I trust you'll keep us posted on the civilian diesels? I had a chance to buy a running one with only about 200 miles on it a few years ago before Bikes N Beards made these (more) impossible to find for $6k, damn I wish I went for it.
Had this video in my recommended feed, almost skipped on it cause I got so sick of the beards and bikes forcing religious rhetoric. Glad I chose not to, Craig's video style is so much better on his own. And no bible thumping.
Idk I try to be like this guy I won't do you wrong or bullshit you I never ripped someone off prob same with Rick being a honest mechanic in this world is hard
This man needs to create a manual containing everything he knows about that bike. And then have that younger dude memorise every word. Thank you for this amazing video, this is preservation of engineering history in action.
Yeah a manual would be great. Problem is it would take 10's of thousands of dollars of time writing, editing and printing so if you're lucky you can sell a couple of hundred copies. This book may be the most appreciated book by a very few people but it's not going to make the top ten best seller list!
I thought everything built for the military had a manual so that the military can do field repairs. If that existed it would be a great starting point.
@@natebit7167 Your right, with the limited interest this manual would have posting online would be a good cost savings alternative to printing hard copies. But still for someone with this very specialized knowledge to outline, organize, type and yes, edit as you'll never get it good enough let alone perfect on the first time through. If you're not an expert on publishing, not printing, you'll need some who is to polish it into a usable resource. Don't forget about photos and illustrations that should be included. It will take hundreds if not thousands of hours to accomplish. How much is it worth to take months out of your life to write this manual and how should the author be compensated? This manachic, as brilliant as he is will need help. And the audiandance, how many bikes were produced, several thousand as I recall, half are probably scrap by now. Typical vehicle runs are in the 100's of thousands. It would be great to save these iconic bikes and a good manual would be a giant step in that direction but don't discount that actual task and cost to produce it. Just sayin'!
I worked for HDT for over 10 years, before changing careers.Was there for the development of this bike. Worked with Rick as well, very intelligent man. Interesting seeing this.
As you were present throughout "the development of this bike," i'd appreciate your input on whether or not there was anything other than better mileage and a greater amount of torque, that was/were an/any improvements when compared with its petroleum fuelled market competitors?
I remember reading in a U.K bike magazine that the only reason the army wanted a diesel bike was because the only things they had running on petrol where the bikes. So having a diesel bike did away with having to carry petrol on manoeuvres.
Shawn? Is that really you? You owe me 2.25 for lunch I loaned you. With interest and inflation, that comes to 746.80. Also, I liked your idea of making a KLR that ran off corn alcohol.
@zatomlzxzanamolzy1253 from what I recall, it was mainly to fulfill a single fuel requirement from the USMC. The bike was heavier and overall less maneuverable than a standard KLR650, from what I was told at the time (I never got to ride one, employer/employee liability). The increased fuel economy came secondary.
@@zatomlzxzanamolzy1253 Probably the same reason they ordered the CUCV series as diesels, a single on-base fuel simplifies logistics. I'm curious if the bike could also run on kerosene/JP-8.
I was stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI (90-93) and one year we had an audit of ALL our equipment. I went with an officer to a warehouse off base and began to read labels on boxes to the officer so that they could be accounted for. About 10 of them said "Motorcycle off road diesel (1 ea)" I was shocked to learn that my unit had motorcycles in boxes but they were never used. That was back in the early 90s but I wouldn't be surprised if they were still there.
Our tax dollars at work!!! And dumb leftist want to get rid of diesel altogether with no real plan, (other than electric and solar) to replace all the equipment that is run by diesel engines. Politicians today are working at destroying the country.
There are VERY few people that can make a 30 minute video that I don’t skip a single part. I enjoyed watching you with Sean for who Sean is. I enjoy watching you for the expertise and knowledge you have. Keep at it Craig! You’re an awesome person
Not much warms my heart the same way watching people with passion work together to do cool things. The respect everyone showed each other and banter had to have made that a day to remember for a lifetime.
In 1977 Volkswagen introduced the diesel engine to it's Rabbit car and the whole world took notice that you could have a high-reving diesel engine in a car that got 44MPG without even trying. I started my career working on VWs in 1968 and really got into diesels. I would buy them cheap that needed crankshafts, especially the '81 Dasher and made cars for my children to drive. At one time I owned 9 of them at the same time. I am 76 years old now but still have a place in my heart for VW diesels as well as my four Honda motorcycles. Good show. You brought back a lot of memories.
I had a 81' Rabbit given to me in 90' and it was diesel. I was getting my 0' Mustang GT fixed. Can't remember the liter but I'd put $10 in the tank and could go a whole week easily to and from work and out with friends. I kinda started a following. A couple friends go there's and we'd start smoke wars while driving. I worked at a VW dealer with a little diesel truck bed to haul shop trash out. Never had a problem. Most of the VW techs had VW/Audi cars Foxes or Quattums with the Golfs/GTI and the tech I apprenticed with had a Carodo. Loved my Rabbit til it got totalled in a snow storm after I gave it to my brother back from the war. It would go anywhere. It got hit in the back. Glad no one was hurt.
