Engine removal

I know this was covered on the old forum, but I'll ask again anyway (for those who've come late to the party).

I am about to remove the engine from my 1000 and I am doing it by myself. I've read that if I lay it on it's side, I can pull the frame off of it. My questions are:

Which side do I lay it over on?

Should I remove the head or anything to lighten it up?

TIA.
H

The answer is that it depends on what you are trying to do... If you are planning on working on the top end, it makes a lot of sense to take the top end off. Then all you need to do is remove motor mounts and you can use a transmission jack to push upwards just a tad on the engine and remove it. If you are not looking at disassembling the engine, then you can lay the bike on its right side as you sit on it, remove mount bolts and lift the frame off. The engine without the top end is not all that heavy and can be managed by one person if you are fairly strong... the assembled engine needs two folks to lift as it is bulky and will weigh about 230 lbs.

Do the 1000's engine mounts look like the 650s? Where the right side mounts have triangular plates that have 3 mounting points, and remove completely. The left side mounting points are welded onto the frame. So I think you'd need to lay it on the right side to allow the engine to be removed from the right.

I have been having good luck removing 650s by removing the head first, then pulling the engine mounts and then using a small hydraulic jack to give the engine a lift and then muscling it out myself on the right side. Im not a big guy and Ive pulled my back a few times and its never been from pulling a motor out.

Hope that helps or at least isnt too far off topic.

I have a two ton floor jack, I have a square metal plate welded to an extra support head with two three quarter inch rods welded to the plate. with every thing striped and ready to go, i install studs in the exhust side,(top,all straight across). Then i install some intake studs. Be sure to bottom the studs, more support!!! Roll the jack up to the bike from the side, the welded rods can rest and lift the engine from under the studs. jack intill the needed hieght. pull engine assembly slowly out. time and time again...The trans weight will want to pull the engine down on intake side tho. faburcate square tubing under three quarter inch rod to compensate. basic,leverage.

900cows wrote:

I have a two ton floor jack, I have a square metal plate welded to an extra support head with two three quarter inch rods welded to the plate. with every thing striped and ready to go, i install studs in the exhust side,(top,all straight across). Then i install some intake studs. Be sure to bottom the studs, more support!!! Roll the jack up to the bike from the side, the welded rods can rest and lift the engine from under the studs. jack intill the needed hieght. pull engine assembly slowly out. time and time again...The trans weight will want to pull the engine down on intake side tho. faburcate square tubing under three quarter inch rod to compensate. basic,leverage.

If only I had a floor jack...or a welder...

Any thing you can remove to make it lighter would help. I usually lay the bike on the side and have a plastic milk crate to support the engine. A friend would help when you go to remove the frame from around the engine.
Daniel

Phil, I started off thinking the best method would be laying the frame over. I was wrong, the best method by far, is the two pieces of water pipe amd the special brackets (easily made). You can do it by yourself. Make sure your pipes are long enough![img size=150]

Post edited by: Garn, at: 2005/12/07 17:18

Henry,no worries Bro.Me and Kid will come over and help you so you don't have to lay her over on her side.If you are not planning on head removal for rebuild,jsut leave it on and drain oil and remove oil pan.That way she will come right out.Let me know when.This weekend works for me if it works for you.Won't take us long at all.
Ink

Still try for a photo!........ RegardZ

Post edited by: Garn, at: 2005/12/07 17:52

I like the idea Garn had but you still have to lift the engine out of the frame. I got the engine out of my 1000 by myself. I took the head and cylinders off to shed weight. I used some ratchet straps for something to hold onto and I stuck a long rod thru the engine mount holes for some leverage. It was a bear but I did it. LIFT WITH THE LEGS. And please do not mess yourself like another member did while attempting this job.

Kawtoy, with reference to the picture above. You make sure that the pipes (1" water) are long enough and the saw-horses are holding the engine high (wheels nearly off the ground), you then drag/lift the frame along and away from the engine.

You then have the engine hanging on the pipes and the frame to the LHS, with the water pipes not allowing it to be separated. You then support the engine by blocks or jack and move/drag the frame away by temporarily removing the LHS supporting saw-horse. Regardz.