Dunlop D250 180/60R 16 fitted

[Colonial Boy]

obviously i need to ascertain that the D419 is the same size dimensionally as the D250 given it is the same size on the tyre wall (180/60/16) otherwise i will be back to square one if the tyre profile is different.
One more thing CB, did you ascertain how much wear was on your chain by adjuster position before you started this conversion? ie was the chain virtually new or approx 1/2 life? i just wondered if the latest position of the excentric adjuster would limit the ammount of chain adjustment available and hence the ammount of miles per chain?

Hi Jon, I wonder if you could phone or email Dunlop UK for the answer to the D419/D250 question?
As for chain adjustment, my mods have not altered the original excenter position. However, as I have no idea how worn the chain is, perhaps someone with more knowledge could look at the picture of the excenter position and tell. I don't think reversing the position so the axle is uppermost has altered the amount of adjustment still available and can't see why it should - other than it may have straightened the top section of chain over the guide fractionally and therefore made this longer - but it would be slight. I may,when the bike is "finished", lengthen the stand legs and return the axle to the original position - the current position is a bit of a 'quick-fix'.

I would stress that all these mods are out of necessity - not because I like 'tinkering'. I would have much prefered to fit original tyres if I could have found them.

Cheers, CB

[Colonial Boy]

Shame you are on the other side of the world otherwise i would pop over and give you a hand. Keep up the good work. Cheers Jon

Thanks for that offer Jon. I wish I wasn't on the edge of "The Empire" sometimes. 45 years ago today I left England - and I still miss it.

Cheers, CB

[Colonial Boy]

New battery collected today and fitted. Bike now cranks really fast but doesn't fire. Last time it was inactive for a while I rolled it down our driveway and bump started it, so I will try that again. However that will have to wait until Sunday afternoon as we are off to Wellington (about 200 miles away) this weekend on the Triumph (sorry v2barn!).

Cheers, CB

[v2barn]

Hello CB and fellow 906ers, Called Dunlop UK still waiting for a reply but i have deduced that tyres are diametrically the same from info on net.
As for leaving the UK 45 years ago i would say congratulations!! best move you ever made, i wish England was the same as you left it, this place has been sold down the river by every mealy mouthed politician since you left.
I have recently returned from living in France for 2 years and i have to say i wished i had stayed.
This country is nothing like you remember my friend, keep those rose tinted specs on as to return now would be a shock to say the least; the 'empire' is long gone and to coin an old phrase from those days 'the natives are revolting'!!!!!!!!!!!!
No apologies required CB all in your own time, hope you had a good trip to Wellington on the Triumph (what type?) somehow wish i was following you there on my Norton.
All the best with the 'project'
Cheers Jon

[Colonial Boy]

hope you had a good trip to Wellington on the Triumph (what type?) somehow wish i was following you there on my Norton.
Cheers Jon

Would have been pretty cool to have you with us on the Norton Jon! Our Sprint covered the 344 mile trip without trouble. Such a capable sports/tourer and the best available imho (sorry ST2/3/4)

So when I got home I did my old trick of running the 906 down the drive. However, we live on a pretty steep hill and what goes down must come up - which was a problem when I got to the bottom and she still hadn't fired
What was an easy way out turned into a major operation with the trailer etc.

The 906 is safely back in the shed and thankfully undamaged As I've got spark I think it must be stale fuel. I will have to clean out the carby and try again on the starter - an after-work job this week.

Cheers, CB

[JWilliam]

There are a couple of tasks to do when a Paso is laid up. Remove all fuel from the pipe lines, fuel pump and carburettor, or the fuel will evaporate and cause the float valve to stick in the 'down' position. disconnect the fuel return pipe from the petrol tank*, the fuel slowly evaporates from the fuel tank and exits through the carburettor, causing (you guessed it) the float valve to stick in the 'down' position! Remove the battery, keep in a warm place (to prevent freezing) and recharge every 2 weeks.
I have introduced a small pipe to the airbox so I can squirt some Easy-start into the bell mouths to aid starting. The 906 has not been run since mid November and it looks like I will have the joys of getting it to run in a week or two.

* Temporarily block the tanks return pipe tube to prevent petrol gassing off.

[Colonial Boy]

Thanks JW - will take your advice.

Cheers, CB

[Colonial Boy]

If anyone watching this topic can offer advice on the fuel system I would be grateful if you would view the topic "Fuel Return Line". Bike is frustratingly close to running!