I am not a big bike guy personally but between watching Sean's video and yours it amazes how much both information both Matt and Rick how much knowledge they have about these rare bikes. Super cool to listen to all the engineering behind it
@@erik_dk842 without that "chubby guy with the beard" this video wouldn't exist, and even if someone else decided to buy that 50k diesel bike instead of him and make this video but don't disturb and just let the engineer work you would learn nothing from it because he would just be working and not doing a tutorial by answering someone's questions
HDT USA man himself, Fred Hayes ran these bikes for speed testing at Bonneville for several years before he passed away. My brother and I ran motorcycles at Bonneville hanging out with Fred and his wonderful family many times. Fred was super cool to hang out with👍🏻
There is a Dutch biker who developed a bike for people doing lots of miles. He persueded Mercedes to sell him turbo diesel three cilinder engines. They said YES! But for reasons I still do not understand, he started production and he stopped production. The bike was excellent. Maybe the time was not right. Maybe bikers are one track ponies having no idea that turbo diesel is great for them. Whatever. The bike brand was Track. Do check that. Pray that he will start again, some year.
@@oldphart-zc3jz To me, the appeal would be to preppers. The bike is military spec. Meaning it will survive EMP's, and is designed to be somewhat tougher.
I don't know how, but you've got to get Rick in more videos! This guy is a diesel whisperer, and as a diesel guy myself(heavy marine diesel), I love seeing my trade craft and my passions come together one one my favorite channels. Keep up the great content Craig!👌
Hey, how different is this diesel construction from diesel engines that you work on? I think in principle they are the same right? It's just the details how everything is connected and put together?
As a guy who has owned 3 KLRs, I have always been fascinated by the diesel/mil variety…and after watching this, I definitely never want to own the diesel variety. Thanks for in-depth look into KLR voodoo ❤
Hey bud I have 6 250s and I bloody love em!! This is the first video I’ve found on the diesel bike n it’s incredible to see!! But stuff owning it haha.. the only difference though is the crank case it’s basically still a 250 with a 650 swing arm. It’s a marvel to look at the differences and similarities.
I have only ever owned a single KLR (the 2003 currently waiting for an overhaul in my garage this winter) but I share your vision of NEVER owning a diesel version.
Leave it to the US government bureaucracy to make one of the most reliable motorcycles and turning it into the worst. I mean the stock KLR is better in almost every way...... what in the hell were they thinking?
This bike is way to complex to ever give to a bunch of soldiers in a far away land. Imagine having to get this thing started quickly in a tense situation. It's easy to see why the military only bought a handful of them. Great video Craig
That was incredible friend, the mere fact that you found the guy who developed that motorcycle shows the commitment and love for motorcycles, I appreciate it a lot
We need to get a camera in front of anyone that's like Rick! Being the only two people in the world that know how to work on deseign, fix, rebuild and be enthusiastic about something is a special thing! If this information doesn't get recorded and put on the internet it will disapear forever! Now that this video is on RUclips anyone that wants to buy and fix one of these bikes can do it in a couple months and not a couple years. I'm sure there are mechanics and machinesest that could of got it running pretty quickly, but now anyone can do at home. I also think having a video is way more useful than even some of the best manuals! Awesome video, awesome dudes, and a awesome bike!
I have no plan in ever owning anything diesel powered but I found this video to be very interesting. The knowledge of the details, like the length of the fuel tank screws, is just plain impressive.
Same with the De Havilland Twin Otter. The rear part of the undercarriage fairing has numerous screws, of about 6 different sizes. Put a screw too long in the wrong place and it gouges the fuselage skin and leads to a very expensive repair shock 😮! That’s just one example.
Nothing exited me more than Hearing that hes developing a commercially available diesel motorcycle based off thr klr platform. I wonder what the cost of such a unique machine is
KLM is an Austrian company, as soon as I saw that injector I knew it was an old Bosch injection system, was a Mercedes mechanic for a lot of years, that injector looked right out of a 1970's Mercedes 240-D
The first prototype design and build was done by an engineer/lecturer/professor (don't remember his name) from RMCS Shrivenham, and was 'heavily influenced' by a contemporary Mercedes diesel engine.
Man, what a great video - I remember dreaming about these Diesel KLR's like 15 years ago, and getting to see one fixed up like this really scratches an itch.
What a great episode. Rick is a master and Will is a legend. How amazing is it to see one of 214 brought back to life by the man who engineered it!?!? Good stuff, Craig.
Craig you my friend just broke the internet bringing to light knowledge nobody else has posted on a grand scale! Wow what a cool feather in your hat as a bike mechanic! Also a blessing to be able to carry Rick’s knowledge forward to the next generation!
The genuine excitement he had when he saw your smile brought tears to my eyes. The love he has for machines and helping people really shows and there isn’t enough people like him left out there.
glad rick has an apprentice to keep the bikes alive and teach all the ways and tricks of the trade, not many mechanics and engineers these days do that.
I love motorcycles and I love military vehicles. It's not often the two overlap. I love the KLRs and these military ones, well, they bring back memories. Thank you all for bringing this KLR back to life.
I was so invested, i even watched the full ad, didn't skip a bit. These bikes are quite the machines, and hearing it sputter to life, idling smoother after the pump adjustment, I was matching Craig's energy when it fired up the first time. I enjoyed the plethora of info and the technical side of the video, and would love to have more like them in the future!
Rick is the man. Thanks Rick for getting involved. It’s truly entertaining watching you effortlessly work your stuff and turn those wrenches. I also can’t wait for your diesel bike.
The diesel KLR is probably the only bike in the world I've wanted continuously after hearing about it. If I actually had one, I don't think I could ever outgrow it.
