Yamaha WR400F - Page 5

marios · 12-01-2010, 10:34 PM

i have dunlops 606 in my wr 400. If you ride dirt and paved roads then it is a good choice but if yiu only ride dirt forget it. You will loose grip with those things. I hit the ground hard in baja on d606 so i have experience.
My bike has a comp cam, 48 sprocket and I've hit 100mph and it was not top speed. I think it will do 102 to 105.

yamahaman · 12-02-2010, 01:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by a1fa

yamahaman, i have been following your build -- impressive.. made me want to look for XT350 to do something similar -- but then I am reminded how much I love this beast. It's been sitting in the garage for months; so I felt sorry for it and went to kick it.. It did not start on several kicks, until I realized I forgot to turn on the fuel. (I drain my carb before storage).

She fired on the first slap. :blush

After talking to a few top mechanic's, alot will tell you to not drain bowl before storage. The jury is out and of all of my friends in the trade it is about 50/50 about draining bowl. some do some don't. The best explination I have been given by an ex aussie factory team mechanic is as follows.

Leave bowl full of fuel untill just before use. The two reasons you drain are because the fuel goes off ie (benzines and tolulines evaporate off from the fuel rendering it unburnable) and condensation (water in the fuel) The down side of the bowl being dry is the rubbers and plastics perish due to no lubrication by the fuel. Requiring more frequent rebuilds.

I never drain my bowl unless im working on the carb. Always drain it after long storage periods just before a ride otherwise never touch it unles it doesn't start after the second or third kick. I always drain from the 17mm nut not the drain tube.

A bit sceptical on the whole draining voodoo

dvgonzo · 12-04-2010, 06:46 AM

I agree with marios on the 606's. I ran and still run soft compound tires mostly cause they ALWAYS work in ALL conditions. I put on some 606's and although I got GREAT mileage out of them they were more than a little scary when you crossed a stream or riding in the wet and had to climb rocks with the tires still wet. THEN they pretty well lose about 75% of their traction...... But soft tires will go away fast on the asphalt.

I try to drain the bowls if the bike will be stored for more than a few weeks. Have tried it both ways but found if the fuel is left in there it will clog the idle circuit at the pilot jet as it evaporates out of the carb. I think it must evaporate through the jet as it makes a little hard plug in the jet that is solid as a rock. If I drain it I never seem to have this problem though.

Yamahaman, You are right, the pipe installatin makes it look a little funny but who cares when you can carry all that extra fuel!

Also what are you carrying in that skid pan/tank?

a1fa · 12-04-2010, 08:46 AM

Yamahaman, what kind of thing do you have on your front axle? Looks like one of those bicycle things to take the front tire off..

yamahaman · 12-04-2010, 06:22 PM

The little widgets on my axels are axel pullers they make taking the wheels out so much easier when you get flat tires in the bush. No need to use pliers or special tools. They just bolt into the axel.

check out this mob they list them for most bikes

https://www.enduroeng.com/ProductDet...1FD-1177528277

dvgonzo

The bash guard has got a small 2 litre water tank because where we ride in the desert there are no services for upto 150km in all directions, It was made as a prototype for a guy who is racing in the australian safari in 2011 and we have been testing our design for strength and durability This is not a normal fixture on the bike.

dvgonzo · 12-05-2010, 05:53 AM

I knew it was not a normal fixture (at least on the ones we have here in the US) as I have a '99 as well as an '03. Several friends also are riding them in different years and sizes and I had never seen a "tank" skid pan before. Well, other than the one that they had on the two wheel drive version that was for the hydraulic oil used to run the front wheel that came out several years back.

At first I thought you were carrying oil in it to up the capacity of your oil but that kinda skeerd me as if you punch a hole in it you would be hurtin' when it all leaked out.

Water is a pretty good idea as I have been there before out in the sticks.

I had a stick maybe 2 inch in diameter and about 18-20 inches long stand up as my front wheel went over it and it took out my left lower radiator hose connection. Luckily I was able to bend it back into shape and had an alcohol wet nap and a little two part epoxy pack with me so I got it to where it almost sealed back up. Had to fill it with Tang as that was what I was carrying in my Gatorback, but it made it back to the truck like that!

MUCH better than walking back!

I do like those little axle pull out additions too!

a1fa · 12-05-2010, 11:06 AM

I'd love to have that hydraulic front wheel kit..

yamahaman · 12-06-2010, 03:29 AM

These older yz's dont need a heap of extra oil because they run 1.5 litre's compared to the 900ml that the later bikes run, there are a few places a small tank could be placed if you wanted to, a good addition would be an oil cooler of an xr 400 on the front of the bike this would add half a litre and bring the total up to two litres.

this would be good to be adapted to our mean machines

dvgonzo · 12-06-2010, 07:32 AM

That is one of the reasons I like my old '99 so much. It has at least a little oil capacity. These scoots that only hold less than a quart tend to worry me. It is all good unless they they start to use even a little oil cause it then can go away so fast that before you even realize you might have a problem you have a BIG problem and are walking.

