I have decided to try and stay positive through this build, as sometimes after you start and things go wrong you see the whole mountain and not just the next step. So if you have read the start of this thread, you'll know this project cost me not a cent to start with! No matter what I find I really shouldn't complain.
On a positive note, my parts washer works a treat, and cost me €7 in total. That was just for the quarter turn lever valve for draining the tank when I need to change the fluid. I won't include the €10 for green or marked diesel, which I'm using as a degreaser. Ok, ok before all the shouts start! Diesel is only used as an initial de-greaser to remove the heavy crud. But it also has great releasing/creeping properties and is not easily flammable.
Long weekend off here in Ireland. Had Good Friday, (don't understand the term, pubs/bars closed and can't buy beer or wine anywhere), and today, Easter holiday Monday off as well as the usual Sat and Sun off. Decided to see what surprises the engine held. I was always going to strip it anyway to paint cases and top end. I hadn't really looked at it except the day I got it, when it would turn over by kick start and make the correct sort of huffing and puffing sounds! Also all five gears could be selected easily.
Today you can see the rocker cover and top breather cover bolts had all been left loose by someone at some stage. I don't even know if this is the original engine. Anyway with rocker cover off, some bad news started to unfold. Seems these engines can be hard on rockers and camshafts. On mine the inlet and exhaust atppets of followers on one and two are shot and the inlet on number 3. The equivalent damage is obvious on the can lobes too! Sh*t! Anybody got a spare 650 camshaft (why not? It needs a camshaft, it may be as well be good un)and are willing to post it to Ireland? Oh Yea and five followers too!
I really hope the Previous owner enjoyed doing the damage and if he was in a drag I hope he/she won! I would love to think of this poor bike being ridden hard in it's youth, and having a ball whipping all else around it. It will get all the remedial care it needs now like a triple bypass and maybe a few minor transplants. Then it will eat healthy food (regular oil changes) take some aerobic exercise, (Sunday spins, in the dry), go to the Gym, (or a few classic shows where hopefully it's admired like the forty something year old that it probably will be before its finished!) and loved, like every old folk deserves. (Not that forty is old......God to be forty again!)
The good news is the bores are good. There seems to have been some care taken to hone bores and maybe even gas flow. This will need cleaning up and further examination. Certainly the head and barrels have been off , don't know what for, maybe never will, but apart from the cam damage this motor looks well looked after so far. There is a broken fin behind number four cylinder, but this will not affect it's running so probably will not be repaired, unless I find someone over here who offers a repair very reasonably priced. There is a recession here!
So, I will need gaskets and seals galore! Anybody got any preference on brands? In particular those to avoid as I can't help myself buying at bargain prices (read cheap!) And a cam and some followers. Ebay here I come!