I think you’d get over it pretty quick. It’ll be a never ending repair. You can tell it also ran like crap when he rode it otherwise they’d have shown it.
I especially love how Rick did not do all the work himself so that the others would gain the experience. Likewise, how he asked open-ended questions to get the young guys a chance to think about it and formulate what is or is not happening. Then he provides the wisdom. Excellent methodology.
I called the compression release before you!! For some reason it stuck in my mind when he was explaining how it worked and didn't close it. Glad I at least got that one. I screwed up the injection timing on my fuel pump once and had to take it down and get it rebuilt and timed. 4 cylinder Mitsubusi diesel
Amazing job! So nice to see a piece of American engineering brought back to it full glory! You should think about doing ending video recaps. Like time spent, problems found, money?, etc. I think it would be super fun and informative
This is your best video yet Craig!! It is always awesome to see folks who are experts about rare stuff and these guys were great! Love how you all worked together and everyone’s enthusiasm really shines through!
As a diy mecanic i follow pretty well 😂 I love diesel over gazoline engines. Running cooler and less fuel consumption. The engines olso lasts longer. Love repairing/restoring channels. Greetings from holland the netherlands
I worked on the B-2 bomber acquisition program for 20 years starting back in the mid 80s and there was a term that was used called having a "grey beard" meeting or getting the grey beards together to solve a problem. That's what I thought of when I saw this guy. You have to go to the source when things get scrambled up like that bike was. Great video!
I think this is the video by far most educational that i saw on this week... working among engineers and mechanics that know what they´re doing it´s remarkable. Thanks for sharing this Craig, cheers from Chile🍻
I was a consulting Engineer with the oil and gas industry in Jamnaga, Gujarat, India for 4 years. I owned a 350 CC diesel engine motorcycle made by British Enfield very similar looking to your bike. Olive Drab in color and all the extras required for military use. Not a speed demon by any sort but fun to put put around the village.
I've been waiting for this moment since the other video. I love diesel motors and the science behind them. My favorite video to come from this channel and bikes and beards.
*I LOVE THE WAY* they talk about how reliable military equipment has to be and how much they testing testing test... And there stood next to a broken bike in a workshop for broken bikes.
When I was in the Army they still had Gamma Goats. The joke on them was that they would be running perfectly on Friday afternoon and broke down on Monday morning.
And how many ways you can break it if you don't do 6 different steps exactly and don't push a lever right next to the handle bar, oh and there are machining chips in the engine, dont worry perfectly normal 😂
I don't know if Rick is aware of how much a regular person appreciates not only his knowledge, but also his humbleness. "Look at that smile!" he said, and I was smiling here on the other side, feeling happy for Craig and for all the wisdom they shared on that day.
If you ever wondered where Craig's happy place is, you're looking at it. Craig as a happy sponge absorbing all this wonderful new mechanical info. If he doesn't have a wrench in his hand he's in the background asking questions and absorbing it all. 😊
Love this stuff man, finding enthusiasts for a machine that know their stuff inside out is awesome, and they are usually rare, would love see more of this type of vids.
As a mechanic with nearly 40 years of experience, this was one of the most unique and interesting technical videos I've seen in a while. Great to see such a deep dive into this rare but legendary botched military vehicle
Great video.. on the smell of diesel fuel, Years ago I had a friend that was a comms officer in a diesel powered sub, after a deployment, he smelled of diesel for a couple of weeks until the fuel / fumes eventually leached out of his system, and just in time to go back and do it all again
It's nice that you can have access to a ton of info on the internet, but learning fron an experienced craftsman is just another level of human interaction
Spill timing diesel engines goes back to the first diesel engines it like the ark. I have seen a high pressure trim pump from Marine applications used to push diesel through the system. It hosed out of the spill pipe when the spill point was reached it stopped. It was very clear where the spill point was.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this video. Awesome job. Your mechanic skills on such a piece of history had me locked to the screen. Now I want to see some riding. Thanks
very interesting video, I would like to see more like this about obscure motorcycles and the skills needed to keep them running. You need to do a second video running the bike off road on some trails etc
@@jolli6773 I KNOW RIGHT !?! That good ol' small scale US manufacturing at it sort of unfortunate worst ! ..were these made in state that was a relative industrial backwater using kissing-cousin (beard to beard) as temporary staff ? Somewhat akin to post merger McDonnell Boeing; aah who cares about small pieces of swarf, so long as the larger visible ones are removed - don't waste company time blowing out oil passages and sh*t..?!? Myself as a former precision engineering CNC Lathe Operator, and a motorcyclist, I can only super facepalm at the incredulousness... Running In debris would be better, but machining chips, is just a patent lack of production care and quality control, to me. Please forgive my ire and cholar, it was stoked to a furnace heat...
@@jolli6773hey jackass they weren’t talking about the diesel varieties. I used context clues and my brain to figure that out. You should try it once in a while. Use your brain
That was awesome to watch! The video actually felt short! You can never get tired seeing a master mechanic doin his craft! It's like watching mechanics poetry emanating from a tool box while the mechanic is conducting the concert of repairs.
That’s a Bosch type fuel injector and were more common on pre combustion chamber diesel engines. Instead of having individual spray points (5,6,7) when the needle lifts it sprays in a continuous cone.
I'm super happy you came across Rick, him being the authority on these bikes!! Man it's been a LONG time coming, I sure hope your audience appreciates all that went into the making of this video and how LONG it's taken to get to this point! I'm sure Rick is SUPER busy and booked to the T so it's great he found the time to share the vast amount of knowledge on this platform with you and all of us!! Awesome!
