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map Mr Calendar
Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 10:21 - 16 Aug 2004 Post subject: Blown engine - advice required - Updated |
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Going along the motorway on Saturday and engine lost power and I saw white smoke behind me in the mirrors. Pulled in clutch, engine cut and I made it to the hardshoulder! Bike was dripping oil.
Ok, AA recovery took 2 hours but that's over with now.
What I'm thinking is piston ring/oil ring (whatever you want to call them) gone on maybe one cylinder. It's an old Kwack inline 4 so not worth much but my only form of bike transport at the moment.
To get to the point I figure a top end rebuild. I know how much the parts will be (rings x4, cam chain, tensioner, gaskets). How much would I expect for labour? - i.e. how long a job is it?
Also I've been advised the cylinder(s) maybe marked and need smoothing. How much is it for this it it's needed? - ballpark figures.
Are there going to be any other problems? I don't want to be sold a dummy by the garage. Different garage but I remember one time I was told they couldn't adjust the tappets as they haven't got the right shims (anyone explain how that works I'd like to know ). So I'm just a bit suspicious of garage mechanics now.
Just want to make sure it's a viable repair rather than going to look for a newer bike.
Thanks in anticipation ____________________ ...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger?
Last edited by map on 00:34 - 24 Aug 2004; edited 2 times in total |
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Big Pete |
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Big Pete Spanner Monkey
Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :
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map Mr Calendar
Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 14:37 - 16 Aug 2004 Post subject: |
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Pete, thanks for the info. Prices I have are:-
Piston Rings - set of 4 = £94
Gasket - top = £22
Gasket - bottom = £11
Cam Chain = £20
Chain Tensioner = £17
Total = £164, which I can just about live with.
All are genuine Kwak parts. Bike is a 550.
Can't do the job myself (as much as I'd like to) as lacking tools, space and time.
If total for labour is going to be around your £400 mark I think I may be better off looking for secondhand engine, or failing that a newer secondhand bike
Was surprised at tappets adjust as I'm familar with loosening screw, adjusting then tightening locking nut. No shims involved (different bike though). I know valves need shims, first time I'd been told tappets did! ____________________ ...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger? |
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Kickstart |
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Kickstart The Oracle
Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :
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Posted: 14:55 - 16 Aug 2004 Post subject: |
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Hi
Labour will depend on where you go and how much they charge, but £400 is probably around 10 hours work and so entirely possible, especially if they have to drop the engine out and plenty of fasteners land up being seized in place.
Plenty of bikes used shimmed valve adjustment, whether the cams act directly on the buckets (the only non shimmed valve adjustment of valve where the cams act directly on the buckets that I can think of is the old Alfasud), or using rocker arms. Some makers have used rocker arms which can be pushed sideways to get at the shims without removing the cams.
All the best
Keith ____________________ Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing |
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map Mr Calendar
Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 15:26 - 16 Aug 2004 Post subject: |
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Just been told secondhand engine around £400 to £450. So that's same cost as the labour for repair Wonder how much just for an engine swap?
Ok, so if I change the engine than the same could happen. Plus I'd have to do the cam chain at least at some point in the future. Hmmmh, decisions, descisions ____________________ ...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger? |
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Big Pete Spanner Monkey
Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 18:15 - 16 Aug 2004 Post subject: |
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No way a gpz (or gt) 550 engine should cost £400! get onto Ebay, there was a complete gpz550 with bent forks went for less than £200
Alternatively spend £60-100 on tools and do it yourself, I`ve done this sort of work on the kerb outside my flat when I was a student.
If you are going to do it buy a complete top end gasket set and grind the valves in and replace the stem seals while you have it apart. The set also includes the exhaust gaskets which will be required.
Do you know for sure what the problem is yet?, if its just a burned valve its not as bad a job. ____________________ Trust me, I`m an engineer
GarageOfPower.co.uk |
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Robby |
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Robby Dirty Old Man
Joined: 16 May 2002 Karma :
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Guest Brolly Dolly
Joined: 22 Apr 2004 Karma :
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map Mr Calendar
Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 22:57 - 16 Aug 2004 Post subject: |
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Thanks for all the advice so far. I'm getting the details on Tuesday so in line with the suggestion in this thread (click here) I'll keep you posted.
I think the replacement engine is worth looking into, bearing in mind I'd only got a quote from one breaker, not IMHO noted for being one of the cheapest. ____________________ ...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger? |
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map Mr Calendar
Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 15:54 - 17 Aug 2004 Post subject: |
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Just got off the 'phone with the guy stripping the engine. Tells me it's melted one piston. Says barrel looks okay so pricing up bits to fix.
Will have a look at bits as sounds like could make an interesting sculpture have to laugh don't you!
Based on this I'll then decide on if worth doing, weighing up how long it'll last, how much use I'll get, how confident I'll feel with it etc.
Anyone got any clues as to what problems result in a melted piston? Was told oil channels look okay so should be getting cooling. Don't know if could be electrical fault related
Any ideas, clues appreciated as obviously if it's fixed I don't want it happening again ____________________ ...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger? |
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Kickstart The Oracle
Joined: 04 Feb 2002 Karma :
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Big Pete Spanner Monkey
Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :
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map Mr Calendar
Joined: 14 Jun 2004 Karma :
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Posted: 23:14 - 23 Aug 2004 Post subject: |
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Got back the piston - I've attached a couple of pics.
Does appear to be a hole
Best guesses so far is as stated (1) lean mixture or (2) build up of carbon on the head and/or arcing from over hot spark plug.
As far as I'm aware only plugs in the engine have been the correct temperature NGKs.
Any feedback welcome. Thanks. ____________________ ...and the whirlwind is in the thorn trees, it's hard for thee to kick against the pricks...
Gibbs, what did Duckie look like when he was younger? |
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Gazdaman I did a trackday!!!
Joined: 12 Aug 2004 Karma :
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map Mr Calendar
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Posted: 14:56 - 24 Aug 2004 Post subject: |
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Big Pete Spanner Monkey
Joined: 18 Jul 2004 Karma :
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ZRX61 Victor Meldrew
Joined: 05 Nov 2003 Karma :
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Old Thread Alert!
The last post was made 19 years, 248 days ago. Instead of replying here, would creating a new thread be more useful? |
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