Messages In This Digest (13 Messages)

1a.: Re: modded K-mod expectations - Warning! From: Bruce

2a.: Another reminder that should be considered From: liviu_m2002
2b.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered From: csburridge
2c.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered From: liviu_m2002
2d.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered From: Joe Pal
2e.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered From: csburridge
2f.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered From: Jonathan Vaughn
2g.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered From: csburridge
2h.: Re: {Disarmed} RE: Honda Reflex Group Another reminder that should b From: George Giftos

3a.: Coolant Change From: Richard Brunner
3b.: Coolant Change From: Richard Brunner
3c.: Re: Coolant Change From: liviu_m2002
3d.: Re: Coolant Change From: Tim Hansen

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Messages

1a.: Re: modded K-mod expectations - Warning!

Posted by: "Bruce" bremus@ymail.com bremus@ymail.com

Sat May 8, 2010 8:12 am (PDT)

What is the total gram weight of a stock Helix, and do the stock Helix weights work in a Reflex variator, or only the Malossi

Bruce in Moses Lake

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, John D <dc2daylight@...> wrote:
>
> I put a Malossi performance variator on mine and experimented with different weights until I came upon the right mix. The weight I have in there now equals that of the stock Helix weights. When I need to replace them that's what i'm putting in.
>
> No problems with almost 2 years on the bike. Good acceleration and no BWAAAAAAHHHH like the K-mod when I take off.
>
>
> John in Seattle
>
>
>
>
>
> ________________________________
> From: Jonathan Vaughn <spotchicus@...>
> To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Fri, May 7, 2010 6:55:19 AM
> Subject: Re: Honda Reflex Group modded K-mod expectations - Warning!
>
>
> Thanks for the warning. One thing I was thinking about was swapping to the Big Ruckus weights (and the weight holder, so the ramps are all equal), which should result in a similar overall weight but more linear acceleration, right?
>
> Jon
>
> ____________ _________ _________ __
> From: GeoB <gab16@sbcglobal. net>
> To: hondareflexowners@ yahoogroups. com
> Sent: Wed, May 5, 2010 7:13:19 PM
> Subject: Honda Reflex Group modded K-mod expectations - Warning!
>
> > I fooled around with it to determine how much weight I needed, then I melted the lead and poured it into the middle hole. Then I drilled out lead while weighing on an accurate gram scale, till I got the right weight and got all rollers equal.
>
> To refresh, here I was trying to get rid of the big rev-up when I take off, with the std K-mod. I like to be able to putt-putt through neighborhoods and little country roads and stuff without all the noise and such at lower speeds. In other words I like to use a higher gear.
>
> Around town I like it with the extra lead in the weights. Nice and quiet, lower rpm at start-off and also on up to top gear.
>
> On a couple of road trips I had over-heating problems. I am beginning to wonder if I am not turning enough rpm. On one trip of several hundred miles I was fighting a big head wind and I was not going very fast. In retrospect I wonder if I was spinning the motor fast enough there.
>
> On the other trip I was just going down the freeway. It shouldn't have over-heated. I have changed the coolant, refilled, bled the system, made sure it was full. My fan works. Not so sure about my thermostat, but I think so. Honda parts don't wear out in 9k miles.
>
> So This is a WARNING to not do as I have done, unless you understand this potential risk. I will be investigating, probably swapping back to my stock weights as a standard k-mod.
>
> GeoB
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

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Messages in this topic (15)

2a.: Another reminder that should be considered

Posted by: "liviu_m2002" liviu_m2002@yahoo.com liviu_m2002

Sat May 8, 2010 11:36 am (PDT)

Today I ajusted the valves for the first time and it was very hard to find that index mark on the crankcase cover.... it took me a while. After doing the adjustments, like the manual said, I decided to go for a ride to check if everything is ok.
I had a passenger and in the curves I was feeling a very strange sensation, that the back wanted to go sideways. Then I thought I had a flat tire or something. Pulled over and checked the back tire and I could push it with my fingers. There were no foreign objects in the tire, so that was no flat. I had to go to a gas station to fill it up with air. There it showed that it had 10 PSI which is not good. It should have about 30 PSI
This hasn't happened to me before (losing tire pressure) but from now on I'll check the tire pressure at least 2-3 times a month.

I want to ask something, do spark plugs make any noise? With the engine on, I removed the maintainence lid to inspect ( visualy ) the adjusting plates and I could hear a weird sound just like an electric arc, like those you hear from the self defense teasers. Only it was produced less often, just obout when the spark from the spark plug occurs. So could this be the spark plug?