Great video. Been waiting to see if this bike would run. Guys like Rick are people to be treasured and we are running out of people like this. I enjoyed this video and loved the in depth stuff. I have to say I am also really glad that it was Craig doing this one so we got the tech and the deep information on this one . Keep it up.
Really cool bike, hopefully Rick and will ; will create a manuals for klr bikes for the future buyers. Great to have their knowledge and expertise. Knowing a little about engines; knowing the true tricks of their trade is very valuable and time saving for the KLR master pieces.
It's such a pleasure and privilege to listen to a master mechanic like you work with a master engineer. The video could be 20 hours long and I still couldn't get enough!
I absolutely live for videos and learning experiences like this. There is nothing better than learning from someone who clearly knows exactly what they are speaking about. Great video! Sadly there doesn't seem to be many Rick's left
Was wondering if you were going to make a followup video. Love seeing this one run. Wanted one since I saw it growing up. Any links to their page for the new diesel bike?
Being a fellow service technician, I can really enjoy the content that you put out. The level or repair and explanation is something that you get taught from service manuals, school, or being in the field for years. This is the kind of information that should be put out to the world instead of misinformation. Personally the galling explanation was great. I prefer blue loctite for most applications since it is a lubricant as well as a hardware retainer.
In the early 2000's I bought a multi-axis lathe from Roger Flynn @F1 Engineering in Hesperia. HDT was across the complex from them. F1 Engineering was contracted by Hayes to produce the engine and related parts; he told me they did a lot of re-engineering of the engine and fuel system to get the reliability and power needed to get military approval. Within a few months of my visit, HDT lost their contract with the military and left F1 with pallets of unpaid parts. F1 branched off into the aftermarket ATV parts as BilletKing, then into firearm parts... not sure if they're still around.
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how did you post that 11 hours ago?????
I trust you'll keep us posted on the civilian diesels?
I had a chance to buy a running one with only about 200 miles on it a few years ago before Bikes N Beards made these (more) impossible to find for $6k, damn I wish I went for it.
Had this video in my recommended feed, almost skipped on it cause I got so sick of the beards and bikes forcing religious rhetoric. Glad I chose not to, Craig's video style is so much better on his own. And no bible thumping.
@@stoddern okay bro.. but hear me out.. Psalm 37:8 - Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil
One thing americas good at😂😂😂
"the west builds weapons to steal money, we build weapons for defense that's why ours actually work" - Shoigu
Engineers like Rick are becoming a rarity. It’s awesome to see someone so knowledgeable and passionate about their craft!
this so true, if they do not pass down the knowledge its gone forever
also knowing so much about one machine isn't easy, one has to be very interested in them.
Idk I try to be like this guy I won't do you wrong or bullshit you I never ripped someone off prob same with Rick being a honest mechanic in this world is hard
Thanks diversity
@@MotiveToKill yessir
"but we know we don't have compression"
"well we think we don't"
he saved so much time by checking again... It's so cool to watch masters work
Guess who's never going to forget double checking compression release?
The moment he said "well we think we don't" i knew this guy was the real deal. Nothing can replace experience, never assume the obvious.
Since its a diesel could you run it on canola oil like that guy was with his yacht?
trust but verify. LOL keep it simple.
The more you know, the more you know you don't *know*
This man needs to create a manual containing everything he knows about that bike. And then have that younger dude memorise every word. Thank you for this amazing video, this is preservation of engineering history in action.
they did say there making a civlion version. meaning you will be able to buy one.
Yeah a manual would be great. Problem is it would take 10's of thousands of dollars of time writing, editing and printing so if you're lucky you can sell a couple of hundred copies. This book may be the most appreciated book by a very few people but it's not going to make the top ten best seller list!
@@rsmith3062doesn’t need to be edited or printed!! Just post it online!
I thought everything built for the military had a manual so that the military can do field repairs. If that existed it would be a great starting point.
@@natebit7167 Your right, with the limited interest this manual would have posting online would be a good cost savings alternative to printing hard copies. But still for someone with this very specialized knowledge to outline, organize, type and yes, edit as you'll never get it good enough let alone perfect on the first time through. If you're not an expert on publishing, not printing, you'll need some who is to polish it into a usable resource. Don't forget about photos and illustrations that should be included. It will take hundreds if not thousands of hours to accomplish. How much is it worth to take months out of your life to write this manual and how should the author be compensated? This manachic, as brilliant as he is will need help. And the audiandance, how many bikes were produced, several thousand as I recall, half are probably scrap by now. Typical vehicle runs are in the 100's of thousands. It would be great to save these iconic bikes and a good manual would be a giant step in that direction but don't discount that actual task and cost to produce it. Just sayin'!
I worked for HDT for over 10 years, before changing careers.Was there for the development of this bike. Worked with Rick as well, very intelligent man. Interesting seeing this.
As you were present throughout "the development of this bike," i'd appreciate your input on whether or not there was anything other than better mileage and a greater amount of torque, that was/were an/any improvements when compared with its petroleum fuelled market competitors?
I remember reading in a U.K bike magazine that the only reason the army wanted a diesel bike was because the only things they had running on petrol where the bikes. So having a diesel bike did away with having to carry petrol on manoeuvres.
