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View Poll Results: which option do you think is the best choice for my situation? | |||
do repairs to old motor at a shop | 1 | 7.69% | |
do newer engine transplant with local ninjetters help | 12 | 92.31% | |
Voters: 13. You may not vote on this poll |
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Thread Tools |
July 15th, 2011, 09:12 PM | #1 |
Newb..... on a steeek! :D
Name: Mike
Location: Windermere, FL
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster Superlow Posts: A lot.
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newer motor vs fixing the old
Ok, here's the situation (my parents went away on a weeks vacation.... oh wait, wrong situation lol)
My 1994 ninjette needs some work. Some of these things are non-issues as they are easy fixes that a monkey could do. Some on the other hand are down to the core of the bike: the motor. Here's what she needs: cam chain replaced ($700+ in labor alone) carb re-tuning 18k mile servicing the bolts at the exhaust ports for the manifold replaced with 2 needing drilled out and possibly re-tapped Total cost estimate at a professional shop would be over $1000 However, my local ninjetters gave me an idea and an option: by a newer used motor and they would help do the transplant (minimum price on ebay is $650 for a 250 motor with shipping) So my question is, which would be the better option as far as cost and reliability. I don't want to offend any of my local ninjetters, but the fact is I just met you and don't know your past mechanical skills. I am trusting you with a BIG job that I can't afford to go wrong. So please don't take offense to me being a little skittish about this whole deal. |
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July 15th, 2011, 10:16 PM | #2 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Ryan
Location: Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2009 Motorcycle(s): Pacific Blue Bonneville Posts: 32
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It looks like cost alone would warrant the purchase of the newer motor. Best of luck!
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865ccs of FURY! |
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July 16th, 2011, 02:35 AM | #3 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Rick
Location: Alexandria, Louisiana
Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much.
MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14
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I would recommend going with the newer engine swap. My reasoning is that with the age of your current motor the chances are very good that even after you have it fixed something else will break down. Just MHO.
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July 16th, 2011, 04:23 AM | #4 |
Sexy Beast
Name: Mat
Location: Tampa
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2010 Ninja 250R, 2006 ZX-14, 2012 Ducati Monster Posts: A lot.
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Put a 500 engine in it!
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July 16th, 2011, 05:13 AM | #5 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Luke
Location: Sevierville, TN
Join Date: May 2011 Motorcycle(s): 06 Buell Uly, 05 VStar 1100 Posts: 577
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I'd recommend shoping around for a new bike, you can buy a good pregen for about $1000 (thats what I gave for mine and my girl did as well) That way you will have a parts bike as well. If you wanted to work on it and get it running then you can do that as well.
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July 16th, 2011, 06:51 AM | #6 | |
GDTRFB
Name: Drew
Location: SE PA
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 Ninja 250 - sold 2005 EX500R project Posts: 496
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Quote:
If its just the original question that you are considering... I'l chime in with going for the motor swap. It's a hell of a lot easier to swap out motors than it is to dive into and rebuild one. I learned this with my cars. Had a vehicle with an interference engine and the top end got wiped out by a bad timing belt. Spent $$ on rebuild parts and the machine shop work. After 6 months the bearings on the water pump failed and I was back to same situation. Top end was fried. I found a used motor from a junk yard (less than 40K miles for $500) and swapped that mother in a day.
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I don't want a pickle Just want to ride on my motorsickle -Arlo Guthrie |
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July 16th, 2011, 09:05 AM | #7 | |
Newb..... on a steeek! :D
Name: Mike
Location: Windermere, FL
Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Harley Davidson XL883L Sportster Superlow Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
flush mounted front turn signals integrated rear turn signals rear fender eliminated rear EX250-J shock progressive springs in forks 2-1 yoshimura exhaust (being replaced with the Area P gb setup soon) jetted carbs So in the end it would just be easier and cheaper to do an engine swap or repair. |
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July 16th, 2011, 09:14 AM | #8 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Jesse
Location: Ann arbor mi
Join Date: Mar 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 ninja 250r Posts: 374
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http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/09-Ka...Q5fAccessories
I would offer 1k shipped and then do the swap to the 500 |
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July 16th, 2011, 09:55 AM | #9 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Carolyn
Location: San Carlos, CA
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250, 2002 Yamaha XT225 Posts: 597
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I have no advice about the engine but, dammit, now that song is stuck in my head.
