@@lawrence7065dual sport on my DRZ , im 59 . No lap times to set , no moto to win or lose , no money to chase ......just rolling along over some dirt on two wheels 👍
Joe you make this stuff look so easy, you made me buy a blown up yz85 for 300 bucks. Bought the cheapest top end on eBay for 120 and now I have a perfect running bike for 420 bucks! Thank you!!!!
If you know how to diagnose a problem, and fix the problem, you can do just about anything. That goes for mechanical devices / machines, communication with others, having those skills will take you a long way. Awesome that you got a cheap bike and was able to fix it for as cheap as you did. Maybe you can find cheap deals like that, fix them for cheap, and turn a profit by selling them? Sounds like a great way to make a bit of extra cash!
Love your videos got me into mechanics on motorbikes and nearly finished the rebuild. Your videos have taught me how to do things from simple maintenance on a bike to a complete rebuild.
Me too I stop doing Uber and started fixing my quads yfz 450 raptor 700 then started buy on PITBULLS for almost nothing selling for $300-500 I’m in California every thing is so expensive A carburetor clean cost $500-600 😢😅 Thanks buddy If one day your in Los Angeles let me know I owe you some TACOS 🌮 🤙🏻
I really enjoy your channel. If you don't already have some needle nose fuel/hose line plyers get you some. I think they make three different sizes. Probably only need the smaller two sizes. They work good for all types of things. They are very versatile. You could have used them to put those valve seals in. You can thank me later.
I just wanted to say that’s I’ve recently started watching your videos and I’ve learned so much. I even used some of your knowledge and got my own bike running again. Keep what your doing up man, your amazing 💪💪💪
starting fluid/ether(hard to get pure unlubricated/undiluted anymore) or an air nozzle worked, coarse sand paper the bars(after marking depth), if loose/twisting around use hairspray or some other drying magical spray, to stick them on(also worked as installation lube. sometimes needed dried air(or inert gas) to help coax them on and dry them faster. other alternates, drop grips in very hot water or gently heat gun and slide on(stiffer type).
When it’s like that cold we blow lamp the cylinder head a bit warm it up and don’t rev a 450 they flood so take the plug out and light it up with the blow lamp too lovely work my guy great videos
Thank you for making 99th percentile videos that I can watch the whole way thru. Great job with the video production side, not just the mechanical side. You don't bitch about it in your videos even though videos make mechanical work take twice as long.. You really are the best channel.
All I can say is why are you outside on a bike 🚴 no gloves on you are definitely snowman ☃️. Sitting here in the armchair at 12 Deg. Outside thinking it nice to watch you play in the snow. Congrats for getting it fixed that I learn from. Thanks for posting often makes the days go faster.
Picked up a 93 KX125 as part of a trade and it’s probably the worst bike I have ever seen. Your videos have definitely inspired me to redo another bike after finishing up my 94 KDX! This Kx will be a heck of a time but I’d hate for it to go to the dump Would love to see a list of the tools and products you like!
Great build! Makes me want to start working on bikes, if only I had space in my garage. I also love your commitment to giving your bikes a proper test ride, rain/snow or shine lol
❤ PISTON RINGS: using a ring tool to install piston rings prevens them from warping & tightening; using someone's hands to install piston rings creates SO many issues. Always use the tool then measure the gap. EXCELLENT channel btw ❤ Keep up the great work. Your best tools are mistakes, every one makes you a better mechanic. ❤
all plugs foul, especially when something isn't correct in the tuning. yes, some of the poorer made plugs fail quicker, but buyer beware to inspect them closely.
I think that the knowledge that you have on engines certainly for me is a must and the calm way you go about your work impressed me - a lot! So nice to witness such Temperance at work and i salute you Sir :)
back in the day we used to screw short sheet metal screws into the nobbies might have helped on the driveway but that deep stuff time for the snow mobile.
