Strange rubber cover over engine...

[Teh_K]

So, I'm in the middle of doing my very 1st valve adjustment (2 days off and on so far - hey, I'm slow and thorough), and I've come to my 1st dilemma. There's this strange rubber slab that's laying over my engine, and I am wondering if it's disposable (as in, I can take it off and never use it again). I ask because it has done nothing but get in the way so far, and I can't imagine it doing much good other than to retain heat. Maybe it keeps debris away or something, I dunno. But, here's a picture of it:

http://antihero.fileburst.com/AnnoyingRubberThing2.jpg

I did a quick search, and CyberPoet has mentioned it being something with Cali models, but to my knowledge mine's not a Cali model. But, I've been known to be wrong. Perhaps CP can fill me in on this (I want all the juicy details)

Another question, is it okay if one of my oil hoses has a sheath around it and the other doesn't? I assume it is, but just want to make sure. Again, here's a photo:

http://antihero.fileburst.com/DifferentOilHoses2.jpg

Thanks!

[UFO8MyCow]

I dont know if it actually does any good or not but I convinced Lou to throw his away becouse I didnt want to deal with it again. and I wouldnt worry about the oil hoses.

[The CyberPoet]

The rubber sheet plays a few roles, including helping keep water from the coils and acting as a heat barrier between the valvs and the PAIR valve and/or tank. I've owned two Kat 600's (an '00 and an '01) and worked on various other riders' bikes in this area (Kat6, Malloc, etc) and the only one that I've seen which had the rubber sheet was Malloc's California-model 750 (it wasn't on either of mine, including the '00 which I bought new). I think ample dielectric grease at the coil connectors should be sufficient, since I live in monsoon-central (Florida in the summer) and have never had electrical issues without the rubber sheet, but it's your call... Funny thing: I've looked through the various fiche files for the Kats and never seen that rubber sheet in any of them...

As for the sheath on the oil line, I never consciously noticed it before but I guess it is stock (see the pics from KR - How clean is the inside of your engine?, where you can see the same sheath on the left side on mine). Why Suzuki would sheath one and not the other is beyond me...

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[SweetLou]

Yeah, I kinda had to get rid of mine. it wouldn't fit anyway with the height of the gixxer engine.

[Teh_K]

Drat, now I'm slightly paranoid about getting water on the coils or having my tank explode from excess heat or something... and I'm not as comfortable as Lou is with being on fire :P

[skasner]

I had one of those rubber thingys on my previous bike (Yamaha XJ600S) and I cut it off... it was annouying me and part of it was hanging out and looked like shiate.

It didnt cause me any grief.

[Süsser Tod]

My 91 CA 750 HAD it, it was so annoying and old that I just flexed it enough till it broke and fell to the floor by itself

[ThAzKat]

Ditto Cyber so there will be a few of you wondering why the bike isn't running right when at operating temperature, in wet weather etc. LMAO

I am on call!!

[Teh_K]

Ditto Cyber so there will be a few of you wondering why the bike isn't running right when at operating temperature, in wet weather etc. LMAO

Do you really think it will make a difference, Thaz?

I don't think I have a Cali model 'cause I don't hear that infamous fan that keeps running, and I didn't see any PAIR valve anywhere near the HC coils or under the gas tank (not that I really know what it looks like :P)

Because I was stubborn and didn't want to drop the oil cooler, I ended up cutting the rubber cover in 4 strategic places where I could just pull it out for now, and I could technically put it back and just secure it with zip ties or something (but it would probably not need them).

I did get some dielectric grease for this project, and I noticed the bottom of the gas tank had foam heat pads on it...

[ThAzKat]

put a balloon around the coils LOL

[Teh_K]

Funny thing: I've looked through the various fiche files for the Kats and never seen that rubber sheet in any of them...

Oo! Oo! I found it!

According to RonAyer's fiche, it's on 750Kats from years '98 to '03. It's #22 on this link:

http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0299/cowling_body_model_y/cowling_body_model_y.cfm?man=su&groupid=5190&parent=5030

It also says it's an "air guide plate". Does this shed any light on what it does (anything more specific than to 'guide air')?

Edit: Damn, that was a $40 piece I cut, lol

[ThAzKat]

that be it, good thing you have $40 eh

I am sure someone has a used one you can get for less on here.

[The CyberPoet]

Oo! Oo! I found it!

Well, lookie here. You get a prize! (Good show, Teh_K)

Shows up in the 98 thru 03 Kat 750 fiche, but not in the Kat 600 fiche...

Gee, now me think about this -- think it's a worthwhile upgrade for us Kat 600 riders? ( )

Cheers
=-= The CyberPoet

[Black_peter]

Hey!!1
We pre 98s have one too..

Thom you don't have this??

http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_0057/oil_cooler/oil_cooler.cfm?man=su&groupid=5140&parent=5030

[ThAzKat]

Hey!!1
We pre 98s have one too..

Thom you don't have this??

http://www.ronayers.com/fiche/300_00...40&parent=5030

yes I still have the original, must add it to the list of things to replace. It is so old and like a board it makes it very hard to even get to the spark plugs. I am just dealing with it for now. Winter is on the way and this year I get to do the whole winter project thing, unlike when I was in Arizona. You don't even want me to begin my list of things to do on a stock 93 750 Katana with just about everything being original and having 21,000 miles on it.