What would YOU do ?

[sicarius]

I went to the bike shop the other day to see what was becoming of my ZXR-2.
It had been near on 2 months since I dropped it off there in the back of a horse float for repairs.
The mechanic informs me that the following compression results:

Cyl 1 = 0
Cyl 2 = 75
Cyl 3 = 25
Cyl 4 = 25

.......... confirm that my engine was indeed F#@KT...

I was quoted $1700 for a complete engine change ( they get my old one ) and it could be done in a day.

My brother in Law, who is quite apt with anything mechanical, feels that we should bring the bike back home and rebuild the top end ourselves. He suggests going to Wiseco and, if a rebore is necessary, getting them to make pistons to suit,
(even go the whole hog and have them teflon coated ) make the rings , and have a go at doing it ourselves.
My Brother in Law is very good and I do trust his judgement. He is not the kind of bloke to go in half cocked. If he cant do it, he'd say so...

My question is simple.
What would you do?
I want to get the bike going and sell it without making up in the middle of the night in cold sweats thinking I'd sold someone a dud.

All thoughts, opinions, veiws, advice, votes, welcomed.

[Strika]

As some technicians compression testers appear to be often and commonly erroneous, it might pay to just pop the top off and have a little look see. If your bro-inlaw is as smart as you say, he will either have, or could jury rig a simple leak down tester to first see if it has valve leakage. It might just need new rings?? Or new valves and the valve seats recut??? Pull the top off first and take it from what you find. I reckon you could find your own 2nd hand engine, then install it with yr bil's helpfor less than they are quoting.

[ducati_paul]

Would this help you or just change the depth of the poo you are in?
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ZXR-250-ENGINE-G ... dZViewItem

[fireyrob]

If your brother in law has some idea of what he is doing, give it a go! Youd save a fair amount of cash and learn a whole heap at the same time!

[Wattie]

if your gunna keep it, do it yourself.

if your gunna sell it, get them to do it. then you have receipts to give the buyer. and not feel bad if something goes wrong

[Rusty]

Definitely retest compression. Wot Strika said.

They're not rocket science - to rebuild one's not that bad a job, as long as you know or know of someone who'll do any machining at a fair rate. Failing that, an engine from a wrecker's going to cost much less than $1700, and they're a really easy bike to work on.

[mike-s]

do a leakdown test as others suggested, and afer that, take the top end off and checking the valves (one could be stuck open) and the barrells for scoring. I did a comp-test on my gsx250, got 120 & 145. I bought a set of rings for it and just need to pull a finger out and actually take the barrels off and change the rings and gaskets (manual says it can be done in-frame, thankfuly(, and hopefully that'll be enough to get her working again.

[Shifty]

The biggest concern with a replacement engine is that it's another second hand engine just as likely to die as your old one.

A rebuilt engine for a similar price to a replacement is always going to be a better choice.

[lifeofcrimeguy]

Yeah and tell 'em their dreaming if they think they can keep the old engine! That stipulation alone makes it sound dodgy to me. I agree with the rebuild almost always being a better option than replacement bit too.

[Mojo67]

What would I do? I'd remind myself that when the engine shits itself I'm likely to be high in the twisties miles from anywhere, and the brother-in-law is nowhere to be found!

[mike-s]

Agreed, that way the only problems are the known ones your dealing with now.

[6maniac]

Engines aren't rocket science - get a copy of the relevant workshop manual, (and read the farker ! ), make sure you have the right tools to do the job, all the parts you need, and get stuck in !!!!!! Good luck !

[IsleofNinja]

Engines aren't rocket science - get a copy of the relevant workshop manual, (and read the farker ! ), make sure you have the right tools to do the job, all the parts you need, and get stuck in !!!!!! Good luck !

And if you don't have the right tools , I reckon for $1700.00 you could but all the tools you require , A decent workbench , A SPEC' manual , a TAFE course etc etc..
Re-bores normally run at $50-$80 per bore.

FYI Wiseco do make rebuild kits including pistons/rings/gaskets etc but don't expect any one off jobs from them unless you own an F1 team!!!

Re-check compressions as prev' mentioned first ... Wet and DRY Compression tests!!! .... post readings for 'wet' and 'dry'(wet will be significantly higher if rings)

Hint; A good engine will have <10% variance between cyl's..and 160+psi on a 'dry' test.(throttle wide open/good battery)

BTW - 0 would indicate a hole in the piston crown ie she would have fogged out the shed with oil smoke!!!
The two 25's may have fired occasionally (emphasis on MAY)
IE- If these compressions are accurate then effectively only ONE cylinder had a SLIM chance of firing .... On A 2 FIDDY 4 banger ???...GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Hint 2; Why spend big $$$ on a bike you'll only keep till you get your open class anyway???

[sicarius]

Engines aren't rocket science - get a copy of the relevant workshop manual, (and read the farker ! ), make sure you have the right tools to do the job, all the parts you need, and get stuck in !!!!!! Good luck !

And if you don't have the right tools , I reckon for $1700.00 you could but all the tools you require , A decent workbench , A SPEC' manual , a TAFE course etc etc..
Re-bores normally run at $50-$80 per bore.

FYI Wiseco do make rebuild kits including pistons/rings/gaskets etc but don't expect any one off jobs from them unless you own an F1 team!!!

Re-check compressions as prev' mentioned first ... Wet and DRY Compression tests!!! .... post readings for 'wet' and 'dry'(wet will be significantly higher if rings)

Hint; A good engine will have <10% variance between cyl's..and 160+psi on a 'dry' test.(throttle wide open/good battery)

BTW - 0 would indicate a hole in the piston crown ie she would have fogged out the shed with oil smoke!!!
The two 25's may have fired occasionally (emphasis on MAY)
IE- If these compressions are accurate then effectively only ONE cylinder had a SLIM chance of firing .... On A 2 FIDDY 4 banger ???...GOOD LUCK!!!!!

Hint 2; Why spend big $$$ on a bike you'll only keep till you get your open class anyway???

Yes your'e right. I'm now on my R (Open Class) and I'm very happy with my Storm...however, I really cant see too many people wanting to buy my kwaka, no matter how good of condition its in, if the engine is farked. Thats why I'm wanting to fix it...If you know anyone who might want to buy the bike as it stands, I'm happy to let it go for $2,000.

[IsleofNinja]

See if you can beg / borrow /steal a decent compression gauge .

I would seriously consider re-checking the compressions.ie If those readings are in fact correct it would not have run crook mate.....It just plain would NOT run!!!

Something just don't sound right is all.

ps ;We are now a 10 bike family ie
1 x 06 ZX10R ,
1 x 85 GPZ900R ,
1 x 05 CBR1000RR(as of last week) ,
1 x GSXR1000K4 (as of today) ,
1 x 650 Dneipre (Vintage Russian boxer engined thing - work in progress)
1 x KX250 (dirt squirter)
1 x YFZ350 Banshee (quad)
2 x 01/2 GSF1200 Bandit (Hers) ,
1 x 02 KLR650(Hers)

ie I literally have one for every day of the week.
No more projects required ATM thanks want to get rid of a few first