Hedge
American Infidel
Me 2 - will notify everyone tomorrow night
Engine Removal Project
- Thread starter Hedge
- Start date
Hedge
American Infidel
I so hope your right! It will be a cheap learning experience! I have no regrets opening it up myself with the help of all if you!
strokerlmt
Moderator
I am thinking the same. Not much wrong. It came apart to easily with no major bits and pieces falling out of the engine. To clean inside. Me thinks this goes back together, we get a great thread, you get great knowledge, you are back on the road.
LMT
LMT
Hedge
American Infidel
Thats exactly what im hoping for in all aspects!
Hedge
American Infidel
The Verdict!
So I brought the engine over to the specialist's shop for inspection and not to hold you in suspense . . . but besides replacing the oil system minus the cooler the only other parts slightly under suspect are the bearings. He said I could simply buy a chain for the cam and bolt it back up but since it is open he suggested replacing all the bearings. Now came the tricky part . . .
The book takes into account that you might not be comfortable with measurements, tolerances and clearances, which I'm not, so it gives you 3 different colors to match bearings. The ones on the top were worn away so I could not see. So we removed the rods from the crank to get to the other side and finally found one with red on it. At that moment I got a call from MikenVA so I answered and brought him up to speed. He said although the bearings show Red I might want to try the White ones and I wouldn't really be able to be 100% sure unless I did the Plastigage test. At that point I felt I was in over my head so I have sub-contracted this part out. He will check the clearance and order the correct bearings and install them and button the halves back up for me. I will take back over after that.
To recap the Crank is perfect, the bearings were acceptable, the rods, pistons and rings are perfect, the cylinders\block are perfect and the head is perfect. He said if I wanted to be cheap I could simply buy 2 new plastic gears and a chain and put it back together. He disagrees with the dealership on the oil pumps. He feels they would work just fine but if it was him he would replace the entire oil system accept the cooler. This is because the price of doing so is not stupid expensive.
So there you have it. I guess so far I have gotten off lucky. I really wanted to put it all back together myself for the mere satisfaction of knowing I could do the whole job by myself and I guess if I had concrete evidence of what bearings should ultimately go back in I could have but this was not the case. So I swallow my pride and pay him to give me a helping hand. :flag:
Thoughts?
So I brought the engine over to the specialist's shop for inspection and not to hold you in suspense . . . but besides replacing the oil system minus the cooler the only other parts slightly under suspect are the bearings. He said I could simply buy a chain for the cam and bolt it back up but since it is open he suggested replacing all the bearings. Now came the tricky part . . .
The book takes into account that you might not be comfortable with measurements, tolerances and clearances, which I'm not, so it gives you 3 different colors to match bearings. The ones on the top were worn away so I could not see. So we removed the rods from the crank to get to the other side and finally found one with red on it. At that moment I got a call from MikenVA so I answered and brought him up to speed. He said although the bearings show Red I might want to try the White ones and I wouldn't really be able to be 100% sure unless I did the Plastigage test. At that point I felt I was in over my head so I have sub-contracted this part out. He will check the clearance and order the correct bearings and install them and button the halves back up for me. I will take back over after that.
To recap the Crank is perfect, the bearings were acceptable, the rods, pistons and rings are perfect, the cylinders\block are perfect and the head is perfect. He said if I wanted to be cheap I could simply buy 2 new plastic gears and a chain and put it back together. He disagrees with the dealership on the oil pumps. He feels they would work just fine but if it was him he would replace the entire oil system accept the cooler. This is because the price of doing so is not stupid expensive.
So there you have it. I guess so far I have gotten off lucky. I really wanted to put it all back together myself for the mere satisfaction of knowing I could do the whole job by myself and I guess if I had concrete evidence of what bearings should ultimately go back in I could have but this was not the case. So I swallow my pride and pay him to give me a helping hand. :flag:
Thoughts?
strokerlmt
Moderator
My thoughts…you have come so far and done so well. Put all new oil pumps in, don't take a chance, do the bearings as well. Then put the sucker back together. But hey just my thoughts and I tend to be very careful.
LMT
LMT
Hedge
American Infidel
I was hoping MikenVa would chime in. no one knows these engines like him
I agree - I just sent him a PM but it blew an error back on me because his PM Mailbox is full.
Mike - If you are still following this thread please cleanup your PM's so I can get a new one through. Sorry about yesterday on the short call but it was awkward trying to talk with you while working with the owner of the shop. I have a lot to ask you . . .
Hedge
American Infidel
Descisions . . .
So as you guys all know I took it down to a specialist (Carlos) to examine. So my next question is since I am not comfortable with the Plastigage method of determining the correct bearings to get I am going to have Carlos do this part for me. As you know the bearings come in Red, White and Blue because Triumph takes into account that the majority of the people who work on their own bikes might not have the skills to measure. So I found Red and I thought that was a slam dunk but MikenVA said that is not necessarily so. He said it could either be the original Red or now White and Plastigage is the correct way to go.
So my question would be - should I have Carlos figure out what is the correct bearings to put back in and take the project back over or should I let him figure it out, order them and install the bearings rods and pistons back in; install the cam chain again and button it back up for me with the cam chain peeking out the top and take the project back and finish the build?
