Catastropic Top End Damage - Opinions Appreciated

[alward25]

on the cylinder, as long as they do not have to weld any cracks, the replate job costs the same scoring or not.  If your are going to send your head to Larry head could probably fix any other hiccups it has.  Cylinder welding usually costs and extra $40 or $50.

[DoldGuy]

Wish I had known about sending my engine to this guy.    Place I sent it to has had mine for three years.  Trying to be patient.   I think my patience has run out.

I have been waiting for over 4 years.....

But at least I know my cylinder has been put to good use...

DoldGuy

[ToomanyKaws]

Its not Stewart.    This guy has my complete K5 motor that had a new Hinson Basket in it.   Was to rebuild it.    I paid more than enough for parts and labor.   Been in contact with him so its possibly he will make good on what he was to do.   My wife did see me looking online at plane tickets and said where in the hell are you going?    In the car world have seen similaro scenarios play out.  Where "shops" or individuals doing the work thought nothing would come of it when they short changed the customer.   Also seen the customer come out on the end and the shop wish they had done the right thing in the first place.     Time will tell on this but the time part is coming to an end.

[jcm3]

on the cylinder, as long as they do not have to weld any cracks, the replate job costs the same scoring or not.  If your are going to send your head to Larry head could probably fix any other hiccups it has.  Cylinder welding usually costs and extra $40 or $50.

Good to know, thanks.

I was initially put back a bit by the cost (obviously), so I called my local Kawi dealer to find out how much they'd charge for a bottom end rebuild just for kicks.  They said probably $1400-1500, just for that.

It makes the $1450 total rebuild price look pretty sweet.

[sandblaster]

Most the shops in our area want about 2500 for a stock rebuild (Top and bottom) if you hand them the engine.
And most of the shops in our area know very little about building a K5 engine 

[reklessj]

I agree with sandblaster, couldn't find any shop locally I could trust with mine. If I would  have known all the guys on here when I got mine rebuilt I could have saved even more!! There are aa lot of guys on here who know theses motors better than they know there wives someone will point ya in the right direction. I was very happy with who I sent mine to but it wasn't a member. Paid about 1800 that's with mods and cylinder welding and replating

[jcm3]

There are aa lot of guys on here who know theses motors better than they know there wives someone will point ya in the right direction.

What?  That's really sad.  My wife, uh, shoot, what's her name, uh, hmmmmmmmmm...

I'll get back to you in a minute on that.   

[sandblaster]

When I walk in the door and hear white noise... I know I'm still married 

[jcm3]

When I walk in the door and hear white noise... I know I'm still married 

Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em.  lol

[Foxx4Beaver]

When I walk in the door and hear white noise... I know I'm still married 

Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em.  lol

no, that's when you pull out the ole "batter ram"...bend em over...and bust in their "backdoor" full force

[jcm3]

When I walk in the door and hear white noise... I know I'm still married 

Can't live with 'em, can't shoot 'em.  lol

no, that's when you pull out the ole "batter ram"...bend em over...and bust in their "backdoor" full force

Now you're going to get me into trouble.  lol

[kkvslayer]

Dude do the work yourself and save some coin,I just last week grenaded my piston on my 86 rippin throgh a mud hole,Im not exaggerating when I say grenaded. The top portion from just below the rings was still in the cylinder,the rest was resting on top of my crank, the piston pin was the only thing left attached to the rod, I yanked the engine,split the cases,cleaned everything,installed a new slug,my cylinder had a few dings on the edges that were easily fixed and shes runnin as good as ever,I can't f**kin beleive the compression that comes with a new slug,makes every 500 banger I have ever ridden seem worn out,won't be firing her up with my DC's anymore for sure,anyways if you got any brains at all don't send your s**t to someone when you could do the same work yourself and save the labour coin for other bits your bike may need

[Brute]

Ahhh, youth. I presume anyway.    I am paying other people to do stuff I do not want to do more and more these days. Granted it takes it out of my hands and I have to trust the work they do but I have decided that is ok. I will probably test my KX5 for leakage before I take it on the road and if it leaks it will most likely go out to be rebuilt even if it is just the seals that are bad. We shall see once it is on the bench. If it leaks that is.
I used to enjoy building as much or more then riding/driving/flying/whatever. It looks more like 'work' these days. Have cut back on a lot of it in the last few years.  
That said, I broke out the TIG and did one of the stainless steel repair projects on my bench. That was fun! Dang I like my big 'ole nasty Miller 320 ABP TIG welder! What a sweet arc!

[jcm3]

Ahhh, youth. I presume anyway.    I am paying other people to do stuff I do not want to do more and more these days. Granted it takes it out of my hands and I have to trust the work they do but I have decided that is ok.

Exactly.  I'm getting to that point also.  If I was rebuilding a top end (which I've done at least 10 times in my life, to two strokes and four strokes), I'd definitely do it myself.  But when it comes to something this dramatic (sounds like the same type of damage that kkvslayer say), then I don't want to mess with it.  I have three kids, and let's just say that between them, work on the house, etc., time is limited. 

One of the main reasons I don't want to do this one myself is because I don't know if there was any damage to the cases, which although unlikely, is possible.  I don't know if I'd be able to tell by just looking at it if there was the kind of damage due to the cases that would require new ones, and I'd have to buy tools to do the job also.  I calculated it out, and don't know how much I'd save.  It would be something, but wouldn't cut the job in half. 

At this point, I'm fine sending it out to someone who has a great reputation, and who I think will do a good job.

I also look forward to how the bike feels with a new top end, it will probably be dramatically different both in starting and with the power.  I'm hoping so, anyway.