Project Bandit VVT 400

Well not much has been done today even though it has taken the best part of 7 hours.

I fitted the exhaust headers since the bolts came today that were needed to fit it. If anyone needs this info in the future for any reson suzuki l:30 = M8 x 30mm. 
I fitted all the bolts apart from one as it wants to cross thread in the head so I'm leaving it for now. But at least the full exhaust system is now installed.


I've managed to fit the sprocket cover and clutch cable and bolt it in place, for some reason suzuki thought running the clutch cable through the front sprocket cover was a good idea, and we know how full of stuff that thing gets. 

I tried to make the bike run once again and failed, all plugs have good spark and she still wouldn't fire even with full choke like before. So after I flattened the battery once again I put it on charge and left it.

Went back to it 2 hours later and tried it because why not and she started with full choke so I'm back to the same issue as before - runs on full choke but nothing else, but at least I know the bike runs.

Not much to update for now until I get a few more bits sourced from japan and the details of a guy who can do the spraying for me. 
But in the mean time I've gotten a few nice things.

New starter cover as the one that i've got has a hole in it so when the brandit is on her side stand she leaks oil. Sadly the cost of used covers were rather expensive so I picked up this little gem for a shocking £12.50 posted 


This really did hit the pocket hard, this is also the first new chain that I've ever bought.

its a good make though I like DID chains myself

Well just a short update at the moment, the bike now revs after washing the carbs in hot water in the sink. Which is a good start. The fork seals are weeping slightly which is a worry. 

I've managed to order the parts from Japan, but... I almost cried with the postage cost... £140. 
I think the stuff I bid on came to something like £60 in total but then I had to pay postage costs, so Japan - Japan - then to the uk. Should be here in 1-3 months though.... So next update should be April ish 

The next job will be chain and sprockets as well as the brakes. I managed to get a pair of ebc pads for £21.94 so that's the front end sorted.

Jameshambleton wrote: the postage cost... £140. 

Good grief ! I had a whole bike moved from the UK to IoM for about that.

iye and that will be with the costa packet prices too

Nice. I've been eying that same chain too. It's expencive, but then again, it's goooold

juhone wrote:Nice. I've been eying that same chain too. It's expencive, but then again, it's goooold

On my cb500 it was also a gold chain, looks very nice until the gold colouring comes off and it goes back to a silvery grey colour.

Jameshambleton wrote:On my cb500 it was also a gold chain, looks very nice until the gold colouring comes off and it goes back to a silvery grey colour.

Oh, I didn't know they do that. What a bummer. I'll then have to reconsider my choice. Thanks for the info though!

They also go rusty quite quickly, even though they get oiled. my bike stood unused while I was in hospital, and I ended up with a rusty chain, rusty brake disc ( it's supposed to be stainless steel) plus I have a scot oiler fitted with the dual nozzles, so there should have been enough lube on the chain to stop corrosion

juhone wrote:

Jameshambleton wrote:On my cb500 it was also a gold chain, looks very nice until the gold colouring comes off and it goes back to a silvery grey colour.

Oh, I didn't know they do that. What a bummer. I'll then have to reconsider my choice. Thanks for the info though!

Depends how much you clean your chain and how much you use it I guess. Mine the color didn't last too long maybe 7 month but then again, it was a used chain and I average about 1.2K miles a month 

Crash- Elmit wrote:They also go rusty quite quickly, even though they get oiled. my bike stood unused while I was in hospital, and I ended up with a rusty chain, rusty brake disc ( it's supposed to be stainless steel) plus I have a scot oiler fitted with the dual nozzles, so there should have been enough lube on the chain to stop corrosion

I have a scottoiler fitted to mine and my chain never gets rusty... like ever. I have a single nozzle and I've left my chain for at least a month with no oil in the scottoiler (last month... oops) and never had an issue with rusting. My JT chain how ever is a completely different issue, it's basically made of rust at this point.

The annoying thing is I bought the dearest chain/sprocket set, (DID O-ring gold chain) with a 525 code from M&P direct, because I thought it was the best quality one on their website.

Crash- Elmit wrote:The annoying thing is I bought the dearest chain/sprocket set, (DID O-ring gold chain) with a 525 code from M&P direct, because I thought it was the best quality one on their website.

 Never buy from m&p, they're a bunch of clowns

New shiny things came today, so I thought I'd better do the right thing and fit them.

I had a look at the caliper and it has the pad retaining pin going into blind hole, before even attempting to remove them I got the blow torch and had contemplated drilling out the back of the caliper, but it wasn't needed. got the trusty plyers and out they came without any issues. 

Two of the pistons started moving out first with the others remained strongly within their recesses. After some persuasion the others came out, I'll have to do some more tinkering with them soon

Suppose I'd better update this slightly, sadly my parts from Japan haven't come yet so not big updates. 
I'm currently in the process of getting the DVLA to update the frame number on the V5c. 

I managed to blow a hole in the petrol tank so I've had to order a replacement. 

I've fitted a new front sprocket. I removed the engine cover and found that it had a crack/hole going all the way through it so that explains the oil on the floor either that or the brandit wanted to become a hardly movingson... though it's currently still sat there so who knows 

While changing over the pickup cover the screws that hold the pickup in place rounded with with my J.I.S screwdriver so I have to use the welder to try and get them both out... 

Photo's will be added tomorrow at some point.

How did you blow a hole in the petrol tank?

sullivj wrote:How did you blow a hole in the petrol tank?

Airborne rust was coming out of it so I filled the tank with water and rinsed it out a couple of times. To then dry it out quickly I put the compressor on and stopped it at 2 bar and then I was blowing it round without an attachment on the air line so the air would be less directional and pop and out it came. 

In all honesty I'm glad it happened when it did rather than when the tank is full of petrol and the engine been hot.  

FINALLY the much awaited package is in the uk 

a packet full of goodies

skyrider wrote:a packet full of goodies

Very much so but it's a packet of goodies, that are now been held to ransom by ParcelForce!!! 
They automatically pay the import duty on it and then charge you that cost + a handling fee just to rub the salt in the wound more... if you don't pay then they bin it 

that's very civil of them I don't think

skyrider wrote:that's very civil of them I don't think

Tuesday is the day of either disappointment or excitement

Today is a bit of both, reservoir for the rear brake master cylinder has snapped..,  Everything else is fine!

Size of my helmet for perspective. Though half the box was in fact packaging. 


And now the contents. 

Right so I've been incredibly busy so I've got very little to update you all on. I finally found a starter/pickup cover gasket no less than genuine suzuki but their gaskets are so much better than Honda's. I had to order some new bolts to hold the pickup in place as the originals rounded themselves off so I had to use the welder on them.  

With everything put back in its place and the pickup cover reattached I added petrol to the carbs and she eventually fired up. 
I've fitted the new chain (thanks Andy) if you're wondering about the chain I previously wrote about that ended up going on my cb500 very very urgently. 



[video] https://onedrive.live.com/embed?cid=A9633161BC82F8B3&resid=A9633161BC82F8B3%213384&authkey=AEBYjdJSo6DJSuM [/video]

Wow this project really did stall, taking the fork stanchions for getting straightened on Saturday. Really need to start pulling my finger out with this build.