engine rebuild and more...

[luisr320]

Originally Posted by verdeva

Try this stuff for a small gas tank leak....

CYCLE TANK REPAIR KIT-POR-15 Inc.

They also have some neet looking paints and sealants.

Best way to look for a leak is to pressurize the tank with air and use some soapy water to look for bubbles.
But, as you say, if the goal is to use the other tank, no point in having all that trouble.

As for powder coating the engine, all the spots that will be pressed by bolts will crack the powder coating, and those crack will not be on that spot only. One trick is to have a dummy bolt on the spot and take them out immediately after the powder coating has cooled down. Because once it does, it will crack. So you better have a plan for that.

[mattyo]

Hit 500 miles on the rebuilt engine today!!! The only "engine" problem is the clutch drum spindle arm bolt that I stripped (and hoped wouldn't be a problem...) and leads to random gear slippage into neutral. But still no oil leaks and no coolant leaks. Awesome! The fuel tank does however have a leak and is really annoying me. I'll fix that this winter. I may even rebuild the engine again with my parts bike crankcase to eliminate the gear slippage. So apart from the fuel tank leak, I'm still very happy/proud that the actual engine rebuild appears to be a success at this 500 mile mark.

Personal words of wisdom? Follow the f@ckin service manual and ask lots of questions on this forum! You guys were a life saver on so many different issues! I couldn't have done it without you!! I still can't believe that I have a working engine!

YEE-HAA! I need some some chaps and spurs!!

[luisr320]

Well done, my friend.
Consider the possibility of modding the drum spindle arm to correct for the bolt position. Might be easier then having to open the whole thing apart.
I don't think it would be hard to make the arm a couple of mm longer, or perhaps to make a new hole a bit to the right. Not sure if that is even possible.

Anyway, 500 miles is a nice milestone. Time to uncork that champagne.

[Howie]

Mattyo, I'll post the same thing I just put on Luis' thread....
Awesome Thread, awesome photos, awesome details, awesome work.

You have amazing patience to get through all the trial and error and it has paid off big time. Well done and thanks for taking the time to document it all and share with us.

[mattyo]

Thanks Howie. I can't stress enough that the real thanks needs to go out to the members of this forum that helped/guided me along the way.

I should probably just start a new thread at this point but here's an update anyway. Gas tank leak was/is definitely the problem for the mystery fluid building up in my spark plug boot. I've been putting a rag under the gas tank at night and that's been absorbing the leaking the fuel. Since then, no fluid build-up around the spark plug and no sign of any other mystery leak. I took a closer look at my parts bike fuel tank (which is was going to fix/seal up this winter), and that thing looks rusted out just as bad as the tank I have on now. I'm going to save some cash and wait for my tax return and just buy a new/used tank off flea-bay or something. It may still need a little work but it will hopefully be a much better starting point than what I have now. So that's the plan.

[mattyo]

A long time over-due, but I patched up the fuel tank leak with POR15 (83 vt750 fuel tank, clean & coat? or fleabay it?) and sanded it down and "paint it black"! (Rolling Stones if you didn't catch that ) So here it is in its current status; still a lot more on my "to-do" list but ...


Here's what it used to look like....

[Dauntae]

Looking good, You've come a LONG way with that bike and it's starting to shine for you, Keep up the good work.

Dauntae

[mattyo]

Thought I'd post an update:
I just flipped 1000 miles on the rebuilt engine! WOOO!

I know you should change the oil at 500 miles after a rebuild, but I didn't. I took a little sample of oil and it looked just like new. So I left it be. I guess my OCD cleaning job paid off. I'll change it now after 1000 miles just for good measure but I don't think it really needs it. That oil still looks brand spankin new. I'll take some pics of the drain oil when I flush it out. It's amazing!

So the OEM gaskets are rockin! I can't say whether it's the gaskets or the OCD surface prep I did, but all I know is that I haven't had a drop of oil leak out of anywhere and that's made me very happy. Same thing with the water cooling. I replaced all the o-rings, cleaned out the radiator and thermostat, and so far no leaks anywhere, the fan kicks on when it needs too, the temp gauge never gets past the half-way point on the little thermometer.

All-in-all my n00b engine rebuild was a success. (pat myself on the back) If I can do it, anyone can! Just go for it, follow the manual, have patience, ask a lot of questions on this forum, and just keep pluggin along. You'll get there!

It's a very rewarding experience!

cheers
matt

[Dauntae]

That's great, Glad you finally got all the bugs worked out. The oil change isn't for the oil, It will be good, What you need to change it for is the new parts wearing in, Not sure if you put rings in or not but when they wear in to the cylinder the metal worn off is in the oil and in the filter, Your engine wasn't 100% new parts and not a new transmission (The gears wearing in would be a need for the 500 mile change) so you should be fine but do change it and the filter because that's ware all the wear is.

Dauntae

[Czech]

Man...do I admire people who are up at 2am - LOL. Glad to hear the beast is still alive.