Topic: Would you buy a junkyard engine?

[setdog]

I live near a junkyard and the guy has a butt load of old CB's.

Im thinking about buying one of those engines for $200, which has been outside, basically in the woods for who knows how many years.
Im would expect to find alot of rust inside but he swears (of course he did) that guy recently pulled one out and got it going quite easily. all
are still in frame and some have vin plates, some have serial #s cut off the vin. anyway....

Im reluctant to buy one and start trying to fix it,  since in all likely hood the cost to revive the engine to a decent level would simply be too costly.

I think id just be better off buying a running engine, but then that engine could need same kind or similar repairs...

Anyone ever take long forgotten engine out of a yard and fix it up?  what did it take? 

[754]

Look harder, might find whole non runner bike stored inside..with papers..

[Stev-o]

I would not

[setdog]

Look harder, might find whole non runner bike stored inside..with papers..

This would be ideal.  The one I got cost me a grand for the whole bike.  Pretty decent deal imo.
Costs me 50 bucks a hole just to have cylinders bored and km pretty sure anything left
Out that long is going to need it...which would likely mean oversize pistons...and you see
Where to cost is just going up from there.

[rb550four]

If they are still in the cradle on a low miler with bent forks,spark plugs in and carbs still on or intakes sealed with duct tape, spins ,and seems to have compression.I'd buy that one.Check the oil.
 Depending on your climate. I would check the oil stick see if it has water in it (condensation) , look over the aluminum parts too much oxidation outside... you can expect that and rust on the inside. wouldn't touch that one.
  Stay away from anything with no spark plugs... usually has lots of moisture, possible frozen or hung up valves. If seized rebore job coming up,you'll want to split the cases to see what is left of the bearings and race surfaces, rusty shifting dogs..... can be a real can of worms .
  You could get lucky and find an engine that is decent, allot of folks that would take them to the junkyard would be the same folks that wouldn't try to change the spark plugs, you may find an engine with no real issues, but you have to be careful and choose wisely.

[Ace]

If all the engine covers were there, outside the engine looked ok and the engine wasn't seized, then and only then if you have a lot of money behind you to probably replace most of the internals and you had nothing else to do then go for it..

If you buy it for parts, then you may pick up something of value and get your money back.  Depending on what needs to be done to the engine, price may go from a couple of hundred and run in to the thousands.  Also depends if you want an engine with all the tricks such as big bore 895 or over 1000 cc kit, crank, rods, pistons, seals.....the list keeps going to do it properly.  Port & polish, HD valve springs, retainers, cam... If you have a bank of parts to start with then it may save you some cash.

Bottom line, a lot of variables.  I'd tend towards no.

[754]

If you go back look at the numbers and write them down.. A stuck sandcast or early KO would certainly be worth it..

[ekpent]

I would not

I'm with Steve on that, especially for $200.00.

[70CB750]

I would buy one for 50 or so.

[sinister902]

I've bought a junkyard engine, but not from a place where it sat outdoors for unknown periods of time. We have a local u-pull yard that occasionally gets a couple bikes in (which get picked over pretty quick)....I nabbed an XS650 motor for a friend of mine for $40, and it runs INCREDIBLY well....starts first kick every time and has near-new compression numbers. was a great score.

[setdog]

Lol this has turned into quite the heap of steaming you know what.

We took the head off, had it upside down to look at the combustion chambers and one of the valve heads broke off when I touched it.  It had rusted through the valve stem.  Head and cylinder
Is junk.  Rods are brown from rust and there are these little piles of rust and dirt in the corners of the cases, the flywheel looks horendous.  I'm hoping the hardened metal internals can be cleaned. 

Even if it doesn't ever run.  I still got a frame to go through to see what's salvageable.

[LesterPiglet]

I bought a bottom half of a 500 for £70 back in the 80's, count yourselves lucky.

[Stev-o]

Lol this has turned into quite the heap of steaming you know what.

We took the head off, had it upside down to look at the combustion chambers and one of the valve heads broke off when I touched it.  It had rusted through the valve stem.  Head and cylinder
Is junk.  Rods are brown from rust and there are these little piles of rust and dirt in the corners of the cases, the flywheel looks horendous.  I'm hoping the hardened metal internals can be cleaned. 

Even if it doesn't ever run.  I still got a frame to go through to see what's salvageable.

Ok, so the question now is would you buy another??

[Lostboy Steve]

Feel special for having the opportunity. Seriously, if I could find a junkyard with a 550 in it I would definitely consider buying it. I mean you have to re-build it anyway right?

[HondaMan]

I live near a junkyard and the guy has a butt load of old CB's.

Im thinking about buying one of those engines for $200, which has been outside, basically in the woods for who knows how many years.
Im would expect to find alot of rust inside but he swears (of course he did) that guy recently pulled one out and got it going quite easily. all
are still in frame and some have vin plates, some have serial #s cut off the vin. anyway....

Im reluctant to buy one and start trying to fix it,  since in all likely hood the cost to revive the engine to a decent level would simply be too costly.

I think id just be better off buying a running engine, but then that engine could need same kind or similar repairs...

Anyone ever take long forgotten engine out of a yard and fix it up?  what did it take? 

That's exactly how I wrote my book.
I presumed the worst (and got it) when I bought the junkyard bike pictured on the top of the front cover, and turned it into the beauty at the bottom of the cover. The oil tank's dipstick had been removed and it sat in their backyard for 5 years: the oil pump and bottom end were full of water-oil mix. Nasty! But, it showed up some of the worst stuff you might find in those situations.

I'd say $200 is a little steep for one that's been sitting out like that: maybe half that...

[tweakin]

Yes, I would and have.  Built my 915cc out of a junk yard engine.  Picked up 2 complete engines for $300.

[754]

Jeez i wish i was down in WA state..took me forever to sell 2 750f motors at 350, one was in a frame with wheels..and carbs..

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Jeez i wish i was down in WA state..took me forever to sell 2 750f motors at 350, one was in a frame with wheels..and carbs..

That would be gone in seconds in my part of the States.

[Don R]

I got a nice one that has set out a couple years, the carbs were removed and the engine openings were packed tight with grocery bags. I was shocked when it wasn't stuck. The oil had all leaked out, The sump was clean, The pucks leaked and one thing led to another so  I bored it to 836 and it looked great inside. 14,000 miles and it's a rocket now.

If one has been left unsealed I'd expect things to be different. I have another one that was left out, it's still stuck. I'm about to split the cases and use it for parts.