Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Update on the low oil pressure issue.

The engine was disassembled today.

1. Valve seals need replacement.
2. No scoring of the cylinder walls.
3. No scoring on the piston.
4. Piston rings need replacement.
5. Valves for some reason have to be replaced. I don't know why. It was caked with carbon on the stem side.
6. Timing chain and chain tensioner needs replacement.
7. Asked them to replace the coolant pump seal while they were at it.

Anything else worth replacing now that the engine is wide open?

The bike has been maintained really well. Coolant and Oil levels, always checked and corrected. No highrevs while cold. Oil changes every 2-3 track days. (Total of 5 track days and 2 oil changes). Never turned off on a hot engine.

The question is if this engine head work is routine at 25k for a rc?

Thanks
Avinash

@faysal, 25k on the odo.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Update on the fuel bar issue:
Went to the service centre to get it checked. The guy opened the tank and inserted a strip of metal with a hook at the end, which would raise the float to the top. The float went all the way to the top, but the top bar was not glowing even after waiting for some time. They suggested to change the fuel pump as you correctly said that it comes as a composite unit and no repair can be done on the part as there is some pcb attached to it.
I had gone to a valley trip 1.5 years back and the petrol pump attendant bent the metal strips that prevent the nozzle from entering the tank. Nothing happened then and I was careless enough to ignore fixing it. The subsequent petrol fills were such that the entire nozzle entered the tank as it normally happens in bikes.[emoji17]
Now my question is, did the repeated entry of the nozzle screw up the float? If so, then why is the top bar not showing? Neither could I feel any resistance from the float while pulling it up with the metal rod/strip. Is there any sensor at the top?
The svc has quoted 4900 for the part and 375 as labour but the part is not available currently, hence I could not take a snap of it. What are the probable workarounds for this?

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

White smoke during cold start is normal for 390. There shouldn't be any white smoke after 20-30seconds.Thanks s1d, will try this.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

How many kms have you done on this bike?

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

VJ and team,

I have already dropped my bike off at the SVC just to ensure I don't take any risks. I'll be present when they are opening up the head and probably the cylinder.

So some help:
1. What are the tell tale signs of valves/valve seals being out of spec?
2. How do I identify leaks across piston rings?
3. How do I check the condition of the piston and bore?

I understand these are a lot of questions, but your help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Avinash

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Black smoke is nothing to worry about, black smoke is normal when revved to the nuts on any petrol engine, a few whiffs. The one thing that shouldn't be seen is the white smoke especially after the engine is warm and during a cold start, which means we either have a piston ring seal issue or leaky valve oil seals. Low or below normal would mean the engine is consuming oil a few hundred ML/1000 kays.

Top up the oil to the normal level, observe it for few hundred kays for any drop in oil level or any unusual smoke. If we see oil level going back to pre-fill levels, it's time to check your piston rings and valve oil seals or even the cylinder if need be.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

top up the oil and keep an eye on the oil level.. if you see it drop consistently, then yes could be one of those pointed by the mechanic. ideally when you use a fully syn oil like the motul 7100, the drop in oil level will be negligible even over 5000km under normal use.
bluish/white smoke can be an indication of oil burning.
did the oil pressure warning go off after topping up the oil ?
and i hope you are checking the oil level correctly.. i.e. let the bike idle for a minute or two, shut it down, wait for 30 seconds and then check the level with the bike upright (no side or paddock stand.. ask someone to hold the bike upright).

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Here's an update on the Low Oil Pressure issue:

Took the bike to the SVC.
The technician revved the bike to 6-7k rpm in neutral and there was smoke in the exhaust. He said it was black smoke. It kinda looked white to me.

Oil level was below normal but not dangerously low.

Tech said that this could be:
Head issue: valve train/cam chain
Piston rings/piston
Bore

Your thoughts?

Thanks
Avinash

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Avinash, clattering sound can be a normal sound once the engine warms up or after a spirited ride. But if you hear excess clanking sound, it can be due to shims. Shims that have gone out of clearance will make this clattering sound. As you said a worn out tensioner too cause chain slapping sound which in turn would make the valve train noisy. The tensioner is pretty much a robust part.

If you hear this clattering only when the engine is heated up and not during cold morning starts, don't bother. If you hear this sound during both cold morning starts and post the engine warm up, strongly recommend you to check and replace shims.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Thanks for the information!

Will check the oil level. Do you think the timing chain tensioner has anything to do with this? I have been hearing some claterring sounds from the head.

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

To be dealt with importance. First off start off by inspecting your engine oil level in the sight window. If the oil level is to the recommended level, suspect a failed oil pressure sensor. The oil pressure sensor is on the left side of the bike at the top of the cylinder head. A faulty oil pressure sensor would mean irrational notifications on the dash even with the right oil present in the engine. Worse, the oil jets to the head can be blocked causing less oil pressure to the head and in turn the dash throwing the error.

Start off by
1. Checking the oil level, very important.
2. Check your oil pressure sensor, inspect and replace if necessary

Keep your observations posted.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Hi team,

I have the Low Oil Pressure warning popup on my dash recently. I have a 2016 rc390 with 25k on the odo.

I replaced the clutch and the did an oil change(1.65 ltrs) myself at home around 1.5 months ago. Flushed and refilled the coolant at the service center 2 weeks ago.

The low oil pressure warning was intermittent for a couple of weeks. Now it stays on constantly after 10-15 min of riding.

Please provide some direction regarding this issue. I don't want to be taken for a ride by the SVC guys.

Avinash

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

the mirrors on the duke have screws using which you can tighten the ball joint. never paid much attention to the rc's rvm.. look around the mirror/base if you can spot any sort of screw, or ask the svc to tighten it and see what they have to say.. worth a try before going in for a replacement or some sort of a workaround.

update: well, here is something i found.. does indeed seem to have provision for adjustment: link to the post below

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

Glad that you fixed your ABS issue. Secondly, a ball joint that is loose cannot be fixed, the mirror has to be replaced. You can use superglue to fix them in position, but then you won't be able to move adjust them. Get the best position and use the glue, the position is fixed.

Cheers!
VJ

Re: KTM RC 390 Ownership Experience

My RC390 was showing abs light on all the time and abs wasn't working. I assumed that the issue might be with the instrument cluster as the buttons gave up and water might have entered through it. Both the issues cropped up at same time and i thought it would be related. After giving to a good nearby service center they found abs wires being bitten by rats. The wires were joined and abs issue was fixed.


Now, one of my rear view mirrors is shaky, the base is not loose but the ball head is loose. Can this be fixed?