Subject: Engine forensics
Author: Zerhackermann
Date: Mar 22, 2002, 12:38 PM
Post ID: 1709908155
Okay I think I finally found what the problem was. So it's fess up time
in the hopes others won't make the same mistake.
I was anxious to get the ambo on the road. 10 years of lust all wrapped
up in one stupid decision. So I just put the old cylinders back on with
new rings. Dumbass move. I was only going to run it for a few months
that way and then put the new top end on it. New rings and old chrome
don't mix. Peeled the chrome off like butter. Squeaked the motor after
4000 miles. (estimated)
Now armed with money from uncle sam's savings plan, I tore all three of
my motors down to evaluate what is good and what is needed to make a
good running bike again. And to atone for my sins I am refusing to let
bike lust rush me along.
Last night I finally found what was the final straw. I was wondering
where the oil got blocked. And why it only starved the rear crank
bearing when everything else is untouched? Last night, after grinding
the reflectors loose on my spare fender, I looked it over again. I was
lookng for a blocked oil line somewhere. I took the fore-aft oil line
off the bottom of the motor. This line goes from the oil pump and feeds
the crank bearing and the cam bearing in the back. But there is also a
pressure switch at the aft end of the pipe. It is a spring and plunger
affair. I took that apart and the plunger was scored and had at least
one fair sized chunk attached to it. SO. My assumption is that the
plunger was jammed in a position where not enough oil was making it to
the crank bearing and so it seized up.
So. Lessons learned
1) there is such a thing as too cheap.
2) making a dumbass decision with your libido can happen with a bike as
easily as with a woman.
3) if your bike is smoking and you think it needs rings...just be ready
to pony up the cash for a top end. And if you buy a barn fresh loop...
Prepare to do the same.