For those that haven't heard, the Turbo CBR nuked a cylinder at Thunderhill during the first session. Figured I can document the rebuild attempt here. Warning, budget fixes ahead, you've been warned :P
The carnage
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Gutted
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The broken heart
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The culprit
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Exploded engine
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The Damage
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Jeez you didn't waste any time.
The pressures punched a hole through the piston top? Those are some tough connecting rods for sure!
If it's just a budget build. Can you just hone the cylinder or has it scored it to bad?
I guess my first post didnt stick for some reason...
Quote from: GreenMachine on April 22, 2014, 11:19:34 PM
The pressures punched a hole through the piston top? Those are some tough connecting rods for sure!
Wasnt just pressure, definitely melted some. I think I might've been going lean off throttle and it burned the cylinder up
Quote from: 288cbr on April 23, 2014, 05:10:34 PM
If it's just a budget build. Can you just hone the cylinder or has it scored it to bad?
Thats the hope. Coworker has my cylinders and is going to try to hone, he seems to think it's possible. If it works I'm going to get a fresh set of pistons and rings and a thicker head gasket. If honing doesnt work i dunno what I'm going to do :\
Cost benefit: can you still find a used motor? Might be a lot cheaper. It won't matter what you do, if you still try to make that engine produce twice what it was designed for. I'd be thinking of reducing maximum boost to keep power increases in the modest double digits. You know, like in the 30 range, rather than the 100+ range.
Cylinders honed nicely but the score is too deep for my liking. I can just barely feel it, but that means it's not going to hold the 150+ psi even NA combustion asks of it.
Nikasil is not a cost effective option for me at $400 for the cylinders AND shipping (no one near does it, I spent all afternoon calling). Nikasil + Pistons and gaskets quickly adds up to $1000+
Used engines are typically ~$1000, that'll give me younger fresher everything (particularly the transmission) so that's looking like the option. Get a used engine, replace the head gasket with something thicker and shove it in.
GM- the lower boost I run (6psi) isn't terrible. I'm at about 150% power with that boost (at this altitude), surely within typical margins of engine designs. The engine didn't fail because of power, it failed because of poor (fuel) setup on my part. The boost DEFINITELY reduces engine life as you suggest, but not quite down to 500 mi between rebuilds that I got haha. Trying to rearrange my budget to accommodate an engine...if you know anyone that needs cbr 900 engine PARTS tell em I'm partin this turd out :P. Will update when there's something new :)
oUCH..
This hurts. My favorite ride was a CBR 900 RR.
Can you sleeve it? I have not approached sleeving in a few years but back in the day it was a good option, due to the ability to overbore a sleeve.
Second option.. just am e-bay set of jugs or cylinder block. (if you are from California I am sure there is a fancy name) we call em' "jugs".
I will contact some people who used to race these. (900, 929,954) but the trouble with Nikasil, is they are probably all smoked.
No clue where I'd buy sleeves.
Havent seen any good case sets, cylinders look just as bad as mine. Engine is the way to go (unless you happen to find someone selling good condition case halves). If you know someone selling an appropriate vintage engine I'd be interested :). Otherwise I'll be off to Sac town to raid a pick n pull within the next few weeks. Gotta finish buying a house before blowing moar money I don't have
Soon my precious...soon...but we do it MY way
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What year motors or parts are you looking for, in case we run across something?
BTW, OEM Motorsports parts house (eBay seller) is/was about 1 mile from you. I got some parts from them. They might have a line on getting stuff for you AND they're willing to negotiate. ;D
That's if they're still in business. A portion of their site is offline:
2012 OEM Motorsports - Phone: (775) 303-5750 - 5301 Lonley LN #H124 Reno, NV 89511
I called them when I first started searching, they were a no go.
It's all new parts from here, head gasket, spark plugs, and header gasket
Update: F*CK A DUCK
Engine I bought is no good. Turned new oil into chocolate milk within 10 miles. Cylinders 1 and 2 show damage. Gonna be talking to the salvage yard Monday
Sounds like there was still some residue water inside the new motor.
I've heard that with the engine up to temperature, with synthetics the water will evaporate and the oil will return to normal.
You work fast.
Update after much silence. Finally returned the motor to Rancho Motorcycle Dismantling after they had about a month of searching. Taking their time with returning my money but I trust em, I've worked with em before and they're a good bunch.
