Installing a motor

[Racing Geek]

I know some just wiggle the motor in and others put the motor on it's side but I have a question to those of you that put the motor on its side and drop the frame over it. Have you found it easier if you put the motor on one side vs the other? Anyone ever try dropping the frame onto the engine with the suspension still bolted on?

[spyug]

The only way I have done it is the frame over motor method. Put the engine on its right side. I use a car tire without rim to hold the motor in the right position ( i.e. engine in the hole where the rim would be). It is easier, I find, if the suspension (front and back) is totally off. It makes the frame lighter (obviously) and easier to manouver. It does help to have an assistant once you try and bring the bike back to level as it gets bloody heavy.

Good luck with it.

cheers,
spyug

[7981GS]

Get the engine on a platform that is the same height as the frame rails, place a board under the engine and between the frame rails,
walk the engine over and drop into place. Simple one man operation.









On the other hand, if you enjoy wrestling with it, by all means lay it on the ground and drop the frame onto it.


Daniel

[Racing Geek]

I don't have nearly as much room to slide the engine in as everyone else on this forum because I'm not putting the engine in the stock frame. This is why I was wondering if one side worked better then the other. I suppose after looking at the pictures of you frame the motor mounts would be in the way if I were to lay the motor on its left side.

I have about .5" wiggle room top-bottom and about .25" wiggle room front to back.

[7981GS]

Take the breather cover off for a little more room.

[GateKeeper]

I don't have nearly as much room to slide the engine in as everyone else on this forum because I'm not putting the engine in the stock frame. This is why I was wondering if one side worked better then the other. I suppose after looking at the pictures of you frame the motor mounts would be in the way if I were to lay the motor on its left side.

I have about .5" wiggle room top-bottom and about .25" wiggle room front to back.

Yup.....engine will only go in from one side.....and out....

[allojohn]

3/8" bar through the mount holes works well. But then you need two people to lift the lump in.

[Racing Geek]

I already take the breather cover off so I guess I actually have ~1" of wiggle room top to bottom.

Lately I've been straddling the frame and lifting the motor by the sidecover with my forearms in the opening in the valve cover between the cams. The sidecovers give plenty of room to grab the motor and my forearms allow me to tilt the motor when I need to. Not sure how I'll do it once the suspension is bolted on. I guess take off the back shocks, put the bike on a short stack of wood (no center stand) and straddle the bike from the seat area. Just have to make sure I have a better grip on the sidecovers to tilt the motor.

I have several lengths of 3/8" drill rod laying around so I could do it that way. I would think the drill rod wouldn't flex as much either. Problem with that is there usually isn't another person to help me.

[posplayr]

7981GS - that is almost exactly what I do but I have a hydraulic table with a piece of slick melamine ( instead of the transmission jack)

allojohn - the rods are a nice touch. Instead of foam guards, I cut open some PVC pipe held in place with zip ties to protect the frame.

[Flaming Chainsaws]

Yup... It kinda hurts to look at that but it works. I did it all by myself and it was damn heavy! I had to take a couple of breaks before I got it back up on two wheels. Yes, remove as much as possible to make it lighter. I was just too lazy to disassemble and reassemble.

[Racing Geek]

When I'm done with the build my bike will be ~350 pounds wet (full tank of gas). It's going to be really light compared to a stock GS. I've already picked up a ~500# bike without much of an issue after we went sliding down the road so this bike will be cake.

[spyug]

my bike will be ~350 pounds wet (full tank of gas).

Will you really be able to get it down to that? That must be 80/100 pounds of a reduction no? or maybe more then if Gatekeeper is right:

"Entire bike is 471 pounds " He tells us in your thread on engine weight.

I'm not saying you can't but I wonder if its possible.

How did you come to that figure?

Good luck with it.

Cheers,
spyug

[GateKeeper]

750gs is 469 pounds and the gse is 471 pounds, this is for a 1983 model, dry mass weight

[Racing Geek]

Will you really be able to get it down to that? That must be 80/100 pounds of a reduction no? or maybe more then if Gatekeeper is right:

"Entire bike is 471 pounds " He tells us in your thread on engine weight.

I'm not saying you can't but I wonder if its possible.

How did you come to that figure?

Good luck with it.

Cheers,
spyug

My GS engine isn't going into a GS.

[Suzuki mad]

I stick the case's in first and then build the barrels, head, cams and rockers up in situe, same when taking an engine out.

I'm too old and weak to lift them in now a days!