Its out

[desert1]

Well the motor is out of the 79 Special and sitting on the bike jack
next pull out the 78 motor and install the specials. Mototrs are large when there outta the bike and in your face! Heavy as well, used a rope strung around my neck and on the other side of the bike on my brothers neck, lifted and pulled towards the bike jack.
Bruce

[mason79]

i see guys on tv lifting v twins into choppers all the time, do our engines weight more? why?

[Ken Talbot]

Yes, our engines do weigh more. I've got one sitting upside down on my workbench in the basement and I know I'll never be able to move it back outside by myself. It was a bit of a struggle carrying it down the stairs with the cylinders, head, starter, final drive, and covers off. Those v-twins you see them installing have no transmission or clutch and a very small dry-sump crankcase.

Somebody weighed an engine a while back, but I can't find the post.

[Wildkat]

I found this thread

Try this for engine weight
It looks like DennyZ has it at 192 pounds... I didn't read the whole thread so weight may vary...

[trbig]

Just bear hug 'em and have your way with them!.. lol. I think they are more awkward than heavy. Just make sure you use your legs and not your back as much as possible.

Tod

[desert1]

300 lbs.!

I was just guessing with my Brother and figured 220 to 250 lbs. for the engine weight.....
What we did to move it out was raise it clear of the frame with 2 automotive scissor jacks using 2 blocks of wood as a cushion, removed the filter as well then jimmied it to the right side of the bike onto an awaiting bike lifter with plywood for a base....now to clean it up and blow all the crud between the fins away.. remember this bike sat outside for 3 yrs in all weather but the engine sounds some smooth and quiet, cant wait to have it in my 78! Be nice to have that shiny engine gleem back but I dont know if there is a way to recoat the engine??
Bruce

[Ken Talbot]

Re: I found this thread

Originally posted by Wildkat
Try this for engine weight

Good find, Wildkat, I knew it was out there somewhere.

[Wildkat]

It certainly SEEMS like 300...

Especially when trying to move one by yourself...
ahem...

Originally posted by desert1
Be nice to have that shiny engine gleem back but I dont know if there is a way to recoat the engine??
Bruce

Not certain about keeping the original shiny... Several have painted theirs using a high temp paint... I used a caliper paint on my FJ engine that seems to be holding up very well... There was talk of clearcoating at one time but nobody (as I recall) had found a clear that didn't eventually yellow... I have found that an extremely high grit sandpaper or emery cloth (around 4000 grit) wrapped around a toothbrush works well between the fins... gets a lot of the dull out of them...

Good find, Wildkat, I knew it was out there somewhere.

Thanks Ken... I know my way around an engine... okay... a search engine... but an engine none the less...

[Czekus21]

When I pulled the motor on MIYAMI to repair the frame, I figured that the motor/trans assy was about 175-200lbs. That was just a guess. My nephew and I man handled it out of the frame. Next time I have to pull one, I'll removed the oil filter cover,cam cover,starter. Main resons are for clearance and wieght.
When I pulled apart an XJ, I carried the engine assy myself from the frame to the ground, to the work bench, was then carrying it to it's storage spot and found out the hard way that ya don't hold onto the motor mount spacer on the front. It will come off. I dam near lost a foot when it hit the ground. Busted the oil pan.( Was full of oil ). A little awkward to carry.

[desert1]

Caliper paint?

Never heard of "caliper paint " Wildcat, will check out the local paint shops for that....thanks, Bruce

[Wildkat]

Auto parts stores

Check your local auto parts store... any of them that carry paint will more than likely have the caliper paint... It is supposed to be able to withstand high temps and most fluids and it's very durable and so far, at least on the FJ... it has...
Good luck and post pics!

[desert1]

Will do

Will do Wildcat, easier to paint while the engines out. Will do some pics as well
Bruce

[Ken Talbot]

I'm getting ready to paint the engine on the 'winter project' bike I've been working on for the last couple of years. This past weekend, I picked up a low-budget engine stand like this one:



I figure I'll get extension tubes welded onto three of the adjustable mount points. This should let me mount the engine by its three sets of mounting holes. Then I'll be able to rotate it for cleaning and painting. All I need is a couple of buddies to help pack it up out of the basement when it warms up a bit more outside.

[andreashweiss]

Motor should be the last part out of a bike frame. Take the oil filter assembly off.Tip the frame over either left or right and usually the ends up in your hands.

[desert1]

Getin one

Ken, I'm goin to Princess auto after work and lookin to buy one of those motor lifters.....Excellent find Ken. Thanks for postin a picture
Bruce