Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

I'm rebuilding the top end of a 1964 Honda
S90 motorcycle engine. The work is nearly
done, but I'm concerned about the 40 years
of accumulated gunk in the crankcase. I
really *don't* want to split the case, but
I would like to flush it out somehow.

I'm thinking that before I put the cylinder
and head back on, I could fill the case with
stoddard solvent, kick it over a few times,
drain it and repeat. Before starting the
engine, I'll fill it with fresh oil, which
I'll replace after 15 minutes or so of running.

Would this be a good idea or will I mess
something up?

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 05:10:01 GMT, Jim Stewart
calmly ranted:

I'm rebuilding the top end of a 1964 Honda
S90 motorcycle engine. The work is nearly
done, but I'm concerned about the 40 years
of accumulated gunk in the crankcase. I
really *don't* want to split the case, but
I would like to flush it out somehow.

I'm thinking that before I put the cylinder
and head back on, I could fill the case with
stoddard solvent, kick it over a few times,
drain it and repeat. Before starting the
engine, I'll fill it with fresh oil, which
I'll replace after 15 minutes or so of running.

Would this be a good idea or will I mess
something up?

Well, how would you like to run solvent-tainted, gunk-ridden
oil through your veins? Avoid solvents and leave it to good
quality oils with standard additives to do the cleaning.
Anything else could cause more trouble than you're ready for.
My first automotive job was working for an old shadetree
mechanic at a used car lot. Even that idiot wouldn't do a
solvent flush any more. It caused him too much work when all
of a sudden, 1/4" thick sheets of mud scaled off the crankcase
walls, clogged the oil filter, went through the bypass valve,
and went straight into the bearings, silt and all. Oops!

If you're truly concerned, split the case and clean everything
well before reassembly. Make sure that all solvent-cleaned parts
are well dry before reassembly. Bearings hate solvent.


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Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 07:13:55 -0700, Larry Jaques
wrote:

Well, how would you like to run solvent-tainted, gunk-ridden
oil through your veins? Avoid solvents and leave it to good
quality oils with standard additives to do the cleaning.
Anything else could cause more trouble than you're ready for.
My first automotive job was working for an old shadetree
mechanic at a used car lot. Even that idiot wouldn't do a
solvent flush any more. It caused him too much work when all
of a sudden, 1/4" thick sheets of mud scaled off the crankcase
walls, clogged the oil filter, went through the bypass valve,
and went straight into the bearings, silt and all. Oops!

Sounds like the mechanical equivalent of having a stroke.

Gunner

"A vote for Kerry is a de facto vote for bin Laden."
Strider

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

It caused him too much work when all
of a sudden, 1/4" thick sheets of mud scaled off the crankcase
walls, clogged the oil filter, went through the bypass valve,
and went straight into the bearings, silt and all. Oops!

If you're truly concerned, split the case and clean everything
well before reassembly. Make sure that all solvent-cleaned parts
are well dry before reassembly. Bearings hate solvent.


Does the S90 have a filter?

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

If you want to have some live to the engine afterwords, split the case and
do it right!

--
Bob May
Losing weight is easy! If you ever want to lose weight, eat and drink less.
Works every time it is tried!

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

Jim Stewart wrote:

I'm rebuilding the top end of a 1964 Honda
S90 motorcycle engine. The work is nearly
done, but I'm concerned about the 40 years
of accumulated gunk in the crankcase. I
really *don't* want to split the case, but
I would like to flush it out somehow.

I'm thinking that before I put the cylinder
and head back on, I could fill the case with
stoddard solvent, kick it over a few times,
drain it and repeat. Before starting the
engine, I'll fill it with fresh oil, which
I'll replace after 15 minutes or so of running.

Would this be a good idea or will I mess
something up?

Is that one of those old pushrod Hondas ?

ff

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

In article m,
Jim Stewart wrote:

I'm rebuilding the top end of a 1964 Honda
S90 motorcycle engine. The work is nearly
done, but I'm concerned about the 40 years
of accumulated gunk in the crankcase. I
really *don't* want to split the case, but
I would like to flush it out somehow.

I'm thinking that before I put the cylinder
and head back on, I could fill the case with
stoddard solvent, kick it over a few times,
drain it and repeat. Before starting the
engine, I'll fill it with fresh oil, which
I'll replace after 15 minutes or so of running.

Would this be a good idea or will I mess
something up?

One trick I know of for cleaning smaller engines is to drain the oil
and refill it with diesel oil instead. Then run the engine for five to
fifteen minutes, drain, add the regular oil. Any diesel left behind
will diffuse into the oil and not cause any trouble. Works great as PM
on power equipment, but I don't think it'll clean up 40 years of crap in
a motorcycle engine without screwing something up.
Probably best to split the case.

--
B.B. --I am not a goat! thegoat4 at airmail.net
Fire the stupid--Vote.

