First REAL race weekend

[j_thaddeus]

So last month I headed out in 4 degrees to go to the test and tune. I got to ride my bike, on the track at race pace.<br><br>Since then the bike has been back, and I've been following peoples advice and getting her ready to go. Aside from just yesterday learning that they even MAKE something called &quot;2 stroke transmission oil&quot; and having to drain a variety of fluids from my tranny, all has been going well.<br><br>This weekend we'll be running the course backwards from what I have run before. There's a 60% chance of rain, and I've never actually competed before.<br><br>Today I am going to go home, put in the tranny fluid I just got, toss on the fairing, check all my saftey wiring, toss the bike and all the tools into a borrowed truck, and stop at the gas station where I'll mix up a couple gallons of 44:1 premix in 87 octane (should get me a more complete burn) and then get to bed early for an 03:30 drive up to practice Saturday.<br><br>I only paid for 1/2 of this bike. My friend has a lady friend who said she'd love to try racing, so we've aranged for &quot;a bike she can try riding&quot; on saturdays practice. If she decides she wants to race, then we tell her she's half owner, and sign her up for 50cc air cooled stock (and I'll ride 50cc vets class (over 25 is vets in the CMRRA) )<br><br>If she decides she's not interested, I race in 2 classes, and start paying my friend off the $500 he pitched towards the bike.<br><br>Either way, I've got a wet race on Sunday. I'm stoked. I can not think, sleep, or breath.<br><br>Expect a full report on Monday =)<br><br>-- James

[oldironnow]

<div>Man, I wish I could say I was loading out for the track! I really need to get back out there.</div><div> </div><div>You're living a right path life: good hunting!</div>

[j_thaddeus]

So, for a split second I got clockwise backwards.<br>with a very thin aluminum case.<br><br>So now I have the parts I need to rebuild my engine on order.<br><br>Hopefully I'll be racing in March. :(<br><br>-- James

[oldironnow]

<div>??? Binned it?</div><div> </div>

[j_thaddeus]

Nothing so cool. three nights before the race I was draining and replacing tranny fluid. I went to loosen the drain plug, but it wouldnt come, so I gave it a quick, solid tug on the wrench to try to free it. Then I realized I was turning it the wrong way, went back to counter-clockwise, and went on with my day.<br><br>So when I get to the track, I notice the bolt's wet with tranny fluid, so it's obvious I didn't retighten it enough, so I cut off my saftey wire and go to tighten it, when I see the hairline cracks in the crankcase turn into real splits.<br><br>So, I've bought a box of what I'm told was at one point a YSR engine, have gaskets etc on order, and next weekend I get to help put her back together. Didn't so much as ride.<br><br>Now, that might have sucked, but the part that really blows is as follows.<br><br>I own 1/2 the bike.<br><br>The other half was bought by my friend as a suprise for his lady so she could try racing. They were coming up this weekend because we'd arranged for there to be a &quot;bike she could borrow&quot; to try for Saturday practice, then if she liked it, we were going to tell her she was half owner, and was already signed up for Sundays 50cc Air Cooled Stock Novice race.<br><br>So they get up there, and I'm sitting there with a box of old engine bits and a drain pan under the YSR.<br><br>&quot;Hey honey, here's your borked race bike, maybe we'll be able to put it together before next month&quot;<br><br>Plus a good friend and veteran racer came up to give us some coaching, so overall it was a waste of 5 peoples time.<br><br>So, I'm feeling really good about the weekend, but trying to move on and just get it working before Grange on March 3-4.<br><br>-- James

[oldironnow]

<div>Ouch. That hurts.</div><div> </div><div>Admirable, your compassion for your friends' time.</div><div> </div><div>A quick check of our current project YSR shows that plug resides in the curbside case. If you are going to split the cases, can you tell us how it goes? And will you use the Special Yamaha case splitting tool? Or is it not needed?</div>

[j_thaddeus]

the engine is apart, the new case is ready and we're prepping to put it back together as soon as gaskets come in. The only tools used to date are:<br><br>5, and 4.5mm alen keys.<br><br>10, 12, 17 mm sockets and combo wrenches<br><br>really long straigtslot<br><br>a few rags to jam up the gears so we could get stuff off<br><br>and we took it down to a shop because we didn't have a flywheel removal tool (which I have since ordered for $12)<br><br>-- James

[oldironnow]

<div>Excellent! Thanks for the good word.</div>