This bloody bike. 1976 3CE

It will be interesting to see what your machinist finds about the bores, and if they are slightly bowed out in the centers like mine were. Did you get slightly oversize pistons for a rebore? And how do the valve guides and seats appear?
 
It will be interesting to see what your machinist finds about the bores, and if they are slightly bowed out in the centers like mine were. Did you get slightly oversize pistons for a rebore? And how do the valve guides and seats appear?
A little higher up in the thread it says the pistons I was asked to order are +1. The valve stems and guide were very loose in relation to each other, the valves could be wobbled around in the guides. The new guides have to be honed to match the valve stems. The valve seats appear to be pock marked with corrosion. Hope we can get away with them not being replaced.
 
Between the engine work and any ignition/carb work, I'm sure that motor will be performing well. There's been mention of Beehive valve springs that are supposed to be good, unless yours are still in spec.
 
There appears to be some conflicting opinions about the engine- do the serial numbers match the frame and what's the measurement of the bores? Could it be that the cylinder and head were swapped with something else?
 
The liner has a spigot, so not 80mm bore.

Pistons look like HC cast Mondials, good chance they were installed from new. Size is stamped on the crown. Not aware of forged items being available at the time, afaIk, these came with the introduction of the 1000SFC. These, otoh, would have shorter skirts without the lower cut-away.

Scoring on the pistons actually not too bad, possibly caused by first start up after the 11-year lay-off, rust from the rings and liner nicely distributed, re-bore recommended.

Sooty combustion chambers likely from making vroom-vroom noises in the driveway. Chambers will be clean only after an extended high-speed run. "Poor seating" on the exhaust seats is quite normal, especially after said vroom-vrooms. Should clean up again after a careful grind, but a very slight seat cut may be necessary, while it's all apart. That being said, doesn't rule out incorrect carb set-up.

Crappy all-alloy head...

piet
 
I bought forged Ross pistons for my 750 from Wolfgang that came with Ross rings so there must be a reason yours are from Japan since yours is a triple. Wolfgang says Ross is good quality and best of luck on your rebuild and keep us posted.
Ross used to sell the Laverda pistons with their own branded rings ( not saying they physically made the rings).

The rings supplied now by Ross are NRP one of the biggest ring manufacturers, which is what Robin has in his parcel.

Rob
 
Right, so the bike has been away having the engine rebuilt and quite frankly has taken far longer than first promised. The bike went away towards the end of April and as of today July 24 is not back yet after suffering one delay after another (what a surprise, the bike really was a piece of S…….., so much wrong with it. If I’d known I wouldn’t have paid half of what I did pay.)
I am now told the only thing holding it up is that they want to fit a new cam chain link and can not get one.
I HOPE to get the bike back sooooon. (Ha!)

Where can I get a cam chain link? Is it a special? Best bet the usual suspects or else where? Anyone got one in a tin in their garage? Phil? Malcolm? Rob?
 
I had a cam chain on a 1200 that I couldn't find a suitable new split link for. In the end I bought a new chain.
Are they fitting the old one?
 
From April to now, it's been just three months, which isn't IMHO really long for a complete engine overhaul.

The camshaft chain link should, of course, match the existing chain. Or you can install a new one with a new link. Your mechanic should know the relevant sources in the UK; perhaps contact the chainman.
Jo, if someone says to me, It will be three weeks and then in three weeks says, Oh it’s still at the engineers - it will be next week! Then that goes on and on for a couple of months then they get it back and say Yours is the third engine we will build this week, you should get it for Saturday and I rock up to pick it up and they say Sorry not done yet. I leave it 10 days and say what is the progress and their reply is stop bothering us - I say stop giving me false dates. OK 100% it will be next week then they say Oh it’s gone back to the engineers as they didn’t do the valve seats - It will be three days! Then the engineering company have it 3 weeks.
Now they said you will get it this week but email to say we need a new cam chain link - I email to say I will order one and they tell me they already have. Now today they say they cannot get a new link. I say give me my bike back as it is right now. We will see if that happens.
I have already sent the Chain Man an email and I await his reply.
 
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