Wednesday, June 17, 2009

How ride when breaking-in your new engine

I asked Tom G. some questions about breaking-in the new engine and this is what I learned (answers in all caps):

1) Do I also need to rev through the ranges of 1,2,3,4 gears while riding?
IT IS NOT STRICTLY NECESSARY -- YOU SHOULD SHIFT BASED ON RIDING CONDITIONS. RIDE IN THE GEAR APPROPRIATE TO YOUR SPEED AND THE TERRAIN. MY RULE OF THUMB IS SHIFT AT OR BEFORE 3/4 THROTTLE -- NEVER REVV OVER 3/5 THROTTLE IN ANY GEAR DURING BREAK-IN. BUT DON'T LET THE MOTOR LABOR TOO HARD. IF IT IS STRUGGLING IN ANY GEAR, DOWNSHIFT TO BRING THE REVS UP A BIT.

2) Do I need to avoid hills?
NOT REALLY. FOLLOW THE DON'T LET THE MOTOR LABOR TOO HARD RULE. RIDE UP HILLS IN AN APPROPRIATE GEAR. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH HILLS MIGHT BE LONG DOWNHILLS. THERE IS A TENDENCY TO KEEP THE THROTTLE TOO LOW AND COAST, USING THE RPMS TO BRAKE THE SPEED. RESIST THIS. YOU NEED GAS IN THE CYLINDER TO KEEP IT LUBRICATED. ON LONG DOWNHILLS, BLIP THE THROTTLE PERIODICALLY TO INTRODUCE SOME GAS AND OIL INTO THE SYSTEM. THIS DOES NOT ONLY APPLY TO BREAKIN, BUT IS IMPORTANT DURING BREAKIN.

3) How many miles should I ride until it is broken in?
EXPERTS DISAGREE. I SAY A MINIMUM OF 400 MILES. I THINK THE OWNER'S MANUAL SAYS 1200 MILES. SOME PEOPLE SAY 1 TANK OF GAS.

4) Do I need to shift through all the gears, ie 3 and 4 (if so I need to ride some where I can pick up speed)?

SEE ABOVE.

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