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Engine Mechanical TopicsDiscussion for motor builds, cams, head work, stripped bolts and other engine related issues. The good and the bad. If it goes round and around or up and down, post it here.
Get a good ring compressor. Different ways to go at it but I install the pistons on the bench and the pin retainer on the left side. Position the rod where you want it, position the piston over the rod and slide the pin in and the retaining ring. Light coat of oil on the cylinder walls (clean them very well) and I install the rings dry but a drop of oil per Matt's post wouldn't hurt. Get that cylinder down and locked in place with head bolts and spacers and move on to the next. That's just me, some do it the other way; each to his own.
If the rings are on the pistons, that will eliminate the possibility of installing rings gapped for the front cylinder on the rear cylinder. If the rings are packed separately from the pistons, pay attention to insure the ring packs are installed on the right piston; they will be different.
Make sure you have the case bores closed off to prevent something from dropping into the crank case. I get those big sponges at the auto parts store for car washing and cut them to fit into the case bore with a slit to slide around the rod; lots of different ways to skin the cat.
Wow, great advice thanks so much (as always)! Rings should be installed so that will help. Do I still need to get a ring compressor?
Another strange question... Since I'll be using the same Cams and same heads, will I be able to keep the pushrods at the same length, or will I have to collapse them and readjust from scratch?
Last edited by robbyville; Jan 9, 2017 at 03:06 PM.
Wow, great advice thanks so much (as always)! Rings should be installed so that will help. Do I still need to get a ring compressor?
Another strange question... Since I'll be using the same Cams and same heads, will I be able to keep the pushrods at the same length, or will I have to collapse them and readjust from scratch?
If Kirby is sending the cylinders with pistons installed, you might get by without a ring compressor. However, there is always the chance that the oil control rings can pop out if you happen to push the piston just past them; I have done that myself several times. At that point, I drop back to the "popsicle stick" method; a ring compressor at the point is too wieldy for me; a PITA and more trouble than it's worth.
I would start from scratch with the pushrods. You probably don't remember which pushrod came from which cylinder? What about head gasket thickness; any difference? Did Kirby bore your cylinders or is he doing the work on an exchange basis which means you will be working with other cylinders? If your cylinders, same cams, same head gasket and you are sure you can put the pushrods back from whence they came, you might get lucky but I would not short cut and start from scratch and readjust. That way you will know for sure the preload setting for future reference.
I was watching the Fuel Moto videos and they seem to use the popsicle stick method for compressing once installing cylinders. I'll look into the tools I need like wrist pin tool, etc.
I'll just redo the pushrods, the head gasket is indeed a different size and Kirby is sending me new cylinders.
Will be watching this with great interest. Curious, are you planning on upgrading the crank or further upgrading the clutch/trans?
By the way, still running your 57H's, but have an appointment setup for May/June (work bonus season) for an actual tune and getting rid of the FP3 for a TTS Mastertune (preferred tuner of the guy doing the dyno).
Last edited by rauchman; Jan 18, 2017 at 03:11 PM.
Will be watching this with great interest. Curious, are you planning on upgrading the crank or further upgrading the clutch/trans?
By the way, still running your 57H's, but have an appointment setup for May/June (work bonus season) for an actual tune and getting rid of the FP3 for a TTS Mastertune (preferred tuner of the guy doing the dyno).
Great to hear from you Rauch, happy new year!
I'm taking the easy (and probably stupid) route. No crank or any other low end changes. Fingers crossed! Just adding the cylinders and pistons, plus 0.040 head gasket to keep compression in line (whatever that really means).
Looking forward to getting started soon. Got this nice package from Kirby of Veetwin fame today in fact!
You are just one of those guys that likes a project (and also a money pit!)- and you are getting close to being "done" on that bike.
I'm going to be the little devil on your shoulder whispering bad things in your ear: "Look at getting a Shovelhead to tear down and rebuild.....you know it makes sense...."
In your last build I would say it's the cam that was definitely holding you back. There are much better performers out there... My 96" evo was putting out 108 tq with a W6H cam....
I'm taking the easy (and probably stupid) route. No crank or any other low end changes. Fingers crossed! Just adding the cylinders and pistons, plus 0.040 head gasket to keep compression in line (whatever that really means).
Looking forward to getting started soon. Got this nice package from Kirby of Veetwin fame today in fact!
Happy New Year to you as well Robby. Hope you are well and enjoying that magnificent riding area you live in. So many questions run through my head on this.....
Will you be making the "how to" thread like you did for your previous projects?
Are there tools specific to this job you need/ed to get?
Are you following the Fuel Moto videos as your main guide or other?
Do you need to get bigger underwear to contain the massive ***** you must have to do this?
As an aside, I know CA leads the country on EPA related and what not. How does it work in CA for inspection for your bike? In NJ some years ago, they did away with inspection for bikes. Same on your end?
Looking good Robby. So Kirby gapped the rings for you? I recall mine from S&S were not gapped already, had to do it myself.
Clean, clean, and clean some more everything you have there. Cylinders, pistons, rings, wrist pins, even your ring compressor tool. They're all filthy.
As an aside, I know CA leads the country on EPA related and what not. How does it work in CA for inspection for your bike? In NJ some years ago, they did away with inspection for bikes. Same on your end?
Greatly anticipate watching this!!!!
California does not have any inspection requirements for motorcycles yet.. It interesting that they don't even have a general vehicle inspection.. I know Maryland and Hawaii require all motor vehicles to be inspected periodically.