Shawn? Is that really you? You owe me 2.25 for lunch I loaned you. With interest and inflation, that comes to 746.80. Also, I liked your idea of making a KLR that ran off corn alcohol.
@zatomlzxzanamolzy1253 from what I recall, it was mainly to fulfill a single fuel requirement from the USMC. The bike was heavier and overall less maneuverable than a standard KLR650, from what I was told at the time (I never got to ride one, employer/employee liability). The increased fuel economy came secondary.
@@zatomlzxzanamolzy1253 Probably the same reason they ordered the CUCV series as diesels, a single on-base fuel simplifies logistics. I'm curious if the bike could also run on kerosene/JP-8.
I was stationed at Schofield Barracks, HI (90-93) and one year we had an audit of ALL our equipment. I went with an officer to a warehouse off base and began to read labels on boxes to the officer so that they could be accounted for. About 10 of them said "Motorcycle off road diesel (1 ea)" I was shocked to learn that my unit had motorcycles in boxes but they were never used. That was back in the early 90s but I wouldn't be surprised if they were still there.
Our tax dollars at work!!!
And dumb leftist want to get rid of diesel altogether with no real plan, (other than electric and solar) to replace all the equipment that is run by diesel engines. Politicians today are working at destroying the country.
I have 25 years experience seing self proclaimed experts with an attitude. Its always a shock to see someone proudly say he's a pro and THEN DELIVER!
There are VERY few people that can make a 30 minute video that I don’t skip a single part.
I enjoyed watching you with Sean for who Sean is. I enjoy watching you for the expertise and knowledge you have.
Keep at it Craig! You’re an awesome person
That's because you have ADHD
Did we all notice that the 12mm socket didn't jump off of the ratchet like the elusive 10mm always does??
Skipped some ... they took most of a days work.
Not much warms my heart the same way watching people with passion work together to do cool things. The respect everyone showed each other and banter had to have made that a day to remember for a lifetime.
85 y/o retired military and looong time biker. Been curious about this bike for years. Thanks for the tour!
In 1977 Volkswagen introduced the diesel engine to it's Rabbit car and the whole world took notice that you could have a high-reving diesel engine in a car that got 44MPG without even trying. I started my career working on VWs in 1968 and really got into diesels. I would buy them cheap that needed crankshafts, especially the '81 Dasher and made cars for my children to drive. At one time I owned 9 of them at the same time. I am 76 years old now but still have a place in my heart for VW diesels as well as my four Honda motorcycles. Good show. You brought back a lot of memories.
That injector shown is just like an early 90's VW diesel injector.
I had a 81' Rabbit given to me in 90' and it was diesel. I was getting my 0' Mustang GT fixed. Can't remember the liter but I'd put $10 in the tank and could go a whole week easily to and from work and out with friends. I kinda started a following. A couple friends go there's and we'd start smoke wars while driving. I worked at a VW dealer with a little diesel truck bed to haul shop trash out. Never had a problem. Most of the VW techs had VW/Audi cars Foxes or Quattums with the Golfs/GTI and the tech I apprenticed with had a Carodo. Loved my Rabbit til it got totalled in a snow storm after I gave it to my brother back from the war. It would go anywhere. It got hit in the back. Glad no one was hurt.
I love the technicality of this video. Also, Rick's got natural camera presence and is a legend for being on here!
I am not a big bike guy personally but between watching Sean's video and yours it amazes how much both information both Matt and Rick how much knowledge they have about these rare bikes. Super cool to listen to all the engineering behind it
It's amazing to watch someone who knows exactly what they're doing work on something.
Yeah. But that chubby guy with the beard was constantly in the picture and running his mouth
Diesel bike would be awesome, this veteran would love a chance to put a bid on it, when it comes up for sale 🙏🙏🙏
@@erik_dk842 without that "chubby guy with the beard" this video wouldn't exist, and even if someone else decided to buy that 50k diesel bike instead of him and make this video but don't disturb and just let the engineer work you would learn nothing from it because he would just be working and not doing a tutorial by answering someone's questions
@@CreeplayEUI just don't like the fake drama format. That's why I threw out my TV 15 years ago
HDT USA man himself, Fred Hayes ran these bikes for speed testing at Bonneville for several years before he passed away. My brother and I ran motorcycles at Bonneville hanging out with Fred and his wonderful family many times. Fred was super cool to hang out with👍🏻
The thought of a turbo diesel motorcycle is just amazing! Imagine the fuel economy.
40km/lt no matter what you do, it will never gonna be below that.
It already exists. Sold very badly because of weight and vibrations natural to a diesel.
There is a Dutch biker who developed a bike for people doing lots of miles. He persueded Mercedes to sell him turbo diesel three cilinder engines. They said YES! But for reasons I still do not understand, he started production and he stopped production. The bike was excellent. Maybe the time was not right. Maybe bikers are one track ponies having no idea that turbo diesel is great for them. Whatever. The bike brand was Track. Do check that. Pray that he will start again, some year.
Imagine the cost and complexity. There is more to riding than fuel economy. This mechanic has zero desire for one.
@@oldphart-zc3jz To me, the appeal would be to preppers. The bike is military spec. Meaning it will survive EMP's, and is designed to be somewhat tougher.
I don't know how, but you've got to get Rick in more videos!
This guy is a diesel whisperer, and as a diesel guy myself(heavy marine diesel), I love seeing my trade craft and my passions come together one one my favorite channels.
