Subject: Disk brake upgrade, Convert update.
Author: Darrell J Dick
Date: Aug 7, 2004, 6:38 AM
Post ID: 1717305109
I've had a couple of days off, so I managed to get a few jobs done on the
Convert. You may remember that I was disappointed in the performance of
30 year old hand brake system. The Convert uses the right front as the
hand brake. The left disk is linked with the rear and works real well.
For hard riding on twisty roads, an improvement in the hand brake was
needed.
My first thought was to install a Brembo F09. This is a mod I have done
before with great results. It's easy too because the F09 bolts right on
in place of the stock F08. Problem is F09's are thin on the ground, and
fairly expensive if you can find one. So I decided to consider some
alternatives.
I went out on eBay and went shopping. I bought a left side Sumitomo 4
piston caliper from a Yamaha R1. The left side caliper was designed to
mount on the rear of the fork leg, so it works fine in front of the leg,
right side applications. The caliper cost me $28. Next I bid on a
complete front brake system from a Kawasaki EX500. I tossed the caliper,
but ended up with a nice Nissin 14mm MC with reach adjustable lever and a
Galfer SS brake line for $26. I got piece of .375" 6061 aluminum and
played with my machine tools for a couple of hours and I built a mount
for the caliper.
I me some brakes now! Its a huge improvement over stock. Nice feel and
quite powerful. Combined with the integrated system it stops right now. I
think I'm going to try a new set of high friction pads to get a little
more bite, but it was a great upgrade. Much recommended if you're not too
hung up on stock appearnce.
I also opened up the timing chest to check out my timing chain and trans
fluid pump. To my surprise, the chain and stock tensioner looked pretty
good. I decided to just snug up the tensioner and finish out the riding
season before I install a new chain and Valtek tensioner. The trans fluid
pump felt hard to turn, so I pulled it out of the housing and checked it
out. The pump body is cast iron and showed some pitting. I think there
must have been some rust in there over the bikes lay-up. The bike had sat
for a long time before I resurrected it, and the pistons and cylinders
were severely rusted and there was even some surface rust on the crank
and rods. I lapped the pump body, pump elements, and reassembled it with
a new pump driveshaft cut from a 6mm hex wrench. A few hours work, and I
think I'm good to go. I'll probably get back in there again during the
winter and replace the timing chain, tensioner, and seals. But for the
rest of the season, I'll be back on a Guzzi again.
Darrell Dick
Imlay City, MI