Archive


1. Need to know more about batteries?
2. The oil on oils
3. Changing coolant
4. Ethanol in petrol 
5. Exhaust Noise Emmissions - Law
Need to know more about batteries?
Bill Darden has posted the following link on the aus.motorcycles Newsgroup:
www.batteryfaq.org

Rockit submitted the following . . .
I want to change the coolant in my TL; it's now > 4 yo, and hasn't been done yet. The procedure
is not shown in the owners manual. I was hoping that it wouldn't be much more difficult than changing in a car. . .

Changing Coolant:-
Sometimes drain/bleed plugs are hard to get to, or don't exist. All then you can really do is *possibly* remove thermostat and back flush CAREFULLY, remove all coolant hoses, *or* just refill and drain with clean water (get to normal operating temp, thermostat opens, then drain..repeat..) a few times: this will gradually flush old coolant out.

Then, finally, add expensive, overpriced, motorcycle coolant, with distilled water if your engine demands it, to correct ratio (50/50, 30/70 etc...) and then finally bleed through cap/bleed bolts if equipped. Some of the bolts will possibly need sealing washers replaced too. Don't forget
replenish the coolant reservoir too.

Another thing to is gradually "work" hoses top/bottom when final bleeding/filling, by gently squeezing, as you maintain a fast idle. This helps get all the air out.

Some bikes/cars don't like air in cooling systems, some don't seem to worry so much. Also, if hoses seem to be excessively soft, think about changing them. My last W/C bike this was around every 60,000km or so. Better to change at home, than they let go other side of Goondiwindi... :- Extract courtesy Bill Darden

Car Oil for Motor Cycles?? Here are some oily links . . .

http://www.pmlubricants.com.au/main.htm
http://www.gunsmoke.com/scot/k12/sj_oil.html
http://www.micapeak.com/info/oiled.html
http://www.chris-longhurst.com/carbibles/engineoil_bible.html
http://www.scuderiaciriani.com/rx7/oil_filter_study/

Courtesy: Newsgroups "aus.motorcycles"

Ethanol in petrol

If you are interested in the use of ethanol in petrol have a read of the document listed below. It is interesting reading!

http://www.caltex.com.au/corporate_new_detail.asp?id=309

Exhaust Noise Emmissions - The Law . . . ADR 39

ADR 39 is not new- It was devised in the late 80's and implemented officially on the First of July 1988. This is the date on the Federal ADR, not the hogwash devised and mutated by every state gov. dept. since. Before this fairytale date, 100 dB(A) stationary is law, no labelling required.

Basically it is thus

For a new bike, the exhaust system must be stamped or have a 'marking' (ADR 39.2) which must have the following Manufacturer and exhaust identification.

 

All the other info on the muffler is what is required by DOT- our US brethren.

The bike (from new) must also carry a 'Label' (ADR 39.3) which has the following information

Heading:

STATIONARY NOISE TEST INFORMATION, the noise reading in dB(A) at 50% of the Engine Speed at Maximum Power (ESMP) and the Make and model of the system, which must correspond with the marking. It can be anywhere on the bike, as long as it can be viewed on inspection (not behind a bolted panel) under the seat in most European cases. It looks a little like this

STATIONARY NOISE TEST INFORMATION Tested: 90dB(A) at 5000rpm Make: Honda Identification: HM01

This applies to all new bikes. Basically a new bike cannot make more than 80dB(A) on a drive by and 94dB(A) stationary.

NOW- AFTERMARKET MUFFLERS!!!

Aftermarket mufflers, by agreeance with local manufacturers in 1993 (the details of this are still being worked out), are required to have a separate label (the original label must be retained) as follows:

Tested noise output at 50% ESMP (the RTA and the EPA both have this speed listed, if the original label is missing). Maximum allowed is 94 dB(A). No ifs or buts.
Make and Model of bike the system is for The system's manufacturer

It will look a little like this

STATIONARY NOISE TEST INFORMATION (the header isn't necessary, some manufacturers don't use it). Tested 94dB(A) at 5000rpm Make: Rev exhausts Model: Honda VTR1000


So basically, if you have an aftermarket exhaust system, and don't have the label, call your system manufacturer or importer to arrange it. They may know nothing about this law, as no-one ANYWHERE has undertaken any form of education about this law since 1993. Anywhere!

If you wish to become compliant, rustle up your manufacturer/ importer. if they have no way of helping you (the label is something that will be individual to your bike depending on state of tune, age of bike and condition of silencing media), you'll need to arrange the labelling of your bike yourself. this is allowed. to get your muffler noise output, you can go to an (automotive) exhaust shop and obtain a test there. They are required to all have a standards-approved noise meter for all custom systems testing. From there you can fabricate a label. It MUST be permanent, and destroyed if removed.

If you have an EU or EE approved muffler you are considered to have met ADR39 on all counts too. (Refer ADR 39.7)

WHY SHOULD I CARE?

The noise complaints drive the EPA and they then proceed to ping or direct their favourite pawns (the police) to 'blitz' or campaign a certain noise issue in a certain area. Hence the Old road operations. Mind you, as another person said, the 'Old road is a favourite for a lot of people, and lots of people go out of their way to piss off locals and through stupidity (either their own or as a result of another rider's) fill the local hospital with ammo for the local Sargent and council. This isn't a Sydney-only issue either- this law is nationwide.


Feel free to quiz me, I'll be watching this thread unwind {Newsgroups: aus.motorcycles}. If I can't help, I'll direct you to someone who can. All questions of "How much noise would my bike make" will be ignored, as I can't tell you, except that the majority of four-cylinder bikes will be under approx 95dB(A) with a half-decent muffler system, most twins with aftermarket straight-through pipes will be WAAAY over. It's your call. We have some of the best noise laws around & simple to apply.

Think about how much your pipe would piss you off if it wasn't yours. That's the rule of thumb!

The Motorcycle Council of NSW is currently looking into the law, the poor application of the law and the recent spate of retrospective policing of a law that not many people have any knowledge about. once we get the details sorted out, we will work with the authorities to come to a fair and just solution to the above problems. We are going straight to the top - as we speak the introductory details of the MCC are being laid-out in NSW Parliament by a Bike-friendly politician, and from there we'll make sure this law isn't applied unduly or unfairly.

In the meantime, feel free to post your questions (I'll be watching this thread only {Newsgroups: aus.motorcycles}) and if you have a first or second hand report of recent exhaust-labelling inspection, please contact me directly.

Chris Coote
Maintenance Services, FRH Group

email:
chris_vtr@ihug.com.au

Go back

Go back