Skip to content
  • Recent
  • Tags
  • Popular
  • Users
  • Groups
Skins
  • Light
  • Cerulean
  • Cosmo
  • Flatly
  • Journal
  • Litera
  • Lumen
  • Lux
  • Materia
  • Minty
  • Morph
  • Pulse
  • Sandstone
  • Simplex
  • Sketchy
  • Spacelab
  • United
  • Yeti
  • Zephyr
  • Dark
  • Cyborg
  • Darkly
  • Quartz
  • Slate
  • Solar
  • Superhero
  • Vapor

  • Default (Slate)
  • No Skin
Collapse
Brand Logo

DT125R FORUM

  1. Home
  2. Owners Build Threads
  3. DTR
  4. So Close!...

So Close!...

Scheduled Pinned Locked Moved DTR
1.1k Posts 26 Posters 207.7k Views
  • Oldest to Newest
  • Newest to Oldest
  • Most Votes
Reply
  • Reply as topic
Log in to reply
This topic has been deleted. Only users with topic management privileges can see it.
  • CalumC Calum

    @SpookDog At this rate, I'd almost say get the head machined with an O-Ring and run that as a gasket as this is getting seriously ridiculous now.

    S Offline
    S Offline
    SpookDog
    wrote on last edited by SpookDog
    #202

    @Calum

    That’s been circling around my noggin for a while. There was a thread about someone getting it done at PJME but I never saw any follow up. Interested in knowing the price. I’ve got a 4fu barrel I wouldn’t mind getting sleeved by them as well...

    @ mikes bits
    I did remember someone saying about re-torquing the head 🙂 Is it after it’s been run to temp then cooled down? I wouldn’t do it while hot!...

    @ hotshot
    I’ve never done it before, but the nuts were not super tight, so it got me wondering...

    I remove the bottom and front mount bolts, loosen the swing arm bolt and lift the front of the engine with a big screwdriver. Once you’ve taken off the thermostat cover you can get in there nicely with a 1/4 drive torque wrench 😜

    1 Reply Last reply
    1
    • S SpookDog

      One thing that I’ve never done is re~torque the head after riding the bike up to temp. I’ve just put a ring spanner on the head nuts and given them a tweak. It was surprisingly easy to tighten them (Very surprisingly easy!!) Looking back it was never hard to undo them when tearing down the top end. I haven’t seen anything about re~torquing in the Haynes. Only ever seen it recommended with car head gaskets that are those silver multi layered ‘compressible’ stuff...

      Does everyone else retorque after running up to temp?...

      MadGyverM Offline
      MadGyverM Offline
      MadGyver
      wrote on last edited by
      #203

      @SpookDog said in So Close!...:

      One thing that I’ve never done is re~torque the head after riding the bike up to temp. I’ve just put a ring spanner on the head nuts and given them a tweak. It was surprisingly easy to tighten them (Very surprisingly easy!!) Looking back it was never hard to undo them when tearing down the top end. I haven’t seen anything about re~torquing in the Haynes. Only ever seen it recommended with car head gaskets that are those silver multi layered ‘compressible’ stuff...

      Does everyone else retorque after running up to temp?...

      After about little run in on the first km's I check every bolt and re-torque the head and cylinder.Almost every time was ok,one time one headbolt need it a little more but nothing serious.

      I need my tools and a pile of junk.....

      S 1 Reply Last reply
      0
      • MadGyverM MadGyver

        @SpookDog said in So Close!...:

        One thing that I’ve never done is re~torque the head after riding the bike up to temp. I’ve just put a ring spanner on the head nuts and given them a tweak. It was surprisingly easy to tighten them (Very surprisingly easy!!) Looking back it was never hard to undo them when tearing down the top end. I haven’t seen anything about re~torquing in the Haynes. Only ever seen it recommended with car head gaskets that are those silver multi layered ‘compressible’ stuff...

        Does everyone else retorque after running up to temp?...

        After about little run in on the first km's I check every bolt and re-torque the head and cylinder.Almost every time was ok,one time one headbolt need it a little more but nothing serious.

        S Offline
        S Offline
        SpookDog
        wrote on last edited by
        #204

        @MadGyver
        Cheers geez, it’s all good to know. I didn’t think it was absolutely necessary, but there you go. No two situations are exactly the same...