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 17:13:05 +0100, "John Manders"
calmly ranted:



It caused him too much work when all
of a sudden, 1/4" thick sheets of mud scaled off the crankcase
walls, clogged the oil filter, went through the bypass valve,
and went straight into the bearings, silt and all. Oops!

These were used autos, John.


If you're truly concerned, split the case and clean everything
well before reassembly. Make sure that all solvent-cleaned parts
are well dry before reassembly. Bearings hate solvent.


Does the S90 have a filter?

I'd be quite surprised if it did, hence even more danger.
Then again, it's a Honda, so it just may.


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Collect the whole set! + Website design and graphics
================================================== =======

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 05:10:01 GMT, Jim Stewart
wrote:

I'm rebuilding the top end of a 1964 Honda
S90 motorcycle engine. The work is nearly
done, but I'm concerned about the 40 years
of accumulated gunk in the crankcase. I
really *don't* want to split the case, but
I would like to flush it out somehow.

I'm thinking that before I put the cylinder
and head back on, I could fill the case with
stoddard solvent, kick it over a few times,
drain it and repeat. Before starting the
engine, I'll fill it with fresh oil, which
I'll replace after 15 minutes or so of running.

Would this be a good idea or will I mess
something up?

That depends on how much gunk is in there. I don't think it's a
particularly good idea in either case. If there's a lot of gunk,
you'll wind up getting it in places you don't want it, and have an
even bigger job on your hands. If there's not much of it, it's a waste
of effort.

If you believe the crank case is seriously gunked up, best to open it
up, clean it thoroughly and put it back together. If you don't think
it's badly gunked up, then just do more frequent oil changes for a
while after you get the engine back together. If, attempting this,
you discover that your engine needs more work, there's nothing to stop
you from going back and doing it right.

Al Moore

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

"Larry Jaques" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 17:13:05 +0100, "John Manders"
calmly ranted:



It caused him too much work when all
of a sudden, 1/4" thick sheets of mud scaled off the crankcase
walls, clogged the oil filter, went through the bypass valve,
and went straight into the bearings, silt and all. Oops!

These were used autos, John.


If you're truly concerned, split the case and clean everything
well before reassembly. Make sure that all solvent-cleaned parts
are well dry before reassembly. Bearings hate solvent.


Does the S90 have a filter?

I'd be quite surprised if it did, hence even more danger.
Then again, it's a Honda, so it just may.

Some of them have a screen "filter"

William....



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Collect the whole set! + Website design and graphics
================================================== =======

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

"ff" wrote in message
...
Jim Stewart wrote:

I'm rebuilding the top end of a 1964 Honda
S90 motorcycle engine. The work is nearly
done, but I'm concerned about the 40 years
of accumulated gunk in the crankcase. I
really *don't* want to split the case, but
I would like to flush it out somehow.

I'm thinking that before I put the cylinder
and head back on, I could fill the case with
stoddard solvent, kick it over a few times,
drain it and repeat. Before starting the
engine, I'll fill it with fresh oil, which
I'll replace after 15 minutes or so of running.

Would this be a good idea or will I mess
something up?

Is that one of those old pushrod Hondas ?

ff


no it's an over head model

William...

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

In article EUbyc.67942$3x.49876@attbi_s54, William says...

no it's an over head model

Honda step-throughs of that vintage don't have paper
element filters. They've got a pickup screen though.

I'd bore-scope the sump and see what's in there.

Jim

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JRR(zero) at yktvmv (dot) vnet (dot) ibm (dot) com
==================================================

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 05:10:01 GMT, Jim Stewart
vaguely proposed a theory
.......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Split it! Not worth anything else. isn't that what "rebuilding" means?

You are rebuilding 40 year old machine, and 90 ccs at that! You are
already insane, (although in huge company)! Do it properly! G.

I'm rebuilding the top end of a 1964 Honda
S90 motorcycle engine. The work is nearly
done, but I'm concerned about the 40 years
of accumulated gunk in the crankcase. I
really *don't* want to split the case, but
I would like to flush it out somehow.

I'm thinking that before I put the cylinder
and head back on, I could fill the case with
stoddard solvent, kick it over a few times,
drain it and repeat. Before starting the
engine, I'll fill it with fresh oil, which
I'll replace after 15 minutes or so of running.

Would this be a good idea

no

or will I mess
something up?

Probably.

Look. One afternoon, I and a mate sat down with few beers and
installed a new hi-lift camshaft on a Honda CB750. It was good. I have
since rebuilt motors and gearbxes of various sizes (no beer). I have
NEVER regretted going that extra step. There is both a Zen experience
in that rebuild, and the purity of the rebuild, and good old grunt
satisfaction of a thorough job well done. (Same result, different
culture?)

I will admit that I have a few machines about the place that have not
had projects _started_ on them because of the knowledge that Zen takes
time! G I tell people I am afraid of what I will find when I open
them up. but the truth is that I am afraid of what I se inside ME that
scares me.
************************************************** *****

Sometimes in a workplace you find snot on the wall of
the toilet cubicles. You feel "What sort of twisted
child would do this?"....the internet seems full of
them. It's very sad

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

"Old Nick" wrote in message
...
time! G I tell people I am afraid of what I will find when I open
them up.

