This bloody bike. 1976 3CE

I don't want to offend your workshop. But I find the statement "complete engine overhaul in three weeks" extremely ambitious. First, the engine has to be disassembled and an inventory on damage etc. taken. Then, a decision must be made as to how long it will take to procure parts; not everything will be in stock, etc. Then, there may be additional items that need to be outsourced to specialists, who also have to commit. Only once all of this has been clarified can a statement be made about the potential time until completion. "Three weeks" only creates false expectations and doesn't necessarily lead to customer satisfaction - as obviously happened in your case.
 
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" Missing cam chain link " just sounds like another excuse with which to fob you off with ....... Replacement chains should come complete with the link ....... Are they in need of a link because they`re reusing the existing chain , and feel a new link should be fitted ?

Whatever , I would expect a rebuilt engine to have a new cam chain ( complete with connecting link ) fitted in any case .......... Do you have an inventory of the new parts fitted and work they`ve completed so far ?

Three weeks for a complete engine rebuild is obviously complete bullshit ......... Unless they are a dedicated Laverda specialist . how would they even be able to estimate the timescale , without knowing the extent of work needed , and most importantly , the availability of parts needed in order to complete that rebuild ?

As soon as I heard " three weeks " I would be off to find someone else to take on the work ...... someone reputable , and preferably with some previous experience of working with Laverdas .......

BTW ....... You say when you contact them , one of the excuses is that the motor is away " at the engineers " ....... So who exactly is carrying out the work ..... Is it being sourced out to different workshops ? ...... Does the one know what the other is doing ? .........

I realise that in this case it sounds like certain procedures may have to be sourced out to someone who is a specialist in that area , but wouldn`t it be preferable to have the work done by someone who can complete the whole rebuild basically " in house " ......... I`m sure they must exist ........

SRM spring to mind as that sort of company , although they are Btit bike based .......... I think I recall Richard Slater mentioning Service Exchange Parts in Derbyshire as another company worth checking out as well .........

Best bet probably would have been Keith Nairn , or a guy called Ged down in Dorset , by all accounts ............ I`m sure they wouldn`t have any problems sourcing cam chains , or the connecting link to go with it .




" Missing cam chain link " reminds me of when a computer department was set up at work back in the mid - seventies , to process work which we had previously completed manually .
There were a few inevitable teething troubles with this new fangled tech .........

One of the computer guys told us that when our department boss went up to see them , to find out what the ( latest ) problem was , they would tell him ....... " It`s dust on the tapes , Bill ...... " ..............

Not knowing any better , he believed them ..............
 
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Jo said:
I don't want to offend your workshop. But I find the statement "complete engine overhaul in three weeks" extremely ambitious. First, the engine has to be disassembled and an inventory on damage etc. taken. Then, a decision must be made as to how long it will take to procure parts; not everything will be in stock, etc. Then, there may be additional items that need to be outsourced to specialists, who also have to commit. Only once all of this has been clarified can a statement be made about the potential time until completion. "Three weeks" only creates false expectations and doesn't necessarily lead to customer satisfaction - as obviously happened in your case.
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Crankshaft as well?
 
I concur w the above statements about how long engine rebuilding takes (from personal experience). Hopefully the shop is either experienced w Laverdas or other similar vintage bikes. Personally, I’d have the bottom end and crank inspected. Again, Wolfgang or Dam Classic Racing is the source for Laverda parts.
 
Baffling as to why a repairist would quote a time frame that was clearly impossible. All it does - witnessed above - is create major customer dissatisfaction. How did you arrive at the decision to use this particular unnamed repairer, Robin?
 
A time frame can only be roughly estimated after an engine is completely disassembled and every component properly assessed. Even then, pitfalls can, and will(!), pop up. Cracks showing after thorough cleaning, bent shafts/rods/covers, all not necessarily apparent at first sighting.

New chains are the least that can be expected in an overhauled engine, they always come with connecting link where required. Sounds like a piss-weak excuse for some blunder along the way...

piet
 
Jo said:
I don't want to offend your workshop. But I find the statement "complete engine overhaul in three weeks" extremely ambitious. First, the engine has to be disassembled and an inventory on damage etc. taken. Then, a decision must be made as to how long it will take to procure parts; not everything will be in stock, etc. Then, there may be additional items that need to be outsourced to specialists, who also have to commit. Only once all of this has been clarified can a statement be made about the potential time until completion. "Three weeks" only creates false expectations and doesn't necessarily lead to customer satisfaction - as obviously happened in your case.
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Jo, you are not helping. Have you got a cam chain link? That’s all I need. Other comments are superfluous.
 