So as you guys all know I took it down to a specialist (Carlos) to examine. So my next question is since I am not comfortable with the Plastigage method of determining the correct bearings to get I am going to have Carlos do this part for me. As you know the bearings come in Red, White and Blue because Triumph takes into account that the majority of the people who work on their own bikes might not have the skills to measure. So I found Red and I thought that was a slam dunk but MikenVA said that is not necessarily so. He said it could either be the original Red or now White and Plastigage is the correct way to go.
So my question would be - should I have Carlos figure out what is the correct bearings to put back in and take the project back over or should I let him figure it out, order them and install the bearings rods and pistons back in; install the cam chain again and button it back up for me with the cam chain peeking out the top and take the project back and finish the build?
Roger
Street Tracker
Looks like you have some very good people to help you now.
I'm in on that too. Toss the pumps or make necklaces out of them and sell them at a bike rally. Have you had a chance to inspect the oil lines to see if there might have been a kink or an internal collapse? Also, that oil cooler needs to be looked at to see if anything might be lodged in the top tank. I would flush it back with a garden hose into a large container to see if anything comes out. Rinse with oil you drained out of the engine, filtered (paint filter) of course. The oil will push the water out.
I think you have done alright by yourself. Just remember, it's a fine line between working within your abilities or comfort zone and having a box of parts that will sit on the floor for posterity.
I'm pretty sure you could have learned to work with the Plastigauge and order the correct bearing shells but it is labour intense and a fussy bit of work. Leave it to someone that is more efficient at it. Costs a bit, but in the end the engine will go back into the frame faster.
Good job Hedge
Begin EDIT: Dang. You posted again before this post was finished. HA!
Yes. Let Carlos do it up as above and then you can finish the top end. Have a pro determine the correct bearing sizes for you. No shame in that whatsoever.
End EDIT.
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Hedge
American Infidel
Oil Cooler
So I took both lines off the oil cooler to inspect it. No bad smells coming out of it at all and when I blow into it, it freely goes out the other side. Carlos said to attach a coat hanger to it and just keep dunking it in gasoline to make sure if anything is inside it gets flushed out. Then use my trusty craftsman air compressor and blow it out. My original oil cooler with just under 11,000 miles on it looks better than the one I got from eBay for $45. A brand new one is about $485 +/- so that's not in the budget and I don't feel it is necessary. All the oil lines are cheap enough to replace taking the "I'm not sure" aspect off the table . . .
So I took both lines off the oil cooler to inspect it. No bad smells coming out of it at all and when I blow into it, it freely goes out the other side. Carlos said to attach a coat hanger to it and just keep dunking it in gasoline to make sure if anything is inside it gets flushed out. Then use my trusty craftsman air compressor and blow it out. My original oil cooler with just under 11,000 miles on it looks better than the one I got from eBay for $45. A brand new one is about $485 +/- so that's not in the budget and I don't feel it is necessary. All the oil lines are cheap enough to replace taking the "I'm not sure" aspect off the table . . .
strokerlmt
Moderator
Hedge……you have NO reason to swallow any pride. You have done an incredible job and gone "where most men have never gone before".
Carlos is a friggin whizz and has always been solid with me. You want this right and don't want to ever break the engine apart again. I think you are real lucky to have not had a worse melt down. get Carlos to do the bearings etc. Then finish the job yourself.
BTW…..I believe I have an oil cooler, oil lines, etc. etc. in a box somewhere. I also have boxes of parts. Before you purchase anything email me at….
[email protected]
If I have what you need you can have it for postage.
"press on"……
LMT
PSSSSS…..if it was me I would flush the shit out of everything twice. then I would put the engine on a large clean work surface, maybe with an old bed sheet on the area so you can see bits easily. Then I would put it back together like a surgeon. You don't want a small metal alien floating around in dare. ;-))))))
Carlos is a friggin whizz and has always been solid with me. You want this right and don't want to ever break the engine apart again. I think you are real lucky to have not had a worse melt down. get Carlos to do the bearings etc. Then finish the job yourself.
BTW…..I believe I have an oil cooler, oil lines, etc. etc. in a box somewhere. I also have boxes of parts. Before you purchase anything email me at….
[email protected]
If I have what you need you can have it for postage.
"press on"……
LMT
PSSSSS…..if it was me I would flush the shit out of everything twice. then I would put the engine on a large clean work surface, maybe with an old bed sheet on the area so you can see bits easily. Then I would put it back together like a surgeon. You don't want a small metal alien floating around in dare. ;-))))))
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Hedge
American Infidel
Thanks Stroke - i will post everything i intend on buying prior to buying. I appreciate the kind words of encouragement and the offer for parts. I am going to take the project back over after he installs the main bearings and new chain and buttons the bottom back up. Gonna get an estimate for the work that will be done on Tuesday and report back.
KingOfFleece
Street Tracker
There's a top notch Triumph guy in Bethel, CT if you need one.
Hedge
American Infidel
Who? No danger in talking with him.
