seabass Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 (edited) I'm finally ready to do my first top end. I've always done all my repairs myself, except top and bottom end work, so I am mechanically inclined, to an extent. I've done alot of research and read the Clymers over and over again. I've also learned ALOT on this site. I took my top end apart and brought the cylinders and head to a very reputable machine shop and everything looks great. My new piston and gasket set is on it's way. I have about five days to gather any last minute tips. I've also been practicing on the pistons and rings I removed, as they were in great shape. This seems really easy but I'm getting a little nervous. If anybody has any tips other than what the Clymers states, that will make the job easier, please chime in. When you put the clips on, do you put the opening on the opposite side of the little plier holes? Should I use a flat screwdriver to push them ? I know this is kind of a long winded post but you can never have to much info. Thanks in advance. P.S. I know about the open containers of liquid and the clips flying into them! :beer: Edited March 30, 2007 by seabass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
375hp banshees Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 I'm finally ready to do my first top end. I've always done all my repairs myself, except top and bottom end work, so I am mechanically inclined, to an extent. I've done alot of research and read the Clymers over and over again. I've also learned ALOT on this site. I took my top end apart and brought the cylinders and head to a very reputable machine shop and everything looks great. My new piston and gasket set is on it's way. I have about five days to gather any last minute tips. I've also been practicing on the pistons and rings I removed, as they were in great shape. This seems really easy but I'm getting a little nervous. If anybody has any tips other than what the Clymers states, that will make the job easier, please chime in. When you put the clips on, do you put the opening on the opposite side of the little plier holes? Should I use a flat screwdriver to push them ? I know this is kind of a long winded post but you can never have to much info. Thanks in advance. P.S. I know about the open containers of liquid and the clips flying into them! :beer: keep rags in your bottom end until last min. so nothing falls in... saves alot of grief :thumbsup: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabass Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Plenty of CLEAN rags in there already. :thumbsup: DAMN your fast with the reply! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rustbag Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Did u make the little U shaped thing outta wood to put between the bottom of the piston and the case to help slide the cylinder on? Like they show in the Clymers manual? I find that to really help. And yea, I just use a lil flat blade to push the clips in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabass Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Didn't make that yet. Looks like I have a good project for tomorrow night. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbanshee Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Take you time, don't get in a hurry. Put a light film of 2 stroke oil on the pistons and the cylinder walls before sliding them on. Make sure you gap the rings, and position them on the pistons correctly. Use new gaskets, and follow torque specs. Basically just follow the Clymer, and TAKE YOUR TIME! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
375hp banshees Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 what do you guys do, I've done it both ways ( on other things)put piston in cyl. b4 the rod, or cyl. last Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabass Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 I have ALL new gaskets and plenty of good oil. My father in law works at Ratheon, so I have the calibrated torque wrench. Also, when I took the head off, there wasn't much gasket sealer but it was running fine. How much should I put? Should I put any LIGHT lock tite on anything? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabass Posted March 30, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 Any more tips out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matt96shee Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 let's see....when i did mine i found that putting the clips back in was easier with needlenose pliars. make sure the open end is either up or down. if you've been practicing with the rings then you should know about the little mounting alignment posts in the ring grooves right? i tried to slide the piston in the jug then attach the piston to the rod but it seemed to be a real PITA so i put the piston on first, got a buddy, and we slid the jug down over the piston. it's pretty easy since there's a bevel on the bottom of the cylinder. i haven't heard anybody else say this, but on my cylinders the front stud (towards the radiator) on each of them was just maybe a mm or two longer than the rest of them. maybe the previous owner did a hillbilly rebuild at one time but he didn't notice either and they nuts could not be torqued down as they ran out of thread. i had to add a thicker washer on them to get a good torque. other than that, light coats of oil and the rest is cake. might be a good time to relocate the cdi up front if you want. matt Any more tips out there? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dante Posted March 30, 2007 Report Share Posted March 30, 2007 When rebuilding car motors I go to dollar store and buy 3 cheap white sheet to work off. It helps keep the dirt down and lets you see new dirt you are putting in the motor before its too late. Use 1 sheet to put the motor on. use 1 sheet to lay the new parts. use 1 sheet to cover and keep trash out. This really helps unless you want to buy new parts. Remember oil is your friend, a little messy but very friendly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
04fireshee Posted March 31, 2007 Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 prtty much everybody else nailed it on the head. the only other thing that no other person said is to make sure to put the pistons in facing the right direction. the arrow facing the exhaust port. and take your time breaking it in. jeromey Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seabass Posted March 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted March 31, 2007 (edited) Thanks guys, for all the replies. All your tips are greatly appreciated. I'm feeling pretty confident I can get this done. If anyone else has any advice, keep it coming! Edited March 31, 2007 by seabass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mpbanshee Posted April 16, 2007 Report Share Posted April 16, 2007 Wrecker... Here ya go Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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