Good time to learn engine work?

[Jiggles]

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/mcy/3289273175.html

I'm considering it...... Thoughts?

[HKr1]

If its the head, I have one for ya.... 50 shipped

[Motofool]

But, it is an ugly pre-gen !!!

Originally Posted by Jiggles

My pregen is so ugly I keep it where the dogs go poop

[Jiggles]

Haha well my brother would be riding it and not me. This seems to be the deal I've been looking for. How difficult is replacing the head/valve for a guy who has never touched an engine before?

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by HKr1

If its the head, I have one for ya.... 50 shipped

Will keep you in mind

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

.......How difficult is replacing the head/valve for a guy who has never touched an engine before?

No much, having the money, tools and patience.

You are assuming that is the only problem.

My experience tells that problems are seldom isolated.

[dirty nasty]

No.

I paid $500 for mine with less than 3k miles and it had no problems. That's absurd the seller wants $750. I'd offer $200.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Motofool

No much, having the money, tools and patience.

You are assuming that is the only problem.

My experience tells that problems are seldom isolated.

Well he did have it checked out by a shop but it doesn't seem like they actually went into the motor. Anyway, if it actually runs, it can't be too hard to fix right?

Originally Posted by dirty nasty

No.

I paid $500 for mine with less than 3k miles and it had no problems. That's absurd the seller wants $750. I'd offer $200.

u is dum bro

[dirty nasty]

Well, the buyer can spend the money however they please. I'd walk. If you want to learn engine work get something that's free. Or wait until yours breaks. Buying someone else's headache never ends well.

[Jiggles]

I meant comparing your far fetched deal is dumb

[dirty nasty]

How is it far fetched? I paid $500 for my bike. The deals are out there. Be patient.

Joke's on you.

[Jiggles]

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTT

This is one of those deals

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/s...&sort=pricedsc

[Motofool]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Well he did have it checked out by a shop but it doesn't seem like they actually went into the motor. Anyway, if it actually runs, it can't be too hard to fix right?

Just unbolting nuts, replacing parts, venting the coolant and calibrating valves.

Here, you will have almost too much step-by-step guidance while you and your brother do it together.....yes, it will be good for him.

[dirty nasty]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

PSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSTT

This is one of those deals

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/search/s...&sort=pricedsc

So? My Craigslist looks similar. You need to realize that 90% of people on Craigslist now are on crack and list their items for way too high. For example, all the iPod Touches in my area of 8GB go for around $100 on Craigslist. Today, with a little searching and patience I picked one up for $30.

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/mcy/3287456629.html

That bike is cool.

Or, tell your brother to save up a little more and invest in this bad boy! Might even be worth the flight out there for me to nab it...hmmmmm...

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/mcy/3274556142.html

If you want to spend $750 to learn how to do something, on an engine that might have a host of other problems, go right ahead. I've gone that route before and it's frustrating and expensive and it sucks. If you really want to do engine work, find a free grenaded engine of some sorts somewhere and rebuild it. You will spend plenty of money doing so without the initial cost of the engine. If you want a rider keep moving on and find another bike. Sounds to me like your brother really wants a rider, maybe with a little tinkering to get it going. Not a full on rebuild.

[Jiggles]

I'd prefer something from this century

[dirty nasty]

Point to me which bike is more out dated than the pre-gen you initially posted? Because it sure isn't the FZR and it sure isn't the pre-gen 250 which is the same model bike you posted.

I think you should lay off the crack that's being passed around Craigslist ad posters. It will do you much good.

[Jiggles]

I don't want to be messing with 20 year old electronics and rubbers

[dirty nasty]

Still going to be cheaper than rebuilding that engine. Besides, the FZR looks like it was kept up after. That's a big assumption right there that the electronics and rubber are going to be junk after 20 years. My last bike was 30 years old and the electronics and important rubber bits were all in great shape.

Anyways, it sounds like you've made up your mind. Man, I sure wish I had $750++++++(did I mention the costs are QUICKLY going to rise above that $750) I could piss away on a worthless project.

[blink]

Isn't it more than just a valve if its knocking, a whole rebuild?

[dirty nasty]

Shhhhhhh!!! I initially didn't want to see him piss away $750, but now I do!

Knocking noises? It's the engine gremlins letting you know it's in great shape! Keep nailing that throttle!

[Jono]

Terrible idea, but go for it! I would like to see you fail.

[Jiggles]

I can always just grab a new engine

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by dirty nasty

Still going to be cheaper than rebuilding that engine. Besides, the FZR looks like it was kept up after. That's a big assumption right there that the electronics and rubber are going to be junk after 20 years. My last bike was 30 years old and the electronics and important rubber bits were all in great shape.

