Hi,
I've made a total school boy error, can't believe it, and let the oil level run too low. Upshot is. Partial seized very noisy engine. I think I've sourced a replacement but want to know if a someone reasonably competent (although you'd disagree based on the oil debacle) could swap the engines over. A mechanic friend of mine said he'd do the job for a flat £200. Cash is a bit of an issue at the moment. Have sourced the replacement engine for £400.
Cheers
Engine swap
- lloydie
- Posts: 20928
- Joined: Mon Jan 17, 2011 11:16 pm
- Location: In the garage somewhere in Coventry
Re: Engine swap
hello and welcome ,
yes its easy to do over a few days and you want to plan it over a few days ,
the main hurdle to over come is the front engine mount bolt as it will most likely be seized in and can be a bugger to remove .
you also need a few special tools for the locking bolts .
as most things bolt to the engine its pretty much a full strip down and rebuild and £200 sound cheap to do it
yes its easy to do over a few days and you want to plan it over a few days ,
the main hurdle to over come is the front engine mount bolt as it will most likely be seized in and can be a bugger to remove .
you also need a few special tools for the locking bolts .
as most things bolt to the engine its pretty much a full strip down and rebuild and £200 sound cheap to do it
Re: Engine swap
£200 is cheap- he'll regret that quote.....
If the middle, longer bolt is seized, and won't shift with a hammer, cut the boss on the back of the front head with a hacksaw and drift out the bolt, which will move easily then.
After the bolt's out, get the boss welded up again.
It feels drastic, but saves you bashing with ever-bigger hammers until you lose the will to live on day three or four.
If you can't get a replacement bolt, a length of studding and two nuts with suitable washers works perfectly well.....
Been there, done that (well, not the low oil- I tend to kill my engines in much more spectacular ways
If the middle, longer bolt is seized, and won't shift with a hammer, cut the boss on the back of the front head with a hacksaw and drift out the bolt, which will move easily then.
After the bolt's out, get the boss welded up again.
It feels drastic, but saves you bashing with ever-bigger hammers until you lose the will to live on day three or four.
If you can't get a replacement bolt, a length of studding and two nuts with suitable washers works perfectly well.....
Been there, done that (well, not the low oil- I tend to kill my engines in much more spectacular ways

It's not falling off, it's an upgrade opportunity.
Re: Engine swap
As long as there are no seized bolts, broken exhaust studs etc you can swap an engine over in a day. Best to give yourself two days for the first time though. One to remove the old engine and one to put the new one in. I use an Abba stand mounted off the rear engine mount. Place some bricks under the sump, remove the front and rear end, remove Abba stand leaving the engine and frame sitting on bricks. Remove frame, place over new engine and refit frame. Then put the front and rear of the bike back together. £200 is a very good price.
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