When I fist saw the nice, totally trick, well desingened oil cooler on XR400's and the way it sits mounted in on the triple tree pretty well protected from mishaps I was (and pretty much still am) amazed that they did not catch on and become standard equipment for every bike (street and dirt a like). They are small, inconspicuos, and very efficient as they are mounted right up front in the airstream and all scooters can benefit from cooler oil.

I saw a post ( I think it was on this site too) where a guy had built a pretty nice cooler for his KTM. It upped the capacity as well as cooled what was already on hand, but it was mounted along side one of the radiators, right in harms way. I have squished more than a couple radiators (even with Devols mounted up) and that is just not (IMO) the place to be mounting an oil cooler. Where the XR ones are mounted is to cool!

weatherm · 12-20-2010, 07:37 AM

Just picked up a '00 wr400f and love the thing.. great in the woods awesome enduro bike super fun.. controlable power etc... compensates for my slowness and suckiness :)

next step, its used so who the heck knows what maintenance hasn't been done to it. cranks up the first time etc...

any step by step directions on a valve adjustment ? how to do it.. it will be my first adjustment..go easy on me :)

recommeneded oil?

a1fa · 12-20-2010, 10:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by weatherm

Just picked up a '00 wr400f and love the thing.. great in the woods awesome enduro bike super fun.. controlable power etc... compensates for my slowness and suckiness :)

next step, its used so who the heck knows what maintenance hasn't been done to it. cranks up the first time etc...

any step by step directions on a valve adjustment ? how to do it.. it will be my first adjustment..go easy on me :)

recommeneded oil?

On the oil.. Run whatever, as long as you have oil in it. I run Shell Rotella.. I've run super-expensive Amsoil, and Shell.. Difference was about $30 in favor of Shell.

Go to auto store and pick-up a feeler gauges. Take the gas tank off, take the valve cover off.. Take the TDC cover (left side of motor -- plastic plug) rotate the engine so lobes are facing upwards.. Run feeler gauge.. Right down the numbers.

3 Intake valves
2 Exhaust valves

Order inexpensive 3rd party shims. It's shim under bucket; so get ready to remove cam-shafts. While you are there might as well buy 03 YZ450 exhaust cam ($170) with auto-decompression; and get rid-of manual decompression. It allows easier starts, and bump-starts..

Love the damn bike; but missing that 6th gear. Maybe my next bike will be something exotic with FI and 400cc+ with 6 speed.

weatherm · 12-20-2010, 10:19 AM

What are the clearances... I think I'm going to recruit my brother in helping me do this valve adjustment :)

thanks for the help!

a1fa · 12-20-2010, 02:53 PM

I need to go out int the garage and dig-up the manual. Do you want metric or imperial?

weatherm · 12-20-2010, 04:30 PM

Imperial haha...let's stick with metric...thanks for looking

a1fa · 12-20-2010, 07:15 PM

Intake 0.15-0.20 mm
Exhaust 0.25-0.30 mm

They are measured cold. If you send me the installed pad number, I can tell you what replacement to buy.

12-04-2010, 06:22 PM	#65
yamahaman wannabe bike builder Joined: Jul 2010 Location: melbourne Australia Oddometer: 214	Axel pullers and water tanks The little widgets on my axels are axel pullers they make taking the wheels out so much easier when you get flat tires in the bush. No need to use pliers or special tools. They just bolt into the axel. check out this mob they list them for most bikes https://www.enduroeng.com/ProductDet...1FD-1177528277 dvgonzo The bash guard has got a small 2 litre water tank because where we ride in the desert there are no services for upto 150km in all directions, It was made as a prototype for a guy who is racing in the australian safari in 2011 and we have been testing our design for strength and durability This is not a normal fixture on the bike. __________________ Build it and you will ride My crazy bike build

12-06-2010, 03:29 AM	#68
yamahaman wannabe bike builder Joined: Jul 2010 Location: melbourne Australia Oddometer: 214	extra oil These older yz's dont need a heap of extra oil because they run 1.5 litre's compared to the 900ml that the later bikes run, there are a few places a small tank could be placed if you wanted to, a good addition would be an oil cooler of an xr 400 on the front of the bike this would add half a litre and bring the total up to two litres. this would be good to be adapted to our mean machines __________________ Build it and you will ride My crazy bike build

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12-01-2010, 10:34 PM	#61
marios Adventurer wannabe Joined: Aug 2010 Location: Encinitas Oddometer: 219	i have dunlops 606 in my wr 400. If you ride dirt and paved roads then it is a good choice but if yiu only ride dirt forget it. You will loose grip with those things. I hit the ground hard in baja on d606 so i have experience. My bike has a comp cam, 48 sprocket and I've hit 100mph and it was not top speed. I think it will do 102 to 105.

