Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

To begin with, my sympathies for the recent events.
If you remember, my bike had a similar issue of wet starting and it turned out to be a weak stator coil.
While most mechanics commonly assumed it to be the spark plug cap, it wasn't so.
Got the coil rewound for Rs. 200 some 4 yrs. back and the problem hasn't recurred ever since.
Now, coming to the engine woes.
I'm not that smart to understand and live with a modded bike, so I prefer to keep it stock.
The way I see it...since you already have a Ninja 250 which is good enough to use for city and touring, you have 2 options:
1. Restore the Fiero to full stock form and use in situations where you'd rather not take your Ninja eg. Crowded market place
2. Sell

Sent from my Note 3 Neo using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Nano, sorry to hear the story of your Fiero requiring so many rebores and continuing electrical issues. The fact is not many lathe shops can actually do a proper re-boring and most of the bore ends up Oval in shape...this results in oil consumption as you keep using it....So go for a new RTR 180cc bore and Piston set from TVS and have a peaceful life.
Regarding the Electrical problem , Revert to stock wiring loom and replace the P135 grip electrical set.. You had mentioned that on bike getting wet ,the fuse had blown and on starting by making direct connection, had wire burning issues...checking on which of the wires are getting hot will give you a clue in tracing the fault area.
Good Luck

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Okay
From last that I recall, I had updated that I've removed the alternator and was running a RTR's TCI unit with new wiring and stator, everything of RTR, apart from the clutch & gearbox I believe it was completely an RTR from the inside though.

I used to ride the Fiero Monday to Friday for 26.8 kms and Ninja on weekends for the same distance every single day.
Now once, I started having oil drinking issues with the Fiero again and got it re-bored, new cam, new rocker arms, etc etc. Things went well from then.

I once took my bike for a wash, and after through cleaning, I couldn't start it at all. Now generally I've been facing spark plug cap getting wet issues ever since day one, so I just removed the cap, with the help of the blower hit some air inside, but it still didn't start as it used to before by the same method.
I did check the fuse too, it didn't seem like any kind of wiring leak issue affected by the water though.

After kicking it over a 100 times, it actually did start, but was struggling to keep running (was misfiring), seemed like an electrical issue. Somehow I nursed it home and kept it under the sun to dry out completely (I'd been soo busy that didn't have time to take it to the mech), eventually after a few hours, things we as good as ever before. From what I understand, i guess the p135 back-lit switches might be the culprit when water filled in them, the engine kill switch works in a reverse direction on that bike, as its DC and a very heavy jugaad made it work with my bike. Once they were dry I guess it was back to normal again.

Everything ran great for the next two months or so, until one morning I had to leave early and was riding the way I always did. Suddenly it started raining and my bike was dead right there, took it to a unknown nearby mech, explained him all the jugaads, and he was dead sure that its the spark-plug cap that was an issue. It was too early in the morning to have the spare part shop open yet, and he had a spare cbz extreme (red one) plug cap which was too short to reach my plug anyways. As I was really getting late so I left the bike at the mech's garage and rushed, asked him to take care of it and do the needful while I'll be back. He installed a locally made similar looking Fiero cap and made a grease pyramid around to to help no water seeping inside, and I was good to go.
Somehow I was still not convinced coz there were times when I had an uneven firing for a few seconds and things were back normal again, this happened at times when it was completely dry too. Another thing worth mentioning is that bike used to die suddenly for a few seconds (you know it still runs in descending order eventually slowing down) but if i held the clutch, it used to shut off completely, as an experiment if I didn't press the clutch, it used to start working normal again after 4-5 secs. Eventually the battery issues started and i was living without a horn and neutral light, also indicators followed soon everything else was fine though!

It ran well for a few weeks until I had compression issues with the bike and again oil drinking issues, I kept feeding the bike with oil as I really didn't have time to get it re-bored and run in again, so soon.
I used to buy 4-5 oil cans at once and within 2 months, the bike used to finish all of em. Eventually the plug would foul coz of heavy oil drinking & I'd change the plug too.
I always had a spare plug, some oil and necessary spanners with me all the time no matter where I went. I knew that this ain't a solution, but trust me, I was really busy to give it time.

But as a Fiero lover, I couldn't keep it running like that, so I took it to my old mech, & got it re-bored, new cammed, new rocker armed and got it overhauled to the core, also new clutch plates, tried sourcing a used RTR's head, but wasn't successful in doing so. But none the less, bike was now back to its original senses again, still not disappointing at all even after being used to 33 horses on a daily basis.
Now there's once issue worth mentioning, I don't know if its just me or it happens with everyone using different bikes, since the Fiero was back on top again, & I am used to say a specific 28 km road that I know like the back of my hand, Fiero being lighter and zippier used to sometimes slip quite a but, but I used to get away with just a wobble. Maybe the dunlops were telling me that its time to swap for fresh rubber. Until one day when I crashed coz of a stupid crack on the road, and another day when I leaned the bike at a turn and it slept on the road (didn't expect the Tyre to wash out like that). I guess i was used to the semi-binary grip feel of the Ninja which although slithers around a bit, never washes out. Having hurt myself a few times, I swapped the rubber with Michelin front and rear, new brake calipers and making it equally good again.

