That sucks. I hope you get into a new place quickly. I hate having to move builds - I always end up losing stuff.

 

Thanks Conrice,


We are still weighing our options but are also looking for a new home and to maybe rent out our current home and not sell. We are also getting in touch with our neighbors and community to try and see if we can't stop this from happening.


But on some good news, I did make some headway today with cleaning up a lot of parts. I cleaned all of the engine accessories (hoses, clamps, water pump, thermostat housing, etc.) and got the starter cleaned up also. I now can start the process of cleaning all of the bolts I plan to reuse and then polish them up a little. I am going to try and get the engine done within the next couple months, but that is probably all I will be able to do.

 

Just a few things, I got most of my parts cleaned that I will be reusing. Now I just need to finish refurbishing them by either polishing them or painting them. I will be keeping my wheels for the time being. I will be stripping and polishing the lips and having the center Pc'd gloss black. I can't do everything that I wanted but I should be able to at least get the bike running and ride able again.


I believe I have all of the parts I need from Honda on my to buy list. I will be sending the head out for cleaning and reassembly next week. The block and pistons will be sent off by the end of January and should be gone for two weeks. While those are gone all of the OEM Honda parts that I need will be ordered and the pars that need Pc'd will be sent off. The goal is to be running and ride able before April 1st.

 

Sah-weet. You'll get it done

 

Project should be picking up in the next few weeks. The head has been cleaned and re-assembled. No port work, just a thorough cleaning of the head and polished the valves and reassembled with stock components. The top case is ready to go off to U.S. Chrome for the work that needs to be done. That should take 2 weeks and by the time that is back all of my OEM Honda parts including all of my engine components will be here for reassembly. I still don't know when the bike will be done. I have a lot to do and a lot to buy. I have the time but money may be an issue. That may change soon so we shall see what happens. Even with the engine rebuilt and ready to go I still have PC'ing, brakes, and a lot of other misc. stuff to do and buy so the bike will be road ready.

 

Quick question, how stupid would it be to just put the engine back together with the scoring on the cylinders? The reason I ask is because I need to stay under 2G and with the engine rebuild I am at 3G+. I will be able to do my entire list except for the rebuild and new fairings (which would require the tank, under tray, and seat cowl to be repainted) and would cost me another 1G. I have yet to split the cases on the engine so I would only need a few gaskets and bolts.

The PO said that it had a slight tick while idling and it went away with throttle. I have heard this on almost every 954 I have seen or heard. On the scoring side I can barely catch a nail in a few areas and it is not the worst I have seen from these engines. I will probably not be putting more than 1-2k miles on the bike over the summer before I can rebuild the engine next winter. I really only ride to work and back and then a few hours here and there on some weekends. Plus knowing that the engine needs rebuilt I will baby her as much as possible.

 

If you haven't split the case yet, then it's probably okay, so long as you covered it up to keep debris out.

Can you snap a pic of one of the cylinders with the piston all the way down?

Did the PO seem like a mechanic? "Ticks" could mean anything from a CCT to a rod knock or a messed up transmission. (for example, I bought a 954 where the guy said it had an engine tick and the transmission had disintegrated or a 954 engine I bought where the guy said it had a valve tick and it was piston slap - I was able to stick a .012 feeler gauge between the entire piston and cylinder wall) It just depends.

If you haven't split 'er up yet, I think you're probably okay though. How many miles were on it beforehand again? And when you bought it, you were putting the head on it right? Or did you take it off looking for the spark issue? I can't remember exactly. Either way, if the bottom end has stayed together, and there wasn't a problem - you should be fine.

 

To be honest I do not know what the mileage is on the engine. The cluster says 10,103 miles and the title says 10,103 miles but after talking to Honda I found out the engine is not the engine that went with the bike. The PO was not a mechanic but he had it checked out by the local Honda dealer and they said they believe it is from the scoring. The head was already off from the Honda mechanic taking it off. The PO never put it back on after the dealer took it off.


I will be getting a manual CCT so there should be no issues there. The engine turns over really good and I do not think their is anything wrong with the trans. I will get a pic up soon if I can get a good one for ya.


Is there anything good you can run through the engine to help with the scoring like the engine restore stuff.

 

Not really. That stuff is good for when you need to clean the inside of an engine, but it's not as if it actually restores the cylinder walls or anything.

Take a picture of the cylinders - I've seen more than a few of these motors and every single one of them (piston slap or not) has had lots of scoring.

 

Whelp that's it, the build has been shut down completely for now. I just don't have the funds to build the bike right now the way I want it built and I don't want to settle for a half assed bike. I need too many OEM Honda parts that were missing from the bike when I purchased it or need to be replaced. I also need to rebuild the forks, upgrade the brakes, and PC a lot of parts. Unless I get my new much more paying position at work I applied for and am qualified for I may end up piecing out the bike.