A DIFFERENT tracker 🙄

[Moto63]

Is that engine even rebuildable?

Well… ultimately Martin. Everything is rebuildable, all comes down to how deep one’s pockets are really.
Many thanks for both the links you posted. The little cafe racer and the leccy Start engine. I have looked at both previously. The cafe racer I dismissed as I don’t need a complete bike. The engine I dismissed as I figured. That’s another £500 and, again ultimately I don’t know what I’m buying, condition wise. So I’d rather spend that £500 on sorting out the one I’ve already got. I know £500 won’t get the engine completely sorted but will hopefully go a fair way to seeing it running again. I fully intend to keep the “different tracker” once it’s finished, so I want the engine to be of a decent standard, certainly internally.
Thanks again for taking the time to find/post the links up.
I just see the knackered engine as a slight set back.
Onward and upward
Cheers, Michael

[xbally]

Good luck with the project Michael. When I first got into RS250s around the turn of this century bikes and parts were dirt cheap. How things have changed. I got 2 massive lots of spares including engines for very little money. If only prices had remained at a reasonable level.

[Moto63]

Yes. Martin …. Sadly nothing is cheap anymore. 😔
Like you though, I’m thoroughly enjoying riding the RS I bought off Kevin. Lovely, light and nimble. Certainly takes me back to 1981 when I bought one new HVH 212W A red one. Riding it has also made me realise that I made the right decision in selling the grom to buy it. I can definitely see why you’re hanging on to yours.
I’m confident that once I’ve actually built the “different tracker” it’ll be a cracking little bike, properly sorted, definitely a keeper.👍
Cheers, Michael

[themoudie]

Images of the cylinder head from the eBay engine.

That's the weird thing, the cylinder liner, valves, cam all appear to be in "reasonable" condition. Given the actual engine must be at least 40yrs old.
The first thing I thought when I first clocked eyes on it, was oil starvation, but then on closer inspection of everything else, it almost doesn't tally up. 🤷
Then reading the bit from the bloke on farcebook who says he did the same thing to his going from London to Manchester. Maybe it was simply oil starvation. Guess we'll never truly know. Unfortunately it will just take longer and clearly cost me more money to sort.
I had always intended to strip it, to refresh it generally.
Just got to be a case of onwards and upwards. It was always risky buying it blind, but in fairness to the breaker I bought from. He did clearly state that he knew nothing about the history of the engine as he'd bought it as part of a "job lot" from another breaker who was going in to bankruptcy.

I suspect that a weak mixture, poor oil supply/quality/lack of changing and full throttle caused the granulation of the piston and when finally it was starting to break apart it chapped the valves, but by this time it was so metalurgically compromised the resistance to the steel valves was like putty!

I just wonder how much granular aluminium you will find in the sump and maybe smeared on other working and bearing surfaces?

All the best with it.

Uploaded by Bill

[xbally]

Rather you than me Michael. But it's a great project to post up on here (with Bill's help).
I'm no expert on engines by any means but good luck to you.
From my very limited understanding the oil pump will need serious examination too I'd imagine.
I recall Bob Berry's problems with his CBX1000 IIRC in Classic Motorcycle Mechanics , circa the 90's when some blast material got inside and ruined his newly rebuilt engine which again IIRC was being carried out  by one of the well known specialists at that time.
I like your philosophical approach!

[iansoady]

I think I'd be looking at that complete bike assuming you could hear the engine running*. You could probably flog off the rest of it. As has been said, further horrors are likely to emerge with this one.

Re bead blasting: a long time ago I had a Triumph Stag which was a lovely car. It was let down by the state of the cam covers so I whipped them off and put them in to be bead blasted and powder coated. They did look lovely. A few days later the oil pressure gauge was dancing up and down. What I hadn't realised twas that under one of the covers was some steel mesh to act as a sort of breather filter. This had captured the beads which then found their way all over the engine. There were deep grooves in the oil pump and the engine was effectively a write off.

*Oh, just seen it's been sold for £650. There's another for £800 or offers: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/306352937578

[Moto63]

I intend to send as many different photos over to the bloke who I hope will be rebuilding the engine. If he advises me against it then I go to plan B.
Not quite sure what that is yet but I’m sure I can come up with one 😁😉
In the meantime I should be getting the wheels and frame back from the soda blasters in a few days time. That’ll give me something else to focus on. I’ve got to firm a completely new subframe as the original had been cut off. Should keep me out of mischief for a few days.
Ps… I am (if I continue with this engine 🙄) getting the casings, barrel etc vapour blasted Ian. Which obviously only uses water and not any form of medium.
I’ll post up what the “expert” says once he’s had a look at some photos and got back to me 😁🤞
Cheers, Michael

[themoudie]

Aye Michael, it has been suggested that the head gasket let go, you can see that there is a darkened area to the left of the two valves that are salmon tan in colour. This could be the cause of the weak mixture, high temperatures, etc., leading to the granulation of the piston and its failure. Maybe worth checking those mating surfaces for truth etc?

Best, Bill

[Moto63]

Having given the grenaded engine a lot of thought and having spoken to the Dave from D&M engineering about it. I’ve decided that I’m “in for a penny, so I’m in for a pound” (probably quite a few in this case🙄)
If I don’t spend the money to get it repaired, who will. Probably no one. So it’ll probably end up scrapped. Yet other R/S engine that ends up going to that Honda scrap yard in the sky.
Plus, no matter I buy, I don’t ultimately know what I’m buying. Even if it’s a runner, the one I’ve bought off Kevin might go pop for all know.
So, I’m going to continue to strip it and get it all over to D&M engineering and let them work their mechanical magic on it 🤞
I’m going to see myself as the custodian of the little RS engine 👍
Cheers, Michael

[kevberlin]

There’s logic in that approach Michael. Once sorted, it stays sorted in your hands. Also, you’re preserving another r/s.
Kev

[Moto63]

There’s logic in that approach Michael. Once sorted, it stays sorted in your hands. Also, you’re preserving another r/s.
Kev

Thanks for the encouragement Kevin. I kind of feel I need a bit of it at the moment 😁
On the upside, I collected the frame, wheels and assorted brackets from the soda blaster today. So I can now set to and get the subframe made up and welded in place. Oh, that’s once I’ve actually finished stripping the engine down 😏
The list just seems to be growing, day by day. I think this “quick” project will turn into yet another labour of love. HOWEVER, I am determined to get it, at least looking half finished ready for the Stafford show in October 🤞
Cheers, Michael

[Ian]

HOWEVER, I am determined to get it, at least looking half finished ready for the Stafford show in October 🤞
Cheers, Michael

😂🚨😂

[Moto63]

Oh you may mock. You can buy your own jelly babies this year 🤣🤣