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www.bluepoof.com |
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July 16th, 2011, 09:36 PM | #10 |
CPT Falcon
Name: J.Emmett Turner
Location: Newnan, GA
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.
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I'm in need of an expensive valve service and I'm at 24K miles and about to cross the country, so I'm considering the same thing.
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July 17th, 2011, 11:19 AM | #11 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Carolyn
Location: San Carlos, CA
Join Date: Nov 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 250, 2002 Yamaha XT225 Posts: 597
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What's wrong with your valves at only 24K? That seems really early for a repair job to the extent of considering replacing your entire engine.
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www.bluepoof.com |
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July 17th, 2011, 02:58 PM | #12 |
CPT Falcon
Name: J.Emmett Turner
Location: Newnan, GA
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.
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Nothing's wrong AFAIK, unless severely delaying factory recommended service has caused damage. Unlike the previous gen, valve services are just expensive on the current generation. So much so that I've only been able to afford ONE when I should have had THREE by now. I can't find a place in SoCal willing to do it under $500. I've seen several engines sell for far less than that. If I pay the same after labor, why not chose the option that gets me a lower mileage engine? The OP only has 18K on his.
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July 17th, 2011, 03:49 PM | #13 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Keven
Location: San Diego
Join Date: Sep 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2008 250 Green, 00 R6 Posts: 160
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Quote:
Where have you been taking it? I just had my valves done for about $270. |
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July 17th, 2011, 03:51 PM | #14 | |
Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.
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Quote:
and back to the OP... who's to say the engine you install won't have something wrong with it that you'll have to pay to fix? I'd say, sell your present bike and pick up a good used bike in the process. Move all the mods on your present bike over to the new bike. |
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July 17th, 2011, 04:35 PM | #16 | |
CPT Falcon
Name: J.Emmett Turner
Location: Newnan, GA
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
After that, I asked around at local places like Stark Cycles and they all looked in their manuals and gave me the same price: Labor rate (~$70 and hour) times Kawasaki's estimated hours in the service manual + parts = $500+ for the full service. Though I'd undoubtedly want the full service if I'm about to cross the country, the cost for the valves only is still always over $300. I even offered to take all the fairings off to speed things up but they say it wouldn't make a difference. I'm not confident removing the airbox myself but I have been told that it makes it much easier/faster to remove the coolant reservior when servicing the valves, so I'd like to get some help with that on a tech day (silly reason to remove it, I know. I'm totally cool with keeping it otherwise). I could probably save a bit more by getting all the parts and supplies myself (gaskets, sprak plugs, coolant, etc) but I don't have time to do my usual "long term" bargain-hunting (it's a waiting game). I can do the oil change myself, at least. I have a slow coolant leak too and it's well past time to flush the coolant, but I don't want to be responsible for air in the system and other such things. I am not a mechanic! I don't even own a drill. |
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July 17th, 2011, 04:38 PM | #17 | |
CPT Falcon
Name: J.Emmett Turner
Location: Newnan, GA
Join Date: Apr 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 CP Blue EX250J, '97 unpainted EX250F, 2nd '97 unpainted EX250F (no engine), '07 black EX250F Posts: A lot.
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Quote:
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July 17th, 2011, 04:57 PM | #18 |
Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: Too much.
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If the bike is running, there are tests you can do to determine engine health. With a used bike, you can at least see the bike run. Buying a used engine without seeing it run/tested is a total crapshoot.... you asked.
also, the PO of the used engine could have ignored doing valve adjustments way past their due date... most do due to finances. |
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