Topic: What....did...I...do.....

[Johnny5]

So tonight my goal was to get the engine out of the frame for my cafe build...I began removing all the stuff that was in the way, the oil tank, the battery, unhooked all the necessary wires....

And then I was ready....

I removed the engine mounts and slowly tipped the bike over on it's right side. I tried wiggling...jiggling...twisted and turned and that mofo wouldnt come out. So now it's dark and my girl is pretty much stripped down and sitting outside in the cold and not in my warm basement.

Then it hits me. I forgot to remove the breather cover on the valve cover. I think I read somewhere that this has to come off to get the engine out. I could probably use a helper too...

Anyway, I have that sick feeling in my stomach looking at my piles of bolts...and pieces wondering if it'll ever get back together....

[heffay]

well, i know you did NOT get the motor out.   

good luck!  label everything!

[fuzzybutt]

did you remove the oil filter?

[WFO]

Pile of bolts? well like heffay said ( label everything) before you get much further also i think i read in an ol post your suppose to tilt the engine slightly forward then proceed on the removal.

[Alan F.]

Dont the diagrams at Service Honda show what size bolt goes where?  I thought they did.....

[Johnny5]

did you remove the oil filter?

Yep

[Johnny5]

I have all the bolts and nuts sorted in labeled boxes. I was being a little over dramatic...but still, ugh.

[WFO]

Is the head still intacted? if so and you intend on tearing it down anyways take the valve assembly off to gain some more room.

[Johnny5]

Is the head still intacted? if so and you intend on tearing it down anyways take the valve assembly off to gain some more room.

Not a bad idea. I'll also see if my brother can help me on Saturday. It also got dark quick and I'll probably be able to see what the engine is bumping into when the sun is up.

Thanks for your suggestions.

[heffay]

on my 400f i took the oil pan off and that gave me enough clearance... still needed a second person to wrangle the sucker though.

[WFO]

on my 400f i took the oil pan off and that gave me enough clearance... still needed a second person to wrangle the sucker though.

That probably even a better idea to gain more wiggle room.

[heffay]

on my 400f i took the oil pan off and that gave me enough clearance... still needed a second person to wrangle the sucker though.

That probably even a better idea to gain more wiggle room.

careful of the oil sump.

[Sporkfly]

Sometimes I wish I had four arms. I wrestled my 550's engine out and back in unaided. I wouldn't advise it. Get a friend and make promises of booze .

Don't get discouraged, even I was able to get the 550 mostly reassembled... And I'm really awful at finishing things I start 

[tygrant]

I know that Ugh feeling but im sure youl get it back together. i remember feeling that way the first time i blew the motor up in my jetski. i ripped the whole thing apart in 3 hours and had piles of shiz everywhere. il tell ya though its such a rewarding feeling the first time you start it back up. thats how i felt when i first started my jet ski then the carb fell off  cuz i forgot to tighten the screws... but yea it will be that much better when its back together, im actualy in the same process right now

[toycollector10]

I'm going to send a whole lot of bolts and bits out to be zinc plated. I thought I would get a large sheet of corrugated cardboard and press the bolts into the card to make a profile then name that bolt and where it goes on the card below the indent. Is this too silly or simplistic. So when the bolts and bits come back from the plater I will know if any are missing and also where they go back on the bike. Any other ideas?

[martino1972]

don't forget to undo the chain........

[martino1972]

don't forget to undo the chain........

[heffay]

I'm going to send a whole lot of bolts and bits out to be zinc plated. I thought I would get a large sheet of corrugated cardboard and press the bolts into the card to make a profile then name that bolt and where it goes on the card below the indent. Is this too silly or simplistic. So when the bolts and bits come back from the plater I will know if any are missing and also where they go back on the bike. Any other ideas?

orient them on the cardboard in the same fashion they come from their respective parts... meaning... if they make a triangle, poke them thru the cardboard in that same shape, etc.
 
then you don't even have to really label them cuz they look like a cardboard version of the part!   

[Sporkfly]

I'm going to send a whole lot of bolts and bits out to be zinc plated. I thought I would get a large sheet of corrugated cardboard and press the bolts into the card to make a profile then name that bolt and where it goes on the card below the indent. Is this too silly or simplistic. So when the bolts and bits come back from the plater I will know if any are missing and also where they go back on the bike. Any other ideas?

orient them on the cardboard in the same fashion they come from their respective parts... meaning... if they make a triangle, poke them thru the cardboard in that same shape, etc.
 
then you don't even have to really label them cuz they look like a cardboard version of the part!   

All well and good Heff, but from what I understood he was considering pressing the bolts in to make the shape of them? Sort of like pressing a key into a bar of soap to make a copy of, like you see in some old movies. Not to pick on you  I do the poking through thing too.

It sounds like a good plan toy and it would definitely work out, but personally I'd just pick up a kit of stainless fasteners. You'll be replacing screws with hex heads that way, and will make any future disassembly a little less painful.

[heffay]

well ok... i'll be over here... drinking.

[Johnny5]

don't forget to undo the chain........

Oh yeah, speaking of the chain. I quickly found out that it was a continuous chain, so since Im replacing the chain and sprockets, out came Mr. Dremel and voila! Chain was off in 1 minute.

[KingCustomCycles.com]

Hold on there guys, the engine can be slid out with the valve cover assembly attached including the vent cover.  I install them without even scratching the paint.  The oil filter does have to come off.  The engine goes: tilt forward-lower-tilt back-down and in.  I have done 8 this year.  Check my website for a very handy engine mount bar that makes this process easy. Like 1/2 hour out and 1 hour in easy. 

[KB02]

It's a 750, right? You can't take the top end apart while in the frame (unless the frame is cut).

Take off the oil sump and pump as well. This give a bit extra room on the bottom end. THEN bride a buddy with beer.. or whatever else it takes. Those engines are heavy b@sturds.

[Johnny5]

Good suggestions.

I'll remove that stuff Saturday, it's trick or treat night with the little ones tonight. Im borrowing a dolly to get the engine into the basement once it's out.

Thanks everyone!

[Sporkfly]

well ok... i'll be over here... drinking.

Want some company?

Johnny, where are the pictures?