2008 CRF450X, getting ready for Camso DTS 129

[Ben 500RR-S]

2008 CRF450X, Camso DTS 129-installed(pics)

My brother in law was so impressed with the Camso kit on my bike, he had to have one himself. He had a guy he knew in his town who was selling the CRF, and he had beef to sell so they traded beef for a bike-perfect.

Between last night and today, everything that needed to come off came off. The only thing left is the mudflap and that is only 2 phillips screws. He should be getting his kit sometime this upcoming week and should be riding by next weekend.

Then there are all the sleds that won't be used once it becomes the "Winter of Snowbike."

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

I had spent last weekend tearing down the bike and had spent Friday night and some of Saturday installing the kit.

As usual, everything went together fairly easily.

Those two bushings that need to be pounded in, though, why they can't take the time to not have to make us do it, I don't know. Thankfully we had some good mallets and heavy hand sledgehammers to drive them home. Had the full-length Seal Savers to go on the fork tubes.

Slotted the track kit in, everything went as planned. New chain, adjusted. Heated grips wired straight to the battery as the fuse tap I got for the bike couldn't be used as Honda has a strange setup on top of the fuses. Slapped on a heated shield cord to top the battery posts off and the bike was ready to ride though it needs a new battery as despite all the charging over the week on a battery tender, the bike sometimes started on the button, other times it needed to be kicked. As the battery has probably been run-down, a new one is the best bet for sure.

The bike also came with a Yoshimura pipe=more noise,but at the same time, some decent power out of the 450 and the bike does kickstart a LOT easier than my bike. No hydraulic clutch just means a long and stiffer pull and no quick turn throttle and Jimmy Twister just makes the difference, otherwise, the bike runs well and the kit on the back makes it just as great out on the trail and off-trail.

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

I got a good chance to ride the 2008 CRF450X and it works well. I had installed the Thermobob-which was not too hard at all, thankfully.

Splice in the Thermobob to the upper portside radiator hose. Remove the lower hose, splice in the bypass, wire up the Trail Tech temp guage to the threaded hole in the Thermobob-thank you for making this easy Thermobob-, tighten all the clamps and done. Fill with 50/50 and go.

Oh yeah, PST engine jacket to the rescue again. The bike has an Acerbis larger fuel tank so the clips that need to go into the radiator shrouds could not be fitted but no problem, the jacket still fits just fine without securing the two upper corners of the jacket.

Temps were in the 160-180 all day, which was good as I had read that as long as temps are over 140, things are good to go. My BIL was riding nose all day so he was getting all the powder on his motor which was why he was running cooler. I was at 215-225 for the last part of the day as we were riding the line we came in on with no snow to cool things and as it was around 30-F, and I had the cold weather panel on, I was warmer than normal.

I also put the 2 gallon Scepter fuel tank that fits perfectly in the tunnel and secured with the two cut-down to work perfectly-ratchet straps.

All in all, my second Camso 129 install and with a themobob was a success. Thank you Camso, Thermobob and PST.

 

[jrlastofthebreed]

I run the 07' basically the same set up. I move my heated grips to to stator side so when the bikes off so are the grips. Won't accidentally run the battery down. I ended up pulling my large fuel tank off for weight purposes. Made it easier for me to stand up. Far as batteries I would recomend the Lithium Ion ones. And the tender cable out so you can plug a jump pack into it. Or plug into another bike/truck. Just helps when its cold. All in all I love the these hondas. Reliable and with proper jetting very easy to start and run. Maybe not the most HP out there but its enough for me.
If i may why did you remove your bark busters?

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

I run the 07' basically the same set up. I move my heated grips to to stator side so when the bikes off so are the grips. Won't accidentally run the battery down. I ended up pulling my large fuel tank off for weight purposes. Made it easier for me to stand up. Far as batteries I would recomend the Lithium Ion ones. And the tender cable out so you can plug a jump pack into it. Or plug into another bike/truck. Just helps when its cold. All in all I love the these hondas. Reliable and with proper jetting very easy to start and run. Maybe not the most HP out there but its enough for me.
If i may why did you remove your bark busters?

