So it took about 2 hours to get the engine back in my bike last night. What it finally took was me acting as an engine crane and two buddies moving the frame around the engine and seating it in with the persuasion of a sledge hammer and a pry-bar. Dinged up the new paint on the frame pretty well, but I think a magic marker will fix most of it.

Anyone else have to deal with this frustration? 

Motor is easier to get in if you take the left side cover off.  Isn't that in the FAQ somewhere?

Yeah, my landlord came out (also a rider)  with that tip just after we had seated the motor into the frame  better late than never?

I don't know what I do thats right, but my engines slide right in.  No removing the cover or nothing.

Lemme find the link.....

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=24409.msg367631#msg367631

this link doesn't show how I did it, but it jumps starts my memory.........

~~It was a cold August evening, I was 15, she was 47. Her dentures were moist and clattered as her body fought the cold.
My thoughts drifted to the benefits of removable teeth in woman. Her cold hands gently slid under my shorts carressing my .....er....sorry.
Wrong memory.

Anyway, I used the skateboard to move the motor around. I used the 2 ton jack to lift the engine until the top rear engine mount lines up then the motor just rotates right up into place.

NO BS.   I swear it just slid right in.  The first time I installed a GS engine, I had to remove the generator cover also.  And I scratched my frame up.  I think what I did wrong was I was trying t line up the front mounts first or all mounts at the same time.

On my 92, I did it the hard way...raising the motor into the frame. I normally pull the forks and lower the frame over the motor. Easier to deal with a 35 pound frame instead of wrestling with a 140 motor.

What ... no one has an old mattress ...
I have actually seen it done 2-3 ways ...
Getting it out - A very fat mattress or a mattress and box spring when shoved under the bike will cradle the motor well enough that the bolts will be pushed upward when you push down on the frame ... so you loosen the bolts and take them out and take out the subframe. Then lift the frame out of there. Presumable a little to the back and left and out. You can roll the bike back a bit and drag the mattress out with the motor on it. takes 2 people. Reverse for in.
Second method, bike layed on mattress on its left side with all bolts removed and reversed without nuts. Then unbolt and remove the sub frame and remove the bolts. Motor falls out literally. Of course reverse for in.
Third is on its right side, but you loosen everything before hand and remove the nuts from the motor bolts. You put it on the mattress on its right and reach under and unbolt the subframe, remove the motor bolts and remove sub frame. That should get it out with minimal wiggling.
I have seen #3, I am hoping to try #1 soon.
Cool.
Srinath.

Who has room to keep an old mattress? 

Definately not you. 

I rebuilt a 79 HD, easy to lay the pig motor on its side, and slide the frame over it.   Bolt the motor in, stand the frame up.
Hope I never have to do such a chore with any bike again!!!!

"I will change the oil more often than necessary
I will change the oil more often than ......."
Etc

Yea, I did it the same as 3imo with a car jack and a 2x4.  It was a real Buddha Loves You; even with my wife's help it was easily the hardest part of the rebuild.

check this out.

I just about have the Problem Solved.Install a Smaller Higher HP Motor.

 
I installed the engine in my 89 by myself.....nobody would answer the phone when I need help
took about 4-5 min to get it in and bolts slid in.....
and the 89 is a smaller hole to fit it into

I did the mattress method for the first time. It was easy, took ~10 mins with a helper.
This is what I learnt. Do it in the center of the mattress not one edge. The routine is like this.
I used the reversal bolts method. So remove 2 of the 4 bolts and swap the other 2 for direction dont put any of the nuts on, and get the chain out. My Original endless chain was a pain ... but it should've been taken out anyway.
Then run the bike into the middle of the mattress and pit it on its left side.
Remove the motor bolts and the sub frame section.
Then slide the bike back while holding the motor in place - easier with your foot as helper moved the bike back by pulling the back wheel. Then motor will flop to the front all by itself ... you just flop it on its right as its dropping forward and slide it off. Installation, reverse of this. I should take pics on re install, My removal didn't quite go like this. I put it on the edge and the motor will ahve fallen on the ground if it flopped right. The motor has to be put in the center of the mattress really.
Also its easier if all the covers are on including the sproket cover. It will slide without catching the mattress.
Cool.
Srinath.

I guess stuff like this is just easy for me because if I have to pull a motor I strip the whole bike down so I can address paint and damage to the frame...paint chips lead to peeled paint and peeled paint leads to rust etc.  I usually have the frame dipped and stripped and repaint it.  Anyway...pulling the motor is always easy...just unbolt everything and lay the bike over.  Just falls out.  To put back together I have the motor on the lift and just slide the frame around it...as said there is no point wrestling with a 140lb motor when you only have to molest a 30lb frame.

...I would like to point out that the above statement is extremely true when it comes to goldwings...1976 GL1000 motor, the lightest goldwing motor ever produced, scales in at a dainty 284lbs.