good price, but I think we both displayed good discipline. Or foolishness. No bike stuff was found by me, just a manifold and carb for my Holden EH project. Next swap is a all bikes in Octobre, can't wait.

A proper ride is always a treat.

Well done.

Successful fettering and a ride buddy to boot, what more could ya ask but a swap meet of things you don't need no more : )
Seems like the headlight halogen upgrades really only give a better high beam, as all those I saw after dark at big rally were yellowish candle light on low beam, even w/o holes in the pattern.

hobot said:

Successful fettering and a ride buddy to boot, what more could ya ask but a swap meet of things you don't need no more : )
Seems like the headlight halogen upgrades really only give a better high beam, as all those I saw after dark at big rally were yellowish candle light on low beam, even w/o holes in the pattern.

Click to expand...

If you really want halogens to work well, you must incorporate a pair of relays for low and high beam to reduce voltage drop through the miles of wiring. My Buell headlight was weak (Bosch unit) so I fitted up a pair of relays and threw a 100/130 globe in. Wow! i can see. The 100w low isn't a problem as long as you adjust it down a bit. The cutoff is quite sharp so I've never been flashed by oncoming vehicles. Yep, I know it's illegal almost everywhere but it would be a damned picky cop who pulled your headlight apart to check the globe.

What, only 155km? It's further than that to go down the local shop for a pie and a can of Coke!!!

Hey Don, what make of headlight insert is it?

Good stuff Donald,
You've no doubt heard the weather report,..... beautiful all week, pissing down on the weekend.
hehehehe
You'll just have to give up your job mate.

Oh fullauto ya mean like Ms Peel's deal? Though didn't try 100/130 bug burner yet but did also run 2 55watt driving lights.
All were bright even on 1.2 ah battery as long as I kept rpms 1800+.


I can get beer 20 miles away but its cheaper 20 miles more so usually load up to save even more. This is one of the errands I plan to do on my Commando's, again. Peel here wit Munki single carb that out ran the dual new Amals I tried.

Will inspect headlight setup on weekend, seeing as it's gonna be raining dammit! Reckon I'll ride to work on Thursday, might even be down your way AC.
If globe and such don't make a difference, I might ask you a few more Q's Fullauto, as I'm an electrical moron when it starts to get technical and not by the book.
Going to replace the rubber carby manifold as the old reinforced unit is cracking, no leaks yet but I like to be proactive on these things. The reinforced ones are bloody expensive!

I'm itchin to ride again!

hobot, what's hanging in the tree? Looks like 2 halves of a cat.

Tree stuff is either wifes bird houses or something I painted and hung to bake. Low beams on Nortons even with relays and perfect focus still leave one a bit in the dark at much speed. Airplane landing light 100 watt sure sounds temping, but for the drain going fairly slow, so V-meter a good thing to keep track of power equation time. I am on a hunt for pencil beams and may end up adapting LED flash lights since real LED headlights are a few $100 and don't really project out to matter much.