So the 05 motor just got into the frame. Had to do some on-the-fly building of a gantry crane to jack the chassis about 6 feet in the air. One day of prep, one of huffing the motors, and now one of buttoning up. Pics to come. It can be done by one person, it turns out. Luckily I can lift the motor as I had to do it many times.

 

Should be in a job description: "Applicant must be able to lift a SuperHawk engine chest high, and walk a minimum of four feet, then squat with motor and hold for several minutes while having knuckles pummelled with a stick. Must also enjoy swearing. Tendecies towards masochism a plus."

Good work, now go get that advil!

 

I really don't understand why it's so hard. When I watch American Chopper they put motors in those bikes really easy.

 

I curl one vtr motor per hand each morning... at first I did it dry but now i pour sand in the cylinders and fill it with oil.

 

...which leads me to the supposition that if he'd had Chuck Norris doing it, it would be done by now.

 

True, but one stearn look from Chuck Norris would've intimidated the blown motor into healing itself, therefore eliminating the need to put in a new one.

 

Definitely...

 

Not sure why you had so much trouble or why you needed to get the chassis so high in the air.

When I did mine, I set the engine on a block of wood. Dropped the frame over it and installed all the fasteners. Bolted on the swingarm and rear shock. As the triples were still in the frame, I picked the back up with a swingarm stand and then lifted the front with my front stand and finished bolting on all the rest of the bits.

It was pretty straight forward.....

 

Yes but did you have front end still intact? What you describe would only work if you had no forks and front wheel on the bike. Without that it would be different but here in the city space is at a premium (like no place to put the front end) Or the other interpretation is that I was trying to save time so didnt want to disassemble the front end.

 

I feel your pain man, I feel your pain....literally

 

So stumpy are you swapping or fixing?

 

was fixing the bike from a crash....motor was fine but since I had it apart....I figured I should take the opportunity to do what I really wanted to do to it. Pulled the motor to put new JE Pistons and rings in, ccts, PAIR block off plates, then put the quickshift kit and upgraded clutch in, then the jet kit.......its a continual process lol. But, should be a mean machine when back together

 

Yeah it is tempting to do everything but I really want to get back on the road. I kinda want to get rid of the pair system just because its a nusance. I know there is a thread but is it basicly blocking off the engine plates and throwing the rest away?

 

You gotta flip the reed under the plates and plug the holes in your airbox too, I think.

 

I just made block off plates and plugged the airbox and called it good. Its an easy thing but really just for aesthetics. I live on top of a hill and I got sick of the popping and grumbling going down the hill on decel. Here are the plates I made, some 16 gauge steel from the farm store and some good tin snips did the trick. Painted them black since tho.

 

Stump... under the plates there is a reed valve and little steel support with a phillips head screw in it... if you take the screw off and flip the support over it holds the reed shut. I can't remember why you're supposed to do this, but it's part of the PAIR removal process.

 

oh yeah I did that. I got so involved with making the plates I forgot I did it :-P

 

Hummm, I've pulled and replaced my engine a few times. Not the easiest thing in the world, but I always left it down on the ground and did the job myself. Lifting the bike up that far tells me that you are probably trying too hard. Maybe think a little simpler and you should be just fine!

 

I had the motor on a wheeled dolly that held it the same ht as the standing bike, thats why the lift-o-rama.

 

A normal sized floor jack is all I have ever used!

 

when Im ready to re-install the motor Ill have to take the front wheel off and try it your ways. I want to get a motorcycle worktable though, would come in handy for sure.

 

I've never had to do that before either! Just lower it down out of the frame. The trickiest part is supporting the rear because the swingarm comes off. I use straps from the rafters in the ceiling for that job.

 

I guess I am lucky, I found a almost complete 2002 doner bike for my motor swap, I am using the motor and swing arm, rear wheel etc, i pulled the frame off with the bike resting in the racing stand. and the oil pan on a 6x6

then the same for the bike with the bad motor, it sits on an old creeper now.

It can be done by one person, and lifting the motor and rolling around like a unicycle on the rear rim was fun!!