Engine is blown, should I replace it?

[GSProdigy]

So I went for a period of six months where my bike was in storage. The first thing I did to her when she saw daylight was change her oil and filter. My bike only has a total of 14XXX miles so she is still young and shouldn't have issues. I have always made sure to change the oil every 2.5k to 3k miles. She started up on the first try and seemed to be happy and healthy.

I began to approach 1500 to 2000 miles, since starting her up again, when she began to make a bad knocking sound and loose RPMs fast. I pulled over right away to discover I had about 1.5 quarts of oil left. I always do the standard checks for my bikes maintenance and there has never, ever, been a puddle of oil anywhere.Where did the oil go? I am new to bikes and my only assumption was is got burned up with the Florida heat and my aggressive riding habits.

My mechanic said the bike was almost not worth the trouble to replace/rebuild the engine. I beg to differ if I can find an engine for a reasonable price. Maybe $300 to $400 dollars if I am lucky?

My next concern was whether I could do the installation by myself. I have done a lot of car work such as brakes, intake manifolds, wiring harnesses, suspension, exhaust, and carburetors. I am fearful however of the inner workings of transmissions and cylinder heads.

I have a really large selection of tools. Are there any special tools I would need? Aside from a motor lift or group of friends?

Any replacement parts I should take into account the cost? Aside from new engine mount hardware, oil filter, and oil?

Timeframe of the project? Weekend warrior?


If anyone has an engine in Central Florida, let me know!!!

Thanks,
GSProdigy

[Big Rich]

Assuming the motor going in is in top shape, nothing else should really need replaced. New oil and filter, maybe check the valves, but other than that I think it's a straight bolt in. Well, except maybe any kind of oil cooler / digital tach changes.

And swapping motors is possible within less than a day. Especially with any mechanical experience.  Good luck man!

[adidasguy]

There's one on ebay right now in Las Vegas. (See ebay thread in the for-sale section)
There are some good bike breakers in your area. I bought the frame for Phenix from Florida.

I had never changed an engine until Junior's died and I also needed to remove the engine from a donor bike to Phenix. i was scared at first.

With a little ingenuity, my hydraulic lift and careful studying of the situation..... I found a motor can be removed by one person in 10 minutes. It can be put back in another 10 minutes. That's the actual unbolting, removal and bolting back in.

Allow about 40 minutes (minimum) to carefully remove the carbs and wires. Photograph things in detail as you remove. Then allow an hour or so to connect everything back up. Take more time to test everything.

It was much easier than I was let to believe.

The trick was to raise and lower the motor an inch or so as you turn it to clear the frame. It came out back end first. Turned it to get the back out. Then the last step was lower it so the top end cleared the frame.

Kind of like this. This is one photo from the installing of the motor in Phenix. As you can see - it was possible all by myself even with the oil cooler still on the engine. Engine went in top first. Then was raised, turned to clear the engine mounts. Then lowered the inch to line up and the bolts went in. (Remember the spacers when you put it in!) Removal was the reverse. Up, turn, down, out.