So, as a reminder, check your tire pressure more often.

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Messages in this topic (8)
2b.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered

Posted by: "csburridge" csburridge@yahoo.com csburridge

Sat May 8, 2010 3:18 pm (PDT)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "liviu_m2002" <liviu_m2002@...> wrote:
>
> Today I adjusted the valves for the first time and it was very hard to find that index mark on the crankcase cover.... it took me a while. After doing the adjustments, like the manual said, I decided to go for a ride to check if everything is OK.
> I had a passenger and in the curves I was feeling a very strange sensation, that the back wanted to go sideways. Then I thought I had a flat tire or something. Pulled over and checked the back tire and I could push it with my fingers. There were no foreign objects in the tire, so that was no flat. I had to go to a gas station to fill it up with air. There it showed that it had 10 PSI which is not good. It should have about 30 PSI
> This hasn't happened to me before (losing tire pressure) but from now on I'll check the tire pressure at least 2-3 times a month.
>
> I want to ask something, do spark plugs make any noise? With the engine on, I removed the maintenance lid to inspect ( visually ) the adjusting plates and I could hear a weird sound just like an electric arc, like those you hear from the self defense teasers. Only it was produced less often, just about when the spark from the spark plug occurs. So could this be the spark plug?
>
> So, as a reminder, check your tire pressure more often.
>
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Hi,

Yes, tire pressure is very very important to the safe operation of a motorcycle or scooter, and it should never be taken for granted that the tire pressure is what is was the last time you were out on the bike. When I was still running a Hoop, I would lose 5-10 pounds a week, but I never found any leaks. I went so far as to take the wheel off and dunk into a tank of water and found nothing.

The Motorcycle Safety Foundation recommends that before each and every ride a pre-ride check be made. MSF has a cool way to remember what to check, T-CLOCS.
T-Tires (Very important)
C-Controls
L-Lights
O-Oil (Recommend checking all the time)
C-Chassis
S-Side stand and center stand
Here is the detailed list from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:
http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCSInspectionChecklist.pdf

Wow, you can hear your bike firing? This sound can mean you have a poor connection, insulation breaking down, or high resistance. If you are hearing the high tension discharge for the spark plug, I would think that you have built up a great deal of resistance somewhere, either the spark plug cable or the spark plug it self. Make sure your spark plug boot is all the way down on the plug. Hang on, I'll go check mine, and see if I hear the same.
Nope not a sound.
Try checking this at night. Open the access cover, start the bike, turn out the lights, and see if you can spot a discharge spark or soft glow. If you spot a glow around the spark plug, it is discharging improperly and needs to be changed. If you spot a glow on the spark plug wire, than change it. If you see nothing, try spraying a little water up in there and see what happens.
Hope that helps.
Ride Safe

Craig Burridge

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Messages in this topic (8)
2c.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered

Posted by: "liviu_m2002" liviu_m2002@yahoo.com liviu_m2002

Sat May 8, 2010 4:09 pm (PDT)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "csburridge" <csburridge@...> wrote:
>
>
>
> --- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, "liviu_m2002" <liviu_m2002@> wrote:
> >
> > Today I adjusted the valves for the first time and it was very hard to find that index mark on the crankcase cover.... it took me a while. After doing the adjustments, like the manual said, I decided to go for a ride to check if everything is OK.
> > I had a passenger and in the curves I was feeling a very strange sensation, that the back wanted to go sideways. Then I thought I had a flat tire or something. Pulled over and checked the back tire and I could push it with my fingers. There were no foreign objects in the tire, so that was no flat. I had to go to a gas station to fill it up with air. There it showed that it had 10 PSI which is not good. It should have about 30 PSI
> > This hasn't happened to me before (losing tire pressure) but from now on I'll check the tire pressure at least 2-3 times a month.
> >
> > I want to ask something, do spark plugs make any noise? With the engine on, I removed the maintenance lid to inspect ( visually ) the adjusting plates and I could hear a weird sound just like an electric arc, like those you hear from the self defense teasers. Only it was produced less often, just about when the spark from the spark plug occurs. So could this be the spark plug?
> >
> > So, as a reminder, check your tire pressure more often.
> >
> /////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
> Hi,
>
> Yes, tire pressure is very very important to the safe operation of a motorcycle or scooter, and it should never be taken for granted that the tire pressure is what is was the last time you were out on the bike. When I was still running a Hoop, I would lose 5-10 pounds a week, but I never found any leaks. I went so far as to take the wheel off and dunk into a tank of water and found nothing.
>
> The Motorcycle Safety Foundation recommends that before each and every ride a pre-ride check be made. MSF has a cool way to remember what to check, T-CLOCS.
> T-Tires (Very important)
> C-Controls
> L-Lights
> O-Oil (Recommend checking all the time)
> C-Chassis
> S-Side stand and center stand
> Here is the detailed list from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:
> http://www.msf-usa.org/downloads/T-CLOCSInspectionChecklist.pdf
>
> Wow, you can hear your bike firing? This sound can mean you have a poor connection, insulation breaking down, or high resistance. If you are hearing the high tension discharge for the spark plug, I would think that you have built up a great deal of resistance somewhere, either the spark plug cable or the spark plug it self. Make sure your spark plug boot is all the way down on the plug. Hang on, I'll go check mine, and see if I hear the same.
> Nope not a sound.
> Try checking this at night. Open the access cover, start the bike, turn out the lights, and see if you can spot a discharge spark or soft glow. If you spot a glow around the spark plug, it is discharging improperly and needs to be changed. If you spot a glow on the spark plug wire, than change it. If you see nothing, try spraying a little water up in there and see what happens.
> Hope that helps.
> Ride Safe
>
> Craig Burridge
>