It is a nice bike and it is a Honda, starts up easily on the kicker too.

Question, when does one use the decomp-lever above the clutch?

My BIL is a big guy and likes the safety of having more fuel. I like that we can see the level so clearly with no shroud in the way but the steering is noticeably heavier with the full 3 gallons in the tank.

The seat is those 2 10-mm bolts and he does need a new battery but he will probably be going with the same Yuasa lead acid the bike came with. Thankfully the bike already runs very well in either the brutal cold, or in the warmer temps like we had yesterday in the low 30's.

The bike has more than enough power to get it around out there, plus, my BIL is like 6'2" and 225 lbs, or maybe he said 240lbs, he is a big guy compared to me.

I took them off and never put them back on and my BIL has not mentioned them at all. Plus, one of the inserts was way up in the bar and I forgot to lean the bike over and get it out and I think it is either way up inside the bar or fell out when the bike fell over-one of the many times it has fallen over.

I have flag handguard and question if they do anything at all for my hands and the wind/cold. The heated grips work really well and my hands run warm-like my feet, so I've been great so far, plus, the workout that the snowbike is keeps me warmer than when on the sled.

Where did you tap into on the stator-side to wire your grips? I went o-ring terminals straight to the battery so he has to make sure that the lights are off or the batter will go down.

 

[Jaynelson]

It is a nice bike and it is a Honda, starts up easily on the kicker too.

Question, when does one use the decomp-lever above the clutch?

I owned one of those bikes for years (never with a snow kit however)...and the easiest answer to that question would be "never." I never found a circumstance where the lever made the bike start easier...kicking or button.

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

I owned one of those bikes for years (never with a snow kit however)...and the easiest answer to that question would be "never." I never found a circumstance where the lever made the bike start easier...kicking or button.

Ha, that is funny.

We have not been using it at all.

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

An update to my BIL's 2008 CRF 450X.

The bike started to run terrible. Eventually it needed to be run on choke all the time in order to run. Last weekend when I went to get it going, there was all manner of backfiring and it would not want to run without a lot of throttle given.

My BIL lives on a farm. He has these big red funnels that are used to fuel up the stuff that needs gasoline and unfortunately when whoever has last used the funnel just leaves it outside and what happens is all the dirt, dust, and eventually somehow, mice climb around the funnel and poop right in it. Then when one needs a funnel, one uses it and doesn't even bother to clean the funnel out and all the detrius ended up in both the fuel tank and then into the poor carburetor.

I was glad to have watched 3 Youtube videos on how to remove the carburetor-hint-subframe bolts removed and just swinging it out of the way a bit-it does not need to be removed on the X as all the electricals are attached but with the 4 bolts that hold the subframe on and the 1 bolt holding the muffler on gives more than enough room to get the carburetor out. Otherwise, for my first time getting a 450X carb out and back in, then tearing it down and cleaning it, it had taken me 3 1/2 hours tonight but the good news is it is all back together, the bike started on the first touch of the go-button and it will probably start, idle and run just fine tomorrow, just like all the other bikes I have torn down the carburetors on, cleaned and reassembled, they just needed all the jets cleaned and they have run again.

More riding tomorrow and again on Saturday and maybe on Sunday depending on what my little one wants to do.

I am happy.

 

[M5-]

Farmers.........


M5

 

[Ben 500RR-S]

Something like 20 head of black angus beef-meat.

Something like 20 pigs.

Turkeys that will be whittled down from about 40 or 50=meat farming up here in good old Vermont.

The cheesy plastic, fine-threaded hot start connection to the carburetor has lost all of its threads and will not even allow the bike to start.

The float bowl seal has expanded and no longer fits snugly into it's groove so a new one needs to be ordered.

I am just going to buy another choke plunger and install it where the hot start plunger screwed into and screw having the lever-actuator that was never used and that many never use at all. I'm also going to buy a carburetor repair/rebuild kit for all a new jets, a new float bowl and maybe the screws for the bottom of the carb while I have the carburetor out as it has been 10 years and we owe it to the carb to get it new jets, float bowl and seals and plug up the hot start hole once and for all.