Keep up the great content Craig!👌
Hey, how different is this diesel construction from diesel engines that you work on? I think in principle they are the same right? It's just the details how everything is connected and put together?
As a guy who has owned 3 KLRs, I have always been fascinated by the diesel/mil variety…and after watching this, I definitely never want to own the diesel variety. Thanks for in-depth look into KLR voodoo ❤
Hey bud I have 6 250s and I bloody love em!! This is the first video I’ve found on the diesel bike n it’s incredible to see!! But stuff owning it haha.. the only difference though is the crank case it’s basically still a 250 with a 650 swing arm. It’s a marvel to look at the differences and similarities.
I have only ever owned a single KLR (the 2003 currently waiting for an overhaul in my garage this winter) but I share your vision of NEVER owning a diesel version.
Yeah, they look very temperamental.
Leave it to the US government bureaucracy to make one of the most reliable motorcycles and turning it into the worst. I mean the stock KLR is better in almost every way...... what in the hell were they thinking?
@@bigd9260
The diesel KLR will run on EVERY FUEL the military uses......Gasoline is a logistics problem the military will not accept.
This bike is way to complex to ever give to a bunch of soldiers in a far away land. Imagine having to get this thing started quickly in a tense situation. It's easy to see why the military only bought a handful of them. Great video Craig
100% correct.
Mechanical complexity is less of an issue than having half a dozen ecu and a canbus...
That's why they gave it to the Marines instead.
I had same thoughts!
2 stroke 2 victory
That was incredible friend, the mere fact that you found the guy who developed that motorcycle shows the commitment and love for motorcycles, I appreciate it a lot
We need to get a camera in front of anyone that's like Rick! Being the only two people in the world that know how to work on deseign, fix, rebuild and be enthusiastic about something is a special thing! If this information doesn't get recorded and put on the internet it will disapear forever! Now that this video is on RUclips anyone that wants to buy and fix one of these bikes can do it in a couple months and not a couple years. I'm sure there are mechanics and machinesest that could of got it running pretty quickly, but now anyone can do at home. I also think having a video is way more useful than even some of the best manuals! Awesome video, awesome dudes, and a awesome bike!
I have no plan in ever owning anything diesel powered but I found this video to be very interesting. The knowledge of the details, like the length of the fuel tank screws, is just plain impressive.
Same here. This like ASMR for me
Same with the De Havilland Twin Otter. The rear part of the undercarriage fairing has numerous screws, of about 6 different sizes. Put a screw too long in the wrong place and it gouges the fuselage skin and leads to a very expensive repair shock 😮!
That’s just one example.
Diesels are a fascinating beast. Just running off the exploitation of physics in what feels like an even more complex manner, to me.
Same here
Once you drive a turbo diesel, you will get it. Pure power!
He is amazing, I could listen to him talk for hours. I love how he wants to share his knowledge
Nothing exited me more than Hearing that hes developing a commercially available diesel motorcycle based off thr klr platform. I wonder what the cost of such a unique machine is
Yet the absolute idiot who made this video has the audacity to cut the video right when he's starting to explain something or give a small lesson.
KLM is an Austrian company, as soon as I saw that injector I knew it was an old Bosch injection system, was a Mercedes mechanic for a lot of years, that injector looked right out of a 1970's Mercedes 240-D
The first prototype design and build was done by an engineer/lecturer/professor (don't remember his name) from RMCS Shrivenham, and was 'heavily influenced' by a contemporary Mercedes diesel engine.
Man, what a great video - I remember dreaming about these Diesel KLR's like 15 years ago, and getting to see one fixed up like this really scratches an itch.
This guy is a gem. I'll be interested to see the new diesel klr's
What a great episode. Rick is a master and Will is a legend. How amazing is it to see one of 214 brought back to life by the man who engineered it!?!? Good stuff, Craig.
He said he started at the company after this one was designed and build.
Craig you my friend just broke the internet bringing to light knowledge nobody else has posted on a grand scale! Wow what a cool feather in your hat as a bike mechanic! Also a blessing to be able to carry Rick’s knowledge forward to the next generation!
What an absolute legend Rick is and a great character.
The genuine excitement he had when he saw your smile brought tears to my eyes. The love he has for machines and helping people really shows and there isn’t enough people like him left out there.
Having grown up around old desiel engines my first thing to check on a compression problem is the compression release connection.
It’s always cool to see someone in their element and that guy is a prime example thanks for sharing
glad rick has an apprentice to keep the bikes alive and teach all the ways and tricks of the trade, not many mechanics and engineers these days do that.
I love motorcycles and I love military vehicles. It's not often the two overlap. I love the KLRs and these military ones, well, they bring back memories. Thank you all for bringing this KLR back to life.
I was so invested, i even watched the full ad, didn't skip a bit. These bikes are quite the machines, and hearing it sputter to life, idling smoother after the pump adjustment, I was matching Craig's energy when it fired up the first time. I enjoyed the plethora of info and the technical side of the video, and would love to have more like them in the future!
Daaaaaaaamn, now that is one well done fix on a bike I've been enthralled with since it's initial announcement for the US military!
Rick is the man. Thanks Rick for getting involved. It’s truly entertaining watching you effortlessly work your stuff and turn those wrenches. I also can’t wait for your diesel bike.
This is prime content for the gearheads out here. That old guy surely knows his stuff.
