Keeping the old redheads alive!

sloTJ

sloTJ

Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2013
Messages
289
Location
Cambridge, WI
I want to know everyone's secrets on this subject. I have a 97 sx with over 10k miles on it. I want it to stay working and running well for me!

Quick story on my reason of making this post if you want to read a little...

I'm in a few groups and forums within the auto world and have been most pleased with Totallyamaha. Thanks to all of you I've met a few guys that have taken their time to help a young guy such as me which I'm truly appreciative of. This group has been nothing but full of help!

My sled was having problems last season overheating. I ended up pulling the head to see one maybe bad gasket which I replaced myself and it all worked out so far. I was happy I pulled it apart and fixed it on my own.

But on a different note, just now I've found that my first car has finally got some major engine problems. It's pretty sad for me as I've had many good memories in this car.ImageUploadedByTapatalk1407781302.357838.jpg
I bought it when I was 17 (now 21) and have vowed to keep it til the end! 94 3000gt with now 262k miles. Fun car, quite hard to find especially in southern WI. Stupid hard car to maintain and buy for. It will sit for a long time but ill have it running again... :(

So back to the vmax, I don't want to have my sled let me down too! ImageUploadedByTapatalk1407782474.584674.jpg
How do all you guys with high mileage triples keep em going good for years?? I've owned mine awhile now. It's had a very rough previous life, but has been the best sled I've owned in my lifetime. I just bought a viper skid and front shocks tho summer to swap in and I'm planning on cleaning the carbs for the first time myself before the snow. What else to keep it moving forever?! Thanks everyone! Have a great fall and winter coming soon!
 
Rering it keep suspension in good shape only other thing that will cost you is stator hopefully later than sooner. Maybe some new clutch springs.

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I'm not really up on the redhead engines but I remember reading at one point about a possible crank end bearing known for going bad,or at least it's happened to a few guys on here.
Keeping the bushings tight in the skid and making sure everything is greased on a regular basis will go a long way to making your rides a two way trip and not on the end of a tow rope.As far as the rear skid Betheviper has a great write up on how the shim the front and rear suspension components to eliminate slack,just do a search on rear skid fix or w arm problems and you'll have plenty of reading.
If you can get your hands on a quality compression tester check your compression of the engine to gauge how wore the internals might be.You stated the sled had a less than babied life before you so this might tell you if a re ring or more may be in order.
 
Throw some rings in it, clean carbs, tight bushings, let it warm up nice and good and do proper summer storage. It will run forever.
 
roudyroy1 said:
Throw some rings in it, clean carbs, tight bushings, let it warm up nice and good and do proper summer storage. It will run forever.
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If you're unsure of the condition of the rings, rering it.

As part of a rering, check the clearances of the pistons to cylinders. With that kind of milage you may find it excessive especially on the thrust sides. Too much clearance will allow the piston to rattle wreaking havoc on the skirts and ring lands. Cheaper to install new pistons now than to have a piston skirt crack and fall into the crankcase.
 
fourbarrel said:
I'm not really up on the redhead engines but I remember reading at one point about a possible crank end bearing known for going bad,or at least it's happened to a few guys on here.
Keeping the bushings tight in the skid and making sure everything is greased on a regular basis will go a long way to making your rides a two way trip and not on the end of a tow rope.As far as the rear skid Betheviper has a great write up on how the shim the front and rear suspension components to eliminate slack,just do a search on rear skid fix or w arm problems and you'll have plenty of reading.
If you can get your hands on a quality compression tester check your compression of the engine to gauge how wore the internals might be.You stated the sled had a less than babied life before you so this might tell you if a re ring or more may be in order.
Click to expand...

Yes there is a brass gear on the crank so I've been told. It turns the water pump and with age it can sometimes not turn well and cause overheating. I thought mine may have done this but it ended up I BELIEVE just being the one head gasket that was rough looking.
 
As far as cleaning the triple carbs on my own, is the guide in the tech section the best step-by-step I can follow?
 
And I'll probably invest in a compression tester so opinions of what are some good brands or kinds I should look for?
 
proper maintainence and it will last a long ,long time. I got over 18000 miles on my old 97 and have never replaced the crank bearings!
 
If all the coolers heat up gradually youl know your coolant is circulating. Oh and what signs of overheating are you having? If your just going by the light the thermostat or something along the line could be sending a false signal
 
It began overheating last season during the snow. Light would come on. Hoses were super hot I thought it was the brass gear but I took the head off and posted each of the gaskets in that thread I just linked in my last comment above^ one of the outside gaskets had some of the black coating missing so I replaced it and copper sprayed em and it ran great and I couldnt get it to overheat but this was when the snow was almost all gone.

Its sitting now fpr summer but I start it every once in awhile. I noticed the coolant was low today so i topped it off even though It was filled last winter after doing the headgasket... It could be false still but the exchangers all warmed up quick and eventually were quite hot. I could see it was circulating but bubbling after shutting down in the overflow. IDK?...
 
All the exchangers get nice and hot. How much does it let in the overflow? Wouldnt have another cap to try would ya? I think its worth the $30 investment to buy an in line temp sensor and gauge which will tell you for sure if its overheating. Mine only gets hot in low snow conditions and then i put snow on the running boards to keep her cool.
 
It just really blows that I can get it to overheat now after tearing apart everything last season (waterpump, head). I thought I fixed it but after some time just running on a stand it will get obviously too hot. The exchangers are too hot to touch. Yes its summer but that shouldnt happen either way.
 
Main hose cap. Could be failing under low pressure. Also if your sled is running real lean it will run nice and hot.
 
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