A castle nut, or castellated nut is a specialized nut that is sometimes used on motorcycle axles, swingarms or any application where it is crucial that the nut not be permitted to vibrate off. Generally the end of the bolt where the castellated nut threads on will have a hole drilled through it. Since the [...]
The Constant-Velocity Joint allows a rotating shaft to transmit power through a variable angle, at constant rotational speed, without any significant increases in friction or play. CV Joints are commonly used at ends of the axle halfshafts on four wheel drive ATVs. These joints are very strong and low maintenance. The most common maintenance item [...]
A motorcycle clutch basket is a bowl-shaped gear-driven housing bolted onto the end of the clutch shaft. Its job is to hold the entire clutch assembly together. When servicing your clutch it is important to inspect your clutch basket for cracks and wear. Your service manual will generally provide service specifications for your motorcycle.
Clutch springs can be found in use on most motorcycle clutch assemblies. The function of these short coil springs is to continuously hold the friction and driven plates together through spring tension, preventing slippage except when the clutch lever is engaged. Most often, five or more clutch springs are used per motorcycle clutch assembly. Stiffer [...]
Customized motorcycle built in the style currently categorized as a sportbike; popular in the 1960s, 1970s and early 1980s. The term originated in England when it was popular to modify a motorcycle for better performance and riders would race from cafe to cafe. Sometimes a jukebox would be started to play a particular song at [...]
The mixing of air with a fluid. When air is allowed to enter the oil pump of a motorcycle engine it can cause a situation where the oil is displaced and unable to flow properly through the pump. A solution is often to bleed the air out of the lubrication system. Cavitation can also be [...]
Refers to the diameter of the cylinder that the piston fits into in a motorcycle engine.
A precisely machined hole in the cylinder block of a motorcycle engine. The cylinder guides the piston as it travels up and down inside it.
A chain running between the crankshaft and camshaft on overhead camshaft four stroke engines. This is often called a timing chain because it “times” the crankshaft to the camshaft so that the valves open and close at the proper time. Motorcycle cam chains can be a roller type (similar to the chain driving the rear [...]
A compression gauge kit usually includes a hose and fitting which screws into the spark plug hole in an engines cylinder head along with the gauge itself. When a compression test is performed while cranking the engine, the gauge provides a reading of the cranking pressure in the combustion chamber and provides some idea as [...]