The diesel KLR is probably the only bike in the world I've wanted continuously after hearing about it. If I actually had one, I don't think I could ever outgrow it.
I think you’d get over it pretty quick. It’ll be a never ending repair. You can tell it also ran like crap when he rode it otherwise they’d have shown it.
I especially love how Rick did not do all the work himself so that the others would gain the experience. Likewise, how he asked open-ended questions to get the young guys a chance to think about it and formulate what is or is not happening. Then he provides the wisdom. Excellent methodology.
I called the compression release before you!! For some reason it stuck in my mind when he was explaining how it worked and didn't close it. Glad I at least got that one. I screwed up the injection timing on my fuel pump once and had to take it down and get it rebuilt and timed. 4 cylinder Mitsubusi diesel
Awesome video Craig,so glad you were able to find someone so knowledgeable and willing to help! Such a different and cool bike to see!
Amazing job! So nice to see a piece of American engineering brought back to it full glory! You should think about doing ending video recaps. Like time spent, problems found, money?, etc. I think it would be super fun and informative
This is your best video yet Craig!! It is always awesome to see folks who are experts about rare stuff and these guys were great! Love how you all worked together and everyone’s enthusiasm really shines through!
Badass. Ive wanted one since i first seen them. Rick knows what hes doing, definitely cool him to do that, especially on camera. What a honor.
As a diy mecanic i follow pretty well 😂 I love diesel over gazoline engines. Running cooler and less fuel consumption. The engines olso lasts longer. Love repairing/restoring channels.
Greetings from holland the netherlands
Rick is an artist. How fortunate it is that you found him.
I worked on the B-2 bomber acquisition program for 20 years starting back in the mid 80s and there was a term that was used called having a "grey beard" meeting or getting the grey beards together to solve a problem. That's what I thought of when I saw this guy. You have to go to the source when things get scrambled up like that bike was. Great video!
I think this is the video by far most educational that i saw on this week... working among engineers and mechanics that know what they´re doing it´s remarkable. Thanks for sharing this Craig, cheers from Chile🍻
I was a consulting Engineer with the oil and gas industry in Jamnaga, Gujarat, India for 4 years. I owned a 350 CC diesel engine motorcycle made by British Enfield very similar looking to your bike. Olive Drab in color and all the extras required for military use. Not a speed demon by any sort but fun to put put around the village.
The sheer confidence, charisma, and intelligence of Rick made this video an absolute joy to watch. He's like a grown-up version of Ryan from FortNine.
I've been waiting for this moment since the other video. I love diesel motors and the science behind them. My favorite video to come from this channel and bikes and beards.
Rick is something else man such a wealth of knowledge & also rocking some flip flops he's the real deal.
Awesome to see 2 experts in their field share their knowledge.
*I LOVE THE WAY* they talk about how reliable military equipment has to be and how much they testing testing test...
And there stood next to a broken bike in a workshop for broken bikes.
When I was in the Army they still had Gamma Goats. The joke on them was that they would be running perfectly on Friday afternoon and broke down on Monday morning.
@@lancenorton1117 😁😂😀😁
Standard KLR for me, that diesel would give me nightmares. I have worked on diesels, have an AA in it, but they are not for bikes.
@@johnl9977 yeah but the dod doesn't care they just want everything to run on JP-8
And how many ways you can break it if you don't do 6 different steps exactly and don't push a lever right next to the handle bar, oh and there are machining chips in the engine, dont worry perfectly normal 😂
I don't know if Rick is aware of how much a regular person appreciates not only his knowledge, but also his humbleness. "Look at that smile!" he said, and I was smiling here on the other side, feeling happy for Craig and for all the wisdom they shared on that day.
I have enjoyed working on challenging machines. It's sad that the knowledge gets forgotten. It was so good rewarding to see it run.
Such a cool bike, awesome to see it running again.
The videos keep on getting better. Those dudes know their stuff. Thanks, Craig!
I found these short cut outs annoying, picture jumps weirdly. It makes video shorter but hard to eyes.. too jumpy.
If you ever wondered where Craig's happy place is, you're looking at it. Craig as a happy sponge absorbing all this wonderful new mechanical info. If he doesn't have a wrench in his hand he's in the background asking questions and absorbing it all. 😊
this oldtimers A beast!! flipfloppin around spittin facts! love him
Rick is my new favorite mechanic!!! You can tell he lives to make people happy!!!
This video made me smile 😊. I'm a skilled tradesman. I know a good mechanic when I see one.
Love this stuff man, finding enthusiasts for a machine that know their stuff inside out is awesome, and they are usually rare, would love see more of this type of vids.
As a mechanic with nearly 40 years of experience, this was one of the most unique and interesting technical videos I've seen in a while. Great to see such a deep dive into this rare but legendary botched military vehicle
Great video.. on the smell of diesel fuel, Years ago I had a friend that was a comms officer in a diesel powered sub, after a deployment, he smelled of diesel for a couple of weeks until the fuel / fumes eventually leached out of his system, and just in time to go back and do it all again
It's nice that you can have access to a ton of info on the internet, but learning fron an experienced craftsman is just another level of human interaction
Do more of these technical videos, this was awesome Craig!
I'm not into that style of bike but I would own that bike. It's right out of GI JOE. Great job to everyone getting is running again.
Awesome vid! Love how you showed all the technicalities
Spill timing diesel engines goes back to the first diesel engines it like the ark. I have seen a high pressure trim pump from Marine applications used to push diesel through the system. It hosed out of the spill pipe when the spill point was reached it stopped. It was very clear where the spill point was.
