Used to be.....in the garage now...although a long time ago in our last house i rebuilt a GSXR in the dining room.....started it as well (its ok....i left the window open)
Not much movement at the moment...with anything really....ordered a custom length Hel front brake line for the 400/4. Still waiting on the engine rebuild (hes slower than...well something thats really slow) he comes recommended and, tbh, ive not got the money to pay him quite yet as ive gotta order.... A set of blingy rear shocks....YSS im thinking (rather than predictable ohlins) The motogadget control unit. Plus on a side note my smashed up z1000 is back next thursday from its holiday in London. Insurance payout is next week sometime but, the wife suddenly had an amazing idea....the back garden needs landscaping....funny that...just when i get an insurance and injury payout.... The next 5 or 6 months is going to be busy on all fronts for me...
So, bit of an update (but not) - Nothing's happened to it in the last 18months or so, other things got in the way...ill explain elsewhere...in short ive got a box of engine bits...does anyone know of an engine builder that can take said box of bits and turn back into an engine? Cheers to anyone that replies!
So - contacted an engine builder in the uk.....i really didnt know what to expect from a pricing point of view but i just got quoted 2.5k + the vat for an engine rebuild on the 400/4 engine along with 800+ vat for a carb rebuild....is it me or is that a bit steep??
I’ve had 2 full engine rebuilds and 2 bikes prepared for the track in the last 4 or 5 years. £2.5K doesn’t come close to what each job eventually cost. £800+ for the carb rebuild does seem high but the skill set required isn’t being handed down so there are fewer people capable of doing it. Clearly that carries a premium. Andy
Sounds outrageous to me, but I guess there's a big factor in there for what-ifs, potential failures, etc once it's left the builder... Be interesting to know how much time they're looking at for both those jobs.
I once rebuilt a 550 K4 on the hall of our rented property after the cam chain had snapped. Just a thought, I think if you have decent tools and a good manual then the engine might be worth trying rebuilding yourself? I’d agree that the carbs are probably best left to an expert. There’s a lot of good info and YouTube videos out there to help with the tricky bits?
Depends if you are giving the workshop an engine in bits, a complete engine that has come out of a canal, or a tidy but tired unit. I would guess 20-30 hours work depending on condition, and how good you want the finish. Also does that include all usual parts that will be changed?
Well, he reckoned 55 hours to rebuild the motor....i did say that the cases and all the externals are bead blasted and clean - theres also a gasket kit and carb rebuild kit there also. TBH (my simple brain sees it as 3 days at the most to assemble) assuming you had everything there in front of you....and thats generous...
Pretty sure I’ve still got the 853 build sheet somewhere so I’ll try and look it out to see how many hours I got billed for. Andy
Found a bill for a 748R engine refresh, 27 hours. Full nut and bolt rebuild on just my Multistrada engine was 32 hours. Can’t find my 853 bill just yet but memory tells me that was about 60 hours but (a big but) that was a full race engine nut and bolt rebuild of a factory 748RS. Lots of time lightening, balancing, polishing, valve dialling and time on the dyno. Andy
I suppose it depends whether that includes the parts required to do it to factory spec or not, or just the labour. As a matter of interest what did you pay for the carb rebuild kit you mention you have, abs what does it comprise?
He did say to me "camchain, and gasket set" as a bare minimum - the engine has only done 8k so apart from the knackered finish (which is now bead blasted) it shouldnt really need anything. Carb kit: Ive not even looked to be honest!
Yeah - that long....its not like hes building the whole bike....thats why im hesitant....i dont mind paying what i have to if thats how long it takes but dont want to be literally taken for a ride as well...
Comfysofa...Not exactly local perhaps but try Carl Harrison in Harleston, Norfolk. Whilst he specialises in Italian motorcycles, he does work on many other brands and I am pretty confident he could handle your engine. I know I constantly extoll his virtues but I have never met a person in 25 years of knowing him, that has a bad word to say about his work. He only carries out what's necessary on a bike (unless you specify otherwise) and is very reasonably priced. http://www.carlharrisonmotorcycles.co.uk Hope this helps.....Topo
I was on the SOHC uk forum last night...looks like ive found someone (Gloucester) so pretty local....gonna call him later on!
