Topic: I get to rebuild an engine. Hooray?

[JosepyK]

While pulling away from a stop light on my way to work, I hear an strange sound. A bit like a baseball card in the spokes, but it was coming from the engine. I grab the clutch to take the pressure off (gutless anyway), and now it won't move under it's own power. Engine revs, but i can shift without clutch like it's off.

So when I get home this evening I'm going in. I know how you guys like these gore threads, I'll get some pics while I'm in there. Updates will be sporadic and slow, as I'll be waiting for money for parts if I can't rig it (would rather do it right the first time than risk the whole engine). Feel free to come point and laugh.

[JosepyK]

I'm a little scared of what I may find inside an engine that hasn't seen a competent mechanic since it was built. Good thing I'm not a mechanic.

[Frankencake]

You broke your main chain, mister.  There is an internal chain between your transmission guts and your crankshaft also known as the primary chain.  Yours, its broken.  See if you can put it in gear and roll it. There should minimal resistance if your primary is broken.  You should hear the gears spool up but you won't feel engine compression.  That sucks, dude. I'm sorry to hear it.  Looking for a replacement engine is the easiest thing to do.  Rebuild yours in your spare time.

[JosepyK]

Thanks for the input, it nice to know I was on the right track. I had a feeling that was it through deductive reasoning, I'm more afraid the any corresponding damage. I was intending on tearing into it this winter (just to inspect everything), wish I could have gotten a little more of the riding season first, oh well. Noise from the bottom was very slight, minus some clutch rattle. Which got better as I adjusted the carbs, haven't gotten vacuum gauges yet.

[JosepyK]

I can't believe how much of a dunce I can be sometimes. The clutch blew out, I'm pissed that I didn't see it sooner. I pulled the pan to check chains/damage, chains were still in tolerance. I did find metal shavings... from the clutch, got the shavings cleaned up. The screen did it's job and thus will be rewarded. (How do you reward a screen?) Any way, it doesn't appear any shaving made it into the pump, or the rest of the engine so money saved and lesson learned. Double check things so you don't stand slack jawed thinking for a hour. Damn.

[Frankencake]

Congratulations.  I didn't see that coming.  You no have to rebuild engine now.  dat good

[Bankerdanny]

Don't feel bad. On my Enfield I pulled the transmission apart (until recently Bullet's all had separate transmissions like the old Brit bikes that they were at heart) because I thought the kick start pawl had sheared. I did all this work only to discover that the the reason the lever felt like it was slipping was a misadjusted clutch. A couple turnes of a bolt and all was well.

[JosepyK]

That is exactly the kind of thing I would have done. I already had it out of the frame even, all set to tear it apart. LOL

[Bankerdanny]

On the plus side, I did gain some valuable experience in working on Royal Enfield transmissions, and I took the opportunity to install a sealed main shaft bearing in place of the stock unsealed bearing, which eliminated a chronic oil leak source.

[JosepyK]

Sweet, little blessings.

[Frankencake]

I never look back on anything I do with wrenches and think that it wasn't worth it.  No matter how dumb I was being.  Years ago, I did my first head gasket on my old truck because I was sure it was overheating because of it.  My dad even said not to do it.  I got it done and sure enough it overheated until I replaced the radiator like my dad said.  The upside is that since then, I have no problem tearing an engine apart for no reason.  It's all still fun.