El Jefe - Restoration Take 2 - '82 GL1100

[Sagebrush]

Yikes! Man that's going to be expensive even if you can find all the parts. You sure you want to rebuild that and not just find a better engine to start out with?

[SlyDogJeff77]

I don't think it's going to be that expensive. I have a guy at a local machine shop that can bore out the block to the size of the new pistons and he can machine the crank for me for spit cheap. I can get pistons cheap. Custom bearings no prob. Steve has a glass bead blast setup at his house he wants me to use to clean all the part. I tell you I'm really lucky I mead friends with this guy!!

I think the most expensive parts I need to get are the full gasket set, cam seals, valve seals, clutch friction plates and springs and probably the most expensive part is going to be a new oil pump.

I estimate I can rebuild this for about $600 because of all the free perks Steve is able to provide!!

[pierce]

I agree with both Robin and Sagebrush. Thats a disaster.

Getting your crankshaft turned is not a good idea, nor cost effective. Honda recommends against it, and it would be near impossible to find the correct bearings. Buying a new crankshaft would be the smarter option.

Another issue would be boring out your case? It would be extremely difficult to find the correct pistons, rings etc. You would also need to clay the pistons for valve clearnace.

http://www.enginelabs.com/engine-tech/e ... clearance/

Much cheaper to buy a new used case. However, as Sagebrush mentioned, considerably cheaper to buy a good used 1100 engine.

[SlyDogJeff77]

Woah! Guys!! All this negativity!! You make me want to switch this thread to the UNDERGROUNG CUSTOMIZING catagrory!! CUMON! Back me up!! I think I can get this done without breaking the bank! I think I can bore it out a little a get way better compression!! Who knows how bad it used to be?! I have some real confidence in this guy Steve!! AND...
I'm planning on getting that used '82 wing anyway!!

Ill dig into that motor too!! . So lets just play around and have fun! Stay positive with me!! All the way! Balls to the wall right!!??

[Sagebrush]

Its your money and time so go for it

[pierce]

Woah! Guys!! All this negativity!! You make me want to switch this thread to the UNDERGROUNG CUSTOMIZING catagrory!! CUMON! Back me up!! I think I can get this done without breaking the bank! I think I can bore it out a little a get way better compression!! Who knows how bad it used to be?! I have some real confidence in this guy Steve!! AND...
I'm planning on getting that used '82 wing anyway!!

Ill dig into that motor too!! . So lets just play around and have fun! Stay positive with me!! All the way! Balls to the wall right!!??

The crankshaft and valves are coated, and can not be machined. You will need a new crankshaft, and Honda OEM bearings. The crank will be marked from the factory and you can use that to order the correct color. They are no longer being produced, but a few of them are still out there. If you can't find the right one, just use any bearing you can get a hold of as it will still be within spec.

Anything can be done successfully with enough time and money.

[backwoodz]

I had to register here at this site after reading the first 15 pages of the first jefe resto.

You need to just pay the $200 for that parts bike and stop thinking you can fix that ruined engine you have. I laughed out loud when you offered him $50 and then turned around and said you could repair that ruined engine for $600.
Yes I know I am a a newbie HERE but after reading hours of this thread I feel like I know you.. Maybe you need to slow down like you were asked too by some very knowledgeable posters.

It is your bike and your money and do as you wish but also listen what others are saying. They have your best interests at heart.

[robin1731]

snip........ Steve has a glass bead blast setup at his house he wants me to use to clean all the part.

I've done lot's of engines. I would and never have used glass beads to clean internal engine parts. Would not do the cases either. It is very difficult to get all of the glass out when finished. That us why we use crushed walnut shells if we want to "blast" clean engine parts. It will break down in the oil. Use a power washer to clean the cases. Or a hot tank if you have access to one.

I've had heads here that a customer's have brought in that were bead blasted. They said they were clean. I showed them how clean they were not with just a 5 gallon bucket and hot water. Then blew them out with an air hose and got even more grit out of them.

Only walnut shells or maybe baking soda in the blaster if you must use that method. A miniscule amount of grit can ruin a newly rebuilt engine pretty quickly.

[SlyDogJeff77]

@pierce, I was thinking i'd use the crank from the used engine instead of machining this one.. looks too hard and bothersome anyway.. but now that you mention all this, i'm thinking more towards the used engine anyway.. so long as it's not a dead engine too. But can't you get NEW bearings?!

@backwoodz.. welcome to the site! noobs on the net or long time wrencherz, I appreciate the words of wizdom! I'm leaning more towards the new used engine anyway.. I want to get it from that guy for as little as possible and then recoop the money by ebaying as many of the spare parts as possible. The only risk is that his engine is crap also!!

@Robin, NO GLASS BEAD BLAST!! CHECK!! just lots of power wash with degreaser. What is a "Hot Tank"? is that an acid bath? i've heard of that. I've also seen the baking soda blaster and that looked very promising!!


So some news from YESTERDAY.. I took a family trip down to Jersey. My uncle who is kind of following this story, has an old '78 Honda CB750f that he is going to give me. Not sure of the negotiations yet. But it needs some new rubber and a maybe battery. He keeps it in his garage and it's in very good condition. Probably an oil change is due and he said one of the exhaust pipes needs a new "asbestos ring" so it has enough back pressure? (need to investigate that) So this way I can keep riding for the rest of the season!! With any luck, I can make it into a cafe racer this winter too while I'm working on El Jefe... I should be able to afford that easily with the ebay parts from the spare goldwing too. things are looking up.

[pierce]

Good idea to use another crank. And yes, you can get new bearings. They are getting increasingly hard to find, but I believe Old Fogey from Wingovations has been swooping them up. If you contact him (when he gets back from vacation), he can tell you how to determine which ones you need, and ship them to you.

[robin1731]

asbestos ring = muffler gasket.

[SlyDogJeff77]

Minor update.. Project is on hold.
I found out everything that's wrong and I'm satisfied that its not 100% my fault with the valve cover gaskets. More like 45% my fault.
Add on the blown head gaskets, blown cam seals etc etc..

Anyway. I'm looking for a used engine. The one in Mass sold. So I have my eyes out. Money is too tight right now to do anything right now but as things happen ill keep you guys updated!!

Your like family at this point!! I won't leave you hanging!

Later!