Bike not running right? Our experts have the answers to the toughest questions
Suzuki SV1000S
Q The low mileage Suzuki SV1000S I purchased unseen from a dealer via eBay earlier this year for top money has turned out to be an utter dog. Not the mint bike advertised.
Nearly £2000 of remedial work later, I removed the stator cover for painting, only to find the dreaded, shifted magnets on the rotor. One or two are breaking up.
I cannot find a used rotor anywhere, so I have bit the very expensive bullet and ordered a new one from Suzuki.
Should I maybe use JB Weld or similar between the magnets on the new rotor to stop them sliding before I install it? As far as I am aware Suzuki have not modified the part, so there’s nothing to say it won’t happen again in due course.
I know this would invalidate the warranty, but as I am fitting the part myself, I suspect Suzuki would turn a deaf ear to any future claims anyway.
A Gary Hurd says: I wouldn’t be adding anything that might upset the balance of the rotor, or indeed detach from it if not properly applied – and find its way into the engine.
This is a problem that arose occasionally. Alan Seeley had to reattach the magnets on the rotor in his SV650. Hopefully Suzuki are using better glue on the ones they sell these days.
I’d say simply fit the new rotor and forget about it.
Locked down
Q Although I do all the basic maintenance on my bikes, I have never had to use threadlock. I have got some rearsets to fit. Any tips on usage, strength, brands and so on would be a help.
A Pete O’Dell says: Loctite has become to threadlock what Sellotape is to adhesive tape. But as they say on the BBC, other brands are available, and it is what the various grades of threadlock are designed to do that is important. Loctite has four main groupings.
These days the colour flash behind the word ‘threadlocker’ on the bottle denotes their application. Purple is low strength and may be undone with the same tool an item was fitted with. Blue is a little stronger and will come apart with a little more torque and perhaps a small amount of heat. Green will require heat as will the even stronger red stuff. You want something in the blue band for rearsets, Loctite 242 would be fine. My old bottle (below) predates the new marking system.
Suzuki SV650S
Q My 2012 Suzuki SV650S decided to go total loss lubrication while on the motorway, dumping engine oil all over the rear wheel, tyre and brake. The leak appears to be coming from the gearbox output shaft seal and it looks like it has failed big time. The bike has done 77,000 miles.
Can this seal be replaced without splitting the crankcases?
A Alan Seeley says: Yes, the seal can be replaced witho
