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.

[Lias]

What is it ?

1997 Suzuki VZ Marauder

[Grumph]

Look, your engine builder just turned up.

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:Me]

...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.