Very useful advice with T-CLOCS , I'll try to keep that in mind.
The spark plug is new, made only about a hundred or so kilometers so that should not be a problem. The only odd thing with the sparkplug was when I first installed it some smoke went out the exaust.
Could the spark plug be defective from the start?
Tommorow night I will try to see if I can see anything around the plug.
I am still wondering, could I have done something wrong when adjusting the valves? I did what the manual said and I think if I would have done something wrong I should have noticed it ( it should have been obvious ) right?

Thanks for the advice !

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Messages in this topic (8)
2d.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered

Posted by: "Joe Pal" pal996@lycos.com donedeal999

Sat May 8, 2010 4:40 pm (PDT)

If you can hear the spark you probably need to replace the spark plug wire.

From: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
[mailto:hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of liviu_m2002
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 11:36 AM
To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Honda Reflex Group Another reminder that should be considered

Today I ajusted the valves for the first time and it was very hard to find
that index mark on the crankcase cover.... it took me a while. After doing
the adjustments, like the manual said, I decided to go for a ride to check
if everything is ok.
I had a passenger and in the curves I was feeling a very strange sensation,
that the back wanted to go sideways. Then I thought I had a flat tire or
something. Pulled over and checked the back tire and I could push it with my
fingers. There were no foreign objects in the tire, so that was no flat. I
had to go to a gas station to fill it up with air. There it showed that it
had 10 PSI which is not good. It should have about 30 PSI
This hasn't happened to me before (losing tire pressure) but from now on
I'll check the tire pressure at least 2-3 times a month.

I want to ask something, do spark plugs make any noise? With the engine on,
I removed the maintainence lid to inspect ( visualy ) the adjusting plates
and I could hear a weird sound just like an electric arc, like those you
hear from the self defense teasers. Only it was produced less often, just
obout when the spark from the spark plug occurs. So could this be the spark
plug?

So, as a reminder, check your tire pressure more often.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Messages in this topic (8)
2e.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered

Posted by: "csburridge" csburridge@yahoo.com csburridge

Sat May 8, 2010 5:10 pm (PDT)

> Very useful advice with T-CLOCS , I'll try to keep that in mind.
> The spark plug is new, made only about a hundred or so kilometers so that should not be a problem. The only odd thing with the spark plug was when I first installed it some smoke went out the exhaust.
> Could the spark plug be defective from the start?
> Tomorrow night I will try to see if I can see anything around the plug.
> I am still wondering, could I have done something wrong when adjusting the valves? I did what the manual said and I think if I would have done something wrong I should have noticed it ( it should have been obvious ) right?
>
> Thanks for the advice !
>
/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Hi,

If you had miss adjusted the valves, you would know by the really poor performance from the bike, but since the only problem you had was a squirrelly feeling because off low tire pressure, I think you did the adjustment just fine. Plus you had the manual in front of you.

