Ready for the best story!!!
I have been noticing more noise coming from the head of late. Since the bike is a 95 and has 10k miles on it, I figured it needed the valves adjusted. Well, about a month ago, I tried to remove the inspection "plug" from the generator side of the crankcase. Durned thing has never been off and you guessed...13 years has seized it up good. As I was trying to free it..DUN...DUN...DUUUUUUN. You guessed it, I cracked it. Not much mind you, but enough for oil to leak. So I cleaned it up, filled the crack with 5-minute epoxy and ordered a new plug.
Well Saturday's ride was nice but the noise was definately more, so I figured it was time to do the valves. I tried again to remove the plug..but nope..no go.
So I removed the generator cover and by drilling two holes in the old plug, placing 2 1/4 inch bolts in the holes and craming the bolts in the vise..VOILA!...the old plug was loose.
Now I could see the paint splash on the crank and proceeded to turn the engine to find TDC. Well, mr Smartypants thought, Let's remove the plug, that way I'll tell when the piston it at the top. OK...needed to see what the plug looked like anyway. Well, after removing the plug, I still really couldn't tell if it was at TDC or noT. So I did the dumbest thing possible. I placed a short wooden dowel in the hole to watch the rise and fall. Well it worked like a charm..however, with the pressure on the valves from the spring, and really no resistance from compression, the crank moved past TDC and SNAPPED OFF MY FREAKIN DOWEL IN THE CYLINDER! Now I hadd no choice but to take off the head....so, 60 bucks later I'll get my bike going...so, there..
DO I FEEL DUMB OR WHAT?!?!?
So, if you good people want to help a happless, stupid bugger (as my wife called me), you help is greatly appreciated!