How do you identafy what make of link matches the chain you have. Are there slight differances between makes of chain and the specific link? A link, a link my Motobike for a link. Should you fit a new link every time you break a cam chain? So they know how to rebuild engines, but cannot find a cam chain link. Is it one of those 4 valve cam chains nobody can find?
 
When you go to get a motor rebuilt, make sure he’s a grumpy twat- means he’s been doing it a long time so must know his stuff. Ideally he should have a waiting list, 3 years minimum but preferably 5. No one local- obviously, workshop should have a lathe, must be grey and pre war and all measurements must be in thou or better still tenths! Take it or leave it attitude, surliness or better still plain rude are also things you should be looking for. Beard is another good sign. Hope this helps.
 
yes you must replace the link EVERY time you break the chain, but being more specific, you should only change the spring clip, the pins and sideplates will wear just like the rest of the whole chain, after a learning curve as a nipper on all sorts of engines petrol and diesel, air and water cooled this is what I was taught, I practice it on Laverda's, At one time I was working on a lot of bikes, (dont work on other peoples bikes any more) mostly not my own, I have lots of links in stock for various chain types if I can help you I will, chain type is needed. I also have some of those very fiddly ones (actually much better than the normal type) which uses two "E" clips to retain the side plate, much better because..... one can come off but the chain will still hold on the remaining one, the "E" clips contact the pins in three places around the periphery, not as the normal type, one pin has good contact around one side and nothing on the other side and the other pin has point contact in only two places.
CLEM
 
CLEMTOG said:
yes you must replace the link EVERY time you break the chain, but being more specific, you should only change the spring clip, the pins and sideplates will wear just like the rest of the whole chain, after a learning curve as a nipper on all sorts of engines petrol and diesel, air and water cooled this is what I was taught, I practice it on Laverda's, At one time I was working on a lot of bikes, (dont work on other peoples bikes any more) mostly not my own, I have lots of links in stock for various chain types if I can help you I will, chain type is needed. I also have some of those very fiddly ones (actually much better than the normal type) which uses two "E" clips to retain the side plate, much better because..... one can come off but the chain will still hold on the remaining one, the "E" clips contact the pins in three places around the periphery, not as the normal type, one pin has good contact around one side and nothing on the other side and the other pin has point contact in only two places.
CLEM
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What’s good about an E clip coming off? Hopefully it will get caught in some blue fluff and not cause any real damage ..
 
Whilst we`re on this ongoing subject / saga ......... For your interest ( or not ) , below is the invoice for a complete triple overhaul undertaken by Slaters back in 1991 .......

As you can see , time taken ...... ( from time in to completed engine test ) ....... is just 9 weeks .

Bear in mind this work would have been undertaken by Richard Slater , plus his resident engine builder , Mr G M .....

( does anyone know his true identity ? ) .........

The thing is , Slaters was at that time home to one of the most comprehensive Laverda spare parts supply outside Breganze ......... so all the items required .... from exchange crankshafts , right down to the smallest circlips , would have been available just two or three footsteps away .....

Having all these items immediately available , plus an intimate knowledge of Laverdas in general , meant the work was able to be completed in such a relatively short space of time .

There is no way , even given Richard having everything needed to hand , that the work could have been completed in just three weeks .

Would A N Other Engineering be able to obtain the correct parts needed for the rebuild , and even if they did , would they complete the work to a satisfactory standard ?

That`s why it`s so important to give your motor to someone who has knowledge , and experience , of working on Laverdas ........ not someone who is more at home working on 1980`s Ford Escorts .....

2025-07-25.png

BTW ....... mileage shown as 12969 is actually 112969 , of course ........
 
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Exmoor beast said:
You have a dilemma - ask fellow bikers if he’s alright, if they have had trouble with him in the past , ignore them and take it there anyway!
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Reminds me of the ( alleged ) situation regarding a certain Mr Winterton ...... :cautious: .......... who I always found to be top class to deal with .........

A complete triple rebuild in an afternoon , in return for a packet of fags ....... if I remember correctly ....... :) .............
 
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