A couple of weeks ago Mark blew out his piston while trying to meet up with us on the last ride to Loveless Cafe that we did. His oil injection failed him (or at least thats the best answer we could come up with) and because of it his piston blew out a hole about the size of a nickel in the top of it.
nickel size hole = no compression,
no compression = one dead scooter.
dead scooter = 2 guys taking apart an engine and putting it back together for the first time… stoked!
Mark decided to install a new piston, switch it over to a premix (non-oil injected) 24/24 carb and install a new Hot Wing exhaust pipe while we were at it. And of course I decided to be there to document, help (if you can call it that) and add as many “thats what she said” jokes as I could during the proccess.
By the time I had gotten there Mark had already dropped the engine out and was ready to split the case.
Day two it was raining outside and we had to move it into the laundry room to stay dry. We installed the new piston, cruciform and put the case back together.
Day three we got the engine back together and installed a new “Hot Wing” exhaust pipe. Note the use of a lawn chair to prop up the bike while we worked on it (not recommended ).
SUCCESS! We got the whole thing back together and the new pipe on, scooter started up on the first Kick!
I would say for two guys who have never taken apart a p200 engine and put it back together we did a pretty good job… thats what she said!
May 11th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
Get a Buddy
June 12th, 2009 at 1:09 pm
Someone told me that I should look at your site. I’ve sold all my bikes and will live happily if I never have to split another wheel or change another cruciform. That said, you misdiagnosed the cause of your engine failure. Lack of oil would cause the piston to overheat, swell and seize in the cylinder, causing the rear end to lock up- an event I have had happen too many times. A holed piston is due to timing issues that slowly pock the dome of the piston. If these problems are still existent on the bike, the new piston will hole also. You might want to take off the cylinder head and check whether there are small nicks in the piston.
All the best,
Aaron
June 21st, 2009 at 10:43 am
woah, something vintage!
June 22nd, 2009 at 6:42 am
Ah, snap.