Engine Refresh, plus some minor work maybe - thoughts? - Speedzilla Motorcycle Message Forums
Speedzilla Motorcycle Message Forums  

Go Back   Speedzilla Motorcycle Message Forums > Honda Sport Twins > RC51 General Discussion

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 11-02-2009, 05:26 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: MD
Posts: 135
Default Engine Refresh, plus some minor work maybe - thoughts?

Only have like 12-13k on the motor but it's been run real hard with a lot of it being track miles. I wadded it up in August and am thinking of having someone strip it apart this winter to refresh it and maybe do some minor work on it. Motor still was running well but seems to have some carbon buildup. I want to get a tune on it too. So, worth it or wasting my time? Any recommendations in the Baltimore, DC area too? I've been going to MRP motorsports for suspension but not sure how good they are with motors.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 11-02-2009, 06:14 AM
DesperateSP2's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: The Alps... the original ones!
Posts: 1,805
Default

Before stripping the engine down I suggest you run at least a compression test and have the bike dyno'd "as is". If figures aren't too far off a new bike I wouldn't touch the engine for the time being. If work needs to be done the dyno figures will serve as a starting point. If the bike uses a lot of oil a leakdown test is also adivsed.
If you want to get it tuned that is another matter completely...
Reply With Quote
  #3 (permalink)  
Old 11-02-2009, 06:35 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: MD
Posts: 135
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DesperateSP2 View Post
Before stripping the engine down I suggest you run at least a compression test and have the bike dyno'd "as is". If figures aren't too far off a new bike I wouldn't touch the engine for the time being. If work needs to be done the dyno figures will serve as a starting point. If the bike uses a lot of oil a leakdown test is also adivsed.
If you want to get it tuned that is another matter completely...
Well I need to get a tune on it regardless. Was just thinking of using the opportunity with it all stripped down to refresh it maybe and maybe do some minor engine work to make up for my lack of riding ability. heh. I can do a compression test though. Doubt it's down any. In order to dyno now though I'll have to get it back together. I may ask the Kenny at MRP for his thoughts.
Reply With Quote
  #4 (permalink)  
Old 11-02-2009, 09:19 AM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Posts: 941
Default

i'd tear it down, replace all the wear items, get some JE pistons and a port job... other than that leave it alone. the port job and turnone airbox i'd say gave me absolute killer midrange
__________________
03 RC51 - 135whp via lots of stickers and a few parts. tuned by hord
Reply With Quote
  #5 (permalink)  
Old 11-03-2009, 05:16 AM
Heist's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 1,133
Send a message via AIM to Heist
Default

RNR Cycles in Sterling can get the job done.

Forgive the crudeness of the sight, but these guys don't sell bikes.
All they do is race prep and performance.

Rick is good people too. And they definitely need the business.
RnR Cycles Sterling, VA 703-433-9195 Sterling, VA (703) 433-9195

(Oh and the Ferrari dealer is only about 5 minutes away, so you can go drool and walk around with mouth agape while they do the tear down.)
Reply With Quote
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 11-03-2009, 12:48 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Indy
Posts: 2,074
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by DesperateSP2 View Post
Before stripping the engine down I suggest you run at least a compression test and have the bike dyno'd "as is". If figures aren't too far off a new bike I wouldn't touch the engine for the time being. If work needs to be done the dyno figures will serve as a starting point. If the bike uses a lot of oil a leakdown test is also adivsed.
If you want to get it tuned that is another matter completely...
+1....12k miles isn't a lot, and I'll bet the motor still has plenty of life left in it. Put it back together and spend that money on track time and rubber.
Reply With Quote
  #7 (permalink)  
Old 11-03-2009, 12:52 PM
nomo's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,607
Default

At 13K miles the motor is just getting broken in , track used or not . That mill was built to last . I bet it will dyno just fine . Mods as a luxury (vs. a necessity) is always fun though .
Reply With Quote
  #8 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2009, 07:40 AM
Heist's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Washington, D.C.
Posts: 1,133
Send a message via AIM to Heist
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by nomo View Post
At 13K miles the motor is just getting broken in , track used or not . That mill was built to last . I bet it will dyno just fine . Mods as a luxury (vs. a necessity) is always fun though .
I can co-sign on the durability of the RC engine.

CEHoward, before he wadded his RC up at Summit and went over to Zuki, had over 62,000 miles on his SP2.

I don't think the engine was EVER touched or rebuilt inside outside of the standard valve adjustments.

Outside of that, everything else was original and good to go.
Reply With Quote
  #9 (permalink)  
Old 11-04-2009, 01:18 PM
nomo's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Posts: 2,607
Default

^ The RC won Suzuka and LeMans for a reason . No one thought a V-Twin ss could be durable enough for such a long torture test , but 'piggy' was .
Reply With Quote
  #10 (permalink)  
Old 11-05-2009, 01:55 AM
eppy01f4i's Avatar
Tough Crowd Racing #162
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Maryland
Posts: 3,005
Send a message via AIM to eppy01f4i Send a message via Yahoo to eppy01f4i
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Heist View Post
I can co-sign on the durability of the RC engine.

CEHoward, before he wadded his RC up at Summit and went over to Zuki, had over 62,000 miles on his SP2.

I don't think the engine was EVER touched or rebuilt inside outside of the standard valve adjustments.

Outside of that, everything else was original and good to go.
This is true Coleman had over 30,000 before he had the valves done and that was the only thing that was ever done.

Your wasting your money, no reason to tear that motor down at the track day level ..... hell even at the starting AM level. You could work the hell out of that thing and your still going to get spanked by every 1098 on the track.

Unless you think the motor is hurt just ride it the damn thing.

FYI: My 750 has over 15,000 HARD track/race miles since it was converted at around 2000. I'm not going to replace it till she has issues, was still pulling 06/07's in the last Summit race!
__________________
Mark~
Tough Crowd Racing
Reply With Quote
  #11 (permalink)  
Old 11-05-2009, 12:49 PM
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2009
Posts: 46
Default

I agree; if you have kept up on oil changes and your bike has not had any real bad cases that it over heated to the point of boil over i would not tear it down.

Maybe inspect the valves and clutch and general maint items but i seen no need for going deep at that many miles.

Granted all bikes are different; but i dyno tuned a 2002 GSXR750 with about 1500 miles after i bought it new. Several years later i had an opportunity to put it on the same dyno with over 38k on it...came within .5 of a hp....and who knows that could have been the temp or tire. I did trackdays and drag racing along with stunting type crap with the bike.
Reply With Quote
  #12 (permalink)  
Old 11-05-2009, 03:01 PM
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: MD
Posts: 135
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by eppy01f4i View Post
This is true Coleman had over 30,000 before he had the valves done and that was the only thing that was ever done.

Your wasting your money, no reason to tear that motor down at the track day level ..... hell even at the starting AM level. You could work the hell out of that thing and your still going to get spanked by every 1098 on the track.

Unless you think the motor is hurt just ride it the damn thing.

FYI: My 750 has over 15,000 HARD track/race miles since it was converted at around 2000. I'm not going to replace it till she has issues, was still pulling 06/07's in the last Summit race!

Eh, guess I'll wait. It was still running hard at Lightning before I smashed it up real good. Biggest thing is it saves money for me to buy a 600 or 750. Gotta start searching. I do still need to buy replacement rearsets (have woodcrafts but can't run gp shift right now) and a couple other odds and ends for it to get it running again.
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On



All times are GMT. The time now is 03:44 PM.



Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2012, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
© 2011, Speedzilla.com, Inc

Search Engine Friendly URLs by vBSEO 3.3.2