Anyways, it sounds like you've made up your mind. Man, I sure wish I had $750++++++(did I mention the costs are QUICKLY going to rise above that $750) I could piss away on a worthless project.

Lol dude, I don't want those crappy track bikes. They both look like crap and I'd need all new plastics lights, etc.

[dirty nasty]

It'd still be a wiser way to spend the money. Let's see, blown up pile of crap, or a bike you can take to a race track that is all set up for it. HMMMMMMM????!

But, like I've said, you've clearly made up your mind as soon as you posted this thread and were just looking for the support of others. I really don't understand why people do this, but they do.

[Jiggles]

Dude, I'm not looking for a ****** track bike!

I posted this thread so that maybe some insightful people who know about engines can tell me whats up

[dirty nasty]

And I did. All you did was argue about why it's a good idea. I offered alternative solutions or ideas and you kept shooting them down. I offered through my personal experiences as to why buying a project like this is a bad idea. You came here to hear yourself talk, not hear what other's have to say. A simple "Okay, note taken" could have sufficed. Pull your head out of your ass kid.

I was using the track bike as an example of a better way to waste the money.

[Jiggles]

Uhm no, you came in to brag about your bike that you got for $500 then posted up some track bikes (not what I'm looking for) and then said there may be other engine problems (great what kind!?)

[dirty nasty]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Uhm no, you came in to brag about your bike that you got for $500 then posted up some track bikes (not what I'm looking for) and then said there may be other engine problems (great what kind!?)

It could be as far as bottom end. Do you really think that anyone can diagnose what could be multiple engine problems over a vague internet description? No. Anyone that tells you they can is full of it. You're not going to know the extent of the damage until it is your bike and you've torn into it. Even the people that looked at it haven't got a solid clue.

I've had projects like this before. You've also never touched an engine before. The odds are stacked highly against you. That $500 figure the seller claims, don't be surprised when it turns into $1000. After buying tools and literature and whatever else you manage to **** up along the way it will be a costly adventure. If you were to buy this bike it'd just be easier, cheaper and less headaches to swap in a whole new engine.

Here, apply this to your situation.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showpost.p...6&postcount=34

And pull your head out of your ass.

[Ausoi]

Well... I think it's a little high as well, I got my 2008 ninja 250, with just cosmetic damages for $1200

[rabies]

best thing is. if you can get your hands on something super super cheap. any motor with no value. to take it apart and fiddle with it. see how things work first hand.
see if you can fix the problem. bad piston rings, spun bearings, headgasket, cracked cycndler walls.. if you cant fix it. junk it in the bin, no loss other then gain of knowledge. what you need when you tear down a motor is confidence and knowledge.
without knowledge you will not tear it down or put it back together right.
without confidence you will tear it down and stop halfway and quit

[bfpower]

[dirty nasty]

Originally Posted by bfpower

Oh look, someone who thinks they're funny on the internet!

At least be an original instead of copy pasta'ing an old meme.

Or, you know, you could contribute something constructive to the discussion. Now that's a novel idea!

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by dirty nasty

It could be as far as bottom end. Do you really think that anyone can diagnose what could be multiple engine problems over a vague internet description? No. Anyone that tells you they can is full of it. You're not going to know the extent of the damage until it is your bike and you've torn into it. Even the people that looked at it haven't got a solid clue.

I've had projects like this before. You've also never touched an engine before. The odds are stacked highly against you. That $500 figure the seller claims, don't be surprised when it turns into $1000. After buying tools and literature and whatever else you manage to **** up along the way it will be a costly adventure.

Here, apply this to your situation.

http://forum.miata.net/vb/showpost.p...6&postcount=34

And pull your head out of your ass.

Part of the reason I want it is to learn about how to **** with an engine without worry of really messing it up. At $750 for the bike I could part it out and make money. There's also plenty of engines on ebay (though the $200 shipping kinda kills it) perhaps I could find one at a salvage yard? Idk how those work though

Anyway, my plan would be rip the bitch apart, report back here what I find and let some of the more mechanically inclined ninjetters tell me how to fix it or tell me if its too much trouble and just get a new engine.

[dirty nasty]

I think you can find an engine for a lot cheaper than $750. Even though you're getting a whole bike, what it sounds like to me is you want to learn engine work. It also sounds like your brother wants a rideable bike, not a project. I'd keep looking for a bike for your brother that's a rider.