During the fast forward montage of you trying to start the bike, I was waiting for the sun to start spinning through the frame and the seasons to change like a time travel sci-fi movie. You are dedicated to your fans Joe. I appreciate the effort. Z 😸
The only time I had tight rings on piston was due to the piston rings being replaced as I bent them during removal ordered piston rings same diameter but the oil rings were 0.25mm thicker. I would of also checked the seat for the piston ring with feeler gauge and make sure it was same all around. Love your vids man
@@2vintage that cylinder had some wear on 1 side of it and Athena pistons are made to only run the rings if the original seller tried to use oem or any other rings with said piston they won't work they have a custom ring setup for the pistons
I just stumbled across your videos and I followed this complete bike rebuild videos. It's awesome the way you explain everything you do and check. That's some true dedication to take that thing out in the snow and -20 wind chills. I didn't even want to go to work in a car in that crap.
I miss those days days of tinkering with dirt bikes. Arthritis has messed my thumbs up. Still slowly building a Honda CRF in my spare time. You are doing a great job.
It's just crazy watching you do all this stuff all by yourself and when you loaded that bike on that truck in the snow in the ice and got up and just just crazy
I've always enjoyed working on engines. I was 15 when I bought my first used dirt bike and disassembled the engine in my bedroom practicing putting it together in the winter. It's fascinating to see how everything works. These are cool videos to watch the process.
It's been many years since I pulled down a motorbike engine. This video was most satisfying, bringing back many memories. The snow, however, was frustrating 😄
Brilliant fix Joe. Well done. How about a video where you talk about where you got your skills from? I know you and your brother have been fixing and riding for years, but where did it all start and who taught you? I'm sure many guys are interested to hear your story. Or did you already do this and i missed it? I thought i had seen every video you have made.
Thank you for taking us through the valve seal replacement, it will help me to know what I'm up against when I work on a 4 stroke again. I've mostly worked on 2 strokes all my life.
make sure to check the valve guides for wear, worn guides will let the valve stem rock back and forth, making the valve not seat well and rapidly wear the "SEATS" and not always seal good, as well as make the "SEALS" flutter and oil get passed. also, make not of valve stem height and rocker geometry(effects the angle of rocker arm tip/adjuster to valve stem end contact. an offset from center pattern will cause rapid guide and seat wear. OK, overboard/over-technical commenting again.
Great work on fixing that bike, I own one, mine was blowing lots of oil through the engine breather, the culprit was the cylinder, it was badly worn, and the engine was filling the crank area with fumes.
28:35 a good life hack to never have to struggle with mounting grips again is to blow some compressed air through them while pushing/pulling the grip on/off. Good video man👍
Brought back to me riding in snow, especially the bit where the front end started to wash out. Always a balance between getting the right speed and not getting spat off.
Cash flow Joe! You need to hire someone to start moving all this inventory! Also, start thinking seasonal. Things with skis and tracks sell this time of year! 😉
Nice job on the repairs. Just throw some screws in those tires and take it for another rip. Probably work a little better. And add a pair of hot grips to keep the hands toasty.
Wish I had my 05 rmz450 going has the same Athena rebuild kit (with valve seals) I got a electrical problem right now either stator or cdi box but dam if it ain’t expensive, 120$ for a cdi box is crazy not to mention 200$ for a stator , yea mines goin be sittin for a lil while longer lol , wretchin on my mint 96 rt100 in the mean time Love the videos keep up the hard work 💪🏼👍🏼
Quick tip, in case but I'm sure you know it already. To remove or install grips on your bars, to use an air blow gun between the bars and grip and a little air and it will come right off or go right on.
Easiest way to remove and install grips is with a blow nozzle. Works even with glued grips. Place the nozzle between the grip and bar and it will slide right off
Finally got to watch you load up a bike! I always used two ramps one for the bike and one for me but I think you're a bit taller. Now I use a hitch carrier and it's much easier to load & unload.
Pro tip for grips. Use rubbing alcohol. Put about half an ounce of it in the grip, thumb over hole and shake. Slides right on, evaporates and it sticks. You can remove them later if you need to and, for me at least, they don't twist on the bar or throttle tube once dry.
Use compressed air nozzle in the ends of the old grips, blow air in and they will come right off!!! Same for putting new ones on, just a tip , love your site!!!
Thanks goodness it's raining here and cooled things down from the near 40 degrees Celsius days, I don't envy your current northern chill. Good to see you how you got it to stop smoking.👏🏻
Great find for the fix!... Nice job! Always enjoying your videos very much. Im 54 ,and still learning new stuff... your channel is educational to everyone. Thanks.
