Pulling the engine

[SthrnSqrl]

Ok, I have the engine ready to come out, and am wondering...have any of you pulled the engine by yourself, and if so...how did you manage it? Is it easier just to break the engine down while in the frame?

[DGXSER]

If your planning to tear it down anyway, I would at least pull the head off to lighten the load a little bit. You could also pull the middle drive off.

There are several decent ideas on here of how folks have done this in the past. While I was down from my accident, a couple fellow XSives came over and broke the wrecked bike down to include removing the engine. They used furniture straps under the engine in a couple spots and lifted with their legs, slid it out the left side and placed it on a furniture dolly for mobility in the garage. Worked out really well.

But if you can not track down a helper who can lift like that, There are ideas on sliding it across boards, or even lay the bike over on its side and lifting the frame off the engine.

[SthrnSqrl]

If I pull the top end off, maybe I can get it to raise high enough to get boards under it. I'd think trying to lift the frame off would be worse than trying to lift the engine itself. Plus, all the crap that would have to be removed to prevent damage to it, such as the mirrors, fairing, etc.

And yeah, I'll have no choice but to do it by myself...the people that I know around here have hardleys...they wouldn't help with anything not hardley related. That's ok though, cos I wouldn't piss in their ears if their brains were on fire...lol

[dbeardslee]

IMHO it's not a good idea to try doing it yourself. These motors are seriously heavy, and there's plenty of stuff you can damage if you're not careful - like cooling fins and fingers. You can get it ready to come out by yourself, but when it comes time to do the actual lift, do yourself a favor and get some help. We took Don's out on the left side, but in retrospect I think the right side would have been better. Wound up tearing up the u-joint boot taking it out on the left. Doesn't have to be someone familiar with bikes - just somebody that can help get the round peg out of the square hole. With a helper you can pretty much leave the motor together, with the exception of the oil filter housing. Might be able to do it with a shop crane and some straps, but again, a helper will make it a lot easier.

[Incubus]

Even if you have help, my suggestion would be to lighten the load as much as possible. This means not only pulling off the top end, but also removing the clutch cover and clutch, alternator, rotor, left side covers, middle drive and anything else that can come loose.

If you are pulling the engine that indicates to me that you are planning some major work on the engine. That means all of these parts will likely have to come off at some point anyway. Not only will will removal make the engine much lighter, it also is easier to remove some of those parts with the engine securely bolted to the frame. Better leverage.

JMHO.

Patrick

[motoman]

Two can do it fairly easy.........and Out and In from the right side, not the left or shaft side!

[SthrnSqrl]

Yeah, when I first traded for these bikes, we pulled both engines and put the 79 SF engine into the 78E Frame. . .but there were three of us. Two of us lifting the engine out the right side and one steadying the frame.

As for major teardown, yep...the engine is screwed, so I have to do a terdown anyway....but I don't want to tear any further into it at the moment than is absolutely neccesary. I really don't have the space to put everything away. At the moment, I have the second engine sitting there waiting for valve shims and second gear repair.

[mack]

Pulling engine.

I did mine by myself. Took off head, timing cover, clutch casing and clutch. Pulled carbs and air box, then removed the oil filter cover. Used a bike jack to lift the motor above the lower frame and placed boards under motor on frame and screwed small blocks under to prevent slipping. Other side was supported on a platform I'd made from old 4 x 4's. slipped a cable through the lower motor mount holes and attached to a small boat electric winch and slide it out to the right and across with the winch. All I had to do was steady it during it's journey. You do have to turn it slightly to get it started out of the frame so watch the timing mechanism or remove it completely.

[mro]

I’ve R&R’ed several. All done without help.
With all the goodies in my shop, I found a plastic milk crate that just happened to be the right height to slide the engine out on to. (a box made from some plywood or such would work just as well)

With the bike on the center stand, you need something with a large enough surface for the engine to sit on and at a height that is just a hair lower than the frame (when on the center stand). With all the stuff removed that needs removal you can lay on top the frame, grab and maneuver the engine onto your crate or what ever. While not light your not using your back, just your arms for lifting/moving it.

As a side note: for those who need to remove the cylinders, it’s easier to get them loose while the engine is in the frame (unless you have something to hold the engine securely with it out)

Currently have an engine on the work bench. Couldn’t find my crate to pull the engine so decided to lay it over and pull the frame off. Not a bad way if you strip the fame but I’ll make a box next time if I can’t find my crate.


mro

[dpotter58]

I think the only thing I took off was the oil filter to clear the frame. My son and I worked it out with no problem.

[rgoot01]

I'll probably get a lot of criticism for this but here goes. My personal experience with pulling the engine out of an XS11 or any bike for that matter is to strip the bike down to as bare frame as possible, I then remove swingarm. With engine in bare frame I lay the bike on its right side on top of old archery target bags I have and then remove mount bolts. Once mounts are removed I can wiggle frame from engine as opposed to engine from frame. Keep in mind this was only for ground up builds where engine was drained and inteded for rebuild. Removing them this way allows me to do it by myself. I only need help to put engine on bench.

[Mr.Bill]

That is how I am going to pull mine when I get to it, out of the 79sf frame and into the 78e frame, doing a ground up redo so, easy to lay on the side and lift the frame off.