Oh dear...

[Ste]

Well as some of you already know my bike kinda died on sunday afternoon

Was down at the industrial estate in Reading, playing around at wheelies and stoppies and stuff, when it was being clutched up in seconds something went, and it stopped turning, and ground to a halt

Upon poking it, it woudlnt turn over, and take the oil cap off and there is a bit of metal sitting there looking at us, and smoke coming out. Oh crap

Vicky very kindly came and picked it up in the trailer and took it back to G's house, where I then took it to bits to see whats had happened to it.

Took the clutch cover off, and found this at the bottom of the clutch bit. Took them out, then looked at the clutch assembly.... oh crap. The basket has actually snapped off round the bottom where you cant see it anymore. The clutch plates, they have all broken bits off, tabs on them, and one of them has actually snapped in two Also photos of the clutch cover... photo 1, photo 2 and photo 3. As you can see, the cover is damaged on the inside and on the edges You can also see the little bits of metal on it, which are everywhere :

It was also a brand new set of clutch plates in there

Took it out, then took the sump off. No photo of this, but it was lined with little shards of metal, and some bigger ones

Took the oil filter off the front, and that too had bits of metal in it, so it would seem the metal has also gone around the engine

Looking around, I can get a complete clutch assembly for about £85 from a breakers yard, but then there is the problem of metal in the rest of the engine. Any ideas on if this is possible to remove without stripping the thing down? Is it likely to have damaged anything?

Currently looking at changing the engine, for a ZX6r 636 engine possibly, as it would be major upgrade, and would be changing from a high milage, well worn J2 engine to a low milage 636 engine Also I could then split the engine and where possible sell the bits on.

Any ideas on fixing it, and any one know anyone with an engine forsale?

Thanks to Vicky for picking the bike up, G and Alex for thier help with it and letting me leave it in Reading, and G for letting me borrow the RD

[McJamweasel]

Love the new sig Ste!
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BCF: Be yourself, just don't be an arse.

[Kickstart]

Hi

Being honest I would fix the clutch basket, although £85 sounds a bit much unless it comes with new plates.

Take the sump plate off and clean it out thoroughly (no sure but there may be oil ways built into the sump, there is on the GPZ500 engine). Probably worth taking the oil pump out and cleaning that. The pump should have a gauze cover which should stop most of the metal fragments getting into the pump.

Not sure which way the engine pushes oil through the filter, but if the only metal shards are before the filter then you may be OK.

To do the job properly would mean stripping the engine down totally and cleaning all the oil ways out (including those in the crank). Also check the oil cooler as that may well have a load of cack in it as well. You will need access to a compressor to clean all the oilways out.

Either way of doing the job properly it isn't going to be that cheap .

You could just try cleaning it out fairly well without stripping the engine then giving it a few oil changes in rapid succession. Chances are you might well get away with it. However there is also a fair chance that some metal has already go somewhere difficult to get at, ready to cause future problems. If the choice is that the engine is otherwise scrap then this is possibly well worth a try.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Ste]

Hmmm Sounds time consuming and dodgy

Currently looking at a ZX6R A1P 636 engine and fitting that. Then over winter stripping the J2 one down, fixing it up, then breaking it up to ebay maybe

[Kickstart]

Hi

Remember that if you fit the 636 engine you are also likely to need the carbs (maybe including airbox, which might cause more problems) and ignition system (ie, cdi unit, crankshaft pickups, etc), which is not going to be included in the cost of an engine from a breakers yard. You might also need to do something with the exhaust (such as get one made). Also check the start motor is the same. Also that the front sprocket has the same offset.

This assumes that the engine mounts all are in the same place.

It is definatly possible but I would not regard it as the cheap or easy solution.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Ste]

One on a breakers website, listed as with all the electrics. I have posted up on the MCN Ninjas forum about this, and how interchangable they are.

Will be interested to know if it would fit or not.

There is also the matter of having to change engine numbers with DVLA, and sort tax and insurance with a bigger engine

[Kickstart]

Hi

DVLA really will not care too much (although not sure about road tax, you might go up a band by going over 600cc, cannot remember the current groupings) as long as you let them know the engine capacity change and the engine number.

Insurance might be a major problem depending on the company. Some probably will not care, while others might demand an engineers report.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Ste]

Tax changes from £45 to £60 once you go over 599cc engine. Not a major problem though. Insurance would be the big problem, I'd have to ask them.

I think finding a 599 J2 engine sounds like it will be easier, and the bike will be more sellable with it as well

Have you ever heard of a kawasaki clutch doing this before? Or for clutch plates to break?

[Kickstart]

Hi

Also the older engine is likely to be a fair bit cheaper. M1 Salvage are listing 6 ZX6R J models in for breaking (01582 841440).

Not heard of a clutch doing that, but then you were playing silly B's which will put loads of stress on the clutch.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[Sparks!]

should you need the clutch much to wheely a ZX6R?
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Current Toys: 06 Yamaha WR250F | Nissan 350Z GT | Tech 4 Homes

[Ste]

In 2nd gear, yes.

Comes up on power in first, and if you can, it can go through the gearbox like that on balance point. However I can't

[TJ NSR]

you cant get it up and then through the box on te zx6, it has a neutral finder which wont let it go into second, and will go staight into neutral, however if you get it up in 2nd (which needs practising) you can change up!

[Dusty]

[TiN]

Sorry (but not surprised) to hear that mate.

But hasn't G got a spare 9 motor?
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TiN
dotgems.net

[Ste]