Joe you are an amazing mechanic bro!! I started watching way back in the day and your ability to diagnose and repair these machines has gotten better and better!!
@gwl78 i used to think the same thing, however, you are incorrect! Now i use it regularly. I used to be a grammar gate keeper, only to find out through some research i was wrong.....remember, when being smarter than everyone to actually be smarter than everyone!! 🍻🤣
Another classic example of throwaway 4-stroke MX & offroad bike engines, 1 compression ring and an oil control ring does not do a good job controlling oil at all IMHO. 3 ring piston would work much better. Valve seals should be replaced anytime the head needs to come off for the same reason(oil control). Great video, glad you got it figured out! Thanks Joe, now go take it out for a good rip........except for the snow......!!!
Great video! And well done, somebody is going to get great machine with all that work. I was worried that struggling in the snow could overheat the machine-no air flow through the rad, few, if any, of these bikes have fans.
Joe makes me want to find a dirt bike to repair...LOL I retired from 30+ yrs of being a Ford Dealership Tech (Actually changed my career to CNC Machinist) got tired of being a mechanic but I like to tinker with small engine stuff, chainsaws, etc. I wouldn't mind finding a good dirt bike to fix. Kinda silly but these videos are very interesting.
That snow is beautiful. But I’m so glad I’m in California with the weather being cold. It warm compared to that freezing 🥶 stuff. Where my friend lives in Canada, so -50 below.
First time I've watched you, subscribed love the way you explain everything, will be watching more of your work on RUclips, one question who taught you all this mechanic knowledge brilliant 👏
Another great video,your videos are pure in that you show it all including the mistakes. I would like to ask you one thing though, why on earth would you scuff the cylinder in an up and down direction!!?
Wow... I just commented on the previous video before I found this one... (duh)... I suggested valves and/or seals. At least I got close.. but.. narrow machined ring grooves... ?.. ! Who would have thunk it.. ? Is this usual quality for Athena ? I had a similar mind-bender on a car engine with heat shrunk lobes on the cam shaft... one of 'em slipped out of position... ( no provision for locking in place.. just relied on friction .... crazy ) I kept glancing at my sledge hammer... really tempted.. ! Sussed it almost by accident.. Grrrr. Another great video.. and a real eye opener. Nice job. Thanks for posting. Luv from U.K.
Top tip for getting the handlebar grips off and on>blow compressed air into them while sliding them off or on. next tips would be to rebuild the rear pogo stick..i mean shock
I'm not an expert but that engine sounded really good. You fixed two things in the engine in this video but I'm going to guess 99% the smoking was caused by that too-tight oil ring that wouldn't flex freely.
I think you videos are awesome! I love your patience and persistence! I don't know why I am compelled to comment, but when you are pouring oil out of a quart container, put the pour neck at the top of the bottle (180 degrees opposite of what you did) and it will pour smoothly with no gurgle, much easier to pour! I know it seems counterintuitive, but try it! Keep the vids coming!
Ring gap = -003-.004 per inch of bore. Hair spray on the bar and inside the grips, they slide on and stay put very well! Eliminates the need for compressed air for slipping grips on.
Same here, leave those seats alone. A Dremel of all things. Cant fault the rest other than obviously oil rings as with valve stem seals itd be smoking mainly on overrun, not under power. Learnt that 50 years ago
Yo Brother. Even when I was a young man I never mastered the art of loading and unloading into a pickup truck by myself lol. Damn fine you went all of the way to find those rings. Awesome bike that’ll be loads of fun.
Many pistons I have replaced specify that the oil scraper rings end gap should stager 25mm ether side of the end gap of the expander ring. I have also noted that this is usually the case of many engines that I have taken apart. I hope this helps.
Oil into they cylinder and travelling through the exhaust every kick till it starts will cause smoke for a fair amount of time too, been there a few times, great informative video!
Hey man here is a tip for pretty much every bike when you are kicking the bike over get it to top dead center and give a nice kick all the way through and it will start pretty easily
Great work Joe! I think you nailed it with the sticky rings. The rings looked like they laid flat on the bench.( eliminating the bent ring theory) I would be intetested to know if the gap measured the same all the way around. You may have discovered a manufacturing problem.
