Just as a side note (only picture I currently have of it so here it goes), the greyish white substance on the otherwise shiny aluminum case...that can be removed with paint stripper. Apparently a number of the metric bikes have this and its a film the manufacturer puts on the engine to "protect the finish" of the aluminum. Turns out 24 years later it looks like this. Any way, helpful tip deployed...move on.
Motor came out, and valve cover came off without a hitch...then we found the chain. Keeping in mind that my Haynes Manual was here in the office (not at home where I was), this through me a short loop. There is a tensioner on the front that needs to be loosened AFTER you loosen a top end bracket that holds the little plastic guides in. I'll take better pictures to explain this if anyone needs it but its in the manuals. Figured this out and it was mostly down hill from here.
I was a bit surprised by the top of the pistons. In every picture I've seen they look flat...standard compression engine. After I got the head off I discovered the they are shaped to match the bowl in the head exactly...which means its a high compression engine. That's nice...that's quite nice. A little bit of clean up and some polishing here will have these things singing. That's a bit down the road (least a couple of days) so in the mean time I covered the cylindar wall with bearing grease (to prevent flash rust since the pistons are actually sitting in a steel sleeve). Just a note, I'm tearing into this not only because its 24 years old, but because the previous owner stated there was an oil leak. Seeing now that its a high comp engine...I'm not surprised. This thing will no doubt be needed a head gasket and a few other...improvements...
Just a peak at the head. The bowls will be polished to a mirror, the valves relapped and possibly some minor clean up around some corners. I'm not interested in porting this head...its good where it is and I've heard the power gains on this engine are minimal from such a job...so just going to be cleaning up some rough spots, rounding some edges and maybe tapering the exhaust ports a bit so they match the pipes better. I ended the night by standing the head on its side and filling the exhaust ports with parts cleaner and leaving them to soak. All and all, I'm pleased with the amount I accomplished yesterday and hopefully can accomplish as much or more over the coming weekend.
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