Increasing The Torque for Four Stroke Motorcycles

Torque the word itself suggest power from core. Earlier we had large number of two stroke engines in Indian market. These engines were known for it’s true nature – Power. Well let’s not talk about details about it’s Engineering. Lets talk about some of the spare which was helping to increase the engine torque.

Reed Valve, the main spare of two stroke engine which was contributing it’s help to increase the torque. This spare was also known as a NRV (Non-Return Valve), which was closing the door of intake manifold from inner side when piston used to start towards BTDC. That means keeping the charged Air/Fuel Mixture in the crank and pressurised it. Now in this case torque used to get high due to perfect quantity of AF (Air/Fuel) mixture.

Lets merge the same with four stroke engine now. In four stroke engine if you notice when piston about to come TDC position the Internal AF tries to back out from the same inlet valve, due to that the charge mixture comes back out from carburetor venturi, which causes black spots on the carburetor and lack of fuel to burn, that means lack of torque. So here mixing and merging some spares from two stroke engine to four stroke engine, in simple language putting Reed Valve on four stroke engine.

As per my experience when I did this engineering I found the bike stopped backfiring, back kicking, smell of fuel and good power. I used the same concept of Reed Valve. After some engineering I did put on reed valve when piston used to travel from BTDC to TDC the Reed Valve gets closed and keeps the charge AF in the chamber due to that I found great change in power.

Though the fixing of the carburetor with reed valve was temporarily, it was just for testing purpose. But the result was great. Basically, in two stroke engine reed valve acts when piston is coming towards BTDC, but here in four stroke engine it acts when the piston is coming to TDC position. When piston comes from BTDC to TDC in that case Valve never get fully closed so due to that piston somehow reverse the main AF to inlet manifold or till the air filter. But after Reed Valve it stopped reversing the AF till Carburetor. That means fully charged AF for burning and torque.

