Topic: polishing an engine

[gregwaits]

Is it necessary to remove an engine from the frame to do a good job of polishing? (notice I didn't say state of the art polishing)

The bike I speak of is a 1970 CB450. I want to make it turn heads  as best as I can - no pun intended - but I don't want to open a huge can of works by getting involved with taking the engine out.

[Gordon]

Taking the engine out, especially on something like a 450, is not what I'd consider opening a can of worms.  Now opening up the engine or splitting the cases?  That's where the worms live!

Removing the engine will allow you to get to, and clean places you could never reach with it in the frame, and will also allow you to give the frame a good cleaning and touch-up.

[KB02]

That's where the worms live!

"The worms? They were crazy.
Crazy? I was once crazy.
The put me in a rubber room.
I ate there, I slept there, and I died there.
Then they buried me.
That's where I met the worms.
The Worms? They were crazy.
Crazy? I was once crazy.
The put me in a..."[/color]


You can definitely clean up a lot of the engine with it still in the frame. Just a lot more of it if it was out of the frame.

[Egil]

Remember that the bike & engine don`t love to stand  on cement floor 

But if you have a wood floor the bike will always be a big Smile

[grumburg]

I did mine without removing engine. (500t). Supported the engine with a floor jack and removed front, bottom, and top engine mounts and loosened back mount. Was able to raise engine pivoting on back mount. Cleaned bottom of engine and frame with Prepsall to get off 2 inches of dirt and grease. Painted front mounts and had all the bolts cad plated. Went over frame with Kit Scratch-Out after touching up some scratches. After polishing the side cases, looks great!