        @anyone

        I’ve gotten myself a new piece of plate glass (6mm was thickest I can get locally) and loads of fresh w&d from 80grit on through to 600. I’m gonna have one last go and give the head (especially) and barrel a good lapping. If it fails after this I’m gonna get a good 3mb head cnc grooved for orings (is it one or two on a standard head? I still want to know why it’s good for about a 1000 miles before it fails. I would imagine it’d fail sooner if it was poor finishing of the mating surfaces? But, hey ho! One problem at a time! I will get both surfaces skimmed if I can find a good local engineer that hasn’t lost practice cause of Covid 😟

        I still want to build another bottom end when I can afford genuine seals and bearings all through. I’ll never buy non genuine fleabay again, that’s for sure. I prefer my Crap Shoots to happen in a Casino! 😜 ...

        Good luck to the people’s with problems, love to all else! ☠️🐾

        S 1 Reply Last reply
        0
        • S SpookDog

          @MadGyver
          Cheers geez, it’s all good to know. I didn’t think it was absolutely necessary, but there you go. No two situations are exactly the same...

          @anyone

          I’ve gotten myself a new piece of plate glass (6mm was thickest I can get locally) and loads of fresh w&d from 80grit on through to 600. I’m gonna have one last go and give the head (especially) and barrel a good lapping. If it fails after this I’m gonna get a good 3mb head cnc grooved for orings (is it one or two on a standard head? I still want to know why it’s good for about a 1000 miles before it fails. I would imagine it’d fail sooner if it was poor finishing of the mating surfaces? But, hey ho! One problem at a time! I will get both surfaces skimmed if I can find a good local engineer that hasn’t lost practice cause of Covid 😟

          I still want to build another bottom end when I can afford genuine seals and bearings all through. I’ll never buy non genuine fleabay again, that’s for sure. I prefer my Crap Shoots to happen in a Casino! 😜 ...

          Good luck to the people’s with problems, love to all else! ☠️🐾

          S Offline
          S Offline
          SpookDog
          wrote on last edited by SpookDog
          #205

          @SpookDog

          Just took of the head and the gasket failed at the back of the head, passing pressure to the big coolant opening on the gasket (the others are just 4mm holes) at the mounting point. It’s failed there a few times. I don’t have an original bolt at the front engine mount point, just an Allen bolt. I’m wondering if it’s putting stress on the head mount. Or if it’s just the easy/biggest target?...

          S 1 Reply Last reply
          0
          • S SpookDog

            @SpookDog

            Just took of the head and the gasket failed at the back of the head, passing pressure to the big coolant opening on the gasket (the others are just 4mm holes) at the mounting point. It’s failed there a few times. I don’t have an original bolt at the front engine mount point, just an Allen bolt. I’m wondering if it’s putting stress on the head mount. Or if it’s just the easy/biggest target?...

            S Offline
            S Offline
            SpookDog
            wrote on last edited by SpookDog
            #206

            @SpookDog

            Whacked on another Vertex I had laying about. It was a reject to start cause of very slight creasing, but beggars are not the choosiest!
            I did give the barrel a good clean/lap. The head I gave extra attention with 150 grit...

            Did a 70 mile run in test, nothing over 6k rpm. Temp right on the 60degC thermostat ‘just opening’ spot on the temp gauge. During the hot weather it was up on the 80degC ‘wide open’ spot. It was like trying to cool the radiator with a hairdryer!!...

            S 1 Reply Last reply
            0
            • S SpookDog

              @SpookDog

              Whacked on another Vertex I had laying about. It was a reject to start cause of very slight creasing, but beggars are not the choosiest!
              I did give the barrel a good clean/lap. The head I gave extra attention with 150 grit...

              Did a 70 mile run in test, nothing over 6k rpm. Temp right on the 60degC thermostat ‘just opening’ spot on the temp gauge. During the hot weather it was up on the 80degC ‘wide open’ spot. It was like trying to cool the radiator with a hairdryer!!...

              S Offline
              S Offline
              SpookDog
              wrote on last edited by
              #207

              @SpookDog

              Another 70 mile trip with no problems...

              S 1 Reply Last reply
              0
              • S SpookDog

                @SpookDog

                Another 70 mile trip with no problems...

                S Offline
                S Offline
                SpookDog
                wrote on last edited by
                #208

                10 days and about 700 miles later the radiator level is starting to drop, expansion tank over spilling. This is like fucking clockwork. I just can’t get my head around it!
                I’m going to have to get a head professionally skimmed, as well as a barrel...
                I also need to find out how much someone like PJME charge for an o~ring conversion...

