Working Indoors

[Shay HTFC]

Ok, now I want to take apart an engine to have a look at the clutch and all that, but because its so dark now after work, and also so cold, I suddenly though about working on it inside the house.

Has anyone ever done this before? I was thinking about some tarpaulin to go on the floor with a bucket of water and fairy liquid to wash hands etc in.

What would you guys advise me to do with regards to preparing and actually working on the engine indoors?

Or is it just a stupid idea that will no doubt end with stained wallpaper and a totally trashed up room?

[NSR Mick]

Get a garage.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Shay HTFC]

Good idea actually.
I'll cancel my rent and move to a new joint.

Cheers

[NSR Mick]

OK then.

If you put some sort of protective sheet down and do it on a hard floor I cant forsee any issues, unless you're not the only person in the house.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[Shay HTFC]

Got a couple of housemates.
Was thinking of doing it in my bedroom

Although we've got an unused conservatory, so could do it in there I guess. Hard floor too.

[Phil_P]

Done it plenty. Started at home with mum (but that was just bits, not the whole bike). Student digs had the whole CX500 in the g/f living room and an engine in the bedroom.

Now I've got my own place, I get to do pretty much what I like, but it does depend on a co-operative s/o.

Have to wait and see if she wants to park her new duke in the living room
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It is not enough to win, others must fail.
Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport Injection '96

[NSR Mick]

I'd go with the conservatory personaly.

I would imagine that it only takes 1 slip for your carpet to be ruined and smell of oil for ever and a day.
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If you dont like the way that I ride.......Stop trying to keep up!!!

[pa_broon74]

I do all my work indoors. Stick a tarpaulin on the ground and get a sturdy table to work on, an old dining table from a charity shop or sumsuch...

Totally crap working on the floor, sore knees and a sore back are guaranteed.

I've recently be using medical gloves (latex but not latex ones if you see what I mean.) Saves spreading grease all over the place.
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Didn't catch anything.

[Pete.]

They probably won't appreciate the smell. Old engine-oil smell lingers about a bit.
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a.k.a 'Geri'

132.9mph off and walked away. Gear is good, gear is good, gear is very very good

[TheShaggyDA]

Living room, kitchen, conservatory - all of them have had bike bits strewn around. I prefer working on plastic sheets to tarps, as any spillages can be caught. If you work on the floor, get a small stool to sit on and and something like a milk crate for the engine, or just get two milk crates

Drain the fluids and give the engine a good going over with a degreaser outside before you start. If you're not completely dismantling the engine, stick clean rags in all the holes. Inside, have a bowl of paraffin handy and clean the bits as they come off and put them and their associated bolts/washers/doohickies in freezer bags so you don't lose bits and you know what bits go with what. Makes reassembly a pleasure rather than a chore. If you take it slow and methodical you'll keep pingfuckits to a minimum.

I'm with pa_broon on the latex glove front, but the can be a pain when using normal screwdrivers, as the palm can get twisted and they rip easiliy there.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Shay HTFC]

Good tip with the freezer bags!

With regards to the paraffin, is it ok to use it on all engine parts? Does it count as a cleaning agent or something?

[TheShaggyDA]

Paraffin is a great degreaser/cleaner. Never had any problems on any bits of the engine. Just don't drop fag ends in it

If you want to be really anal, as well as freezer bags get a pile of tie on price tags and label everything you take off. If you're following a Haynes manual, write the section/chapter number on it too.
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Current: CB500 Previous: CB100N, CB250RS, XJ900F, GT550, GPZ750R/1000RX, AJS M16, R100RT, Enfield Bullet

[i:6e3bfc7581]But still I fear and still I dare not laugh at the madman...[/i:6e3bfc7581]

[Ariel Badger]

my living room right now.
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Ariel Badger]

hum
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Bikers make great organ donors, get 115 on your licence today.

[Damon]

I done my exhaust in the front room. the whole house stank of petrol for a week. The dog was high constantly as she sleeps down there.

[Phil_P]

Along with the freezer bags and 'toe tags', beg borrow or steal a digital camera and take pictures of each sub-assembly before you take it apart. This WILL save much head scratching when you come to put it back together!
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It is not enough to win, others must fail.
Moto Guzzi 1100 Sport Injection '96

[Pie-Roe]

Just think of it like the model aeroplane everyone at least started as a child on the dining room table, or living room floor.
Only bigger. Oh and flammable.

Pyro
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Previous: GSF600, FZR600 x2, ZXR750, XT600 Tenere, CB125, CZ125, ETZ 250, ER5, CCM R30, DRZ400, RF600x4, RF900x2, GS500, VTR1000F, 640 SMC, CB250 NIGHTHAWK, GT550x3, GPX750 TE610, CB500, X11x2, SV650, ZING 125, TL1000R,CB250 Superdream, CBR1100XX

[Whosthedaddy]

Fair enough I had them indoors for polishing more than cleaning, but the wife was very patient especially when a fuel dripping carb was dismantled on the dining table too.

https://www.bikechatforums.com/files/p8250022_190.jpg

The FZR frame spent many a week in my sons room only to get moved into the hallway and after painting it and wrapped in bubble wrap finally moved to our bed room before final assembly.

The monkey bike was originally assembled in the hallway.

All sorts have previously been stuck in various cupboards for ease and storage as otherwise it was a 20 min trip to my mums garage.

As mentioned by others, just do the majority of the degreasing before going indoors and cover anything that may get damaged by a spill.

Working outdoors can be fun, but its nice to be out of the cold and wind.
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Current : MSX 125 Past : CBR 900RR Monkeybike : c50 LAC : ZXR750 H2 : FZR600 : ZX7R P3 : YW100 : TRX850: Trophy 900 T309 : GSXR 600 L0: Monkeybike : XJ6S Whosthedaddy

[Shay HTFC]

Got lovely setup now. Got a 5m x 3m sheet from Homebase and spread it out all over the conservatory floor. Its light, warmer than outside and looks the fecking bomb!

Only problem is that its like hotboxxing every time you go inside. All that paraffin makes your head spin

[mrbluesbox]

Doing all my work inside at the mo - its far too cold and wet to be outside.just stick some plastic on the floor and point the exhaust outta the door.
I bought a massive blue tarp yesterday for a fiver from B&Q - will cover the entire room
oh - and put your girlfriend somewhere else
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I seem to have misplaced my pants...................

[306_abb]

I re built me first bike in the house tho it did stink of fuel and oil for weeks I advise anything like that should be drained outside. Also sticking metal parts in dishwasher brings them up a treat

[Vincent]

Carpet before;

https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/Drewskovitch/Bikeinside.jpg

Carpet after;

https://i77.photobucket.com/albums/j71/Drewskovitch/P1010092.jpg

Just get a new carpet when finished.

[andrew]

[Vincent]

Thanks Andrew The way things are going, it might be up for sale soon