Simultaneously, I've bought another engine of the same vintage as the last (893 instead of 919) and am looking forward to testing that one with success. This one actually has good pressures (180 across the board) so I'm hopeful that it's indicative of good cylinder/general health. Probably arrive mid-late next week and I'll have it crammed in by that weekend!
What did the 919 have for PSI?
My old one? No clue. Probably all good except for the bad cylinder. If you mean the previous one I bought i think the guy said 160; "within spec". Technically right, manual says 170 but there's no way they got that measurement with the cylinders in the condition they were in. New engine claims 180. I can believe +/- 10 psi in gauge readings so I think it's safe to say it's around spec. Again I have to assume that they actually measured and are being honest :\. They'll pay shipping in the event of bull shit so I figured minimum risk...at this rate I'm not gonna get to ride this season though :'(
Well have you gotten the new heart yet?
Likely thursday. Gonna be running no turbo til Brian can gets me some forged pistons
The good news. It's here!!!
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The bad news. For one reason or another JE pistons needs a LOT of measurements from my engine as well as a sample piston. So instead of riding NA while waiting for pistons I won't be riding at all :(. So now I must sit on my thumbs for another 4-6 weeks whilst the excellent team at SPL disassembles and measures my "new" engine and gets me a set of sexy pistons fit for turbo duty. Can I ride someones bike? I miss riding :-[
Why don't you just install the motor as-is, then make the turbo a winter project? 8)
Quote from: GreenMachine on June 13, 2014, 08:25:30 AM
Why don't you just install the motor as-is, then make the turbo a winter project? 8)
That's what it's going to be. For once I'm gonna have it done right, but that unfortunately costs WAY more than doing it myself. So I'll be scrounging for quarters up til and through winter to have SPL build the engine for me.
In the mean while, I've got the engine back in...but there's of course a problem...
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Don't ask how it got there, but I need help getting it back up! hahaha :fail :crackup
Just ask.
I can help you Sunday.
With your engine, that is.
Anot :redbike2 :redbike2her update:
It runs! My battery is shot though, wont hold a charge. Get my rear tire tomorrow, hopefully grab a fresh battery, then final assembly and lock down of various bits Ieft loose for testing. Im gone for the next two weekends for a friends bachelor party and wedding but I should be back in the ranks soon! :)
Alright! :crazy :2cool
Might be the stator, in case the new battery discharges quickly too.
The battery dies when the bike is off. The stator/rectifier is enough to keep it running but all I have to do is walk away for a few minutes and I'll need a jump to start. Annoying but not a huge deal
Just push start, lol
Today, i rode my bike for the first time in about 2 months. Didnt leave a 1 mi radius of the house just in case but so far so good! Gotta find my old pipe hanger so i can put my can back on. That straight pipe is loud as balls and I think is causing a flat spot in my power band.
Tighten a few things down and Ill be back on the road for real! Now if I can just get a free moment to ride...
I always worried too after putting a bike back together. Give it a thorough check on the bolts and if it's not stalling on you from the electrical issue, venture out a little further.
That's great news RR, but you missed the Fecta ride. :P
Epic thread revive.
Sent the CBR900 into SPL on Friday. Will it get a full rebuild for turbo use? Will the engine just be freshened up? Will it be chucked into a scrap bin where it belongs? Will update when I hear whats going on with it.
More than anything, it needs a transmission that works.
PRAYING he can use my old transmission (which was fine) but not 100% sure they have interchangeable parts. Really if the transmission isnt horrid (or can be swapped) and the cylinder head/bores are ok, I SHOULD be able to afford the pistons to go turbo. If the cylinders need re-plating I may be in trouble. Probably a month out from knowing anything. The wait is killing me!
:ohno
Last update here until I'm actually running again. Brian didnt have time to get me going in a reasonable amount of time so I took her back to do the work myself. Check out my little FB page facebook.com/rocketpaceracing for progress if you have any interest. Step one, Nikasil because my new-used engine has super shitty cylinders. Ironically I'm going back to my 919 engine and using the 893 as a donor motor.
Learned something new from your post. Didn't know what that was, but YT had a video about it.
It's great to see you're still working on it. Congrats on your 2nd place in the streetcross action too.