Ironhead how do I put engine back in frame

[Gold Member]

As you can see I don't have squat for upper body strength. I'm going to have to do it the lazy man's way, whatever that is.

I do have a bit of rubber roofing I can lay on the frame to minimize scratches. I have enough of it so I could cut it away and discard. Frame is painted with VHT paint and I could patch scratches with a spritz and go over it with the heat gun to cure (it cures at 200F for an hour and then it's hard). I think knowing me I'll really bugger up my paint job.

Trans, primary, and cam gears are out and heads are off. I'm not sure I have the confidence to pull the jugs as I had my indie put them on. Maybe if I pull them that would help, but I'd really like to leave them, unless it's a job a noob can do without causing mayhem. On second thought no, too much risk of bending a rod.

I just weighed it, it's about 87 lbs.

I also have a concern about hanging it from the ceiling on straps and snapping off a fin. No obvious way to hang it so it balances etc. They must have assembled the engines in the frame.




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[brucstoudt]

the factory service manual method uses the upper motor mount that connects the 2 cylinders (heads).to rig a come-along to.

[Gold Member]

AHA thanks Bruce Toot! That makes sense, sounds easiest so far, and is doable on my end.

[doodah man]

The only “difficult” thing about removing the cylinders, is getting the piston rings back into the barrels on reassembly if you don’t have a ring compressor tool. Gotta go slow and be careful. And don’t let anything fall down inside the cases.

[flthd31]

Here are some pics of my method. Couldn’t bring myself to lay a fresh frame on its side and and work on my knees getting a detailed motor in there without damage somewhere.

Take the nice front wheel vice you made in your build thread and strap the bike to it to get the frame vertical. Hang the motor with a 1” strap woven around the jugs and wire it to the intake manifold. This will center the weight pretty well so it will lift in a level position. It won’t leave a mark anywhere and no fin paint damage at all. That strap in the pics is rated for 400lbs.

Since you can’t move anything you’ll need to set that bike up close to where you’re hanging the motor . Once it’s hanging, you got all day. I did cover the frame tubes prior to jockeying it in there plus I could move the cherry picker over to meet the frame which helps. I’ve done a few this way with zero problems or damage. Maybe you could borrow an engine hoist from a buddy.