Cheers, CB

[Colonial Boy]

Ok so now it is running again I took it for a quick squirt up the road. I have only refitted the front guard, tank, seat & tail cone so it looks a bit odd but I live in a quiet blind rural road where most of the residents are petrol heads

First thing I heard as I went down the drive (no helmet) was the chain hitting the centre stand occasionally. I will address this properly when I lengthen the legs.

My smile broadened as I went up through that sweet little gearbox but I was surprised at the effort needed to make it turn into the first bend in the road. I think that this must be a Paso thing rather than a tyre thing as I have been riding my Triumph Sprint which turns in very easily - quicker than my GPZ for example. I welcome any comments comparing the Paso's handling to that of a more modern sports bike or ST please.

I know you are all wondering about rear tyre grip under braking so I braked hard with both brakes applied normally with no rear lock-up. I would add that the road was dry. It was only after I braked hard a number of times using less front and more rear that I eventually got the rear to skid. By then I was only touching the front and abusing the rear to do it.

I am next going to fit the fairings and prepare it for its Warrant of Fitness. I will take it for a much longer shake-down run when it is looking more 'legal'.

I have decided to lengthen both stands but haven't decided whether to return the excenter to the original position or not. My feeling is that I should. Comments welcome.

Cheers, CB

[higgy]

I was surprised at the effort needed to make it turn into the first bend in the road. I think that this must be a Paso thing

It is a wide 60/16 inch tire thing...........

[Colonial Boy]

It is a wide 60/16 inch tire thing...........

And just when I was thinking what a nice friendly bunch of guys on here

I just checked tyre pressures: 30psi front and 31psi rear. Can anyone running the Dunlop front suggest a good pressure?

CB

[v2barn]

CB do you see any prob's with the warrant of fitness regarding the fitment of the new size tyres? would you even mention it? when i do the same conversion on mine i can't see any reason why i would need to mention such a conversion to the MOT test guys, any body else got a view on this 'declaration' ? i assume from what i have read the German authorities want an approval from the manufacturer before such a 'modified' machine was subject to a test.
I am convinced it is not a 'tyre size thing' it's more of a 'familiarity thing' ie. once you have put a few miles on the new rubber and got used to the bike, the handling will be fine for the sort of riding most of us do.
Ignore the detractors (that's just a tosser thing) carry on the good work and keep us informed of progress. Cheers jon

[Colonial Boy]

CB do you see any prob's with the warrant of fitness regarding the fitment of the new size tyres? would you even mention it?
I am convinced it is not a 'tyre size thing' it's more of a 'familiarity thing' ie. once you have put a few miles on the new rubber and got used to the bike, the handling will be fine for the sort of riding most of us do.
Cheers jon

Hi Jon, I don't see any probs with the WoF. In most cases here in NZ the tester will not be familiar with the 906 and won't even know about the tyre mod. I think that will probably be true of the UK too. As long as the tread depth and condition of the tyre is ok it will pass. I will discuss it with my tester as he is an enthusiast and I will want him to give his opinion on the handling. Otherwise he probably wouldn't even ride it for the test (he didn't ride my Sprint).

I've got my fingers crossed that you are right about the familiarity side of it. I really think it is unfair to compare it to the Sprint. I will ride my GPZ over the same stretch of road and then hop on the 906 for a comparison. At least they are of a similar era and I know the GPZ is heavier in the steering than the Sprint as it has more rake.

I'm hoping to get the fairings on this afternoon

All the best, CB

[hardo]

"My smile broadened as I went up through that sweet little gearbox but I was surprised at the effort needed to make it turn into the first bend in the road. I think that this must be a Paso thing rather than a tyre thing as I have been riding my Triumph Sprint which turns in very easily - quicker than my GPZ for example. I welcome any comments comparing the Paso's handling to that of a more modern sports bike or ST please."

hi DB

I really think that is the typically paso behavoiur caused by the smal 16'' wheels. because the wheels are quite wide anyway (130 and 160 or 180), the driving is much different to - e.g. a moto guzzi (I have one) with 17'' or 18" wheels -. this "strange feeling" will be less whenever you drive faster through the corner. In this forum, you can read old road test and they decribe this effects too.

all the best - we are looking forward to here mor from you

[Colonial Boy]

Thanks hardo

Progress on refitting the fairings came to a halt when I discovered a crack in the lower right-hand radiator bracket. Will take it to work to weld up. Suggest you all check that bracket next time you have the fairing off.

Cheers, CB