Posts about my VFR400R NC30.
In the previous post, I described my solution for controlling the idle speed. That post ended with some unfinished business. Let’s finish that up. The prototype idle air control valve needed to be remade for real. I incorporated some changes to make it easier to machine, and took a bit more care the second time …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #28: More Idle Air Controller’ »
The lack of updates does not mean a complete lack of progress on the NC30 project, I’ve mostly been in “pondering” mode and haven’t really had anything coherent to say. But now I do have something coherent to say about a completely new topic: idle air control. After the first start on EFI (hard to …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #27: Idle Air Controller’ »
While slowly making progress on assembling the fuel pump housing (welding the 1.6mm 6061 sheets is really taxing my welding skills), I’ve addressed the other end of the fuel supply. The stock petcock can’t be used since it has no provision for a fuel return line, and the tall strainer makes the pump suck air …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #26: Petcock replacement’ »
The fuel pump housing I described in the last post has slowly been coming into existence. (There’s been some house-related distractions that I may talk about at some point…) All the “complicated” parts have been completed. What remains is to cut out the 8 pieces made of 1/16″ (1.6mm) flat sheet. I’m not entirely …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #25: Fuel pump housing progress’ »
If there hasn’t been that much activity lately, it’s because I’ve been pondering how to solve the fuel pump mounting problem. The pump is just large enough that when you include the diametrically opposite inlet and outlet, there just isn’t enough room, and since the pump can’t self-prime with any amount of air in the …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #24: Fuel pump housing’ »
With the intake rubber fitment problem overcome, I could finally mount the entire throttle body assembly onto the bike. This was a moment long coming. Thankfully it all fit. The four throttle bodies slid into the intakes a lot easier than the carbs did, which isn’t surprising since the “barbs” are much smaller now. The …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #23: We have ignition’ »
Unlike previous posts, there will be no gasoline splashing in this episode. This one is all about CNC goodness. There is one final part to fitting the throttle bodies that I’ve not touched upon yet. The stock carbs mount to the intakes using short rubber couplers. The throttle bodies have a slightly larger diameter intake …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #22: Mounting the intake rubbers’ »
As mentioned in the last post, now that the injectors are mounted in the fuel rail and there are no leaks, it’s possible to measure the injector performance. A fuel injector is essentially a very fast-acting and well calibrated valve. It has an electromagnetically actuated plunger that opens when current flows through the solenoid, letting fuel …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #21: Injector characterization’ »
With the fuel rail parts completed, it was time to assemble it and see if it worked. Step one was to replace the seals on the injectors. I’d ordered a replacement seal kit from “Mr Injector” a while ago but didn’t want to replace the existing O-rings until I was mostly done with all the …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #20: Leaks…’ »
In the last post, the first half of the fuel rail, for cylinders 2 & 4, was made. Now it’s time to complete the other half. This will hold the injectors for cylinders 1 & 3 (the rear ones), plus the fuel pressure regulator. I fiddled a lot with the fuel pressure regulator to get …
Continue reading ‘Microsquirting the NC30, part #19: The other fuel rail’ »