                I’ve only recently found out that you can still get Yamaha DTR125 genuine head gaskets!? I read somewhere that they are thick ‘rubber coated’? I just assumed that they had the same thin black coating that Vertex or Athena head gaskets have and you payed a premium for the Yamaha name? Has anyone seen/used a £40 genuine gasket and can give comparison with Athena or Vertex, similar, gaskets?...

                It would be a big help 🙂 ...

                markus.wM MadGyverM 2 Replies Last reply
                0
                • S SpookDog

                  10 days and about 700 miles later the radiator level is starting to drop, expansion tank over spilling. This is like fucking clockwork. I just can’t get my head around it!
                  I’m going to have to get a head professionally skimmed, as well as a barrel...
                  I also need to find out how much someone like PJME charge for an o~ring conversion...

                  I’ve only recently found out that you can still get Yamaha DTR125 genuine head gaskets!? I read somewhere that they are thick ‘rubber coated’? I just assumed that they had the same thin black coating that Vertex or Athena head gaskets have and you payed a premium for the Yamaha name? Has anyone seen/used a £40 genuine gasket and can give comparison with Athena or Vertex, similar, gaskets?...

                  It would be a big help 🙂 ...

                  markus.wM Offline
                  markus.wM Offline
                  markus.w
                  wrote on last edited by
                  #209

                  @SpookDog for some reason I thought you knew to use original or Athena. Can't comment on vertex but I've always been of the belief that only genuine or Athena will do.

                  1 Reply Last reply
                  0
                  • S SpookDog

                    10 days and about 700 miles later the radiator level is starting to drop, expansion tank over spilling. This is like fucking clockwork. I just can’t get my head around it!
                    I’m going to have to get a head professionally skimmed, as well as a barrel...
                    I also need to find out how much someone like PJME charge for an o~ring conversion...

                    I’ve only recently found out that you can still get Yamaha DTR125 genuine head gaskets!? I read somewhere that they are thick ‘rubber coated’? I just assumed that they had the same thin black coating that Vertex or Athena head gaskets have and you payed a premium for the Yamaha name? Has anyone seen/used a £40 genuine gasket and can give comparison with Athena or Vertex, similar, gaskets?...

                    It would be a big help 🙂 ...

                    MadGyverM Offline
                    MadGyverM Offline
                    MadGyver
                    wrote on last edited by
                    #210

                    @SpookDog said in So Close!...:

                    10 days and about 700 miles later the radiator level is starting to drop, expansion tank over spilling. This is like fucking clockwork. I just can’t get my head around it!
                    I’m going to have to get a head professionally skimmed, as well as a barrel...
                    I also need to find out how much someone like PJME charge for an o~ring conversion...

                    I’ve only recently found out that you can still get Yamaha DTR125 genuine head gaskets!? I read somewhere that they are thick ‘rubber coated’? I just assumed that they had the same thin black coating that Vertex or Athena head gaskets have and you payed a premium for the Yamaha name? Has anyone seen/used a £40 genuine gasket and can give comparison with Athena or Vertex, similar, gaskets?...

                    It would be a big help 🙂 ...

                    Have you used custom copper gasket with copper gasket spray,they used it for high compression and performance engines,you can anneal the gasket to become softer and sit even better.
                    You probably burn slowly coolant and venting pressure in the cooling system.
                    I only use yamaha or custom copper head gaskets+copper spray.

                    I need my tools and a pile of junk.....

                    1 Reply Last reply
                    0
                    • Stevie WonderS Offline
                      Stevie WonderS Offline
                      Stevie Wonder
                      wrote on last edited by
                      #211

                      I’ve got a copper gasket in my room being used as an ornament. Pay for the postage and buy yourself the magic spray and it’s yours

                      S 1 Reply Last reply
                      0
                      • Stevie WonderS Stevie Wonder

                        I’ve got a copper gasket in my room being used as an ornament. Pay for the postage and buy yourself the magic spray and it’s yours

                        S Offline
                        S Offline
                        SpookDog
                        wrote on last edited by SpookDog
                        #212

                        @Stevie-Wonder

                        Email me your address and I’ll post you a stamped addressed suitable envelope 👍
                        boonierat13@gmail.com

                        I just brought a can of Permatex spray on copper sealant. ...

