| Author | Message | ||
     Ratbuell |
Well...you'll notice I didn't title the thread "S3 Defender progress"... I finally got to the point where I can work on my own bikes. Last night I pulled the carb off the M2L (float needle didn't seat, it puked a full tank of 93 all over the garage over the winter) and gave it to a coworker who has an ultrasonic cleaner. Tonight, I racked up the Defender to deal with the broken front engine mount bolt. Easy-peasy, right? Step one, remove wheel and fender to get drill onto broken bolt piece inside the front head. Note during step 1, fork seals are blown. Judging by the blown seals and broken front mount...I'd say the PO was enjoying the torque-induced wheelie machine. Add fork rebuild to restoration list. Finding parts for WP Romas will be fun... Step two, get a drill on the broken bolt. Left side bolt, from the mount to the head. Mount is completely out of the way, engine is sagging (broken bolt)...got a good hole in the bolt...was looking for my torch to apply heat, figured I'd give it a shot with the easy-out anyway....and it came right out without any heat. HOLY CRAP. (insert happy dance here) Jack up the motor to line up the bolt hole with the front mount so I can install my new bolts from American Sport Bike...and notice the OTHER bolt is broken. Wait. Not the bolt. The HEAD. (sigh...) Add "front thunderstorm head" to restoration list. Strap-cradled the engine up to the frame so it doesn't sag as much, reinstalled front wheel...rolled it off the lift and cracked a cold one. And I was REALLY hoping to avoid engine work on this one....  | ||
| Oldog |
Chances are the second bolt saved you some grief, if the mount pads are not flat you will get do overs until the pad and mount are made flat. | ||
| Rick_a |
A good shop can weld the head up and restore a flat mounting surface without too much fuss. Or a new set of XL1200 heads ('04 up are the same as Buell XB's) with the appropriate billet mount would serve well also. They'll give a decent boost in power and have a flatter torque curve. | ||
| Ratbuell |
Given the fact they built 12 S3 Defenders...I'm keeping it completely stock. I have enough modified bikes, this one will get a restoration. The whole tab broke off the right side of the head. Lots of missing material. The bolt is still good....that chunk of head is still properly torqued to the mount! I'll try to get photos. | ||
| Oldog |
head off weld up machine up re assm the pads probably don't need welding if a few thousandths will make the faces flat Joe Check with Pammy at Cyclerama, I had to have the bolt hole welded up and the pads re-machined, work was first class, price was reasonable.. If the cast mount is not broken you might want them to mill that flat too, be sure that you have a good clamp and that the mount bolts are not bottoming.... |
