Today, the 33T sprocket arrived so today's job was:
Being in no rush, soaked the sprocket screws and the castellated spindle nut in acetic acid. Well OK, vinegar and salt. They came up nice with a brass brush.
No pictures of the new sprocket in place - nothing much to see except it's black. Managed out for a 16-mile test run.
Worthwhile change?
Definitely. Doesn't sound like much, one tooth less on the rear sprocket. I expected the change to be detectable in top gear - a few less RPMs at higher MPH. But it makes more difference than that. Immediately noticed that the change has affected gear selection, for example, riding through a village with 30 mph limit, I have been finding 3rd gear too low, the engine feels too 'busy'. But in 4th, although the bike is happy enough, I tell myself that's too high a gear for tootling around in traffic.
Now, it's simple - 3rd feels right, 4th would definitely be a bit high. Similar on country roads - corners where we might have just backed off and limped round in 5th are now naturally 4th gear.
All in all, the bike feels better balanced. I suppose that must be improved balance of power and gearing. I didn't expect such a positive result from this wee change.
On another question, the 2F0 engine had allegedly done less than 500 miles, so I suppose I'm running in a forty year-old engine! I said before it felt smoother than the 'old' 447-. Well, the new engine seems to be still smoother today. Apart from my subjective impressions, I'll insist the image in the mirrors is less blurry.
Surely can't just be the gearing change? Can an engine become smoother with miles as it is run in?
Being in no rush, soaked the sprocket screws and the castellated spindle nut in acetic acid. Well OK, vinegar and salt. They came up nice with a brass brush.
No pictures of the new sprocket in place - nothing much to see except it's black. Managed out for a 16-mile test run.
Worthwhile change?
Definitely. Doesn't sound like much, one tooth less on the rear sprocket. I expected the change to be detectable in top gear - a few less RPMs at higher MPH. But it makes more difference than that. Immediately noticed that the change has affected gear selection, for example, riding through a village with 30 mph limit, I have been finding 3rd gear too low, the engine feels too 'busy'. But in 4th, although the bike is happy enough, I tell myself that's too high a gear for tootling around in traffic.
Now, it's simple - 3rd feels right, 4th would definitely be a bit high. Similar on country roads - corners where we might have just backed off and limped round in 5th are now naturally 4th gear.
All in all, the bike feels better balanced. I suppose that must be improved balance of power and gearing. I didn't expect such a positive result from this wee change.
On another question, the 2F0 engine had allegedly done less than 500 miles, so I suppose I'm running in a forty year-old engine! I said before it felt smoother than the 'old' 447-. Well, the new engine seems to be still smoother today. Apart from my subjective impressions, I'll insist the image in the mirrors is less blurry.
Surely can't just be the gearing change? Can an engine become smoother with miles as it is run in?