Z1OwnersClub GB

I will be fitting the engine into the frame this week, what do people recommend. Is it easier to fit just the bottom end, then fit the rest once it is in the frame or is it better to fit the whole lump in a oner. I am concerned about the weight of the full engine as it was struggle just shifting it around let alone trying to fit it into a frame.Is there good access if I fit as a short engine to set up the valve clearances etc.
Cheers Rob

Rebuild your engine fully except the cams / cam cover etc.
Engine is then easy fit into frame before final camshaft fit
John

From recent experience i have found it easier to get a full engine in than a short engine out!!!!
Short engine seems like a bar of soap in the bath but the full engine seems to have more stability or more places to get a hand on...somehow.

Cut yourself a piece of 1 inch ply that fits between the two lower frame rails and about eighteen inches long. Place it between the rails and preferably on a trolley jack set to be at a height to be fractionally above the level of the rails. Put the engine on a stage of blocks with another piece of ply on top set again to be slightly higher than the frame rails.
Both these jobs including placing the engine on the stage can be done with little fuss and four handed if possible two handed if you have to.
Simply slide the engine over with no lifting involved.
I would be comfortable to do it this way on my own, in fact with the exception of Fatty Z1R barking orders all the while, i was on my own!
Lower the trolley jack until bolts fit.
All this assumes you cant lay the frame on top of the engine on the floor!!


Hope this makes sense.

AL

Rob, you don't say how much your frame is built up. If it's still the frame on it's own then the easiest way by far is to lay the engine on it's side & lower the frame around the engine, bolt it together then roll the whole lot back upright....... easy!

Thats exactly how i done mine GB its so easy after years of lifting half built and fully built motors back in saw this in a posting before and tried it its so easy.

I fitted my z1a engine into my frame last year . i got 2 mates to help. i covered the frame rails with that spongy pipe lagging stuff (forget what its called), the stuff thats round with a hole throught it and a split along the side. I bought it from b & q i think. Take the camcover off. i stood on the left side off frame. 2 mates at other, one held the kickstart lever, the other one had a piece off 2 x 1 inch timber about 3 ft long. Put this under the exhaust studs and then simply lift it in, one mate on one end and me on the other, It took about 30 secs to put it in, could'nt belive how easy it was and never scratched anything. Iv'e put a few off these in and this was the easyest yet. though like BEAR says its better to put the frame over the engine if possible.

I've just put my engine back in on my own, had it on a stand alongside the frame then left hand over the top of frame picked it up, put it in, and with the use of my right knee supported the right side to free up a hand so I could push a couple of bolts in job done and not a scratch on it. If you think that's a little hard my advice is get down the gym for a few weeks and then try it.

Def frame over engine method is the best. If you can leave the cam cover, exhaust studs and oil filter bolt/cover off its easiest, not absolutely necessary. Make sure you have a few M8's to help as observers to tease the frame over.

mike

Frame over motor for me everytime.

Not so easy if it's a rolling chassis.

Steve, just what I was thinking....

All well & good if you're doing a full strip-down/rebuild....... But if its just an engine job, I wouldn't want to have to b*gger around stripping the bike down, just to lay it over the engine

I also manage to man-handle me engines back into the frame with no damage. I tie rope or nylon straps around the engine & use them to put it in..... along with a bit of thick card wrapped around strategic points on the frame