My big end bits arrived to-day so I can get started on the engine rebuild, funny though, according to the description on the packet label, I am now working on a Plane
New Blue big end shells and screws installed to-day. New shells degreased and installed in rods and caps, ready for clearance check using old screws torqued to spec. Plastigauge inserted as per their instruction sheet, caps torqued up to spec, then removed again. Plastigauge measured and clearances found to be in spec Everything cleaned up again and lubricated with new engine oil. Caps refitted with new screws and torqued to spec with Moli grease on threads and below heads. Next step, dummy run of gearbox installation..........
I usually assemble the bearings with a good quality Moly-Grease instead of oil for better lubrication before oil pressure is achieved and it means it can sit for along time and be rotated during assembly and fitment without fear, I also use grease on cams and followers etc. Nice job so far anyway.
I was sorry to read that your main bearings went and also the investigative work to get that confirmed. But I am pleased you've got it sorted. On a selfish note I read your journey with interest and learnt a few things about these twins and the resources needed / available (just in case my Multi does one). Its really nice to see everyone help and the technical contribution was fantastic. Mounting the engine on its own stand in engine plates is a nice luxury, good job, thanks for sharing. As an aside what would you have done if the plastigauge had shown too much / little clearance. TB
Thanks for that mate, well most likely look at a crank regrind or a replacement engine. Anyway, getting there now
Record the mileage (recent clocks), and the finished item Thanks for the tips from within this forum, and a special thanks to Bikeboy and Ducati John for passing on some expert knowledge.
Great job Geoff. I'm dead impressed with the 'Heath Robinson' engine lift, brilliant ingenuity. The whole thread is so informative. However, what do you reckon caused the main bearing failure? The fact someone had installed the clutch bearing spacers incorrectly in the past?
Thanks for your comments, no I am sure the clutch bit was not at fault, and really surprised that did not cause any other issue. The previous owner had the bike for over 4 years, he says the clutch basket was never disturbed! The engine did showe signs of being opened before, so I recon it was possibly some debris from a previous failure of some kind. But when you look at the pic of the main bearing posted a while back, there there was definately something in it, however only one of the ball bearings was damaged so was that the culprit I wonder, hard to say.
The engine lift makes it a bit easier I would imagine, I lifted mine in by hand on my own with a bit of swearing along the way. Well done and thanks for the write up, you don't mention hitting the starter button for the first time. Steve
Thanks for that, well I'm a bit old at 67 with a weak back, so had to have a good plan. Well when it was filled with oil, it was buzzed over with the plugs out to get the oil around the whole engine. Put air box and tank on loosely. When hitting the start button, the oil light went out straight away, a good sign, the engine fired up and was ticking over until the engine temp got up to the fan kicking in around 190 deg F, I let it do that 3 times, prior to it cooling down, pulling the belts again and re-rorqueing the heads. After retorqueing the heads and once again putting it back together, the engine was warmed again as previously, then the new oil and filter were dumped for yet more new oil and filter.
Yes I know where your coming from regarding age, my stronger years are behind me now, 66 next month, I've been re-timbering a roof this week with no scaffold, my back aches now. Steve
So presumably the 2850 miles on the clock is not the total mileage the bike's done? I know you mentioned a new clock. What's the total mileage? Just curious as to the main bearing failure after what may be a relatively short life. Thanks.
18000 +/- miles however quite a few premature failures have been reported, some say due to mains being over shimmed, and even from the factory, apparently!
