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Message started by the2012 on 08/27/07 at 22:46:28

Title: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by the2012 on 08/27/07 at 22:46:28

hey guys,
my bike is all kinds of messed up.. it won't go past 30 mph in 2nd, 40mph in 3rd, and 55 in 4th.. it sounds wierd when it runs and there is some clinking coming from the motor (i suspect a main bearing)

anyhow.. i just bought my clymer manual and am going to try to overhaul the whole thing, tranny and all. i am pretty confident in my ability to do this, but was hoping some of you more seasoned wrenchers might be able to give me a heads-up about some of the issues i might run into.

i have searched this forum relentlessly for tips and tricks and have made note of what i have found, but would appreciate any extra insight.

thanks for the help, i'll post pics when im done...

p.s. cFLOW if you read this, your bike looks rad as hell, where can i get those brake lights that hang off to the side?

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by islandwahine on 08/28/07 at 00:48:47

Maybe a very stupid question, but why would you want to go past 30 in 2nd gear? My bike doesn't like it when I do that so I change to 3rd gear around 25-30.
Good luck taking it apart (more important, putting it back together), make sure you don't end up with one bolt left.

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/28/07 at 05:15:41

the2012 wrote:

I wouldn't ride it until I checked it further. I think you should look into the cam chain adjuster. There are a lot of threads, several very recent, concerning this.

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by verslagen1 on 08/28/07 at 07:34:08

It seems you like to use a sledge hammer where a tack hammer will do.

Unless the needs it, save the overhaul for later.

Isolate the problem and fix it.

I agree with Rob, check the cam chain. It could be fixed with only a couple of hours work.

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by T-Mack1 on 08/28/07 at 09:49:13

What year is the bike and mileage??

Matters a bunch when these guys start to brainstrom.....

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by slavy on 08/28/07 at 22:35:47

Almost sure the cam chain adjuster popped out and the cam chain jumped a tooth.
Pull the right side eng. cover and verify. After that decide how far do You want to go with the repairs and get the necessery parts. If You don't want to replace the chain and the slider-tensioner, just get the a gasket and a new adjuster assy and do the modification to the part that goes out. This way You will buy Yourself another 10-12 K miles cheap.

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by the2012 on 08/30/07 at 22:29:25

hey guys,
cam chain huh..? hmm i'll let you know. sorry i haven't been able to respond, internet is screwy sometimes..

1. it's not that i would want to go 30 in second gear, it's that i can't. moreover, it's that i can't go over 55 in 4th. there seems to be a connection between the two, im just trying to figure it out.

2. the bike is an 87 model, and i just rolled over its 20000 mark. i don't think the bike has had any maintenance done on it either, short of a new clutch. when i had the carb cleaned the guy told me that the carb had never been worked on before (how he knew, i don't know) which leads me to believe that the whole bike itself has never really had much maintaining done, besides changing the oil.

3. i want to overhaul it simply because i think it would be good for both myself and the bike. i would like to have that security knowing that i did everything i could to make the bike run like new (or better with the new carb, cam, and exaust i want to run with it) HOWEVER if you guys think i really am getting into a bigger mess than i want to, please let me know... as big a fan of sledgehammers as i am.... i like my motorcycle more. thanks for your input so far! keep it coming, please..

chris

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/31/07 at 03:58:52

Well, if you want some kind of ego/psychological charge, tear into it. If you want to ride, then fix it & go down the road. It had No heart & will no appreciate your care. It will run & run if you make the cam open the valves at the right time for the piston to be all happy & spark at the right time. No need to go thru that engine with 20,000 miles on it unless someone never changed the oil. Make it run right & the engine is fine. Sounds like a cam issue. Check compression. If it's not okay, make sure it's not a cam timing issue causiing it. Odds are, rings are fine, bottom end is fine, piston & cylinder, fine, tranny, fine, everything is in great, serviceable condition, except a cam chain & timing issue. You can have that bike going down the road as well for $150.00 as you can for $450.00. All you are gonna do is waste a lot of time & money & change nothing about the bike.

I am trying to keep you from making a mistake, please, don't be offended, just realize, to need a rebuild with 20,000 miles is unheard of on this engine. I have seen one with almost 90,000 on the clock. Wasnt pretty, but it was running! All yours needs is a couple of days spent on it getting the cam chain & tensioner right & run the valves, It will run good again. Maybe a carb adjust, but no rebuild needed. Betchya!

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by slavy on 08/31/07 at 18:19:16

One more think:
If You will rebuild the engine, You will have to pull the clutch cover anyway. On top of this- if you don't want to lift excessive weight, You will remove from the engine everything that You can , BEFORE you pull the motor out.
Other words- do what was explained to You and if i am wrong- just keep going with engine R&R. If I am not wrong- You just saved Yourself money and time.
If You are realy itching to see what is inside the engine- You don't need anybody's advise.

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by T-Mack1 on 09/01/07 at 07:42:17

So,......I guess the phrase "keep it simple" should be visited....

First, did you check the compression? If it's good, there is no need to pop the piston & jug. If it's good and you pop them anyway, it's automatically new gaskets, rings and a hone job, the latter of which can be screwed up if not done correctly and then it would be a bore job, oversized piston & rings (yep, more rings...).

I agree with the rest of the group, pop the clutch cover and scope it out .

As for getting a modified cam chian tensioner verses a new cam chain.......your decision, I went with the chain ($86). (although I still think it's a only a so-so design)

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by the2012 on 09/06/07 at 22:09:55

well

thanks all of those that talked me out of it. it was the cam tensioner.
you guys were right. the bike runs like a dream. haha in retrospect i don't know what i was thinking...

thanks for the advice everyone. i cant wait to post pics for you guys.

Title: Re: engine overhaul.. any last words?
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 09/07/07 at 05:20:35

Man, that's such good news. Now, you will have a ton more $$$ for gas & time to spend riding instead of doing a mechanical exercise.Have fun..