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Author Topic: Running In Procedure  (Read 3313 times)

Offline Adrian

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Running In Procedure
« on: March 10, 2019, 08:18:16 PM »
Well finally I have a fully restored/rebuilt bike ready for its first short shake down run.
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Once I'm happy with it I will need to think about how to run in the rebuilt motor. It now has the 860 Siebenrock conversion.
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I have been given 2 possible ways to run it in so I would like to hear opinions &/or experiences of others.
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The common thread seems to be about varying the RPMs rather than road speed.
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Thanks in advance. ....
1984 R65 (860)

Offline Tony Smith

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2019, 09:21:39 PM »
Adrian

I'm assuming you have new crank, big end and cam bearings. If not ignore the first stage below.

Stage 1 - fill with decent (but not top drawer) multigrade oil - in Australia Id pick the cheapest out of Valvolene 20W50 or Shell Helix 20W50 or Shell Rotella 30W. If I were really pedantic I'd use a monograde 30W, but I doubt you would find that easily.

With the bike on the bench - start up and run varying revs up to 3500~4000 (briefly) once the engine is warmed up. listen carefully for signs of distress and watch for oil/fuel leaks. if you have a direct reading oil pressure gauge I'd fit it before starting - if not, monitor the oil light.

It helps if you have a dipstick oil temp gauge, but when you reckon the oil has reached around 90 Degrees Celcius, shut down and allow to cool.

When cool, look for oil leaks, if none start up again and repeat.

No distressing sounds and no oil leaks - congratulations crank and cam "break-in" cycle is complete.

Stage 2
Take the bike for a ride - extend the revs a bit and frequently, don't over-rev but more importantly do not lug at any time. If all seems to be going well - keep going, monitor for distressed noises, hot smells, oil leaks etc.

After about 50km, stop and have a long cup of coffee to allow a good cool-down. If all well - head for the highway and run a brisk 50km, try to vary speed 20kph below speed limit and 15kph over speed limit fairly constantly, but without annoying the crap out of other road users.

All good? Go home.

Dump the oil whilst hot into a clean container that you have put a white sheet of paper in, also pull the filter.

Examine oil and filter for metal - a little is OK, a lot is bad.

Fit new filter and o-ring (because o-rings are cheap) and fill with the oil you intend to run long term (again in Australia you can't go past Penrite 20W60.

Don't do any sustained runs of more than an hour or so until you have around 300km on the odo and avoid high tempos int he middle of the day. Do highwya miles in preference to city miles.

By the time you have 300km up you will feel the engine loosening responsive - time to check timing and set tappets again. I am not a believer in re-torquing heads too much and would wait till 100km is up before doing so and then never again until the next rebuild.

I really hope it goes well for you. Keep the speeds down as in spite of what Siebenrock promise I have found with two bikes that they run a bit lean above 100kph - I simply raised the main jet needle one notch. My bike is booked into a rolling road dyno at the end of this month and I will more extensively check mixture, but I think it is OK.


1978 R100RS| 1981 R100RS (JPS) | 1984 R65 | 1992 KLE500 | 2002 R1150GSA |

Offline tunnelrider

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2019, 04:10:16 AM »
Congrats Adrian, truly an exciting time for you.  All of those long nights in the garage wondering if it will ever be a complete bike again are over and it's time to taste the fruits of your labour, sweet!

I've done a couple of new piston ring run-ins, once with recon. heads and new valves. I stuck to much what Tony describes in Part two.  Only thing I'd add are to completely back off the throttle on your first road ride briefly but frequently (every 600m) for the first 10km to encourage oil into the pistons and like Tony says try to keep the revs up and varied in between backing off (i.e. 3000 - 4500rpm).  After 10km you can back off less but I think it's still a good idea to do so occasionally in the first 100km, besides it will alter your revs which is what you're aiming for initially.  After 500km of keeping my revs below 4500 I become less fussy about staying below 4500rpm.
Last time I did the rings I didn't change the oil and filter until about 500km, but you've got a lot more new parts than that so follow Tony's oil change schedule.
Have fun, I'm sure it will go well.
'85 Black R65 / '74 GT185 / '83 Pantah 500 / '01 DRZ400 dirt only

Offline Barry

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #3 on: March 11, 2019, 04:50:52 AM »
The theory behind a moderately aggressive run in is that to bed the rings in you need some combustion gas pressure behind them to force them into the cylinder walls. Piston ring tension alone is not enough. If you baby an engine with new rings at low revs they don't bed in which may lead to high oil consumption.
Barry Cheshire, England 79 R45