When installing grips I have discovered that spray deodorant actually works pretty well - it's slick to put the handles on and when the alcohol evaporates the grip sticks really well.
I used to use gasoline or preferably isopropyl alcohol. It makes the grips slide on and then it evaporates quickly for a nice stick. Then I’d safety wire both sides to ensure they never come off.
![State of Play | September 24, 2024 [ENGLISH]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/fVs0suPHAX8/mqdefault.jpg)
This guy has the strongest right leg on RUclips. I got tired just watching all those kicks.
don't skip the leg day they say :))
Yep. Kicking a 450 like that will burn your energy like a gasoline fire. :)
Strong mechanic, not rider
😂
Yeah he's gotta learn how
this was great. I hope to get a dirt bike and ride again. I'm 62.
Adventure riding is for us old guys.
@@lawrence7065dual sport on my DRZ , im 59 . No lap times to set , no moto to win or lose , no money to chase ......just rolling along over some dirt on two wheels 👍
It's been 6 months. Did you get one? Are you riding again?
@@DeSmith-o4b not yet. funding was not in the picture but I'm not giving up hope. just might be til next year
@@lawrence7065 adventure riding is "golf" for an old broken down used to be motocross'r 👍😁
I will never miss the sound of really cold, dry, squeaky snow!
My hat is off to you for riding in it.
On a pushbike my motto was ;If it`s white it`s alright .The fun is on bumpy black ice.Stay off the saddle and ignore the back wheel .
You know sh** is about to get serious when he’s got The Boot on.
😂
Joe you make this stuff look so easy, you made me buy a blown up yz85 for 300 bucks. Bought the cheapest top end on eBay for 120 and now I have a perfect running bike for 420 bucks! Thank you!!!!
eBay= crap china shit.
Nice God damn
If you know how to diagnose a problem, and fix the problem, you can do just about anything. That goes for mechanical devices / machines, communication with others, having those skills will take you a long way. Awesome that you got a cheap bike and was able to fix it for as cheap as you did. Maybe you can find cheap deals like that, fix them for cheap, and turn a profit by selling them? Sounds like a great way to make a bit of extra cash!
ALL IT TAKES IS A BIT OF CONFIDENCE FELLOW
I can’t believe your dedication to take that thing for a test drive in -20 weather and snow, you are an animal!
With bald tires too!
-20 inc. windchill. Thats not -20C but looked cold
I never cared for the Autolite plugs. Always ran NGK. Great video as always!
ya ngk or denso is the only way to go.
a ngk plug can be completely carbon failed and still keep firing strong.
Ngk ftw
Love your videos got me into mechanics on motorbikes and nearly finished the rebuild. Your videos have taught me how to do things from simple maintenance on a bike to a complete rebuild.
Me too I stop doing Uber and started fixing my quads yfz 450 raptor 700 then started buy on PITBULLS for almost nothing selling for $300-500
I’m in California every thing is so expensive
A carburetor clean cost $500-600 😢😅
Thanks buddy
If one day your in Los Angeles let me know I owe you some TACOS 🌮 🤙🏻
Ya this channel is very contagious with creating self sufficient people.
@@macaholik9789would love to visit Los Angeles in the future but I live in Australia so a bit of a hike
I really enjoy your channel. If you don't already have some needle nose fuel/hose line plyers get you some. I think they make three different sizes. Probably only need the smaller two sizes. They work good for all types of things. They are very versatile. You could have used them to put those valve seals in. You can thank me later.
Now thats video DEDICATION !!! Minus degree weather and still get that video out !! Great job
I just wanted to say that’s I’ve recently started watching your videos and I’ve learned so much. I even used some of your knowledge and got my own bike running again. Keep what your doing up man, your amazing 💪💪💪
If you use an air nozzle to blow are into that grip, they’ll slide on easier.
