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Author Topic: Well CRAP! My replacement 1200 engine is no good.  (Read 1744 times)
John Schmidt
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Posts: 15192


a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« on: February 04, 2014, 05:45:06 PM »

Jeff from Naples was even kind enough to bring it up from Ft. Myers with him when he and a friend came up for a gun show. I paid the recycler and told him Jeff was picking it up. My conversation with the recycler was "oh yeah, runs fine, no problem." Now that I'm getting ready to clean/paint the engine for installation, I decided I'll try turning it over by hand. It wouldn't, so I started looking and saw the left rear spark plug was crunched flat. My spirits sank, I pulled the head and sure enough....busted intake embedded in the piston. The adjacent cyl. also appears to have suffered a strike. Look at the pictures, the intake on that cyl. is not centered but is sitting on the valve seat. And the piston looks like it has a fresh shiney strike. Guess I should have checked the engine as soon as I got it instead of waiting a year until I was ready for it. Doubt the recycler will make good on it now and I don't blame him. I really don't want to get involved in an overhaul but can't afford to throw away the $$ I paid for it. With more than one possible strike like that it's entirely possible the crank has flat spots as well. Kinda sucks....big time.





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Skinhead
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Posts: 8724


J. A. B. O. A.

Troy, MI


« Reply #1 on: February 04, 2014, 05:52:47 PM »

I'd sure try to get the recycler to do you right, if he said it runs good, he's an f'ing liar.  Maybe he could run for POTUS.
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Troy, MI
FloridaValkRyder
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Posts: 1677


If your offended , you need a history lesson!!

Apopka, Florida


« Reply #2 on: February 04, 2014, 05:55:13 PM »

Well crap John. That looks a lot like the one that came in the bike. I would at least appeal to the recycler you bought it from and explain it to him. He might be a stand up guy and make things right. Hopefully he didn't know it was blown up when he sold it to you. Worth a shot anyway. Would a rebuild be cheaper than finding another motor?   
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I still miss her.
John Schmidt
Member
*****
Posts: 15192


a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« Reply #3 on: February 04, 2014, 06:48:15 PM »

.......Would a rebuild be cheaper than finding another motor?   
I'm going to talk to a guy out on west Colonial later this week(Precision Cycle). He has a shop on the south side opposite the fair ground entrance and he's a talented mechanic. Sort of a jack of all trades type but I've seen some of his builds over the years. You name it, he's either built it or fixed it. Don Holubik, in his mid-60's, has a huge shop, been there for years and I've used him many times over the years. Might be on the pricey side to have it rebuilt but don't know what choice I have, too much invested already. I don't have all the tools anymore to do it myself.

If I could find a short block somewhere I would do all the change over necessary. I'd prefer an '85 or later since the '84 was a one time issue for gearing, ignition, etc., and '85-'87 were all the same. Even the starter for an '84 won't work on the later models, plus the ignition triggers for the '85 and up are in front same as the Valkyrie. The '84 is a completely different setup.  tickedoff

An interesting side note; the last time I was in Don's shop, he had to show me his current project. It was a handmade reverse trike using the front end of an old front wheel drive Chevy...forget the model. As I recall it was going to use the back half of the car so the driver would have a trunk. Seemed kinda silly to both of us but he claimed the guy that is having it built had more money than sense apparently. He wanted it done, Don could build it, and make a nice chunk of change in the process. Oh well.....to each their own!
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Jess from VA
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Posts: 30393


No VA


« Reply #4 on: February 04, 2014, 06:54:22 PM »

At least create an email to the seller with good pics, and an explanation of your health over the last year, with a simple request for equitable relief of some kind.  Don't burn any bridges in the first email.  You never know what he might say.

Sometimes a business may be a little more thoughtful having to reply in writing (even just an email) than on the phone or even in person.  Or not.
« Last Edit: February 04, 2014, 07:30:42 PM by Jess from VA » Logged
flsix
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Posts: 1938


South Carolina


« Reply #5 on: February 05, 2014, 09:39:01 AM »

John I hate to hear that you got a bad deal on that motor. If you can contact them and they offer to exchange it or have it rebuilt in Ft Myers go for it and I can swap them when I come up your way.
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2013 F6B    

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John Schmidt
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*****
Posts: 15192


a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« Reply #6 on: February 05, 2014, 10:55:10 AM »

I just sent them an email explaining the situation and included the pictures I post above. The most they can do is tell me to go jump in the lake. We shall see.

In the mean time, I'm watching this item on Ebay....note the free shipping. It's essentially a short block for under $100, 36k miles on an '87. That means I can switch everything to it from my '85 and it should fit and I have spare cyl. heads to replace the messed up one. Not so if either were an '84. I just sent them a question as whether the crank was still in place. The pistons are but that doesn't mean the crank still is, although I'd assume so. Might be a good alternative albeit extra work....and expense.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131087726086?item=131087726086&viewitem=&vxp=mtr#ht_5254wt_1359
« Last Edit: February 05, 2014, 11:15:50 AM by John Schmidt » Logged

Grumpy
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Tampa, Fl


« Reply #7 on: February 05, 2014, 03:45:20 PM »

From the pictures that is just the bare engine cases.
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Life is like a hot bath. It feels good while you’re in it, but the longer you stay in, the more wrinkled you get.
John Schmidt
Member
*****
Posts: 15192


a/k/a Stuffy. '99 I/S Valk Roadsmith Trike

De Pere, WI (Green Bay)


« Reply #8 on: February 05, 2014, 04:53:31 PM »

Look at the middle picture in the second row, you can see the flycut for the valve clearance in the top of the pistons. If it's just pistons, crank, and both halves of the case it would be a fair amount of work but switching everything over is doable. Still waiting for a response on that from Pinwall.
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Thunderbolt
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Worthington Springs FL.


« Reply #9 on: February 05, 2014, 04:56:59 PM »

They say it was running.  Aren't the pistons normally at different positions in the cylinders if attached to the crank?  This is just a question as I do not know the answer on a Flat Six engine.  Seems to me that for instance on a six cylinder inline engine that I put rings in on a 57 Chevrolet once, they were all staggered when attached to the crankshaft.
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