Topic: Got a snotter 500 engine free, what to do?

[GroovieGhoulie]

One of my soldiers just gave me a 500 engine for free.  The top end (head and jugs) is off and the bottom end turns freely.  It's a real snotter and needs work.  At a glance it needs:

New rings
jugs resleeved
head work (valves are sticky or stuck)
Tappet covers
completely new ignition system (points plate is rusted into a unrecognizable lump)
cam chain tensioner (may as well)
starter motor
points cover
alternator rotor and alternator/starter cover
Might need new head studs but then again, they may just be really covered in nasty.  I haven't had a chance to really clean it.

It's pretty rough, but I can't aruge with free stuff so it's mine now.

Should I use it as the basis for a project motor (ie; total tear down and rebuild with big bore kit and other mods), or should I sell it (whole or as parts)?

[Gibson]

I'd rebuild it or atleast put it back together with part's off another cheap one their as good as a rebuild alot of the time.

[TitaniumRic]

One of my soldiers just gave me a 500 engine for free.  The top end (head and jugs) is off and the bottom end turns freely.  It's a real snotter and needs work.  At a glance it needs:

New rings
jugs resleeved
head work (valves are sticky or stuck)
Tappet covers
completely new ignition system (points plate is rusted into a unrecognizable lump)
cam chain tensioner (may as well)
starter motor
points cover
alternator rotor and alternator/starter cover
Might need new head studs but then again, they may just be really covered in nasty.  I haven't had a chance to really clean it.

It's pretty rough, but I can't aruge with free stuff so it's mine now.

Should I use it as the basis for a project motor (ie; total tear down and rebuild with big bore kit and other mods), or should I sell it (whole or as parts)?

No thats a good question to rebuild and modify  or sell it.......my answer  would be Hell YEs. rebuild it and get a complete bike  around it.... but I would caution you to do some homework on wht you want to get out of the motor and what it will cost you for the rebuild..sometimes free can cost you more than you think

[GroovieGhoulie]

sometimes free can cost you more than you think

That's what I'm worried about: that the "small items" such as bolts and suc h will nickel and dime the thing to death.

As far as putting it in a bike, If I keep it, I'm going to modify it and keep it as a spare engine for a Cafe.

Or maybe build it stock and put it on a go-kart.

[Gibson]

to do the work to put it back together why shouldn't you rebuild a bike around it or at least put it on a bicycle

[GroovieGhoulie]

to do the work to put it back together why shouldn't you rebuild a bike around it or at least put it on a bicycle

Because Odds are, I'll wind up with a bike already with an engine and unless it's dead, may as well use it.  Plus (and this'll bother the half-liter purists out there), it's a 500 engine with the resultant bad clutch and less-than-stellar gearbox.  I plan to use a 550 for my Cafe build and the 500 engine has less tweaking potential than the 550.

Plus, could you imagine a 500cc 50hp go-kart??   

[Gibson]

It would be nice i seen a 550  on a lawn tractor one time had some type of ATV chain drive axle on it.