If your Reflex can haul around two people with ten pounds of air pressure in the back tire(I assume that problem went away with the proper tire pressure), than you know it's working well. Proof positive that the Reflex is one tough little kick arse bike.
Ride Safe

Craig Burridge

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Messages in this topic (8)
2f.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered

Posted by: "Jonathan Vaughn" spotchicus@yahoo.com spotchicus

Sat May 8, 2010 5:11 pm (PDT)

Yeah, that T-CLOCS is a good idea. Here's a good reason to look at the side stand... I found this on the OSU campus one day a couple years ago. I can only imagine the owner's face when he or she saw this :(

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v229/spotch/?action=view&current=BMWkickstand.jpg

Jon

________________________________
From: liviu_m2002 <liviu_m2002@yahoo.com>
To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sat, May 8, 2010 7:09:12 PM
Subject: Honda Reflex Group Re: Another reminder that should be considered

--- In hondareflexowners@ yahoogroups. com, "csburridge" <csburridge@ ...> wrote:
>
>
>
> --- In hondareflexowners@ yahoogroups. com, "liviu_m2002" <liviu_m2002@ > wrote:
> >
> > Today I adjusted the valves for the first time and it was very hard to find that index mark on the crankcase cover.... it took me a while. After doing the adjustments, like the manual said, I decided to go for a ride to check if everything is OK.
> > I had a passenger and in the curves I was feeling a very strange sensation, that the back wanted to go sideways. Then I thought I had a flat tire or something. Pulled over and checked the back tire and I could push it with my fingers. There were no foreign objects in the tire, so that was no flat. I had to go to a gas station to fill it up with air. There it showed that it had 10 PSI which is not good. It should have about 30 PSI
> > This hasn't happened to me before (losing tire pressure) but from now on I'll check the tire pressure at least 2-3 times a month.
> >
> > I want to ask something, do spark plugs make any noise? With the engine on, I removed the maintenance lid to inspect ( visually ) the adjusting plates and I could hear a weird sound just like an electric arc, like those you hear from the self defense teasers. Only it was produced less often, just about when the spark from the spark plug occurs. So could this be the spark plug?
> >
> > So, as a reminder, check your tire pressure more often.
> >
> //////////// ///////// ///////// ///////// ///////// ///////// ////
> Hi,
>
> Yes, tire pressure is very very important to the safe operation of a motorcycle or scooter, and it should never be taken for granted that the tire pressure is what is was the last time you were out on the bike. When I was still running a Hoop, I would lose 5-10 pounds a week, but I never found any leaks. I went so far as to take the wheel off and dunk into a tank of water and found nothing.
>
> The Motorcycle Safety Foundation recommends that before each and every ride a pre-ride check be made. MSF has a cool way to remember what to check, T-CLOCS.
> T-Tires (Very important)
> C-Controls
> L-Lights
> O-Oil (Recommend checking all the time)
> C-Chassis
> S-Side stand and center stand
> Here is the detailed list from the Motorcycle Safety Foundation:
> http://www.msf- usa.org/download s/T-CLOCSInspect ionChecklist. pdf
>
> Wow, you can hear your bike firing? This sound can mean you have a poor connection, insulation breaking down, or high resistance. If you are hearing the high tension discharge for the spark plug, I would think that you have built up a great deal of resistance somewhere, either the spark plug cable or the spark plug it self. Make sure your spark plug boot is all the way down on the plug. Hang on, I'll go check mine, and see if I hear the same.
> Nope not a sound.
> Try checking this at night. Open the access cover, start the bike, turn out the lights, and see if you can spot a discharge spark or soft glow. If you spot a glow around the spark plug, it is discharging improperly and needs to be changed. If you spot a glow on the spark plug wire, than change it. If you see nothing, try spraying a little water up in there and see what happens.
> Hope that helps.
> Ride Safe
>
> Craig Burridge
>

Very useful advice with T-CLOCS , I'll try to keep that in mind.
The spark plug is new, made only about a hundred or so kilometers so that should not be a problem. The only odd thing with the sparkplug was when I first installed it some smoke went out the exaust.
Could the spark plug be defective from the start?
Tommorow night I will try to see if I can see anything around the plug.
I am still wondering, could I have done something wrong when adjusting the valves? I did what the manual said and I think if I would have done something wrong I should have noticed it ( it should have been obvious ) right?

Thanks for the advice !

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

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Messages in this topic (8)
2g.: Re: Another reminder that should be considered

Posted by: "csburridge" csburridge@yahoo.com csburridge

Sat May 8, 2010 5:20 pm (PDT)

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Jonathan Vaughn <spotchicus@...> wrote:
>
> Yeah, that T-CLOCS is a good idea. Here's a good reason to look at the side stand... I found this on the OSU campus one day a couple years ago. I can only imagine the owner's face when he or she saw this :(
>
> http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v229/spotch/?action=view&current=BMWkickstand.jpg
>
> Jon
///////////////////////////////////////////////
Hi Jon,

Yep, that hurts just looking at the picture, and I don't own it.

