ktm 50 any tips

[vetman]

Hey there my two smoker compatriots, just bought one of my kids a 2007 ktm50 senior any advice or tips on running them /any gremlins to watch out for just new to these smaller versions so any help is appreciated

[evo550]

****, where do I start....I've had two of my kids race them, which totals about 5 years experience running them.
Had very little trouble with them over that time.
My tips would be,
Leave as standard as possible, start fiddling with them and trouble rears it's ugly head.
DO NOT over tighten bolts, especially sump plug and clutch cover, the engine is very soft cast alloy and threads strip easily.
Replace gearbox oil every ride, they only specify 150ml, but I always put in 200ml, so a 1lt bottle should last 5 rides.
The rear engine mount above swingarm bolt is a weak point and bolt usually snaps off inside frame, there is an aftermarket fix for this.
The float bowl is plastic and rubs on chain guard until it forms a hole, grind down the top of chain guide to prevent this happening.
Keep an eye on clutch keyway, these should be replaced every 5-10 hrs, this is easy to do and they are cheap as chips, but wreak havoc if they let go.
Keep and eye on bearing housing for waterpump, it is driven off the ignition, and if it gets loose coolant leaks into your ignition and bike dies.
Lots of parts are interchangable with the 50 adventurer, so if the youngster is finding it a bit of a handful, clutch springs and complete cylinders/head can be fitted to soften things up.
Have fun.
Happy to help you solve probs on here, Welcome to the family...

[vetman]

cheers goin to go over it pretty heavily i know the water pump has been done will check out the others thanx

[evo550]

....forgot to mention, keep the clutch washer stack clean or your clutch will start to slip, the washer pack fills up with clutch plate fibres and prevents it engaging fully.
If it's not a national level race bike, I would advise ditching the washer pack and replacing with 50 adventurer springs, this allows doesn't clog up with fibres and allows the clutch to engage more progressively and earlier in the rev range.

[vetman]

i was just going to ask reading in the manual the clutch engages at about 8500to 9000 revs was going to see if we can get the engagement down the rev range a bit  not going to be a nat level race bike,will only do club events and paddock tracks shees got some snot though for a fifty

[evo550]

Real easy fix.....sort of.
The best way to provide a earlier, smoother engagement of the clutch (instead of waiting until 9000 rpm and the clutch engaging with a snap) is to replace the current washer stack with the 50 adventurer clutch springs.
Have you had the clutch apart yet? If not I can give the step by step blow, If yes, I can give the short version.

The washer stack is on the right, replace it with the spring thats on the bolt on the left. At the same time replace the main shaft keyway, all cheap parts.

[vetman]

yeah havent pulled it apart looks relatively straight forard although will have to get the puller ,the spring kit seems the go will have a decent look at it all over the weekend see what the clutch wear is like as well .Do you remember if its just the springs you get or is it bolts and all

[evo550]

Nope just the springs, you will need a washer at the top and bottom of the spring, just to seat it against the bolt, but youi can use the existing flat ones (some of the washers are flat, some are curved/dished) The 50sx and the mini adv share the same bottom end except for the clutch spring/washer set up. If it stil has too much zing, you can also fit a mini adv pipe, which sooth's the evil beast.

[vetman]

chucked in the springs definately a lot more progressive now comes on smooth havent had a chance to really open it up but good mod so far cheers

[evo550]

The mod won't take away any of the monster top end these little rockets have, just makes it more managable....did you replace the keyway?

[vetman]

got one on backorder

[vetman]

Hey guys next instalment of this thread,anyone played with the jetting,ive installed a adv clutch spring kit but finding the bike takes a little while to get on the pipe ,seems to sit in the mid revs for quite a while ,not sure if this is because of the spring kit and is normal.My wee girl is not hammering it so was thinking there was a bit of a build up on the plug etc.Basically ive replaced the plug was running fuel at 40:1 but now gone out to 60:1 using belray h1r so it gets the good stuff but gott me baffled a little,have also upped the gearbox capacity from 150 to 220ml  perhaps its this evo your the man of knowledge on these .   Also any good parts dealers over there with the exchange rate at the moment might get some parts shipped back to nz.

[evo550]

The clutch springs will slow down acceleration and take the snap out of the power delivery and may be the cause of what your describing, although once the bike is in the midrange and clutch is fully engaged it should accelerate the same irrespective of what clutch set up your running.
I would be looking elsewhere for the cause first, my first thought when I read  your post was carbon build up in either the exhaust port or pipe (both in the header and stinger) Remember these bikes are essentially top end monsters any  reduction in the exhaust flow will cause issues with revs.
Have you tried dropping 70ml out of the gearbox to see if that reduces drag ?

[vetman]

yeah these were thoughts i had on the stand she revs out really good the whole reason of going to one was for the better suspension /brakes and sizing i do think the lake of thrashing wont be helping but just floating thoughts cheers bud