Awesome! As a guy that fixes diesel powered buses for a living, I found this video very interesting. 😊
not just fix them but looking to make a cilvion version.
I can’t tell you how much I enjoyed this video. Awesome job. Your mechanic skills on such a piece of history had me locked to the screen. Now I want to see some riding. Thanks
Love to see these oldschool guys with tons of knowledges and experiences !!
Im glad you found "the guy" and hes happy to keep these alive
Dude that Gentleman is awesome!
Rick seems like a down to earth kinda guy. Really enjoyed this. Buy another one of these and take it to Rick again.
Buy another one 😂😅😂
very interesting video, I would like to see more like this about obscure motorcycles and the skills needed to keep them running. You need to do a second video running the bike off road on some trails etc
“You can’t kill a KLR”, except for the Doohickey, if you don’t replace it, then the motor will self-destruct.
Right? This is all very cool but in which world is it normal to have machining chips from manufacturing left over in your oil?
And don't press this lever or you'll blow a valve 😂
Yup "Can't kill a KLR" unless you do something silly like purchasing one new and riding it to work for a few months.
@@jolli6773 I KNOW RIGHT !?!
That good ol' small scale US manufacturing at it sort of unfortunate worst !
..were these made in state that was a relative industrial backwater using kissing-cousin (beard to beard) as temporary staff ?
Somewhat akin to post merger McDonnell Boeing; aah who cares about small pieces of swarf, so long as the larger visible ones are removed - don't waste company time blowing out oil passages and sh*t..?!?
Myself as a former precision engineering CNC Lathe Operator, and a motorcyclist, I can only super facepalm at the incredulousness... Running In debris would be better, but machining chips, is just a patent lack of production care and quality control, to me.
Please forgive my ire and cholar, it was stoked to a furnace heat...
@@jolli6773hey jackass they weren’t talking about the diesel varieties. I used context clues and my brain to figure that out. You should try it once in a while. Use your brain
That was awesome to watch! The video actually felt short! You can never get tired seeing a master mechanic doin his craft! It's like watching mechanics poetry emanating from a tool box while the mechanic is conducting the concert of repairs.
That’s a Bosch type fuel injector and were more common on pre combustion chamber diesel engines. Instead of having individual spray points (5,6,7) when the needle lifts it sprays in a continuous cone.
Great bike
And what a star of a mechanic
I'm super happy you came across Rick, him being the authority on these bikes!! Man it's been a LONG time coming, I sure hope your audience appreciates all that went into the making of this video and how LONG it's taken to get to this point! I'm sure Rick is SUPER busy and booked to the T so it's great he found the time to share the vast amount of knowledge on this platform with you and all of us!! Awesome!
Great video. Been waiting to see if this bike would run. Guys like Rick are people to be treasured and we are running out of people like this. I enjoyed this video and loved the in depth stuff. I have to say I am also really glad that it was Craig doing this one so we got the tech and the deep information on this one . Keep it up.
WOODRUFF KEY! thank you sir. sincerely.... from one engineer to another.
Really cool bike, hopefully Rick and will ; will create a manuals for klr bikes for the future buyers. Great to have their knowledge and expertise. Knowing a little about engines; knowing the true tricks of their trade is very valuable and time saving for the KLR master pieces.
Super interesting episode, you are so lucky to have the creator himself for help. Good vibes and great result!
It's such a pleasure and privilege to listen to a master mechanic like you work with a master engineer. The video could be 20 hours long and I still couldn't get enough!
Great to hear about the consumer version in the works. You learn, we learn, best videos.
I absolutely live for videos and learning experiences like this. There is nothing better than learning from someone who clearly knows exactly what they are speaking about. Great video! Sadly there doesn't seem to be many Rick's left
Rick needs his own channel. Please keep us informed on the upcoming diesel motorcycle your working on Rick.
Yeah, that is one piece of tech I would pay a pretty penny for.
Was wondering if you were going to make a followup video. Love seeing this one run. Wanted one since I saw it growing up. Any links to their page for the new diesel bike?
Fantastic episode! What a gem Rick is and awesome to see he is passing along his information.
Very convenient for us in the UK! 👍🏻
These are getting better every week. I see a 69 Bonneville near me for sale that is crying to have your healing touch!!
Being a fellow service technician, I can really enjoy the content that you put out. The level or repair and explanation is something that you get taught from service manuals, school, or being in the field for years. This is the kind of information that should be put out to the world instead of misinformation.
Personally the galling explanation was great.
I prefer blue loctite for most applications since it is a lubricant as well as a hardware retainer.
In the early 2000's I bought a multi-axis lathe from Roger Flynn @F1 Engineering in Hesperia. HDT was across the complex from them. F1 Engineering was contracted by Hayes to produce the engine and related parts; he told me they did a lot of re-engineering of the engine and fuel system to get the reliability and power needed to get military approval. Within a few months of my visit, HDT lost their contract with the military and left F1 with pallets of unpaid parts. F1 branched off into the aftermarket ATV parts as BilletKing, then into firearm parts... not sure if they're still around.
Absolutely loved this episode video. I love seeing bikes come back to life!! Great job Craig!!
If or when the civilian version comes out, I’ll be glad to go buy one! I’ve always dreamed of having a diesel motorcycle.
"...get you out test ride." Qeue BIG smile