We used to put a fine layer of washing up liquid on
starting fluid/ether(hard to get pure unlubricated/undiluted anymore) or an air nozzle worked, coarse sand paper the bars(after marking depth), if loose/twisting around use hairspray or some other drying magical spray, to stick them on(also worked as installation lube. sometimes needed dried air(or inert gas) to help coax them on and dry them faster.
other alternates, drop grips in very hot water or gently heat gun and slide on(stiffer type).
Hair spray
When it’s like that cold we blow lamp the cylinder head a bit warm it up and don’t rev a 450 they flood so take the plug out and light it up with the blow lamp too lovely work my guy great videos
Thank you for making 99th percentile videos that I can watch the whole way thru. Great job with the video production side, not just the mechanical side. You don't bitch about it in your videos even though videos make mechanical work take twice as long.. You really are the best channel.
All I can say is why are you outside on a bike 🚴 no gloves on you are definitely snowman ☃️. Sitting here in the armchair at 12 Deg. Outside thinking it nice to watch you play in the snow. Congrats for getting it fixed that I learn from. Thanks for posting often makes the days go faster.
Joe really change the shock on it. It’s done done👍🏽
Rebuilding any shocks cost WAAAAAAAAAAAY less btw.❤
Picked up a 93 KX125 as part of a trade and it’s probably the worst bike I have ever seen. Your videos have definitely inspired me to redo another bike after finishing up my 94 KDX! This Kx will be a heck of a time but I’d hate for it to go to the dump
Would love to see a list of the tools and products you like!
Great build! Makes me want to start working on bikes, if only I had space in my garage. I also love your commitment to giving your bikes a proper test ride, rain/snow or shine lol
I am making space in my garage…too fun to wait!!!
❤ PISTON RINGS: using a ring tool to install piston rings prevens them from warping & tightening; using someone's hands to install piston rings creates SO many issues. Always use the tool then measure the gap. EXCELLENT channel btw ❤ Keep up the great work. Your best tools are mistakes, every one makes you a better mechanic. ❤
Your diagnostic abilities are great btw ❤
The sweat one would build up after that many kicks would surely freeze stiff in just a few minutes. Brr. Great video!
I use NGK plugs exclusively. They never foul. Also synthetic smokeless oil.
all plugs foul, especially when something isn't correct in the tuning. yes, some of the poorer made plugs fail quicker, but buyer beware to inspect them closely.
I think that the knowledge that you have on engines certainly for me is a must and the calm way you go about your work impressed me - a lot! So nice to witness such Temperance at work and i salute you Sir :)
back in the day we used to screw short sheet metal screws into the nobbies might have helped on the driveway but that deep stuff time for the snow mobile.
Great job fixing it. The oily valve stems gave you your answer - bad seals. Intermittent smoke points to valves.
I went with the stuck oil rings as the main culprit. We're probably both right.
YOURE THE BEST KICKER IVE EVER SAW.I USUALLY GIVE UP AFTER 50 KICKS,COURSE IN 85...YOU SHOULD BE IN THE NFL HALL OF FAME
Well done joe! It was a valiant effort to test ride it in these conditions. Definitely been cold lately.
During the fast forward montage of you trying to start the bike, I was waiting for the sun to start spinning through the frame and the seasons to change like a time travel sci-fi movie. You are dedicated to your fans Joe. I appreciate the effort. Z 😸
Funniest bit of time lapse I’ve seen. He’s dedicated!
That would be a Time trap movie you talking about ? 😊
@@kamillapaj87 LOL exactly......z
@@The_Real_Zaineman like good time travel mowie , got any suggestions for a good mowie to watch , except the most obvious ones that everyone knows 😜
@@kamillapaj87 the movie that comes to mind is the very first "Butterfly effect" that was a pretty cool movie
The only time I had tight rings on piston was due to the piston rings being replaced as I bent them during removal ordered piston rings same diameter but the oil rings were 0.25mm thicker. I would of also checked the seat for the piston ring with feeler gauge and make sure it was same all around. Love your vids man
Yeah I wonder if that is what happened here
@@2vintagehow nice of you to answer 2 comments, what a guy u are
@@Johnbruzzi4234 Are you wearing brown lipstick? Oh, wait...nevermind.