NGK IR (Iridium) Spark Plugs for MotorcyclesMost of us have heard about NGK IR (Iridium) spark plugs. These are plugs commonly used in the hope of maximizing performance and efficiency, but how much can it really change your machines performance? We take a look at the facts and me being an automobile specialist myself, I reveal all about it. The Basics: The primary function of the spark plug is to ignite the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber at all RPM’s. Spark plugs must provide a path for the flow of electrical energy from the ignition coil to create a spark used to ignite the air-fuel mixture. Sufficient amount of voltage must be supplied by the ignition system in order to create a spark across the spark plug gap. This is called the ‘Electrical Performance’. All the conventional plugs fail to supply proper voltage when its tip gets carbonized or when the resistance of the plug becomes too high. The resistance power basically depends on many factors. Many people install IR without any high performance plug cables, this can create resistance in the wires when it comes to long term use. Why? IR is basically connected to an ignition coil through a cable. For IR the best cable is high performance cable and so too is the required coil. The ignition voltage in the combustion chamber is nearly about 18000V. These days’ high performance coils can be found on various bikes, For example a Royal Enfield has coil which gives about 24000V, MSD ignition gives about 44000V. That’s a lot of voltage to be dealing with and in order for it to reach the plug without much loss, the need for high performance cables arises. A spark plug firing end temperature must be kept low enough to prevent pre-ignition, but high enough to prevent fouling. This is called “Thermal Performance”, and is determined by the heat range. Plug Replacement Time: Unfortunately, there is no fixed answer to this. As spark plugs grow older, they lose their sharp edges as material from the centre and ground electrodes are slowly eroded away. As the gap between these two points grows, the voltage required to bridge the gap increases proportionately. Even the best ignition systems will be strained to supply enough voltage to completely burn the fuel. It is at this point, that the spark plug would need a replacement. Replacing worn out spark plugs with new ones (with sharp new edges) effectively restores the ignition system’s efficiency. Misfires are reduced, power is restored, economy of operation is enhanced and emissions are reduced. Cleaning of IR: Yes, you can clean spark plugs. However, it is good to remember that spark plugs are a vital component, so it’s important to make sure you check to see if it’s worth cleaning before you go through the following steps. * If the firing end is wet, make sure you clean the spark plug with a quick drying cleaner. (Examples: contact cleaner or brake cleaner). * Sand blast the spark plug using low air pressure and use a dry compound. * Completely blow all the sand from the spark plug. * Using a wire brush clean the threads and re-gap. NOTE: Insufficient cleaning of the spark plug may lead to spark plug failure in a very short period of time. Clean the spark plug thoroughly to avoid problems later. Remember, if a spark plug is fouling it’s usually a result of engine side factors or incorrect heat range selection. Performance gain after installing the plug: A common misconception is that changing spark plugs will result in a large power increase. In most cases, removing even seriously worn out spark plugs will only result in tiny power gains, typically about 1-2% of total engine output. This could be even less for computer-controlled vehicles, primarily because most newer vehicles have more powerful ignition systems and the vehicle’s computer can make adjustments so that vehicle operation is not affected by the resistance generated by the spark plug. Many people think that simply supplying more spark to the firing tip can and will combust more fuel. What they don’t understand is that most new fuel injected vehicles are designed in a way that they can use even the last drop of fuel. So fitting a better spark plug wont be able to make any sort of changes here as the computer already controls the fuel pump and injector along with the sparkplugs. When a stock or near-stock engine is given a fresh set of spark plugs, peak efficiency is restored. The power gains that come from this restored state of tune are usually minimal. Any company that tells you that their spark plug will provide significant gains in power in a stock or near-stock engine is making blank statements that may not be supportable.Most of us have heard about NGK IR (Iridium) spark plugs. These are plugs commonly used in the hope of maximizing performance and efficiency, but how much can it really change your machines performance? We take a look at the facts and me being an automobile specialist myself, I reveal all about it. The Basics: The primary function of the spark plug is to ignite the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber at all RPM’s. Spark plugs must provide a path for the flow of electrical energy from the ignition coil to create a spark used to ignite the air-fuel mixture. Sufficient amount of voltage must be supplied by the ignition system in order to create a spark across the spark plug gap. This is called the ‘Electrical Performance’. All the conventional plugs fail to supply proper voltage when its tip gets carbonized or when the resistance of the plug becomes too high. The resistance power basically depends on many factors. Many people install IR without any high performance plug cables, this can create resistance in the wires when it comes to long term use. Why? IR is basically connected to an ignition coil through a cable. For IR the best cable is high performance cable and so too is the required coil. The ignition voltage in the combustion chamber is nearly about 18000V. These days’ high performance coils can be found on various bikes, For example a Royal Enfield has coil which gives about 24000V, MSD ignition gives about 44000V. That’s a lot of voltage to be dealing with and in order for it to reach the plug without much loss, the need for high performance cables arises. A spark plug firing end temperature must be kept low enough to prevent pre-ignition, but high enough to prevent fouling. This is called “Thermal Performance”, and is determined by the heat range. Plug Replacement Time: Unfortunately, there is no fixed answer to this. As spark plugs grow older, they lose their sharp edges as material from the centre and ground electrodes are slowly eroded away. As the gap between these two points grows, the voltage required to bridge the gap increases proportionately. Even the best ignition systems will be strained to supply enough voltage to completely burn the fuel. It is at this point, that the spark plug would need a replacement. Replacing worn out spark plugs with new ones (with sharp new edges) effectively restores the ignition system’s efficiency. Misfires are reduced, power is restored, economy of operation is enhanced and emissions are reduced. Cleaning of IR: Yes, you can clean spark plugs. However, it is good to remember that spark plugs are a vital component, so it’s important to make sure you check to see if it’s worth cleaning before you go through the following steps. * If the firing end is wet, make sure you clean the spark plug with a quick drying cleaner. (Examples: contact cleaner or brake cleaner). * Sand blast the spark plug using low air pressure and use a dry compound. * Completely blow all the sand from the spark plug. * Using a wire brush clean the threads and re-gap. NOTE: Insufficient cleaning of the spark plug may lead to spark plug failure in a very short period of time. Clean the spark plug thoroughly to avoid problems later. Remember, if a spark plug is fouling it’s usually a result of engine side factors or incorrect heat range selection. Performance gain after installing the plug: A common misconception is that changing spark plugs will result in a large power increase. In most cases, removing even seriously worn out spark plugs will only result in tiny power gains, typically about 1-2% of total engine output. This could be even less for computer-controlled vehicles, primarily because most newer vehicles have more powerful ignition systems and the vehicle’s computer can make adjustments so that vehicle operation is not affected by the resistance generated by the spark plug. Many people think that simply supplying more spark to the firing tip can and will combust more fuel. What they don’t understand is that most new fuel injected vehicles are designed in a way that they can use even the last drop of fuel. So fitting a better spark plug wont be able to make any sort of changes here as the computer already controls the fuel pump and injector along with the sparkplugs. When a stock or near-stock engine is given a fresh set of spark plugs, peak efficiency is restored. The power gains that come from this restored state of tune are usually minimal. Any company that tells you that their spark plug will provide significant gains in power in a stock or near-stock engine is making blank statements that may not be supportable.