Tell me about it. Just split the cases on my dearly beloved old '56 Panhead
Harley to investigate troubling sounds from the bottom end. The factory
cast in outer bearing races on both case halves had worked loose. Has to be
sent out to California to have them bored out, cases heated, races cooled
and then pressed in. For two fistfuls of money. And they can't promise
that the cases won't crack during the surgery. ****, ****, ****. Flat
ruined my whole month.

Garrett Fulton




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Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

Old Nick wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 05:10:01 GMT, Jim Stewart
vaguely proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Split it! Not worth anything else. isn't that what "rebuilding" means?

You are rebuilding 40 year old machine, and 90 ccs at that! You are
already insane, (although in huge company)! Do it properly! G.

You're right, I am insane and I bought the silly thing
for therapy. As to why I'm not splitting the case,
well, there is a semi-good explaination. I got the
bike without a title. DMV promises that if I just
bring it in and let them check the serial numbers,
they'll be able to fix me up. I'm doubtful. But in
any case, before I put a ton of work into the bike,
I want to ride it to DMV and start the titling process.

I have a second engine that I'll probably rebuild
correctly if I can get a clear title on the bike.


I'm rebuilding the top end of a 1964 Honda
S90 motorcycle engine. The work is nearly
done, but I'm concerned about the 40 years
of accumulated gunk in the crankcase. I
really *don't* want to split the case, but
I would like to flush it out somehow.

I'm thinking that before I put the cylinder
and head back on, I could fill the case with
stoddard solvent, kick it over a few times,
drain it and repeat. Before starting the
engine, I'll fill it with fresh oil, which
I'll replace after 15 minutes or so of running.

Would this be a good idea


no


or will I mess
something up?


Probably.

Look. One afternoon, I and a mate sat down with few beers and
installed a new hi-lift camshaft on a Honda CB750. It was good. I have
since rebuilt motors and gearbxes of various sizes (no beer). I have
NEVER regretted going that extra step. There is both a Zen experience
in that rebuild, and the purity of the rebuild, and good old grunt
satisfaction of a thorough job well done. (Same result, different
culture?)

I will admit that I have a few machines about the place that have not
had projects _started_ on them because of the knowledge that Zen takes
time! G I tell people I am afraid of what I will find when I open
them up. but the truth is that I am afraid of what I se inside ME that
scares me.
************************************************** *****

Sometimes in a workplace you find snot on the wall of
the toilet cubicles. You feel "What sort of twisted
child would do this?"....the internet seems full of
them. It's very sad

Cleaning inside a motorcycle crankcase
 

to start the title, trailer it to the DMV and let them inspect it - no need
for it to be running.

"Jim Stewart" wrote in message
s.com...
Old Nick wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jun 2004 05:10:01 GMT, Jim Stewart
vaguely proposed a theory
......and in reply I say!:
remove ns from my header address to reply via email

Split it! Not worth anything else. isn't that what "rebuilding" means?

You are rebuilding 40 year old machine, and 90 ccs at that! You are
already insane, (although in huge company)! Do it properly! G.

You're right, I am insane and I bought the silly thing
for therapy. As to why I'm not splitting the case,
well, there is a semi-good explaination. I got the
bike without a title. DMV promises that if I just
bring it in and let them check the serial numbers,
they'll be able to fix me up. I'm doubtful. But in
any case, before I put a ton of work into the bike,
I want to ride it to DMV and start the titling process.

I have a second engine that I'll probably rebuild
correctly if I can get a clear title on the bike.


I'm rebuilding the top end of a 1964 Honda
S90 motorcycle engine. The work is nearly
done, but I'm concerned about the 40 years
of accumulated gunk in the crankcase. I
really *don't* want to split the case, but
I would like to flush it out somehow.

I'm thinking that before I put the cylinder
and head back on, I could fill the case with
stoddard solvent, kick it over a few times,
drain it and repeat. Before starting the
engine, I'll fill it with fresh oil, which
I'll replace after 15 minutes or so of running.

Would this be a good idea


no


or will I mess
something up?


Probably.

Look. One afternoon, I and a mate sat down with few beers and
installed a new hi-lift camshaft on a Honda CB750. It was good. I have
since rebuilt motors and gearbxes of various sizes (no beer). I have
NEVER regretted going that extra step. There is both a Zen experience
in that rebuild, and the purity of the rebuild, and good old grunt
satisfaction of a thorough job well done. (Same result, different
culture?)

I will admit that I have a few machines about the place that have not
had projects _started_ on them because of the knowledge that Zen takes
time! G I tell people I am afraid of what I will find when I open
them up. but the truth is that I am afraid of what I se inside ME that
scares me.
************************************************** *****

Sometimes in a workplace you find snot on the wall of
the toilet cubicles. You feel "What sort of twisted
child would do this?"....the internet seems full of
them. It's very sad