@@2vintage that cylinder had some wear on 1 side of it and Athena pistons are made to only run the rings if the original seller tried to use oem or any other rings with said piston they won't work they have a custom ring setup for the pistons
@@F5Tornado44 I meant that he never answers, I can’t stand this fake mechanic definitely not kissing ass
Something still wrong with the carburettor/fuel systems as its so incredibly hard to start.
Great 👍 the smoke is fixed.
I sure learn a lot from you young man...keep up the clean content!!!
Great job I’ve seen no smoke you’re a awesome mechanic
I just stumbled across your videos and I followed this complete bike rebuild videos. It's awesome the way you explain everything you do and check. That's some true dedication to take that thing out in the snow and -20 wind chills. I didn't even want to go to work in a car in that crap.
I miss those days days of tinkering with dirt bikes. Arthritis has messed my thumbs up. Still slowly building a Honda CRF in my spare time. You are doing a great job.
It's just crazy watching you do all this stuff all by yourself and when you loaded that bike on that truck in the snow in the ice and got up and just just crazy
Time to start working on some of your snow machines.. ha ha ha.. Thanks for bringing us along for your adventure Joe.
I've always enjoyed working on engines. I was 15 when I bought my first used dirt bike and disassembled the engine in my bedroom practicing putting it together in the winter. It's fascinating to see how everything works. These are cool videos to watch the process.
great way to learn!
Every bike that you work on always triples in value!
It's been many years since I pulled down a motorbike engine. This video was most satisfying, bringing back many memories. The snow, however, was frustrating 😄
Joe, get yourself a collet install tool. It’s a spring loaded gadget that makes valve installation easier.
Brilliant fix Joe. Well done.
How about a video where you talk about where you got your skills from?
I know you and your brother have been fixing and riding for years, but where did it all start and who taught you?
I'm sure many guys are interested to hear your story.
Or did you already do this and i missed it? I thought i had seen every video you have made.
Real
Thank you for taking us through the valve seal replacement, it will help me to know what I'm up against when I work on a 4 stroke again. I've mostly worked on 2 strokes all my life.
make sure to check the valve guides for wear, worn guides will let the valve stem rock back and forth, making the valve not seat well and rapidly wear the "SEATS" and not always seal good, as well as make the "SEALS" flutter and oil get passed. also, make not of valve stem height and rocker geometry(effects the angle of rocker arm tip/adjuster to valve stem end contact. an offset from center pattern will cause rapid guide and seat wear.
OK, overboard/over-technical commenting again.
I was getting light headed just watching you trying to kick her over....nice job!
Love your stuff man. Keep the videos and rebuilds coming. Learning so much from you big dog 🫡🤙🏼
Great work on fixing that bike, I own one, mine was blowing lots of oil through the engine breather, the culprit was the cylinder, it was badly worn, and the engine was filling the crank area with fumes.
28:35 a good life hack to never have to struggle with mounting grips again is to blow some compressed air through them while pushing/pulling the grip on/off. Good video man👍
Great wrenching. Nice bike but a little fractious for me. Great to see the oil burning issue resolved, super movie and resolution A1 👍👏👏👏
Brought back to me riding in snow, especially the bit where the front end started to wash out. Always a balance between getting the right speed and not getting spat off.
ok i wanna take some time to appreciate his patience, i could never bro
Cash flow Joe! You need to hire someone to start moving all this inventory! Also, start thinking seasonal. Things with skis and tracks sell this time of year! 😉
I'm 66 still ride my 250 dirt bike and still enjoy it!
Nice job on the repairs. Just throw some screws in those tires and take it for another rip. Probably work a little better. And add a pair of hot grips to keep the hands toasty.
Wish I had my 05 rmz450 going has the same Athena rebuild kit (with valve seals) I got a electrical problem right now either stator or cdi box but dam if it ain’t expensive, 120$ for a cdi box is crazy not to mention 200$ for a stator , yea mines goin be sittin for a lil while longer lol , wretchin on my mint 96 rt100 in the mean time
Love the videos keep up the hard work 💪🏼👍🏼
Quick tip, in case but I'm sure you know it already. To remove or install grips on your bars, to use an air blow gun between the bars and grip and a little air and it will come right off or go right on.
sticky rings? who'd have thought... good repair job !
