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Message started by DangRider on 06/13/12 at 13:26:23

Title: First motorcycle - unexpected adventures
Post by DangRider on 06/13/12 at 13:26:23

Hey everyone.

I bought a '96 Savage for $500 a couple years ago. It ran well enough but had a major oil leak between the head and head cover. I figured a little time and gasket maker and I'd be down the road.

Digging into it I found the threads for three of the cylinder cover to cylinder bolts were stripped out. After a lot of reading and a period of denial, I had to face facts and pull the engine to get helicoils put in.

Did I mention this is my first motorcycle?

Also, after reading another thread here, I went and double checked my forks and found that the left one is bent maybe 5 degrees up near the lower triple clamp. <grumble, grumble>

I managed to get the engine out and apart and had the machinist

insert the helicoils
lightly hone the cylinder
grind and seat the valves
otherwise measure and check the tolerances

I have the all the parts back and am starting the assembly. At this point I have a couple questions:

The gasket between the crankcase and cylinder looks like thick paper. Do I need to add gasket sealer at this joint?

Can the fork be straightened out or should I start shopping?

First post so I'll have to wait on pictures.

Thanks in advance

Title: Re: First motorcycle - unexpected adventures
Post by Dave on 06/13/12 at 13:49:24

Back in my old dirt bikes days, we could sometimes straighten forks. If the bend is a gentle curve it can be put in a press and gently straightened. If the bend is a kink.......probably can't be fixed.

Title: Re: First motorcycle - unexpected adventures
Post by verslagen1 on 06/13/12 at 13:52:12

4F52494F4E424F554E44200 wrote:

The gasket between the crankcase and cylinder looks like thick paper. Do I need to add gasket sealer at this joint?

No

Quote:

Can the fork be straightened out or should I start shopping?

Shop it

Title: Re: First motorcycle - unexpected adventures
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/13/12 at 17:33:58

Make sure to put the bolt in the center of the head cover b4 ya go back together & thers a bolt that goes in upside down at the left front of the jug,get them right in the beginning,
Dont go cheap on the sealer, get the stuff thats recommended for the head cover,
Be sure youre on TDC compression adjusting valves.

Title: Re: First motorcycle - unexpected adventures
Post by DangRider on 06/14/12 at 07:48:59

Thanks for the replies.

I put the cylinder and head on last night and torqued it down.

I gave myself two opportunities to do this because the first time I didn't realize that I had to put in the timing chain guides before the cylinder head. Now I know...

On to the cam/timing chain installation.

Title: Re: First motorcycle - unexpected adventures
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/14/12 at 07:56:31

Oooops,,, IIRC, the head cover has to be off to mess with the chain,,maybe IM wrong,, my memory isnt what it used to be,