Craig

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Messages in this topic (8)
2h.: Re: {Disarmed} RE: Honda Reflex Group Another reminder that should b

Posted by: "George Giftos" gcgiftos@utmi.net gcgiftos

Sun May 9, 2010 3:55 am (PDT)

Does the noise occur at a constant interval and become more rapid as the RPMs increase?

George

On May 8, 2010, at 3:53 PM, Joe Pal wrote:

> If you can hear the spark you probably need to replace the spark plug wire.
>
> From: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
> [mailto:hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of liviu_m2002
> Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 11:36 AM
> To: hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Honda Reflex Group Another reminder that should be considered
>
>
> Today I ajusted the valves for the first time and it was very hard to find
> that index mark on the crankcase cover.... it took me a while. After doing
> the adjustments, like the manual said, I decided to go for a ride to check
> if everything is ok.
> I had a passenger and in the curves I was feeling a very strange sensation,
> that the back wanted to go sideways. Then I thought I had a flat tire or
> something. Pulled over and checked the back tire and I could push it with my
> fingers. There were no foreign objects in the tire, so that was no flat. I
> had to go to a gas station to fill it up with air. There it showed that it
> had 10 PSI which is not good. It should have about 30 PSI
> This hasn't happened to me before (losing tire pressure) but from now on
> I'll check the tire pressure at least 2-3 times a month.
>
> I want to ask something, do spark plugs make any noise? With the engine on,
> I removed the maintainence lid to inspect ( visualy ) the adjusting plates
> and I could hear a weird sound just like an electric arc, like those you
> hear from the self defense teasers. Only it was produced less often, just
> obout when the spark from the spark plug occurs. So could this be the spark
> plug?
>
> So, as a reminder, check your tire pressure more often.
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
> --
> This message has been scanned for viruses and
> dangerous content by MailScanner, and is
> believed to be clean.

--
This message has been scanned for viruses and
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believed to be clean.

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Messages in this topic (8)

3a.: Coolant Change

Posted by: "Richard Brunner" brunneraa1p@comcast.net berlindresdenmichelstadt

Sat May 8, 2010 12:19 pm (PDT)

I want to change the coolant in my 2005, and cannot find the drain plug,
which I suspect is hidden behind some plastic. What should I remove
first?

Richard

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Messages in this topic (4)
3b.: Coolant Change

Posted by: "Richard Brunner" brunneraa1p@comcast.net berlindresdenmichelstadt

Sat May 8, 2010 12:20 pm (PDT)

I want to change the coolant in my 2005, and cannot find the drain plug,
which I suspect is hidden behind some plastic. What should I remove
first?

Richard

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Messages in this topic (4)
3c.: Re: Coolant Change

Posted by: "liviu_m2002" liviu_m2002@yahoo.com liviu_m2002

Sat May 8, 2010 1:36 pm (PDT)

First you have to remove the radiator cap, which you can find by removing the batery cover and unscrewing a bolt that secres it.
Then you find the drain bolt which is under the belt case air cleaner. There are 3 bolts, the one you are looking for is the one on the left. You have to lean the scoot to drain it completely.
Then you have to take out the coolant from te reserve tank ( the one next to the fuel cap ). I used a big syringe with a hose atached to its end.
Instalation is the other way around.
And that is about it.
Be sure to bleed the air from the system after filling withh coolant and use coolant with silicate-free corrosion inhibitors.

Have fun !

--- In hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com, Richard Brunner <brunneraa1p@...> wrote:
>
> I want to change the coolant in my 2005, and cannot find the drain plug,
> which I suspect is hidden behind some plastic. What should I remove
> first?
>
> Richard
>

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Messages in this topic (4)
3d.: Re: Coolant Change

Posted by: "Tim Hansen" phreadbarnz@gmail.com phreadbarnz

Sat May 8, 2010 5:16 pm (PDT)

You should get yourself a (legal) copy (printed) of the Service Manual.
(www.helminc.com)
In it you will see step by step instructions for the service of the coolant.

OR.......
bring it over to Ventura, CA and I'll do if for free.
TravlinTim (who has a copy of the service manual) Hansen
phreadbarnz@gmail.com

--------------------------------------------------
From: "Richard Brunner" <brunneraa1p@comcast.net>
Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2010 12:19 PM
To: <hondareflexowners@yahoogroups.com>
Subject: Honda Reflex Group Coolant Change

> I want to change the coolant in my 2005, and cannot find the drain plug,
> which I suspect is hidden behind some plastic. What should I remove
> first?
>
> Richard
>

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Messages in this topic (4)