Shaving Tecate Head

[BigGreenMachine]

Need to know how much I can shave off the Tecate head to boost compression but still run pump gas. Or how hard is it to mix race gas?

[ATCWRENCH]

I asked my kawasaki dealer and he said the max that can be taken off is 120 thousands, i went 60 thousands and havent had a problem with running 91 octane pump with bel-ray HC-1 race oil mixed at 50:1. also have a DG pipe and silencer.

[BigGreenMachine]

So the 120 thousandths would have to be ran with race gas? How was the difference in power with the bumped compression? What ratio is 60 thousandths off the head compression wise?

James

[ATCWRENCH]

i'm not sure what the compression is right off hand but when I got the head back I went with 91 octane right off the bat to see if I needed a higher octane fuel. 91 is the highest octane i can get around here. I premixed 50:1 before I shaved the head and had no problems with pinging or rattling in the cylinder so I went back with the same premix with the same results. the power difference was amazing. I am a fairly big guy and all the way through 4th gear I was lucky to have the front tire on the ground at all. didnt have to lean back at all, just crack the throttle open and hang on.

then I started having a top end war with a buddy of mine who has a 350X. I put 16 tooth front sprocket on and it took all of my bottom end away from me, but it would run 70MPH all day long but thats not where I like to have my fun at.

if ya want awesome power shave the head 60 thousands, put a DG pipe kit on it, carbon fiber reeds and put mikuni 38mm flat slide on it and it will rock and roll all day long.

to compare how fast mine is, I dusted an 86 tecate at my local riding area. the only thing that i know of that was done to the 86 was it was piped and jetted a little fatter and thats it.

[darrel632]

I took mine .80 k and it runs on 50:1 Amisol with 89 octane with no issue -- measured compression 0f 177 (digital) after 8 tanks of fuel, Its also bored .35k Flat piston, polished and ported, intake roughened up, water jacket cleaned, media blasted and opened .10k. D-G pipe, K&N Yada yada. It doesn't seem to run any better on high octane, doesn't usually see the top side of 60 mph anymore either. I'm feeling to old to ride that hard very often except on ice. Powerband is at least 20% more viscious than previously stock with 10 years of serious, non abusive riding on it.

[1984kxtTECATE]

Here is another alternitave to shaving the head, I was at Tecate connection last pricing out some stuff for a later purchase when I get my Tri-z resto done (oops said too much) anyways they sell a cool head for the 84/85 T3's at (edit) 275 of there site (edit), comes with different combustion chambers to boost or lower compression, that way you can just find the one that fits your needs perfectly. Tecateconnection.com

[BigGreenMachine]

So .80 thousandths gave you no detonation? How much further ya think I could go before I'd have to run race gas?

Glad I'm gettin some feedback on this guys.

[darrel632]

I personally wouldn't go more than 100 ever. 80 is lots unless you're going to race it Polish it, port it, seriously clean up the water jacket, and if you can balance the thing, do it.
Don't bore it unless you have to and don't go to a high comp piston, it doesn't need it. I wish I hadn't gone nuts on my T-4 10 years ago; now I drain the fuel it every night I use it, oil change every time I ride and I'm behind the thing all the time, there is little or no fun in operating the beast at any time, period ,its like owning a dog that wants to bite you - its almost as bad as riding a performance. "zilla". shorter, meaner and just as uncomfortable. I can ride the T-3 anytime, (no detonation ever) up to about 70 MPH. I ride at 3500 ft of elevation 40 to 60% humidity summer or winter (starts like in winter if its not inside) (Runs like in the rain)
WHY do you want to shave it anyways? 65 mph isn't fast enough? you need a 1/2 point on 300 footers?
The t-4 is at .110 runs (Bored .35, stroked shaved 10.75 : 1 330cc)70/30 fuel 0n 93 or 90/10 on 120 av gas-- your price just doubled to ride
Castrol 10-40 synthetic in the lower end change it every time- drain run through magnetic screen
and clean rad every 3rd ride run the fluid through a magnetic screen

don't bush ride 1500.00 minimum to replace the motor if you plant a stick in the rad.
Don't ride in more than 6 in of snow gets to hot,
don't mud bog it it gets to hot.
NEVER RIDE ANGRY --injuries occur way to quickly (broken arm, leg, and collarbone)!
Never ever sell it because the adrenaline rush is better than finding twin sisters in your house!!

[BigGreenMachine]

LOL Way to sum it up. Shes a angry brute as it is but I like the snap your head gets when you wrap it open so shaving the head and a port job are in my wintertime plans. Thanks guys, I know what I need to do.

James

[honda200]

shave the flywheel while your at it, my uncle did it to his banshee and he said that after he did that, it would snap his head back in 4th gear when you cracked it wide open

plus, when you shave the flywheel, it gets them "perfectly" balanced, which is a good thing

port, polish, pipe, shave head and flywheel, carbon fiber reeds and reed spacers, and hold on for life!

Curtis

[BigGreenMachine]

flywheel stays the same as it is since i ride lots of tight slow trails. lighter flywheels increase the tendancy to stall.

[TRITecate350]

The SR billet heads are awesome for the 83-85 Tecate-3s. Better Squish, more compression, better cooling etc. Plus if you ever go to a big bore kit you can switch domes and you are done. Also on www.tecateconnection.com they are getting ready to do a big bore stroker 330 using a 85 KX cylinder on a 85 tecate-3.

[BigGreenMachine]

Bringing this back from the grave. Sending my spare head out tomorrow. 80 thousands coming off for 40 bux Canadian on the CNC machine.

Darrel, when you say clean up the water jacket, how would you go about this without a bead blaster?

James

[darrel632]

Acid wash at a rad shop takes all the crap, impurities etc out its amazing how much stuff comes out, acid bath and flush the rad new hoses etc. should be no more than 50 to 80 Newfie bucks
100 thousanths is one hundreth of an inch 50 thou. is 1/2 of a hundreth

Darrel

[BigGreenMachine]

So which is it, 80 thousandths or 80 thousands that you had removed?

James