I have a horrific bad feeling that engine is about to go bang, it's clattering like a diesel and the oil light is flickering at idle, even though I know there's plenty in there

Nothing changed, still clattering and knocking, so fearing the big end has gone bang, so stripped the bike down to see if it was something simple like a loose shim or something. Nothing obviously out of place, so fitted my RVF cams and put the tops back together (first time taking cams out of a V4, wasn't too scary, and setting the cams was a doddle, thanks Honda!)

While I have the carbs off I decided to clean them up a bit and do some of the jobs I wanted to but couldn't be bothered to strip the bike down to do them they were that minor. Double checked the pilot screws were set to 2.5t out, and fitted my NC24 slides with J51 A and B needles and an extra .5mm washer.

Couple of pics from the last few days;

My view from my bedroom door


Spark plug colours in the rear cylinders



Slides, Jap NC30 on the left, stock NC24 on the right.



As you can see the NC24 slide is higher, with 2 small holes instead of 1 also small hole. The needle exits the slide at the same height, the sides have just been pulled down a bit to smooth off the venturi at WOT hopefully it'll make a tiny difference in throttle response, and a bigger difference if I start going big power :)

6 hours to go from a working (if clattering) bike, to a rolling chassis and a 75% stripped engine, the heads, side cases, oil pump and 2 pistons are now off, just got the crankcases, crank and 2 rods, alternator, clutch, gearbox and selector mech left on now :)

Good going sam, i wish i had a bedroom in my workshop, god knows what creations will emerge from within lol

Lol I'm lucky that my bedroom is next door, I can just pack it in, crash for a bit, then have another crack at it :)

I'm going to start fitting the RVF engine in the next day or so, I just need to get the clutch case gasket (so I can swap the pickups) and some help with lifting it (I'm a 60kg weed, so not great at lifting )

First I'll give the frame a bit of a scrub, just to make sure it's fine to go back in :) then have a look at swapping over my Samco hoses, and possibly fitting my HRC oil cooler

When i fitted a 30 engine to a 35 frame i had the space the front sprocket out 5mm so im guessing when fitting a 35 engine to a 30 frame your have to space the rear sprocket out 5mm. I used half of the rick oliver chain spacer kit so your be ok with the other half of it. I dont have it by the way as rick only sold me the half that i needed.

Thanks bud, I'l wang him an email tonight (got a few things to ask of him actually)


I've misplaced a bloody mounting bolt, the big one that needs a 12mm allen bit I know I put it safe, just gotta find where now. Slowly getting the engine ready, definitely thinking of fitting the HRC cooler, just while I'm here it would be rude not to! the thermostat-rear head hose is on, have given it a very quick clean, it really looks good against the silver motor :)

The '30 motor is being boxed up and hidden away for now, I'm going to have a think for a bit, a 450 bore kit has been suggested, but will need the crank out to decide if it's worth it with this lump, or do the unthinkable and tear apart the RVF lump at christmas and have it done

More pics, looking like an NC30 scrap yard round here now!







Seems a rotten shame to be putting that RVF lump in there though, just LOOK at how clean it is

Well it won't go far without an engine pal :)

I think its only right now to paint your bike in a full rep rwb tt-f3 rvf colours complete with the rvf badge

I know, but LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOK it's nearly factory fresh, will make sure it's well looked after, and expect I'll wind up cleaning it once a month to keep it like that.

I think a TT-F3 RVF rep would look great, good job I might be getting an RC30 replica tail unit for it then will probs get a Tyga belly pan aswell, and keep the original Honda bodywork in the shed for a rainy day or second bike :)