Recommendations for removing 500 head

[500twin]

Hi Folks

I need to remove the head on my 500 to inspect valve seats. Is it possible to leave the engine in the bike and just remove the studs or is that not possible/highly not recommended?

TIA

David

 

[The Sock]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[500twin]

Sorry, couldn't resist.

View attachment 106594

Because AI...

 

[Paul Marx]

Hi Folks

I need to remove the head on my 500 to inspect valve seats. Is it possible to leave the engine in the bike and just remove the studs or is that not possible/highly not recommended?

TIA

David

Take the engine out.
Avoid removing those long studs.
Paul

 

[corsaro]

Taking the engine out and putting it back in however is not the easiest of tasks as Laverda engineers in their wisdom fitted the engine exactly between the frame brackets at the rear and below with no spacers. To make the task easier however I made a lifting jig - U shaped to aid the process - as pics
This eases the job somewhat.
it is a good Idea to remove the exhaust studs on the entry side into the frame as they catch on the downtube and it makes installation easier without them. Meaning if you place the engine in the frame from the left side of the bike remove the exhaust studs on the right. saves scraping the frame.
I have completed this recently on two machines so learned a lot.
good luck

Stu

 

[500twin]

Thanks Stu, looks like i need to plan some substantial time for the whole job

 

[F500fan]

Hi Folks

I need to remove the head on my 500 to inspect valve seats. Is it possible to leave the engine in the bike and just remove the studs or is that not possible/highly not recommended?

TIA

David

Engine out I'm afraid. Unless you know the history of the engine from new, you have no idea what some other ham fisted oaf might have done in it's previous history.
I have two 500 engines here that, from the outside appeared fine. Once the tops came off though, it turned into a bit of a horror show ! They both appear to have been worked on previously by unknown morons, both of whom have had the manual dexterity & mechanical abilities of a donkey !!
You can at least get as far in as splitting the cam chain & removing the cams. It might only be a 500 but it is 'kin heavy, so make sure you've had your 3 Shredded Wheat for breakfast & have a friend standing by to cheer you on !!
If you've drained the oil, you can always remove gear lever linkage & left footpeg, tank & seat, lay the bike on a mattress or something suitably soft on it's left side having undone all but a couple of easy to access mounting bolts, & between 2 of you, lift the bike clear from the engine with a wiggle & a jiggle. Been there, done that & best of luck !

 

[Paul Marx]

Did it with my wife, it's not a triple, a lot lighter.
As Keith Nairn (RIP) qualified those 500 heads " a time bomb".
Paul

 

[F500fan]

Don't want to worry you unduly, but this is what I found in the one engine that was a runner.
It had been put back together with the old gaskets & rubber o rings for the top end oilways up the studs.
Gasket was as much use as a fag paper & the o rings were squashed & petrified to a crisp.
Valve clearances can best be described as not even close !! Down to as little as 0.005 on the exhaust side !!

 

[F500fan]

Did it with my wife, it's not a triple, a lot lighter.
As Keith Nairn (RIP) qualified those 500 heads " a time bomb".
Paul

I know it's not as heavy as a triple, but you still wouldn't want to drop onto your toes now would you ??!!

 

[500twin]

Yikes thanks guys. Not worked on bikes much apart from practicing on a small Suzuki 2 stroke at the moment. Not worked on the Montjuic at all yet but I'm mechanically blooded on 928 and 944 turbo engines so will proceed with "an abundance of caution" 944 engine came out for a "quick reseal". 2yrs later it's just back in after a full top to toe rebuild..

 

[500twin]

Don't want to worry you unduly, but this is what I found in the one engine that was a runner.
It had been put back together with the old gaskets & rubber o rings for the top end oilways up the studs.
Gasket was as much use as a fag paper & the o rings were squashed & petrified to a crisp.
Valve clearances can best be described as not even close !! Down to as little as 0.005 on the exhaust side !!

Who did you use for any outsourced head work, guides, seats?

 

[Paul Marx]

I know it's not as heavy as a triple, but you still wouldn't want to drop onto your toes now would you ??!!

Always wear security shoes in the garage.
Paul

 

[Paul Marx]

Yikes thanks guys. Not worked on bikes much apart from practicing on a small Suzuki 2 stroke at the moment. Not worked on the Montjuic at all yet but I'm mechanically blooded on 928 and 944 turbo engines so will proceed with "an abundance of caution" 944 engine came out for a "quick reseal". 2yrs later it's just back in after a full top to toe rebuild..

Don't put the Laverda in the same garage as those 928, 944 things. It'll come out with nasty spots.
Antibiotics rather than a torque wrench would be handy.
Paul

 

[MotoJouni]

Don't want to worry you unduly, but this is what I found in the one engine that was a runner.
It had been put back together with the old gaskets & rubber o rings for the top end oilways up the studs.
Gasket was as much use as a fag paper & the o rings were squashed & petrified to a crisp.
Valve clearances can best be described as not even close !! Down to as little as 0.005 on the exhaust side !!

Do I see correct that your valve seats have just one angle instead of three?

 

[Paul Marx]

Do I see correct that your valve seats have just one angle instead of three?

And a lot of oil in there.
Paul

 

[F500fan]

Do I see correct that your valve seats have just one angle instead of three?

I haven't done anymore work on that engine yet. It is an early 1977 non balance shaft Alpino engine. Someone has fitted S1 cams & hi comp pistons. I have no history for the bike, so do not know how much use the engine has had ?? But I will probably open the crankcases now just to have a look at the rest of the engine's internals, & check for bits of shrapnel & glitter at the bottom of the sump !
I have a friend with an auto engineering workshop. He is busy at the moment, but when he has the time will take engine there for a good clean & inspection. He can do crank, cylinder bore, cylinder head & valves/guides work. And he owes me a favour, so parts cost only !

 

[Andy J]

When I was a lad changing engines in my 350/500s on my own with no fancy lifts etc didn’t seem such a chore. I doubt that would the case now.

 

[F500fan]

And a lot of oil in there.
Paul

Once I started to look under the rocker cover it quickly became apparent all was not well. Almost all the tappet clearances were around a quarter of what they should've been !! There were 145 main jets in the carbs. Must've been so rich I'm surprised it even ran !!
And as I mentioned in the previous post, the barrel stud 'o' rings that sit in between the barrels & cylinder head had not been replaced. They were so squashed & cooked hard they were next to useless !!

 

[F500fan]

When I was a lad changing engines in my 350/500s on my own with no fancy lifts etc didn’t seem such a chore. I doubt that would the case now.

When I fully rebuilt UHT, I laid the engine on it's left side & simply lowered the bare frame with swing arm into place on my own, then lifted it upright. When help was available we lifted bike onto wooden box high enough to fit forks & both wheels. Easy peasy !!