Sly_G's new bike: CB1100F

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 8:54 pm

Hi all:

So finally I feel I am really back in the US.

Got a CB1100F this morning. Some work to do, in the engine mainly, before it can hit the road. The extent of the work is unknown at that point but it does not run very smoothly. It supposed to have a 1123cc kit. I took the time to open the head cover today before the rain came, and the camshafts seem pretty clean, but the gasket area is really trash, which explain some oil leaks. I guess I am going to go with a head removal for a more thorough check. I'll post pictures of the work/cleaning as measure as I progress (when I find time).

For now, some pictures of the bike. And a BIG thanks to Pointdiver and Diane for all the help (parts and truck and more) and my neighbor Michael for letting me borrow his trailer!

Sly

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:09 pm

Good Find Sly.Let me know if you need anything to get her ready for the Spring ride.

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:25 pm

Looks good! Hopefully the engine won't become a moneypit for you. That thing's got lots of potential!

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 9:44 pm

Awesome!

Needs some rearsets Wink

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:27 pm

Nasty looking scratches ....

Gord Shocked

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 10:48 pm

Pete83 wrote:

Looks good! Hopefully the engine won't become a moneypit for you. That thing's got lots of potential!

+1 lots of potential, I'll bet you have her purring like a kitten in no time...

Posted: Sun Apr 24, 2011 11:00 pm

Looks like Rich bike found a new home,welcome back,what happened to your old ride?

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 12:36 am

Congrats on your new ride G! beerchug

Looks great except for that Gawdawful tarnished beat up looking exhaust on there. You should get some nice stockers and I'd be happy to unload those ugly pipes off your hands for a minimal fee so that you can restore it to its original glory. Shipping's on me too. Wink

Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 1:04 am

Hey guys,

Yep, lots of work needed. Just found that I also have to re-build the forks.
It's indeed Rich's bike, it really needed someone to take care of it, and I'm glad to do it. I'm sure I'll get it running sometime, hopefully soon. Lots of potential indeed.

For now I need to find some space to part it out and do the work. Probably half in the garden shed and half in my living room.

And no, the exhaust is not for sale Wink

Cheers,

Sly

Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 1:24 pm

Nice find Sly, it is good when they find a caring home. You did well with the 900 project and we will see great things here for sure!

Posted: Sun May 08, 2011 4:25 pm

Nice start and good to have you back!

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 12:27 am

All right, got started today. Pete (pointdiver) came to help to remove the engine from the frame (also helped by my neighbors).

Some findings so far: a mixture of oil and gas in the engine, indicating the bike sat for a while with gas in the tank and the petcock open, one cam holder was mounted in the wrong direction and one cam holder screw was broken in place. A whole bunch of other stuff indicated little care in putting the bike together (over-torqued bolts, worse oil filter ever seen, striped screws and bolts, ...)

The more I go into this project, the later I think I am going to ride this bike.

Right now aiming at removing the head to look inside, cleaning the frame, rebuilding the forks and rebuilding the brakes.

Cheers!

Sly

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 1:03 am

WOW, that's serious work for one day!

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 4:14 pm

Sly,

Knowing the magnitude of work needed, I am sure it would have never been completed while in my possesion.

I hope it turns out to be a positive project for you.

Posted: Mon May 09, 2011 7:25 pm

Nice , hope it doesn't have too many surprises.

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 2:06 am

Ok, got a little bit of work done during spare time: removed the head, cylinders and pistons.

Good news, there is indeed a 1123cc kit in there.

As already noticed, the engine is quite dirty, and in the chapter of the annoying things, I found that on cam holder bolt was broken in place, found a non identified piece of rubber in the head and one piston axis damaged (no longer going through the piston).

Does anyone know where that piece of rubber comes from?

From there, I will order new piston axes, and I am tempted to disassemble the engine completely at that point. I am not that far away, and a complete cleanup might be appropriate given the first impression.

Other good news: my shipment from France arrived, and with it two bins full of CB parts and my tools!

Cheers!

S~

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 3:11 am

Hi Sly, It looks like a valve seal, but can't tell how big it is. Could that be?

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 4:33 am

Those pistons look almost new. May want to make sure the bores are true while you are at it.

Just my thoughts on the broken cam bolt. I have had the same problem more then ounce & gave up on drilling & trying to use a bolt extractor on them. The bolts are grade 10 I was told & are a mother F'er to get out without making more problems. The first time that I tried to remove one. I ened up having to buy a $45.00 super hard drill bit so the cost is not much more.
I have been taking them to a machinist that has a EDM sinker machine.
The bolt comes out almost whole, without hurting the threads & its a guaranteed fix. It costs about $75.00 where I get it done & is Sooo much less stressful.

