Recommendation for vtwin engine rebuild in Christchurch area

[Lias]

G'day KB folks..

Been a few years since I was much active around here but I figured there's nowhere better to come crowdsource recommendations for bike stuff :-)

My trusty old steed is a bit kaput, and in need of repair. The engine ran low on oil due to a leak, and as a result now had feck all front compression (and just under minimum spec in the rear) and makes a rattly sound. Friend of mine who's a backyard mechanic thinks the sound is the front cylinder in need of a new O ring, but worst case it could be a new bearing. Either way I need someone to pull it apart, confirm what's wrong, confirm if it's even worth fixing a 20 year old japper, and not charge me obscene amounts of money (yes I know a rebuild won't be cheap, but there's good mechanics at $50-60/hour labour and there's dealerships at twice that :-P)

The bike has been sitting doing bugger all other than rusting for 3 years now, and it's high time I either got it fixed or scrapped it. Since work in their almighty wisdom have given me a bonus this year I'm looking for a recommendation for a bike mechanic/store in Christchurch (or surrounds if there's someone really good worth travelling to in the vicinity) to do this.

Suggestions please?

[onearmedbandit]

Duane @ Duane's Bikes and Ski's would be worth trying.

[Grumph]

What is it ?

[sidecar bob]

What is it ?

Look, your engine builder just turned up.:bleh:

[Lias]

What is it ?

1997 Suzuki VZ Marauder

[Grumph]

Look, your engine builder just turned up.:bleh:

No he bloody hasn't.

A quick google tells me it's a plain bearing crank. If it's rattling due to loss of oil, it's certainly done a big end - and possibly the crank.

Be prepared to find that it's not worth fixing.

[AllanB]

Was it available in the US of A? If so may be worth trying ebay for a low mile replacement engine.

[Lias]

No he bloody hasn't.

A quick google tells me it's a plain bearing crank. If it's rattling due to loss of oil, it's certainly done a big end - and possibly the crank.

Be prepared to find that it's not worth fixing.

Thanks for the reply Grumph. Yep I'm prepared for that possibility, and don't mind spending the hopefully not too many hundred having it pulled apart to find out.


Was it available in the US of A? If so may be worth trying ebay for a low mile replacement engine.

It was, but I can't see any.

[ellipsis]

Thanks for the reply Grumph. Yep I'm prepared for that possibility, and don't mind spending the hopefully not too many hundred having it pulled apart to find out.






...it's not going to take more than a short time to find out if the big ends gone...hundreds?...

[Lias]

...it's not going to take more than a short time to find out if the big ends gone...hundreds?...

I was under the impression (probably wrong) that it was one of those "pull the engine out of the bike, peel the engine apart layer by layer until you get to the bottom" type of things.

[nodrog]

...it's not going to take more than a short time to find out if the big ends gone...hundreds?...

Takes about 5 secs to rev it to find out, I'll do it for free.

[Lias]

Takes about 5 secs to rev it to find out, I'll do it for free.

I'll have to put some gas in it, and jump start it first.

[Madness]

it's high time I either got it fixed or scrapped it. Since work in their almighty wisdom have given me a bonus this year I'm looking for a recommendation for a bike mechanic/store in Christchurch (or surrounds if there's someone really good worth travelling to in the vicinity) to do this.

Suggestions please?

Life's short. Scrap it and spend the bonus at a strip club. Or three.

[jellywrestler]

I was under the impression (probably wrong) that it was one of those "pull the engine out of the bike, peel the engine apart layer by layer until you get to the bottom" type of things.

or draining the oil to see what's in it?

[Grumph]

Takes about 5 secs to rev it to find out, I'll do it for free.

Misery loves company....

Once stripped, if the crank appears usable - long odds on that - it would still need crack testing as every Suzuki i've seen with a spun big end has also cracked the crank.

[Honest Andy]

Try doing the work yourself. As these cold winter evenings draw in you'll need something to occupy yourself with after dinner. I like to tear engines apart in the lounge next to the fire. But always be careful of flammable items, wives can become particularly incendiary, and make sure you always wipe your boots carefully on the hearth rug so you don't track grease through the house...

[sidecar bob]

You could pull the plugs out & get the pistons on the downstroke & push on top of them with a screwdriver. if the piston drops at all, the big end is stuffed.
Been done many times at the track.

[ellipsis]

...it all sounds like a terribly written short story with no particular ending...throw the fucking thing away if you can't do it yourself and buy another piece of cheap old shit that runs...throwing money away is not a good hobby...

[jellywrestler]

throwing money away is not a good hobby...

time you spent a night with me at calendar girls methinks, you'll soon learn otherwise...

[ellipsis]

time you spent a night with me at calendar girls methinks, you'll soon learn otherwise...


...I'll need to spend a bit of time hanging around upside down before I hung out anywhere with you...

[HenryDorsetCase]

I was under the impression (probably wrong) that it was one of those "pull the engine out of the bike, peel the engine apart layer by layer until you get to the bottom" type of things.

you can pull the engine out of it a happy weekend spent pottering. You own a smartphone to take photos to avoid the inevitable "What the fuck's that for and where did it come from?" moments, spend $50 at Bunnings or wherever for some storage, carefully label and store bits.

Now you have an engine on a bench. If you just take that into someone it is easier because it fits in the back of your wagon. If you decide to pull it to bits (and hey, what have you got to lose? its fucked anyways) then crack on. Another $50 for storage containers and a marker pen, take some more photos and buy or download a manual.

Bada boom, bada bing. Then you can get Mr Grumph to look at it and tell you its not worth persevering.

Then put it on tardme with the classic "It was running when stored, my commitments mean I can't finish this project" or "Going overseas" or "great basis for cafe racer/bratstyle/tracker build" type ad, ask $300 less than a good running one and watch the punters roll in.

Gwan you know you wanna.

[HenryDorsetCase]

...it all sounds like a terribly written short story with no particular ending...throw the fucking thing away if you can't do it yourself and buy another piece of cheap old shit that runs...throwing money away is not a good hobby...

BAHAHAHAAHHA says the man with how many motorbikes?

[ellipsis]

BAHAHAHAAHHA says the man with how many motorbikes?

...only two out of nine bikes in my shed are not running at the moment...it's not a bad average for me...I was offering sage advice from one who has chucked more than I care at things just because I thought I should...fucking dumb on reflection...could'a, would'a, should'a type stuff...

[Lias]

Thanks for the advice guys :-)

I was talking to one of the guys at work who's a bit bike mad, and he HAS rebuilt one of his own engines before, and is willing to help me try and learn how to pull shit apart myself.

Project time I guess lol.

[Grumph]

My work here is done......

[jellywrestler]

Thanks for the advice guys :-)

I was talking to one of the guys at work who's a bit bike mad, and he HAS rebuilt one of his own engines before, and is willing to help me try and learn how to pull shit apart myself.

Project time I guess lol.

keep us posted, this will be interesting...

[sidecar bob]

Bear in mind, a bike is easier to sell in one piece not running, than in five fish bins not running.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Bear in mind, a bike is easier to sell in one piece not running, than in five fish bins not running.

plus they want to keep the fucking fish bins and they're like $10 each!