As for the engine I'd try and find the rattiest one you can get your hands on for as cheap as possible. It will be expensive fixing it up with parts, but this is the better route IMO for the reasons of you never know how badly the damage is until it's apart. Might as well get one that got screwed up really good (assume everything like this is blown to hell in the worst way possible and you'll never be disappointed) and learn everything about repairing an engine. It'd suck if you could find an engine for cheaper or for free that has the same issues as this $750 one, but bought that bike instead.

[Jiggles]

Lol well I don't want to overwhelm myself. This bike as I understand at least runs, though poorly. What is the likelihood that an engine that is still running but has issues is too far gone to fix?

My brother wants to ride but he is not that enthusiastic about it right now since he has other stuff on his plate to deal with right now. The plan would be I buy the bike, fix it up, and then he buys it from me for what I've spent on it. I'm sure I can talk the dude down to $600 too.

What I like about this bike is that it looks like its in pretty good condition, it looks good. Pictures only tell so much though, I'd still need to go look at it if everything checks out and I can get it for $600, then man I feel like thats pretty good.

Thing is I've got no experience with engines, I've no clue what it could possibly cost to fix it. Could it be as simple as replacing a valve? Might it require a complete engine rebuild? If so what's a time/cost estimate on that?

[Mountain Dew]

I learned everything I know about engines from my bike. As a matter of fact, I have the head and jugs (and various other little bits) off and I'm ready to split the cases. Granted it's my main form of transportation and this little project is from mechanical failure due to the PO's neglect, but I'm still learning new stuff.

[Mountain Dew]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Lol well I don't want to overwhelm myself. This bike as I understand at least runs, though poorly. What is the likelihood that an engine that is still running but has issues is too far gone to fix?

My brother wants to ride but he is not that enthusiastic about it right now since he has other stuff on his plate to deal with right now. The plan would be I buy the bike, fix it up, and then he buys it from me for what I've spent on it. I'm sure I can talk the dude down to $600 too.

What I like about this bike is that it looks like its in pretty good condition, it looks good. Pictures only tell so much though, I'd still need to go look at it if everything checks out and I can get it for $600, then man I feel like thats pretty good.

Thing is I've got no experience with engines, I've no clue what it could possibly cost to fix it. Could it be as simple as replacing a valve? Might it require a complete engine rebuild? If so what's a time/cost estimate on that?

The cost will be whatever you spend on parts, obviously. If you're determined, you can have an engine disassembled in a day. Btw, if you need cylinders bored, that's expensive.

Also, I wouldn't spent more than $500 on a titled non-runner.

From the description the seller gave, it sounds like a stuck/bent valve (knocking and loss of power).

[Jono]

Originally Posted by Jiggles

Thing is I've got no experience with engines, I've no clue what it could possibly cost to fix it. Could it be as simple as replacing a valve? Might it require a complete engine rebuild? If so what's a time/cost estimate on that?

How can anyone on this forum know what is wrong with that bike??? We are going off of a CL ad. We have no idea what is wrong with this bike. Maybe he never did a valve adjustment and the valves are now burnt. But maybe it is something else. Maybe he never changed the oil and it got too low and ruined much more than the valves. It could be anything at this point. A shop just looked at it. They didn't open up the engine. They don't even know what it would cost to fix at this point. Maybe it needs a complete rebuild, maybe it's something else.

How long would it take you? I don't know. Nobody can answer that for you as they don't know how you work. But if I had to guess, It would take a long ass time for you and you would just give up.

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Mountain Dew

The cost will be whatever you spend on parts, obviously. If you're determined, you can have an engine disassembled in a day. Btw, if you need cylinders bored, that's expensive.

Also, I wouldn't spent more than $500 on a titled non-runner.

From the description the seller gave, it sounds like a stuck/bent valve (knocking and loss of power).

If you think it could be disassembled in a day then that means I can do it in 2 days Maybe 3

I'll shoot for $500 with him, think I'll go see it on monday

I sure hope its just a screwed up valve, would be epic wins for me

[Jiggles]

Originally Posted by Jono

How can anyone on this forum know what is wrong with that bike??? We are going off of a CL ad. We have no idea what is wrong with this bike. Maybe he never did a valve adjustment and the valves are now burnt. But maybe it is something else. Maybe he never changed the oil and it got too low and ruined much more than the valves. It could be anything at this point. A shop just looked at it. They didn't open up the engine. They don't even know what it would cost to fix at this point. Maybe it needs a complete rebuild, maybe it's something else.

How long would it take you? I don't know. Nobody can answer that for you as they don't know how you work. But if I had to guess, It would take a long ass time for you and you would just give up.

Dude, you are so helpful thanks for the input