This problem is even worse than what I expected!
For an inexperienced guy such as myself, is this do-able, or does it look like a new engine in my future? On that same note, which option is 'easier'. Full dis-assembly or the short-cut? I'm just afraid the other bolts are going to get stuck as well.
BTW. What would be the harm in running the bike as is?
Also, what is the main journal bolt?
Yeah, well its worse than having a spring pop out of a switch and fly across the room.
First, if you don't rely on this for transportation, and you have about $400 and the desire, it is doable by a novice. And this forum will step you through it. My guess is if you follow procedure in disassembly the rest of the bolts will come out fine.
If you run it as is, you'll likely ruin the engine and depending on where you are when it decided to puke, you could ruin yourself as well.
The main journals (emphasis on "main") are the points that support the crankshaft and the bearings that it spins in. There are 5 of them (hence the 10 bolts, 5 pairs). Others may explain it better but you get the idea. All 10 bolts must be there, firm and hardy, to hold the crank in line as its spinning at 8,000 rpm, up and down the power band.
The full disassembly, assuming you are going to the problem and nothing else, is not any harder than the short cut, just more steps and more expensive as you'll need to replace a few more parts, gaskets, etc. The "care" in the shortcut is that you'll be working close to the exposed crank and wouldn't want to ding it. You could probably shield it with a thin board or metal plate while doing you surgery on the bolt. Like working on n organ near a nerve. You don't touch the nerve, no problem. You touch the nerve, the whole operation is botched.
PS: You say you were disassembling the engine? So you were going to take it apart anyway?
