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After a lengthy engine rebuild (all of it ... top end, crank, con rod, seals, etc.) my KDX is about ready to start again. I'm excited and a little nervous. I need to fill the coolant and trans, connect the wiring, install fuel tank and it's ready to fire up.

Is there anything in particular I ought to look for or be ready for when I try to fire this thing up? Is the lube in the fuel and whatever was used during rebuild sufficient or should I put a few drops of oil in the cylinder or anything like that?

I'm just trying to think ahead and anticipate any problems so I don't screw this up. I can't afford to!

Thanks.

Could always hold down the kill button and kick through a few times

You lubed the bearings and cylinder with 2 stroke oil already during the rebuild, right? Don't need much oil on the cylinder - just a light coat. Don't put any other oil in the engine besides the 2 stoke oil you normally use.

I know you mentioned it, but don't forget to refill the trans. I forgot on one bike I rebuilt until I came home from a lap around the block :) No harm done since the gears had a good amount of oil on them from reassembly.

I used wd40 on my last put together

turtle wrote:After a lengthy engine rebuild (all of it ... top end, crank, con rod, seals, etc.) my KDX is about ready to start again. I'm excited and a little nervous. I need to fill the coolant and trans, connect the wiring, install fuel tank and it's ready to fire up.

Is there anything in particular I ought to look for or be ready for when I try to fire this thing up? Is the lube in the fuel and whatever was used during rebuild sufficient or should I put a few drops of oil in the cylinder or anything like that?

I'm just trying to think ahead and anticipate any problems so I don't screw this up. I can't afford to!

Thanks.

Turtle:

I am firing up a '05 220R on Tuesday if the RIGHT base gasket comes this time. Cometic sent the wrong gasket in the kit. Anyway, any input before I fire this one up would be great to hear!

Kirk

I use the "walk away" method. Check everything, all fluids, etc get the bike to the point where you're sitting on it, ready to do the first kick. Then, walk away. Grab some lunch, a beer, whatever. Take a ****, check your email, screw your wife, screw your neighbors wife, things like that work too.

Then, go back out and go through the entire check process again. It helps to have a fresh head. I do a couple "dead kicks" with the kill button held, then go for broke.

Slick_Nick wrote:I use the "walk away" method. Check everything, all fluids, etc get the bike to the point where you're sitting on it, ready to do the first kick. Then, walk away. Grab some lunch, a beer, whatever. Take a ****, check your email, screw your wife, screw your neighbors wife, things like that work too.

Then, go back out and go through the entire check process again. It helps to have a fresh head. I do a couple "dead kicks" with the kill button held, then go for broke.

The owner has synthetic mix in the tank. Think that is okay to use?

Update: well, I managed to goof up the starting procedure I had in mind, hopefully not to the detriment of my engine. I wanted to kick it over a few times with the kill button pushed (good suggestion) to get some fuel mix in there and supplement whatever lube was used during the rebuild (to be clear, I didn't do the bottom end and went ahead and had the top end assembled while it was at the shop). Unfortunately, it didn't exactly happen that way.

I didn't put a lot of fuel in it just in case the tank had to come back off. I thought I put the fuel petcock on reserve, but in fact it was in the normal run position. So I kicked it over a bunch of times "dry", with no fuel mix going in.

When I finally got my head out of my rear, it started after a few kicks. It seemed to run very well during a couple break in runs. I've only done a couple heat cycles and haven't really ridden it yet. Right now I am battling a coolant leak, but we are off to do some trail riding at St. Joe State Park in MO later this week. Temps are supposed to be in the upper nineties .

So Kirk, I am not much help. I still think the idea to kick it over before starting is a good one. It just didn't work that way for me. I only hope I didn't hurt my motor. Good luck with your startup!

the **** you guys worry about cracks me up

I feel better. I think.

Hey Wibbs,

Now I do feel better.

Probably gonna have to put a whole new top end in it now

This time I'll use WD-40

I think running out of fuel, when the engine is hot, while riding would be a lot harder on a bike than what you did and how often do people do that with no ill effects?

turtle wrote:
I didn't put a lot of fuel in it just in case the tank had to come back off.

That's good thinking, since a full tank is about a WHOPPING 18 lbs!!

Mr. Wibbens wrote:

turtle wrote:
I didn't put a lot of fuel in it just in case the tank had to come back off.

That's good thinking, since a full tank is about a WHOPPING 18 lbs!!

OK, that sounds about right. What can I say? I'm used to dealing with the 7+ gallon steel tank on my Concours.