The Formula Jedi season has finished and the GSX-R engines are rolling in for refresh (there’s a queue…). The rules have been changed and we’re now making some extra modifications for reliability; out are coming the titanium valves to be replaced by stainless steel (with a higher seat pressure and titanium collet retainers) for starters – a real aid for longevity.
We’ve been testing this mod on a turbocharged engine and all’s well, as they’ve done good mileage in extreme conditions. This rule change is big news for the Jedi series because as we all know, composite valves don’t last and are a potential disaster waiting to happen…
Also now we’re swapping out the oil pump drive gear to speed up the pump, as under hard cornering (which is relatively flat compared to a bike) the shift of oil off the throttle could lead to a dangerous drop in oil pressure, enough to fire up the warning light on the dash. The higher rpm of the pump compensates for low rpm of the engine under high corner speed on/off/on throttle conditions. As was, oil pressure could drop to 10-12 psi which is scary – anything under 20 psi and the bearings are getting some hammer!
A Formula Jedi GSX-R1000K8 engine ready for refreshing with new valves and uprated oil pump.