Now as Fiero was better than it has ever been, everything was back to normal, in fact better than normal I would say.
Until 1 day when it rained and the bike stopped. Same old story and this time I didn't take it to any mech, left the bike on the side of the road, same night when I was returning back, (as it was dry again) brought it back to life in a single kick. The other day I installed brand new RTR's plug cap and thought that things were back to normal again, it did endure 2 days of rain rides so I was pretty sure that it actually was the plug cap that was the culprit and not the switches or the wiring, confirmed by both the mechs earlier whom I never trusted in the first place.

Rains got over, one fine day the bike refused to start at all. No wet conditions, nothing. Having kicked it for over 200 times, it powered and brought it back home again. Took it a mech nearby and got the entire wiring checked again, everything was perfect though. It was a mysterious problem I guess.

But from the coming week, I could feel some coarseness while throttling and checked that the oil level had dropped significantly below the minimum. Again I had a bore issue, so nursed it like last time, too many oils and too many plugs used while doing so. I knew that I ended up fixing the bike for same reason again and again, & still something or the other kept coming. I stopped pushing the bike now, would ride it until the speed of 60, and salvage whatever was left out of it. I can't keep rebuilding the engine again and again, still affording a quarter liter bombshell on the other side of things.

I rode the Fiero to this place once, parked it in the premises and it refused to start again, based on history I knew that over 200 kicks would get things working, and trust me I kicked for over 400 times that night and the bike never started.
I went back home, informed my trusty old mech that I need him to tow the bike to the garage. But he didn't ( I guess he was too tired by fixing my Fiero again and again, when now he's got a few blades and ducatis under his belt ) the bike kept lying in that premises for over a week's time and I got a warning to take it away, until they ask the authorities to do so.

I spoiled my relationship with that trusty mech for his attitude and behavior when I needed him, having grilled him royally. I guess me being too busy was another issue where I would not be around and ask the mech to do what seems fit, irrelevant of the money involved. Having spent a fortune over and over again on rebuilding it, not knowing if it was electrical or mechanical issue I was really exhausted. I tried to kick the bike again, this one time the neutral stopped glowing, so it was definitely some wiring issue. I checked that the fuse had blown, so joined the loose fuse ends directly and kicked the bike and it fired. It was terribly misfiring, and on giving a bit of gas it used to shut down again. Tried it a few more times and I thought that I could nurse it back home. However it started to smoke now, could smell burning wire as without a fuse might really be a big issue to keep riding so I didn't.

Leg towed the bike home, tried working around a few things myself but no luck.

Now the bottom-line is, its an electrical issue which might need changing the entire electricals all over again, I would definitely need a new bore kit, new cam and rockers again. Brakes and suspension are fine with new tyres doing their duty well. But is it worth it ?
After 3-4 weeks, when the run in is over, what if all of this needs to be done again ?
I've lost touch to that trusty mech who had done whatever has been done so far. Now I wonder if its worth it to find a new guy and shell out money! Not knowing how long will this 11 yr old steed would keep me satisfied without visiting the mech.

Currently I am at cross-roads, would appreciate some good advice.

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

1. Waiting for the long story
2.Fiero never or will ever disappoint anyone who takes good care of it ,mine also doing great after the new piston and cylinder kit .

Last but the best HAPPY BIRTHDAY BUDDY .

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

A lot of b'days for many members around this time of the year.
Happy belated wishes to all.

Good to see activity here all over again.
Hoping for the old lively conversations and educational tech talks

----consecutive posts auto-merged-----

A lot of b'days for many members around this time of the year.
Happy belated wishes to all.

Good to see activity here all over again.
Hoping for the old lively conversations and educational tech talks

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Welcome back!
Eager to know about the Fiero.

Sent from my Note 3 Neo using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Hello My Biking Brothers.
Sorry is not enough to amend the time lost.

I am back here now, a bit older, a bit wiser, a bit more mature and a bit more Qualified too...
I really missed you guys a lot and hoping for and looking forward to the discussions like the good old days.

Thanks for wishes too

2 things

1 - Yes, i still ride the Ninja and take good care of it
2 - Yes, i still have the Fiero, but it doesn't run from last 4 weeks or so.

Why, What, How?
Very long story, would come soon.

Welcome to all the new members here and hoping that the Fiero isn't disappointing anyone.

Cheers !

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Happy Birthday Nano!
How are the bikes and you doing?

Sent from my Note 3 Neo using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Wishing "Nanotechnology" A Very Happy Birthday and Many More Happy Returns of THE DAY....

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Hey , belated Happy Birthday Bro !

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Thanks for the wishes Bros!

Sent from my Note 3 Neo using xBhp Connect mobile app

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Happy birthday Sarvajit. Wishing you many more happy miles ahead

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Thanks psr for your wishes

Re: Fiero/FieroF2/FieroFx

Okay. Thanks for letting me know. Will check it out.