Most of us have heard about NGK IR (Iridium) spark plugs. These are plugs commonly used in the hope of maximizing performance and efficiency, but how much can it really change your machines performance? We take a look at the facts and me being an automobile specialist myself, I reveal all about it.

The Basics: The primary function of the spark plug is to ignite the air/fuel mixture within the combustion chamber at all RPM’s. Spark plugs must provide a path for the flow of electrical energy from the ignition coil to create a spark used to ignite the air-fuel mixture. Sufficient amount of voltage must be supplied by the ignition system in order to create a spark across the spark plug gap. This is called the ‘Electrical Performance’. All the conventional plugs fail to supply proper voltage when its tip gets carbonized or when the resistance of the plug becomes too high. The resistance power basically depends on many factors. Many people install IR without any high performance plug cables, this can create resistance in the wires when it comes to long term use.

Why? IR is basically connected to an ignition coil through a cable. For IR the best cable is high performance cable and so too is the required coil. The ignition voltage in the combustion chamber is nearly about 18000V. These days’ high performance coils can be found on various bikes, For example a Royal Enfield has coil which gives about 24000V, MSD ignition gives about 44000V. That’s a lot of voltage to be dealing with and in order for it to reach the plug without much loss, the need for high performance cables arises.

A spark plug firing end temperature must be kept low enough to prevent pre-ignition, but high enough to prevent fouling. This is called “Thermal Performance”, and is determined by the heat range.

Plug Replacement Time: Unfortunately, there is no fixed answer to this. As spark plugs grow older, they lose their sharp edges as material from the centre and ground electrodes are slowly eroded away. As the gap between these two points grows, the voltage required to bridge the gap increases proportionately. Even the best ignition systems will be strained to supply enough voltage to completely burn the fuel. It is at this point, that the spark plug would need a replacement.

Replacing worn out spark plugs with new ones (with sharp new edges) effectively restores the ignition system’s efficiency. Misfires are reduced, power is restored, economy of operation is enhanced and emissions are reduced.

Cleaning of IR: Yes, you can clean spark plugs. However, it is good to remember that spark plugs are a vital component, so it’s important to make sure you check to see if it’s worth cleaning before you go through the following steps.

• If the firing end is wet, make sure you clean the spark plug with a quick drying cleaner. (Examples: contact cleaner or brake cleaner).
• Sand blast the spark plug using low air pressure and use a dry compound.
• Completely blow all the sand from the spark plug.
• Using a wire brush clean the threads and re-gap.

NOTE: Insufficient cleaning of the spark plug may lead to spark plug failure in a very short period of time. Clean the spark plug thoroughly to avoid problems later. Remember, if a spark plug is fouling it’s usually a result of engine side factors or incorrect heat range selection.

