- Joined
- Aug 1, 2011
- Messages
- 475
Good day all,
I have had my '74 850 for about 12 years. A little backstory. It sat for 20 years until I got it. It had 21k on the clock. The pistons were locked up. I got them freed up with some acetone and ATF. I did not disturb the bottom end. Put the head back on, using the same pistons and rings. As far as I know other than unlocking it, nobody else has been inside the engine. In the intervening 12 years, I have put about 25k+ miles on it. And now she is getting a bit tired. Sometimes smokes for about 30 seconds after sitting for a few weeks but that is it. A friend and I pulled the head and barrels last night. Cylinder walls look good. Oil rings look a bit funky. Plenty of spring in the other rings. Discoloration on the sides of the pistons and quite a bit of carbon on top. There is a bit of a ridge at the top of the cylinders. I will have a Norton expert look at the barrels and examine the bottom end. I think we are going to have to do a bore and get a set of pistons. We have not pulled the bottom end yet and the cradle is still in place. I have read about supporting under the rear loop when removing the engine. Is this necessary when leaving the cradle in place? The bike is currently at my friends place but when the engine goes to the machinist, I want to transport it back to my place to clean it up, check out the gear box etc. Is there a safe way to transport with engine removed? Thanks in advance.
I have had my '74 850 for about 12 years. A little backstory. It sat for 20 years until I got it. It had 21k on the clock. The pistons were locked up. I got them freed up with some acetone and ATF. I did not disturb the bottom end. Put the head back on, using the same pistons and rings. As far as I know other than unlocking it, nobody else has been inside the engine. In the intervening 12 years, I have put about 25k+ miles on it. And now she is getting a bit tired. Sometimes smokes for about 30 seconds after sitting for a few weeks but that is it. A friend and I pulled the head and barrels last night. Cylinder walls look good. Oil rings look a bit funky. Plenty of spring in the other rings. Discoloration on the sides of the pistons and quite a bit of carbon on top. There is a bit of a ridge at the top of the cylinders. I will have a Norton expert look at the barrels and examine the bottom end. I think we are going to have to do a bore and get a set of pistons. We have not pulled the bottom end yet and the cradle is still in place. I have read about supporting under the rear loop when removing the engine. Is this necessary when leaving the cradle in place? The bike is currently at my friends place but when the engine goes to the machinist, I want to transport it back to my place to clean it up, check out the gear box etc. Is there a safe way to transport with engine removed? Thanks in advance.
