Maybe, the AV-V seals are viton with springs and so 'seal' properly i.e. stop the oil passing by and it's possible that's why the guides wore (no lube?) and also why there was no smoke?
fair enough but you also know that if they were that bad, or even slightly bad, they would have made Internet folklore by now, probably on a scale greater than Expandingtankgate.
+1 on checking oil level seem to remember somebody having similar issue as oil level checked when bike was on the side stand rather than when upright
I’ve sent them an email today enquiring about their stock and costs to export to the UK. If I get a response I’ll order 4 and replace the lot of them.
Hi Andy Turns out it wasn’t a seal issue after all but a simple case of bad fuelling I while back I had the Carburettors stripped cleaned and fitted with all new E5 petrol friendly gaskets and O rings Somewhere between them being stripped and re fitted they weren’t correctly set up on the bike, which I’ve since had done. No smoke , it now starts and runs as it should.
Yes i fully undrstand with my motorcycle entanglement, everytime i want a particular bike out it's a problem moving others out of the way, i might sell the lot and buy a scooter.
A bigger garage would solve your shuffling problem out, although saying that you might suit a scooter !
Back in the day when i dropped the fireblades off for a service with Doble motorcycles they gave me a Honda C50 / 90, and what a hoot it was taking boys on around city streets.