Dels v Mikuni

  • Thread starter Thread starter Davo
  • Start date Start date
when I installed RS36s with straight rubbers like you show for your 3c, the petrol tank rubbed on the tops of the carbs. I tried raising the back of the tank up but didn't like the look.
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IIRC I raised the tank a few mm by putting a bit of plastic tube under the rubber bungs that support the tank at the back, cos I think I also had a similar problem with clearance.  Three mm or so wasn't too noticable once the bike was back together looking at the pics.

I cut down the airbox a little as per Red's instructions, and the rubbers were pushed into the box a bit- to the first 'concertina', but the seal was good.  That did push the airbox quite hard back against the frame rails, causing one back to disintegrate.  A machined alloy replacement from Ralphie fixed that (the backs are quite brittle compared with the front of the box, dunno why)

I stretched the rubbers with one of Red's carb adaptors- just got it good and warm in front of the fan heater and then pushed the adaptor in, let it cool, then warmed it up again a couple of times- seemed to do the trick.  Once they were in place for a while they were fine to fit.  My rubbers were quite new and stretchy though- think from Slater's.

My plan was to then go to pod filters and I bought some of Red's angled inlet stubs to do this, but sold the bike before fitting them.

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...I tried some mikunis on my jota and i had a big problem with (as Piet mentioned) slide rattle, the bike made such a din at low engine speeds it
spoilt what is quite a refined bike, it also in my opinion altered the character of the bike, not only in looks, (nothing like a beautifull set of dels peeping out under the tank)  but also the feedback of the ride, it took some of the rawness or edge of the whole riding experience, and the bike was loosing some of its Laverdaness.

Anyway after a few weeks of thinking "these are crap" (the mikis that is) i took them off and tried them on a Mirage that i`ve got, (A11 cams) and the slides were as quiet as a quiet thing, and it ran sweet, but again the bike lost some of its Laverdaness. Wether the slide rattle was the difference in 4c to A11 overlap of the cams, or my jota needs it valve timing dialing in, or something like that i don`t know, but in the end i happened upon a set of almost new 36m dellortos and they now adorn my jota and the wonderful riding experience is once again restored... 
 
Hi Rob,

your comment made me smile (even if that was not your intention...  ;) ) I have never thought about a bad running Laverda is more "LAVERDA"-like than a good running one...  :D Don't let Piero hear that...  :LOL: :LOL: :LOL:

To be honest, I understand your point in terms of the look and running etc. I was thinking the absolute same when I restored the 750 SF and had the first ride-out. I decided to sell the bike on to someone who appreciated the bike "as is" over me changing so many things that I do not like to make it "my bike". It was a good experience having ridden the bike for roughly 2.000Km "from new" if you will and it was a perfect runner. I did not want to destroy this piece of art by tuning it to the stage I would have loved it to be. It is now in good hands, gets used regularly but gently, gets overall good care and that is how it should be.

However, for my other bikes that I decided to keep, more "grunt" was what I was looking for...
 
Interesting observation of the Mikuni RS carb slides' rattle.  I wondered about this when it was first mentioned because I never noticed it on either the 120 triple or the Mirage.  Now it's a bit clearer. It's apparently related to the engine's state of tune.
 
Rob, 

Don't think the Mikkies take the edge off the "Laverdaness", rather make the edge a bit sharper... :D  I now take the rattle for granted and try to keep the engine spinning instead of idling.  These old bangers have loads of potential, modern components like these carbs all help a little to unleash it.

As I stated, Dellortos in good condition are quite OK, but most I come across are far past that point, spoiling otherwise nice running machines.  It is definitely these that benefit most from a carb overhaul, or, what's easier and usually cheaper, a straight swap.

One great advantage of my swap is that I now have a pristine set of 36mm Dellortos left over for my RGS! 8)

piet
 
::) wonder if anyones fitted mikis on their jota and the slides don`t rattle at low revs?  I know on my mirage there wasn`t a hint of it, only reason i took them off the mirage was to put it back to standard to sell it,  but i`ve sinced change my mind and i`m keeping it. :)
 
Brother Marty's RGS is like chalk and cheese with the flat slides.
So much easier to ride, lighter throttle and so much more responsive when you open up the taps.
Also, it starts first kick of the starter now.  From cold with the old carbs it used to fart, sputter, belch, fart some more and then sometimes fire.......

Now looking to put them on my 950 Le Mans project bike, and Marty looking at his 850 Le Mans 2 as well.

A set is already on his silver early series Jota which is gradually coming together.  Red's work on the donk looks pristine, and paint is almost ready.

The RGS can be seen out and about in Adelaide with rego RGS 981.

DaveB formerly springsoft and absent from here for quite a while but happy to be back.
 
The Miks is not a light action standard, when they first went on my 3c they were so stiff I could bearly blip them for gear changes, Mark Muir thankfully nocked the spring tension back to a more user-friendly strength. There is a bolt that holds the spring tension that can be removed and the spring released and the bolt retightened.
 
Yes, you bastards still make me laugh.  Like I haven't been away.
Not Big Dave, sadly, he sound almost legendary with a name like that.
Just ordinary old Dave from Adelaide.

Got a bit of time to myself as have bailed on Uni studies this semester, which is one of the reasons a number of projects stalled - not enough time with work and study.
Working from home due to COVID restrictions, so get an extra hour a day to do stuff........

Sadly, means I'm on the bike an hour less each day.

Terry (Legs) PM me your mobile number, I have lost it.  Wanna come up one day on Marty's RGS and catch up.
 
Really no difference between a Dellorto and Mikuni except a Mikuni is 1/2 the price.

Only exception was that I was partial to Square Bore open mouth Dellorto 30A's without the Accelerator pump on 750SF's.
 
Laverda SF said:
Really no difference between a Dellorto and Mikuni except a Mikuni is 1/2 the price.
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Red would have had both options on the dyno and I believe I understand which option he prefers.....
I can only speak for the RGS, but I would describe them as "transformational", in a very positive sense.

A set of flat slides for the LM2 Guzzi, with throttle, cables, spare jets, o-rings etc etc cost me $1200.
Expecting them next week, and picking up an R1 front end for the same project today.
Amazing what being stuck at home does - a number of home reno and bike projects now restarted as I'm sick of looking at them for an extra 9 hours a day LOL.


 
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