2 feet of snow,freezing cold,joe doesn't care.he is gonna ride that bike 😊
Easiest way to remove and install grips is with a blow nozzle. Works even with glued grips. Place the nozzle between the grip and bar and it will slide right off
Finally got to watch you load up a bike! I always used two ramps one for the bike and one for me but I think you're a bit taller. Now I use a hitch carrier and it's much easier to load & unload.
That's a win in my book. And good luck on that nightmare sled
thanks should be interesting!
Pro tip for grips. Use rubbing alcohol. Put about half an ounce of it in the grip, thumb over hole and shake. Slides right on, evaporates and it sticks. You can remove them later if you need to and, for me at least, they don't twist on the bar or throttle tube once dry.
O-S you forgot the circlips😮
or 1 drop of washing up liquid,.
It's really cool to see him go in the snow and play with the 450
Use compressed air nozzle in the ends of the old grips, blow air in and they will come right off!!! Same for putting new ones on, just a tip , love your site!!!
Thanks goodness it's raining here and cooled things down from the near 40 degrees Celsius days, I don't envy your current northern chill. Good to see you how you got it to stop smoking.👏🏻
Great find for the fix!... Nice job! Always enjoying your videos very much. Im 54 ,and still learning new stuff... your channel is educational to everyone. Thanks.
Thanks for the videos I've learned a few things from you.
You should make a video on converting one of your project bikes to a snow bike. Rear track and ski. That would be a great winter video.
Riding in the dirt what's one of the most fun times I had on a dirt bike I tell my mother came out and looked at the front yard.
I meant riding a dirt bike in the snow until my mother came out and looked at the front yard
When installing new handles, try putting compressed air under them to make installation easier.
That rear shock need rebuilt. Good job.
Needs *to be rebuilt.
Fixed it for you.
@@jumpinjojo okay
@@jmudd5449 Wish he touched the suspension on the bike's he does get's, it's pretty nice and awsome once you get the hang of it.
@@jumpinjojobout time someone pronounces that right !!! My god the “needs rebuilt” is so annoying yo. IT IS PRONOUNCED “IT NEEDS TO BE REBUILT”!
@@randomguy1807 I’m glad you agree! I don’t know when this trend started, but it drives me crazy when I hear it or read it.
Joe you are an amazing mechanic bro!! I started watching way back in the day and your ability to diagnose and repair these machines has gotten better and better!!
Got, not gotten.
@gwl78 i used to think the same thing, however, you are incorrect! Now i use it regularly. I used to be a grammar gate keeper, only to find out through some research i was wrong.....remember, when being smarter than everyone to actually be smarter than everyone!! 🍻🤣
If you use hair spray to get the grips on it’s so much easier.
Hair spray goes on in liquid form but dries sticky to prevent the grips from rotating
That’s a brilliant idea.
Nice job on the build. One thing I will say though is throw away that manual tensioner..
Another classic example of throwaway 4-stroke MX & offroad bike engines, 1 compression ring and an oil control ring does not do a good job controlling oil at all IMHO. 3 ring piston would work much better. Valve seals should be replaced anytime the head needs to come off for the same reason(oil control).
Great video, glad you got it figured out! Thanks Joe, now go take it out for a good rip........except for the snow......!!!
Great video! And well done, somebody is going to get great machine with all that work. I was worried that struggling in the snow could overheat the machine-no air flow through the rad, few, if any, of these bikes have fans.
Joe makes me want to find a dirt bike to repair...LOL I retired from 30+ yrs of being a Ford Dealership Tech (Actually changed my career to CNC Machinist) got tired of being a mechanic but I like to tinker with small engine stuff, chainsaws, etc. I wouldn't mind finding a good dirt bike to fix. Kinda silly but these videos are very interesting.
When you put new grips on little dish detergent and water works perfect
It is a monster . Helpful tip spray the handlebar ends with paint and put the grip on quickly . Saw a guy do it on youtube .
That snow is beautiful. But I’m so glad I’m in California with the weather being cold. It warm compared to that freezing 🥶 stuff. Where my friend lives in Canada, so -50 below.
Two words: Ice-racing tires. Well, maybe that's three, but you get the point. Good videos. Good troubleshooting. Great save. Keep up the good work.
