Topic: 836, should I buy it?

[nobody]

So I went to buy a new bottom end and an extra engine for my transmission rebuild (for those of you who were reading that thread). When I was at this guys house i noticed this really clean engine he had and asked him about it. Supposedly it has a Wiseco 836 kit in it, was machined by Wayne and Sons, was powder coated black, claims it has somewhere around three thousand dollars in it. I guess he got it from a guy who got a steal on a 900 kit and just couldn't get anybody on craigslist to buy it. So this guy picked it up cheap and said he'd give it to me for $800. Is it worth it to buy this engine? He didn't have compression readings or anything but says it only has five hundred miles on after the build.

[nobody]

Oh, also, what model/year is it?

[strangedaze39]

For that much money, personally I would pass. Then again, someone else here could probably tell you if it's a good deal compared to what they normally go for or not. Regardless cool find.

[MCRider]

For that much money, personally I would pass. Then again, someone else here could probably tell you if it's a good deal compared to what they normally go for or not. Regardless cool find.

Its tempting, but its a pig in a poke. You just don't know what you have. Unless a real builder built it top to bottom, and you can confirm that, who knows what lies within?

For $800 someone could afford the risk, others could not.

[nobody]

Exactly, I would love to have that extra hundred CCs but I'm not sure if I really want to drop that much for it. The full engine I got has about 115 psi across the cylinders so it's pretty good. It's also been painted gunmetal black, has allen bolts instead of phillips head screws, and it has an oil pressure gauge on the side. Leads me to believe that maybe some work has been done to that one too, should be fun to fire that engine up and see what it's made of. Still not an 836 though, I'm just torn and can't decide if I should do it or not.

[GammaFlat]

Completely from my perspective..... which I'm sure is not parallel, contiguous or otherwise correlated with other's views...

What is it you want?  That's probably the most important question to answer.... but answer it before you know about this deal... oh, not so easy.  I love the notion of having extra ponies on tap but when I ask myself how much I'll use 'em... hmmm.  My priorities are reliability, drive-ability, economy and power - about in that order.   I've pondered more cubes at times but I'm gonna settle for head work and at or near stock cc's. 

[nobody]

That's about where my priorities lie as well. While I would love to have more power the reliability and economy take a front seat, so to speak. Maybe the girlfriend was right, maybe my money would be better spent elsewhere.

[Jerry Rxman Griffin aka MuthaF'er]

Putting 3 grand into a 750 engine will get you a really good engine if done properly. Putting 5 grand into one will get one real nice top of the line serious engine if done properly. If you can spend 800 bucks on a for real 3 grand engine then you'd get a great deal. If it's a recent rebuild and it was done correctly then it's definitely worth 800 bucks irregardless of what it has in it. Depends if it's the real deal and what condition it's in. Too bad you can't see inside it. Crap shoot I'd say. Get in touch with Wayne & Son. I'd bet they'd recognize that serial number on that case.

Serial number is a restamp on a replacement case.

[Hush]

Interesting delema, I'd probably buy it out of curiosity, great discussion piece if $800 isn't a problem.
It would easily go for that her in NZ but we have such a small market.

[wrenchmuch]

You should build motors yourself . More fun that way . Its impossible to know whats inside . WALK AWAY !

[Alan F.]

+1 on getting in touch with Wayne and Son they may have been the ones to stamp those numbers on replacement cases.

http://members.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=wayne836

http://www.angelfire.com/mn2/WayneAndSonMC/

Wayne836@tds.net
763-295-8603

[NitroHunter]

Good idea, check with Wayne & Son first for verification. If they can't remember the bike or motor - and that would surprise me - have him pull the valve cover. For 3 grand into the motor, you should see things like aftermarket retainers, stainless valves, slotted sprocket, lumpy cam. Get the aftermarket markings off the cam - not just casting numbers. Look down the intake ports for signs of porting. If he balks at this move on, what's the problem with removing 5 minutes of cover bolts to prove to a potential customer he's getting what's advertised?
Look closely at the head gasket, is it copper? That alone is a very good indicator it's kitted. If it has this stuff done, it may be a good bet that he's telling the truth about the Wiseco kit.
Does the motor come with an aftermarket ignition, coils, different carbs? These are the things that add up in value. Ask if the tranny's cut, crank balanced, alternator lightened, stud kit, etc.
These are the questions that can give you some insight as to what he's really got.
You could be onto a real find - just be careful... And good luck.

[754]

plug hole inspection light.. will quickly tell  what top of pistons look like and wall condition, and you can see the valve faces..

dont buy used performance engine without it.

[Alan F.]

I think I remember reading a few years ago that Wayne and Son had purchased a bunch of NOS cases, maybe they've been building them and stamping new numbers?
Has anyone heard or remember this? It's probably on their site, I just don't have time to read it until later this afternoon.