well... nearly a year on from getting the bug back in my life ... working 'away' again! I'm now going through the re-commission!
Poured some fresh gas in the tank.... charged the battery .... crossed my fingers and went for it ... 'plugs out to build up oil pressure first.
Only to be rewarded with a plume of brown water spray from #3 cylinder!
Not good... it seems that rain water had somehow got into the carb' and filled the cylinder. 'good job I didn't try to turn the engine over with the 'plugs in ... hydraulic lock anyone?
Aw well .. nothing ventured nothing gained
clean up the 'plugs, especially the rusty #3 one and give it a whirl.
Two cranks and the engine burst back into life ... sort of. It was clear that #3 wasn't happy.
Carb's off ... spotlessly cleaned and rebuilt ... try again ... same issue.
'Thoughts at this stage are a rusted cylinder/rings = not sealing ... rusted valve/seat = not sealing.
Either way it's an engine out job to identify the issue. I've got a spare set of BIG valve 'heads that I've had for about 6 years now so ... it's a perfect opportunity to add some more performance whilst I'm at it
So I've dropped the engine ... whipping the 'head off has revealed a 'tide mark of rust right up to the spark plug. it's fair to say that the valves look a bit ... 'furry'. But they're certainly not beyond redemption and with a bit of TLC and a wee while with some grinding paste they'll be good to go.
But I'm still putting the big valve 'heads on!
The cylinders (#3 & #4) look a little worse for wear, they're not pitted but they don't look how a cylinder should ... it's a bit scummy and black and feels rough to touch.
Pulling the cylinder off revealed the piston and rings in surprisingly good shape, just a touch of rust/dust on the top rings. They're saveable.
But ... for the price of a new set of pistons & barrels is it really worth going through all the hassle of honing them out and re-ringing the pistons? Even then it might not work, so .... new P&B it is
And that's where I stand at the mo', I'll get some pic's up soon so you can all see what old father time ... and 45,000 miles of UK roads and weather has had on the bug.
I can't wait to get back out in it though ... I've really missed it!
Al
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