Performance gain after installing the plug: A common misconception is that changing spark plugs will result in a large power increase. In most cases, removing even seriously worn out spark plugs will only result in tiny power gains, typically about 1-2% of total engine output. This could be even less for computer-controlled vehicles, primarily because most newer vehicles have more powerful ignition systems and the vehicle’s computer can make adjustments so that vehicle operation is not affected by the resistance generated by the spark plug.

Many people think that simply supplying more spark to the firing tip can and will combust more fuel. What they don’t understand is that most new fuel injected vehicles are designed in a way that they can use even the last drop of fuel. So fitting a better spark plug wont be able to make any sort of changes here as the computer already controls the fuel pump and injector along with the sparkplugs.

When a stock or near-stock engine is given a fresh set of spark plugs, peak efficiency is restored. The power gains that come from this restored state of tune are usually minimal. Any company that tells you that their spark plug will provide significant gains in power in a stock or near-stock engine is making blank statements that may not be supportable.

Everything You Need To Know About Disc Brakes and Brake Fluids

When we talk about high performance vehicles we also think about brakes like Mechanical linked Brakes, Hydraulic Brakes and Air Brakes. My article is totally related to hydraulic disc brake system which is used in Indian motorcycles. Extensive usage of Disc Brakes in Motorcycle,  neglected brake service due to cost of spares, lack of knowledge about servicing and so on.

The image describes how a disc brake works. So lets not discuss about it’s working principle. But lets think about the material we use and get for that. Caliper & master cylinder we get from company is made up of aluminum and we use DOT 3 or 4 fluid for activation and so company recommends that too.

DOT 3 and 4 only grades for hydraulic brakes? No, A total of four grades are available DOT 3,4,5 and 5.1.

• DOT 3 or 4 (Glycol Based): Maximum we use these fluids in our motorcycle. Well because we know only about those two grades and we get only these two grades.
• DOT 5 (Silicone Based): Yet to come in India. (Not suitable for ABS)
• DOT 5.1 (Glycol Based): Either not available in India but this fluid has HIGH BOILING POINT and can mix with DOT3 or 4. So this is the best fluid for our units.

Why we require servicing of disc brake? Well DOT 3/4 fluids are very high hygroscopic fluids (hygroscopic=which means they absorb water easily and hold it in suspension). When we apply disc brake at that time it boils at very low temp due to that it expands the internal air which is in heat expansion chamber (this chamber is in the reservoir below the master cylinder cap, and above the MAX. level of fluid) When air get heats up due to the internal temp. It also cools down. As we know when air heats up what happens to it. It becomes steam but after cooling it becomes water. As I told you before about hygroscopic characteristic of fluid means it can mix with water easily. Generally our mechanic says that the water is entering from the hole which is given for breathing purpose. But NO, that is not the only reason. Heat, cold & moisture is the reason behind all mess.

The material which companies are using for caliper and master cylinder is aluminum or sort of aluminum alloy. Aluminum never get rusted but get affected by water so that shows deposition of oxidation on the surface. In the master cylinder when fluid mix with the water that affects the master cylinder body and starts the oxidation reaction. The oxidation will never mix with fluid but floats on the surface or sticks to cylinder wall or it goes to the main track till caliper. And here you feel bad brakes. First brake fluid becomes black due to temperature & operation, secondly oxidation clogs the track. Result: Bad and hard brake lever so no brake at all.

So first of all service the brake system thoroughly and change the brake fluid at least 4 times in a year. The level given on the master cylinder is not to refill the fluid but that indicates the brakes pads wear and tear. So if the fluid is less then change the brake pads as fast as possible. (In the cars pad wear indication is scratchy noise made by steel plate).

Fluid level will come back to normal. Brake fluid never decreases by any chance unless and until if there is any accident. But at normal usage pads start wearing. A professional rider changes brake fluid 4 times in a year. So I feel we should switch to DOT 5.1 brake fluid. Soon I will be importing this fluid for disc brake systems.

Always check and clean the disc unit from professional and skilled mechanic. Do not try to attempt this at home if you are unknown to any mechanical parts. You may endanger your or others life by wrong fitments. This article is for awareness only.