Offline tunnelrider

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #4 on: March 14, 2019, 03:29:14 AM »
Yes, like that Barry, I read the exact same thing recently in a local bike mag about the pressure needed on the piston rings from the combustion to force them out, making the ring end gap quite important.  I have to say I've largely stuck to the dimensions the rings have come in and not filed anything off if they don't need it?  Sorry for potentially getting off topic
« Last Edit: March 14, 2019, 04:00:17 AM by tunnelrider »
'85 Black R65 / '74 GT185 / '83 Pantah 500 / '01 DRZ400 dirt only

Offline tiggum

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #5 on: March 14, 2019, 08:49:35 AM »
And finally, when you've gone through this running-in procedure, give us your impressions on the Siebenrock upgrade, and whether any further changes to carburetion or ignition seem necessary.....inquiring minds want to know!

Offline Adrian

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #6 on: March 14, 2019, 10:16:50 PM »
Thanks guys - good advice to sift thru ready for the first ride soon
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I'll let you know how it is with the Siebenrock in the near future
1984 R65 (860)

Offline wilcom

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #7 on: March 14, 2019, 11:10:27 PM »
Quote
I'll let you know how it is with the Siebenrock in the near future

Adrian,  we are on the edge of our seats. Surely there will be pictures, huh?
Joe Wilkerson
Telephone man with a splash of Data
Menifee, CA

Present:
1984 BMW R65LS "Herr Head"
past:
1982 BMW R65LS
1979 R65
1980 R65
1982 R80RT
1974 R90/6
1972 R75
1964 R50/2
19xx R27
ZX-11

Offline Adrian

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #8 on: March 15, 2019, 09:25:55 PM »
Yep pictures will follow soon once I wheel it out of the shed - I did the last of the small work yesterday - riveting luggage straps to the panniers to make sure the lids don't open when on the move - just being overly cautious as always [ch128521][ch128077]
1984 R65 (860)

Offline tunnelrider

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #9 on: March 16, 2019, 07:21:09 PM »
Interesting Adrian to be attending to the panniers, my curiosity would've got the better of me and I'd be running her in asap! You obviously are a much more patient man than I...   ;D
'85 Black R65 / '74 GT185 / '83 Pantah 500 / '01 DRZ400 dirt only

Offline Adrian

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #10 on: March 17, 2019, 12:04:33 AM »
Okay here she is - fully restored and ready to ride - unfortunately the weather has gone really hot again for a few days but I can wait.
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So here are the pictures - she looks a little dusty - even though I had two very bedsheets covering it the dust has got in anyway - it won't take much to wipe that off.
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The guy with the white can is my mate Brenton - he wants to take it for a run - should I let him ??????
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The new Acewell speedo/rev counter and voltmeter work well but I don't like the surrounds I made so when it's off the road again in the winter I'll probably redo that = or not  :D
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The Acewell is connected to all the original wiring which includes using small electrical pins to connect to the main plug that was fitted into the original rev counter. Just in case I ever decide to get the old speedo and rev counter fixed and want to refit them in the future.
« Last Edit: November 06, 2020, 08:05:09 PM by Justin B. »
1984 R65 (860)

Offline Tony Smith

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #11 on: March 17, 2019, 02:45:47 AM »
Adrian

All I can say is HURRY UP! I don't want to steal your thunder in respect to the 860 kit.

Your journey has been so long to get to this point that i think you deserve to go first. But don't delay too long.

And no you should not let your friend ride it until you have run (at least) the initial breaking in and running in process.
1978 R100RS| 1981 R100RS (JPS) | 1984 R65 | 1992 KLE500 | 2002 R1150GSA |

Offline Adrian

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #12 on: March 17, 2019, 05:46:06 AM »
The guy with the white cane [ch128077]
1984 R65 (860)

Offline tunnelrider

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #13 on: March 17, 2019, 06:11:50 AM »
Quote
Okay here she is - fully restored and ready to ride - unfortunately the weather has gone really hot again for a few days but I can wait.

I'd have thought that's good conditions to be taking a new bike out, at least the grip will be there
'85 Black R65 / '74 GT185 / '83 Pantah 500 / '01 DRZ400 dirt only

Offline Adrian

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Re: Running In Procedure
« Reply #14 on: March 17, 2019, 06:52:26 AM »
Hi Tony - I don't mind if you're first - I have to let my illness problems settle down again before I can ride & this hotter weather isn't helping.
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I'm hoping to take it out in a few days. Since it was rideable - which means nickable - I've had Shannon's Fully Comp insurance on it. So just the rego & then I'm away.
1984 R65 (860)