                        @ Madgyver
                        Are the Yamaha ones coated really thick with rubber like stuff?...
                        Didn’t have any luck with the last one I tried. Mainly cause I muffed up the annealing as well as using sealant from a tube...

                        Cheers Guys...

                        S MadGyverM 2 Replies Last reply
                        0
                        • S SpookDog

                          @Stevie-Wonder

                          Email me your address and I’ll post you a stamped addressed suitable envelope 👍
                          boonierat13@gmail.com

                          I just brought a can of Permatex spray on copper sealant. ...

                          @ Madgyver
                          Are the Yamaha ones coated really thick with rubber like stuff?...
                          Didn’t have any luck with the last one I tried. Mainly cause I muffed up the annealing as well as using sealant from a tube...

                          Cheers Guys...

                          S Offline
                          S Offline
                          SpookDog
                          wrote on last edited by SpookDog
                          #213

                          Anyone had any experience with ‘exhaust banging’ or engine knocking at low rev coasting? The best description I’ve read of it is that it sounds like someone hitting your engine with a ball peen hammer sharply. It’s basically misfires which happens to be one of the biggest head gasket killers...

                          interesting reading!

                          S 1 Reply Last reply
                          1
                          • S SpookDog

                            Anyone had any experience with ‘exhaust banging’ or engine knocking at low rev coasting? The best description I’ve read of it is that it sounds like someone hitting your engine with a ball peen hammer sharply. It’s basically misfires which happens to be one of the biggest head gasket killers...

                            interesting reading!

                            S Offline
                            S Offline
                            SpookDog
                            wrote on last edited by
                            #214

                            Curve ball question: anybody tried fitting a TZR pipe to a DTR125?

                            HOTSHOT IIIH 1 Reply Last reply
                            0
                            • S SpookDog

                              @Stevie-Wonder

                              Email me your address and I’ll post you a stamped addressed suitable envelope 👍
                              boonierat13@gmail.com

                              I just brought a can of Permatex spray on copper sealant. ...

                              @ Madgyver
                              Are the Yamaha ones coated really thick with rubber like stuff?...
                              Didn’t have any luck with the last one I tried. Mainly cause I muffed up the annealing as well as using sealant from a tube...

                              Cheers Guys...

                              MadGyverM Offline
                              MadGyverM Offline
                              MadGyver
                              wrote on last edited by
                              #215

                              @SpookDog
                              Permatex copper gasket spray is what I use,great product.
                              Yamaha ones are thin coated.

                              I need my tools and a pile of junk.....

                              S 1 Reply Last reply
                              0
                              • MadGyverM MadGyver

                                @SpookDog
                                Permatex copper gasket spray is what I use,great product.
                                Yamaha ones are thin coated.

                                S Offline
                                S Offline
                                SpookDog
                                wrote on last edited by
                                #216

                                @MadGyver

                                Ah!!.... So simular to Athena, ect? Not wildly different? Cheers bud, I really need to know this stuff. I can always trial & error it but at £45-50 for a genuine gasket I’d rather be told! 😜👍 I am not a wealthy person, only job I have is getting out of bed in the afternoon...

                                1 Reply Last reply
                                0
                                • S SpookDog

                                  Curve ball question: anybody tried fitting a TZR pipe to a DTR125?

                                  HOTSHOT IIIH Offline
                                  HOTSHOT IIIH Offline
                                  HOTSHOT III
                                  wrote on last edited by
                                  #217

                                  @SpookDog I guess you could make a TZR pipe fit but is there a reason you want to?

                                  Also the TZR (2RK) engine is very different to the DTR; much lower compression (I can remember blagging a go on a mate's TZR and thinking it'd blown up when I kicked it over) and the CDI unit is different as well as a few other bits.

                                  Not wishing to shoot down your idea, a lot of lads in Portugal build DTRs with underslung pipes, I'm just curious

                                  S CalumC 2 Replies Last reply
                                  0
                                  • HOTSHOT IIIH HOTSHOT III

                                    @SpookDog I guess you could make a TZR pipe fit but is there a reason you want to?

                                    Also the TZR (2RK) engine is very different to the DTR; much lower compression (I can remember blagging a go on a mate's TZR and thinking it'd blown up when I kicked it over) and the CDI unit is different as well as a few other bits.

