Dave Mackie has been in the business for a while, his cams are earlier intake valve closing, higher lift, longer duration before the set up became popular. Gave my buddy a DM580 and his 80" light bike with some compression is a sleeper in a street race, will embarrass some big cube bikes.
Got a bit of time this afternoon to get some work done.
Since removing the swingarm means supporting the motor, I figured I may as well pull the top end first so it's that much lighter. No real surprises on the way. The heads and pistons look pretty much like I figured they would.
About the only wrinkle I ran into is that three of the eight cylinder studs came out. The ones that came out were all on the left side. The only one on that side that didn't come out was the rear exhaust side stud.
Here's how she looks right now.
On the question of upgrading to a 2002+ swingarm, I considered it, but (assuming mine passes a close inspection once I get it off) I'm going to stick with this one. The general idea is to get the GlidePro system installed and see how it works. If I decide it's not for me, then at that point I will go with the new swingarm, etc.
The other noteworthy thing I came across is that the Heim joints on the upper mount are pretty much frozen solid. I'm going to replace all of them, just because.
adding the 3rd link and all new bushings has made my RK the most stable
platform I have ever ridden..
My Honda GW F6B is more twitchy.
You will simply be amazed.
Got a bit of time this afternoon to get some work done.
Since removing the swingarm means supporting the motor, I figured I may as well pull the top end first so it's that much lighter. No real surprises on the way. The heads and pistons look pretty much like I figured they would.
About the only wrinkle I ran into is that three of the eight cylinder studs came out. The ones that came out were all on the left side. The only one on that side that didn't come out was the rear exhaust side stud.
Here's how she looks right now.
On the question of upgrading to a 2002+ swingarm, I considered it, but (assuming mine passes a close inspection once I get it off) I'm going to stick with this one. The general idea is to get the GlidePro system installed and see how it works. If I decide it's not for me, then at that point I will go with the new swingarm, etc.
The other noteworthy thing I came across is that the Heim joints on the upper mount are pretty much frozen solid. I'm going to replace all of them, just because.
The heads and pistons don't look that bad. How many miles on the motor?
From here they look like vergin heads-no stamp on them?
You can gain cheap power by decking a lot off.
Any of us that do head work can send you dwn many paths
BUT-
Are looking for some power with mostly longevity?
either way, valves live in an actual hell.
I would not waste one second looking them over.
Pop them out check the guide wear and go from there.
Use OS going back in as the same seats can be used..and may save you some money if the seats are ponded.
The internal motor stuff on this project is all "may as well's". The driving factor is that it has gotten incredibly weepy over the last year or so. It was a little weepy before, but it's gotten pretty out of hand. Figured now was the time to address that, and "as long as I'm in there"...
It does seem like something of a waste. As I've pulled it apart, everything looks almost perfect.
My plan is to put it all in Scott's hands at Hillside. I'll talk it over with him on Monday, but I assume we'll end up in pretty much the same place he described to me a couple of years ago: Head port, compression, cam, ignition. I'm not sure if it makes sense to do anything with the valves. I'll leave that to him. I put those true dual headers on a couple of years ago, and I really like them (along with the Paughco fishtail mufflers), and I'd really like to keep all that. That may impact his thinking. All I'm really looking for is a nice running, strong motor that will give 100k miles of service from here. Not looking to build a hot rod, and I don't want to ever have to go back inside this thing.
The motor tear-down is finished. Next step is to pull the swingarm. But first, I've got a little plumbing project I've got to go do, and then I have to put new rear brakes on my wife's car, so bike wise, I'm done for the day.
Happy to see a man with wrenches that work.!
Make sure you let Scot know what I asked you-
"How long do you want it to last."
I do some real racer stuff to my heads, but endurance it does not have.
For instance, i set the seats way to the top-this artificially makes for a larger valve. (but cuts dwn on valve life)
Using OS valves this truly helps with all the other little details
My heads come apart every 20K miles.
It is all a compromise.
11-22-2018, 02:36 PM