I enjoy your videos, even the mistakes.
One tip: use two loading ramps, one for the bike, one for you to walk up.
There is NO WAY I would have gone out in that snow. Well done.
Great video as always. Watching you kick that bike though, it looks like it absolutely needs the shock rebuilded. Looks like a pogo stick.
yeah definitely needs the rear shock rebuilt. That's next.
First time I've watched you, subscribed love the way you explain everything, will be watching more of your work on RUclips, one question who taught you all this mechanic knowledge brilliant 👏
Another great video,your videos are pure in that you show it all including the mistakes. I would like to ask you one thing though, why on earth would you scuff the cylinder in an up and down direction!!?
Wow... I just commented on the previous video before I found this one... (duh)... I suggested valves and/or seals. At least I got close.. but.. narrow machined ring grooves... ?.. ! Who would have thunk it.. ? Is this usual quality for Athena ? I had a similar mind-bender on a car engine with heat shrunk lobes on the cam shaft... one of 'em slipped out of position... ( no provision for locking in place.. just relied on friction .... crazy ) I kept glancing at my sledge hammer... really tempted.. ! Sussed it almost by accident.. Grrrr. Another great video.. and a real eye opener. Nice job. Thanks for posting. Luv from U.K.
Top tip for getting the handlebar grips off and on>blow compressed air into them while sliding them off or on. next tips would be to rebuild the rear pogo stick..i mean shock
I'm not an expert but that engine sounded really good.
You fixed two things in the engine in this video but I'm going to guess 99% the smoking was caused by that too-tight oil ring that wouldn't flex freely.
I think you videos are awesome! I love your patience and persistence! I don't know why I am compelled to comment, but when you are pouring oil out of a quart container, put the pour neck at the top of the bottle (180 degrees opposite of what you did) and it will pour smoothly with no gurgle, much easier to pour! I know it seems counterintuitive, but try it! Keep the vids coming!
New news! Being a motorcycle mechanic has many cardiovascular benefits! lol. Good video brother. I enjoy them all.. keep it up❤
Ring gap = -003-.004 per inch of bore. Hair spray on the bar and inside the grips, they slide on and stay put very well! Eliminates the need for compressed air for slipping grips on.
13:28 "the valves are perfect" proceeds to take a wire wheel to the valve seats 😵💫
Fr why would he do that shit😭😭😭
My jaw dropped
lmao he's a tard.
Same here, leave those seats alone. A Dremel of all things. Cant fault the rest other than obviously oil rings as with valve stem seals itd be smoking mainly on overrun, not under power. Learnt that 50 years ago
Pretty sure it was just a worn out buffing bit not wire wheel.
As an old guy, we always used hair spray to install new grips.
Yo Brother. Even when I was a young man I never mastered the art of loading and unloading into a pickup truck by myself lol. Damn fine you went all of the way to find those rings. Awesome bike that’ll be loads of fun.
I like seeing stuff get fixed . You did a better job than a mechanic.
Many pistons I have replaced specify that the oil scraper rings end gap should stager 25mm ether side of the end gap of the expander ring.
I have also noted that this is usually the case of many engines that I have taken apart. I hope this helps.
Oil into they cylinder and travelling through the exhaust every kick till it starts will cause smoke for a fair amount of time too, been there a few times, great informative video!
Nice work 👏 👌 👍 and definitely a no go in that snow 👍
Hey man here is a tip for pretty much every bike when you are kicking the bike over get it to top dead center and give a nice kick all the way through and it will start pretty easily
A ski for the front tire and snow studs for the rear. Right out of a James Bond movie.
Great work Joe! I think you nailed it with the sticky rings. The rings looked like they laid flat on the bench.( eliminating the bent ring theory) I would be intetested to know if the gap measured the same all the way around. You may have discovered a manufacturing problem.
Thats what i was thinking also...
When installing grips I have discovered that spray deodorant actually works pretty well - it's slick to put the handles on and when the alcohol evaporates the grip sticks really well.
I used to use gasoline or preferably isopropyl alcohol. It makes the grips slide on and then it evaporates quickly for a nice stick. Then I’d safety wire both sides to ensure they never come off.