12-04-2010, 06:46 AM	#63
dvgonzo Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Oddometer: 331	I agree with marios on the 606's. I ran and still run soft compound tires mostly cause they ALWAYS work in ALL conditions. I put on some 606's and although I got GREAT mileage out of them they were more than a little scary when you crossed a stream or riding in the wet and had to climb rocks with the tires still wet. THEN they pretty well lose about 75% of their traction...... But soft tires will go away fast on the asphalt. I try to drain the bowls if the bike will be stored for more than a few weeks. Have tried it both ways but found if the fuel is left in there it will clog the idle circuit at the pilot jet as it evaporates out of the carb. I think it must evaporate through the jet as it makes a little hard plug in the jet that is solid as a rock. If I drain it I never seem to have this problem though. Yamahaman, You are right, the pipe installatin makes it look a little funny but who cares when you can carry all that extra fuel! Also what are you carrying in that skid pan/tank?

12-04-2010, 08:46 AM	#64
a1fa ^OP Riding Nomad™ Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Oddometer: 12,718	Yamahaman, what kind of thing do you have on your front axle? Looks like one of those bicycle things to take the front tire off..

12-05-2010, 05:53 AM	#66
dvgonzo Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Oddometer: 331	I knew it was not a normal fixture (at least on the ones we have here in the US) as I have a '99 as well as an '03. Several friends also are riding them in different years and sizes and I had never seen a "tank" skid pan before. Well, other than the one that they had on the two wheel drive version that was for the hydraulic oil used to run the front wheel that came out several years back. At first I thought you were carrying oil in it to up the capacity of your oil but that kinda skeerd me as if you punch a hole in it you would be hurtin' when it all leaked out. Water is a pretty good idea as I have been there before out in the sticks. I had a stick maybe 2 inch in diameter and about 18-20 inches long stand up as my front wheel went over it and it took out my left lower radiator hose connection. Luckily I was able to bend it back into shape and had an alcohol wet nap and a little two part epoxy pack with me so I got it to where it almost sealed back up. Had to fill it with Tang as that was what I was carrying in my Gatorback, but it made it back to the truck like that! MUCH better than walking back! I do like those little axle pull out additions too!

12-05-2010, 11:06 AM	#67
a1fa ^OP Riding Nomad™ Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Oddometer: 12,718	I'd love to have that hydraulic front wheel kit..

12-06-2010, 07:32 AM	#69
dvgonzo Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2004 Location: Albuquerque, New Mexico Oddometer: 331	That is one of the reasons I like my old '99 so much. It has at least a little oil capacity. These scoots that only hold less than a quart tend to worry me. It is all good unless they they start to use even a little oil cause it then can go away so fast that before you even realize you might have a problem you have a BIG problem and are walking. When I fist saw the nice, totally trick, well desingened oil cooler on XR400's and the way it sits mounted in on the triple tree pretty well protected from mishaps I was (and pretty much still am) amazed that they did not catch on and become standard equipment for every bike (street and dirt a like). They are small, inconspicuos, and very efficient as they are mounted right up front in the airstream and all scooters can benefit from cooler oil. I saw a post ( I think it was on this site too) where a guy had built a pretty nice cooler for his KTM. It upped the capacity as well as cooled what was already on hand, but it was mounted along side one of the radiators, right in harms way. I have squished more than a couple radiators (even with Devols mounted up) and that is just not (IMO) the place to be mounting an oil cooler. Where the XR ones are mounted is to cool!

12-20-2010, 07:37 AM	#70
weatherm Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Valdosta, GA Oddometer: 300	Just picked up a '00 wr400f and love the thing.. great in the woods awesome enduro bike super fun.. controlable power etc... compensates for my slowness and suckiness :) next step, its used so who the heck knows what maintenance hasn't been done to it. cranks up the first time etc... any step by step directions on a valve adjustment ? how to do it.. it will be my first adjustment..go easy on me :) recommeneded oil?

12-20-2010, 10:19 AM	#72
weatherm Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Valdosta, GA Oddometer: 300	What are the clearances... I think I'm going to recruit my brother in helping me do this valve adjustment :) thanks for the help!

12-20-2010, 02:53 PM	#73
a1fa ^OP Riding Nomad™ Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Oddometer: 12,718	I need to go out int the garage and dig-up the manual. Do you want metric or imperial?

12-20-2010, 04:30 PM	#74
weatherm Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2009 Location: Valdosta, GA Oddometer: 300	Imperial haha...let's stick with metric...thanks for looking

12-20-2010, 07:15 PM	#75
a1fa ^OP Riding Nomad™ Joined: Nov 2006 Location: Arkansas Oddometer: 12,718	Intake 0.15-0.20 mm Exhaust 0.25-0.30 mm They are measured cold. If you send me the installed pad number, I can tell you what replacement to buy.