ERAU-944

anyone know a good way to unstick a cylinder? this is on the bike mind you, not the p-car, but still, its an aluminum block and head, so its basically the same setup (although i doubt its teflon/silicon impregnated). now, its the XS 750, the cylinder all the way to the left (1/3 sitting on the bike) is frozen, i beleive. i put marvel mystery oil in all the cylinders (to loosen things up) and by looking i realize this is the only one left with oil in it. so the oil has leaked past the rings in the other two cylinders, but the oil in the first is still on top of the cylinder/rings. i'm hoping i won't have to take out the head or the entire motor to fix this, as it could get annoying/difficult/expensive. i've finished the wiring harness, now i just need to put it on the bike. the biggest challenge will be the motor now (assuming that the electricals work), does anyone have experience getting an engine unstuck?

any help appreciated

-Michael-

Red 944

Sounds like a sitter .. I guess that's what I'd do, pour something in in attempt to free up the piston. If there's oil holding in the number one cylinder, is this meaning the motor was prepped to sit .. or things just worked out that way? If I was being cheap (which sometimes isn't a bad thing) and just trying to get something running .. I'd order some piston rings for it, when they come in wake up the following day and put a solid day into pulling the motor, replacing the rings, deglazing the cylinders, and putting back together. Could turn out to be a weekend though .. so .. rest up the Friday after the rings come in

ERAU-944

no i put some marvel mystery oil in there in an attempt to free up the cylinders. the bike had been sitting due to an air filter fire (see my post ' semi-OT: yamaha motorcycle') and what i found was that cyl's 2 and 3 the oil passed through,and cylinder 1 it stayed on top, so i'm thinking thats the stuck one. and i'm really not too keen on rebuilding/pulling the motor or even the head, so i'm trying to figure out how to get it unstuck.

-Michael-

Red 944

I remember seeing a Haynes on the older Yamaha 750 and 850 triples when I was thumbing through looking for one on a nighthawk not too long ago. That would be a start I suppose, because most likely you'll have to tackle it if doesn't free up. I guess I'd just keep trying to work until it moves .. either something will break or something will free up eventually.

ERAU-944

got it in the mail today, good 'ol ebay

i've been jumping on the kick starter now and then, nothing has freed so far. i'm only ~ #135 or so so i don't do much in the way of persuading it to move. i'm gonna put some more oil in each of the cylinders and see if i can get it to free up. if not i'm going to get some sort of breaker, and put it on the end of the crankshaft and try to move it that way.

anyone have any other ideas?

thanks so far

-Michael-

jgieswein

I've heard that pepsi works, or try wd40, i've got a xs 650 motor freed up with that and a block of wood, but i had to take the head off. Hope that helps

ERAU-944

yeah, the head removal may happen, how tough was it? what all was involved? i'm thinking some WD 40 will go in there next... how's the 650 run now?

-Michael-

jgieswein

it used to run, need to clean the carbs, it was a project bike that got put aside for my 944

ERAU-944

hehe, well my 944 is running well, so if it ain't broke... this 750's supposed to keep the miles off my 944, plus i want something i can enjoy riding and get 40 mpg. anything i can help you with on your car? i've got a bunch of parts lying around!

-Michael-

jgieswein

the head removal for the xs 650 you have to break the cam chain, other than that it is just bolts, and cam chain guide

ERAU-944

ahh, can you take out a link in the chain, and replace it? this is starting to sound like less than fun. also, how much was the head gasket?

-Michael-

jgieswein

well i finally got it running after i changed the belts of course. i need hoses for the power steering as one is leaking and overflows the res. with foam. Need to change vacuum lines and things like that.

ERAU-944

ahh, my car has manual steering, and i have no more hoses from my old p.s. those are easy enough to come by at napa. vac lines are as well. anything else?

-Michael-

jgieswein

well since the pistons are frozen you would be very lucky if the correct cam link is up on top where you can drive the pin out. this wasn't the case with mine I had to just drive out the incorrect pin with a punch and replaced the cam chain, I've been getting my parts from mikes XS I don't know if they have parts for the xs 750 http://www.650motorcycles.com/mikesxs.html

ERAU-944

cool, interesting stuff to check out. i'll probably talk to him sometime about this. i'm off to bed for the evening. my aim screenname is ERAU944 if you ever want to talk, or need any help with your car.

goodnight,
-Michael Banas-