Another Parts Site...

[GearJammer]

Originally posted by Snorey in the Cool Mods board : "I was reading through this thread and noticed that GJ had made mention of Bike Bandit-- "Unfortunately, Bike Bandit's schematic is too exploded to get a clear picture & many of the carb parts have been discontinued so those parts aren't even identified in their parts listings."

I have found another site www.crotchrocket.com has all the parts listed and they are updated with replacement parts for the "discontinued" parts."

Snorey, Hope you don't mind, Brother, just wanted to move this over here to be able to rap about it without me hi-jacking Are's thread.

Thanx very much for finding & providing the link to this other parts site! I briefly checked it out & was pretty impressed. By the way, happened to check out the air filter element for the 450 & their's are $22.19...still amazes me how the prices we're able to get on that item are much less since you located the part # info awhile back & wanted to thank you for that again as well. :wink:

Excellent addition to the board, Snorey!

Ride Safe...

[Snorebaby]

Thanks GJ!

I do what I can to help out. This is a great board! I have learned so much.

BTW--can I bother you about some specs for the 450? I cannot find my owners manual and have not ordered one yet. What is the oil capacity for the 450? Also, when I re-installed the carbs I noticed that the petcock has what appears to be 2 small vacuum ports. I know that one goes to the cylinder, but which one and are they both used? I think the outer one goes to the cylinder but is the other one used? Just want to be sure that I am not missing any hoses. Pics would be great to make sure I have all my hoses routed correctly if it is not too much trouble. I am also going to install an inline filter from the petcock to the carbs. Shouldn't be too much trouble :) !

[GearJammer]

Snorey, Running late here, but will get back to ya if necessary. Had both manuals here but took them back to my place just this morning, LOL!

Will bring them both back over sometime tomorrow if we need them for reference here.

On the oil & going from a faulty memory, I "think" it's 2.8 qts., but you can easily do it by eye. With the bike on the kickstand & bike as straight up as can be without risking tipping (these 450's are pretty dicey on the kickstand) Just add 2 qts., then place the oil dipstick back in without tightening it, simply place it down in the filler hole. You're not likely to see any oil on the stick, but keep adding a bit at a time & keep checking the dipstick until you see some oil reading on the stick. Once you see oil, keep adding a "little" at a time until it reaches the level indicator line on the dipstick.

Petcock: I've got the larger diameter port on the petcock for the fuel line that runs to the carbs. There's a very small diameter port on the petcock that has a hose that runs to a port on the left cylinder for the petcock activation (vacuum actuation) Don't recall another port on the petcock other than these two, but will check that out tomorrow.

Sorry for the brief tho' long-winded response (does that even make sense ? LOL!) More later if needed.

L8R on & Ride Safe...

[Snorebaby]

Thanks GJ,

It was late for me also. I know the oil can be done by "eye" as you stated. Guess my brain functions slowed to a crawl as I was typing the post LOL!

The petcock has what looks like 3 ports. 1 large one for fuel, 2 small ones for vacuum (if both are needed). The outer small one is located on the outside of the diaphragm, assume it is to open the diaphragm to send fuel while cranking the engine, and the inner small one is between the outer and fuel ports. It is right in the middle of the diaphragm housing. Just want to make sure I am not missing any hoses. Should have taken a pic before disassembly :oops:. But you know what they say, "hind-sight is 20-20". :lol:

I cannot see where it would go if there is a hose connected to it and the exploded pics of the carb are not much help.

Thanks again for your help!

[GearJammer]

House-sitting a stray pup that showed up yesterday, so no saddle time today, LOL!

But it also gave me time to check the manuals & look at the set-up on my 450.

Oil Capacity:

2.3-2.6 qts. after draining
3.2 qts. after "rebuild" (assuming that would apply pretty closely for after an oil filter change as well)

Oil Drain Plug Torque: 23-27 ft. lbs. (I go with 25 ft. lbs, right in the middle)

Oil Filter Cover Bolt Torque: 21-22 ft. lbs.

You're right, Snorey. Looked at the petcock on mine & there is indeed a 2nd smaller port hiding behind the petcock & directly facing the motor mounts back behind there. That 2nd port behind the petcock on mine has no hose whatsoever attached to it.

With the petcock lever facing the outside of the bike, the diaphragm faces forward towards the valve cover. The small port on the diaphragm face cover, the port being located in the center & surrounded by 4 cover screws, that's the one that has the vacuum hose attached to the left cylinder port.

[Snorebaby]

Thanks GJ

So that confirms I am not crazy!! :o WHEW!!! I was afraid I was missing a hose and didn't know where it went.

Thanks also for the oil information. Gonna definately have that handy along with the oil filter cross reference you posted.

[GearJammer]

Glad to help out when I can, Snorey. That 2nd, un-used port has me wondering whether it's part of the vacuum system & is purposely open there or if the same petcock might be used on other bike applications where something would be attached to that port ? I dunno...

Crazy ? Nah, not in this regard. But I've always contended that ALL bikers are a bit "crazy" in one way or another. Doesn't make sense to put oneself on 2 wheels amongst some of the downright insane cage drivers out there! ROTFLMAO!!!

[Snorebaby]

I know what you mean!! I have had my share of cagers pull out in front of me, try to move into my lane, etc. I have been very lucky so far not to lay it down. I just hope that when I get back to riding, my luck won't run out :lol:

I have seen a lot more bikes around here than there used to be (or is it that I am getting back into riding). So maybe the cagers are more aware of us now and give us the respect to share the road. 8)

[GearJammer]

Cagers vs. bikes...lots of experiences out there over the years, both for myself & other Brothers & Sisters I've known. (Sadly enough, some didn't live thru the experience)

There's definitely more bikes out there & I agree, I believe that more cagers are paying more attention these days than in years past. I don't allow myself to "obsess" on the inherent danger, but definitely keep it in mind & try to ride 110% defensively.

I also try to be as courteous as possible, hoping that more cagers will get a better impression of us as "bikers" in general. For example, if I'm approaching a car that looks like it's about to pull out in front of me, but then catches itself & stops, I give them a friendly nod or wave to let them know that their courtesy is much appreciated.

All it takes is one...

[Snorebaby]

I have to agree with you. I don't "obsess" on the dangers either. I try to ride the way I would want another rider to do when I am in the cage. Show respect both ways. If you learn to do that, then the roads will be safer for everyone.

I cannot stand these crotchrocket riders that think they own the road or its their private race track. Swerving in and out of traffic, excessive speeding, etc. Just plain stupidness. Every time I see one, I turn to the wife and say "Guess he's been lucky. Hasn't dropped it yet". I know he hasn't had a car come into his lane with him doing 85+ and not have anywhere to go! If he did he wouldn't be riding like that (or at all).

Sorry for the rant, it just came out :)

[GearJammer]

No need to apologize for the rant, it's a common conversation had among bikers & non-bikers alike. Had one just yesterday as a matter of fact. We were riding, made a stop, I chose to stay outside to keep an eye on the bikes. A stranger & his kids walked up & struck up a conversation & he mentioned crotch-rockets & some of the crazy things they do.

Please understand that I have NO problem with sports bikes as long as the riders are riding responsibly & not putting others in danger. But I've found that even non-riders have clearly noticed that many crotch-rocket riders are totally out of line, a lot of the time.

I've seen both...responsible crotch-rocket riders who adhere to good safety practices & irresponsible ones that are tempting fate in an arena that inherently compromises our safety to begin with (2-wheels in an ocean of cages)