                                    Not wishing to shoot down your idea, a lot of lads in Portugal build DTRs with underslung pipes, I'm just curious

                                    S Offline
                                    S Offline
                                    SpookDog
                                    wrote on last edited by SpookDog
                                    #218

                                    @HOTSHOT-III

                                    Not for any long term reason. My ‘big one’ is falling apart. I’m looking for reasons that would cause poor scavenging of exhaust gasses (Ive been getting bad knocking/misfires for a while when coasting @ low throttle) I really just want to substitute another pipe for testing. I have a 94 TZR pipe laying around...
                                    On a simular subject I just checked my reed valve and it is not fully closing (on 1 side petal) when ‘relaxed’ out of the bike. I don’t know much about them other than they are a one way valve, not sure if they should be sprung closed, or forced closed by the piston pressure when it goes down, or both!...
                                    If it’s not holding the mixture in the crank case it could maybe really fuck it up and cause misfires, which in turn murder head gaskets...

                                    I wish I was a bit smarter! 🤪

                                    S 1 Reply Last reply
                                    0
                                    • HOTSHOT IIIH HOTSHOT III

                                      @SpookDog I guess you could make a TZR pipe fit but is there a reason you want to?

                                      Also the TZR (2RK) engine is very different to the DTR; much lower compression (I can remember blagging a go on a mate's TZR and thinking it'd blown up when I kicked it over) and the CDI unit is different as well as a few other bits.

                                      Not wishing to shoot down your idea, a lot of lads in Portugal build DTRs with underslung pipes, I'm just curious

                                      CalumC Offline
                                      CalumC Offline
                                      Calum
                                      wrote on last edited by
                                      #219

                                      @HOTSHOT-III I run underslung, wheelie machine 🤣 🤣

                                      Always Originate, Never Pirate!

                                      1 Reply Last reply
                                      1
                                      • S SpookDog

                                        @HOTSHOT-III

                                        Not for any long term reason. My ‘big one’ is falling apart. I’m looking for reasons that would cause poor scavenging of exhaust gasses (Ive been getting bad knocking/misfires for a while when coasting @ low throttle) I really just want to substitute another pipe for testing. I have a 94 TZR pipe laying around...
                                        On a simular subject I just checked my reed valve and it is not fully closing (on 1 side petal) when ‘relaxed’ out of the bike. I don’t know much about them other than they are a one way valve, not sure if they should be sprung closed, or forced closed by the piston pressure when it goes down, or both!...
                                        If it’s not holding the mixture in the crank case it could maybe really fuck it up and cause misfires, which in turn murder head gaskets...

                                        I wish I was a bit smarter! 🤪

                                        S Offline
                                        S Offline
                                        SpookDog
                                        wrote on last edited by SpookDog
                                        #220

                                        Hmmmm?! I just checked the Haynes manual and found out the ‘stopper height’ for the reed valve on the DTR125 is supposed to be 6.8mm, TZR 8.3. Mine is 11mm! I might just of found at least part of the cause of my ‘pipe banging’ which in turn could be the cause of my gasket problem...
                                        🤞

                                        S 1 Reply Last reply
                                        0
                                        • S SpookDog

                                          Hmmmm?! I just checked the Haynes manual and found out the ‘stopper height’ for the reed valve on the DTR125 is supposed to be 6.8mm, TZR 8.3. Mine is 11mm! I might just of found at least part of the cause of my ‘pipe banging’ which in turn could be the cause of my gasket problem...
                                          🤞

                                          S Offline
                                          S Offline
                                          SpookDog
                                          wrote on last edited by SpookDog
                                          #221

                                          Just found a good working replacement reed valve with good neoprene rubber seals and flat petals, also with correct stopper heights! Just remeasured the one that was fitted and it is 11mm one side and 13mm the other! A far cry from 6.8!!...

                                          I really am hoping that this was causing the misfires, exhaust banging and in turn the misfires was causing the head gaskets to fail...

                                          🤞

                                          1 Reply Last reply
                                          0
                                          Reply
                                          • Reply as topic
                                          Log in to reply
                                          • Oldest to Newest
                                          • Newest to Oldest
                                          • Most Votes


                                          • Login

                                          • Don't have an account? Register

                                          • Login or register to search.
                                          • First post
                                            Last post
                                          0
                                          • Recent
                                          • Tags
                                          • Popular
                                          • Users
                                          • Groups