Have fun, Jim

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 3:43 pm

PGSmick wrote:

Hi Sly, It looks like a valve seal, but can't tell how big it is. Could that be?

Hi Peter,

It's about ~15/16", ~24mm in diameter. I don't think it is a valve seal, it's soft rubber, and is cylindrical, not the shape of a valve seal.

Maybe something that fell in when they assembled the engine???

Thanks!

S

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 3:46 pm

JJam wrote:

Those pistons look almost new. May want to make sure the bores are true while you are at it.

Just my thoughts on the broken cam bolt. I have had the same problem more then ounce & gave up on drilling & trying to use a bolt extractor on them. The bolts are grade 10 I was told & are a mother F'er to get out without making more problems. The first time that I tried to remove one. I ened up having to buy a $45.00 super hard drill bit so the cost is not much more.
I have been taking them to a machinist that has a EDM sinker machine.
The bolt comes out almost whole, without hurting the threads & its a guaranteed fix. It costs about $75.00 where I get it done & is Sooo much less stressful.

Have fun, Jim

Checked the bores, they are good.

I also had a broken cam bolt in place once, and was painless to remove with a screwdriver. This one is stuck unfortunately. You're the second person to tell me about EDM, it seems a good option.

Will let you know!

S

CB1100F Joined: Jun 18, 2006 Posts: 2525 Location: UK

Hi Yes
EDM/ Spark erosion is the way to go,when i worked in engineering many years ago we always had people in to have broken bolts,Taps,Spark Plugs ect removed
A method we sometimes used was to use a small hexagonal electrode and remove the bolt with an allen key
We even a had a CNC machine which we could put new threads in harded steel with.

Keith

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 9:42 pm

Ok, made some progress today. I think I was right to part out the engine...

Here my little setup in my basement:

Now the findings, not great:
1-

Pretty bad huh? The good news though is that the crank main journals are fine. Not sure why since the bearing, especially the center one, look pretty bad.

2-

Some sign of friction/heating on the primary/crank. I don't think it is that bad. Any opinions?

Now, cleaning & buying replacement...

Thanks!

S~

Posted: Sat May 28, 2011 11:39 pm

Bearing shells are toast, but you know that already.....................Crank is fine, the heat marks are from the induction hardening process during manufacture and are completely normal.

Captain

Posted: Sun May 29, 2011 12:52 am

Captain wrote:

Bearing shells are toast, but you know that already.....................Crank is fine, the heat marks are from the induction hardening process during manufacture and are completely normal.

Captain

X2...you need new bearings and I would highly recommend that you take the crank to a qualified machine shop to make sure your crank is still OK. It doesn't look too bad, but you can't be too careful. Hopefully it's good and they can just give it a quick polish and you can put it back in with some new bearings and be on your way!

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 2:54 am

All right! It's been a while. Life kept me very busy lately and it is only now that I find the time to work on my red 1100F.
Decided to put it back together after cleaning and getting new bearings and seals for it.

Today, was able to paint the frame (just a quick refresh, nothing serious):

Then switched to the engine, step by step progression:

Wonder where I am working? that's called freedom Wink

And finally stopped there for today:

Hopefully will continue tomorrow Smile

Will keep posted with the progress...

Cheers,

Sly

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:23 am

I love this thread!!!! I'm going to show my wife the photos of rebuilding the engine in the kitchen.............. Smile

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:24 am

Ok, more progress today!!!
Got the cams in, did the timing and the valve clearance, and finally started on the frame Smile

More tomorrow!!!

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 12:55 am

When did you decide to put it back together, Shocked

after we hung up the phone yesterday? Laughing

Very good to see my friend, you'll be ready for the NE ride now. Wink

Posted: Wed Apr 18, 2012 10:42 pm

Here's some more progress. Next step is to put the engine in the frame.
And then try to start the engine.... Rolling Eyes

For now, that's how it stands:

Pete: yes! We talked on Saturday and Sunday morning I started putting the engine back together Smile

I will not be in town for the spring ride, so even if the bike is ready, I won't be able to go.

Cheers!

Sly

Posted: Thu Apr 19, 2012 1:43 am

LOOKS GREAT!

Nothing like a complete tear down. (and this one was complete!) nice work Very Happy