Engine Rotate Info / Help

[wiznut]

So my new set of headers to replace my dented ones are getting ceramic coated this week, meaning I will soon have to do my first engine rotate. My plan is to document it in a video how-to for others. What I need in order to do this is any tips or tricks outside of the service manual's guide so that the how-to I do will be as efficient as possible for others down the road. Any information in addition to what I have found already would be great. (I am also trying to get my wife to do the work in the video in a bikini, so help me help you)

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Do-It-Yourself-Buell-Mods/How-to-Engine-Rotation-on-XB-models

http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/3842/182918.html?1163439218

http://www.njdot.us/buell/images/Engine_Rotation.pdf

http://www.ukbeg.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=2159&hilit=engine+rotation

 

[wiznut]

Clearly nobody wants to see a video of a woman in a bikini doing an engine rotate [confused]

 

[dallasb]

Lol thats not the case...just seems like you have already done your homework.

 

[Midnight82]

The big thing that I did that cost me time was disconnect the oil lines to remove that W=Bracket from the bike completely.

You're best bet is to leave all oil lines in tact and let the W-Bracket just hang out when you rotate the motor, it wont go anywhere. You'll still need to undo the steel cable from the engine block and undo the 3 hex bolts from the underside of the frame (air scoop area).

I've rotated my motor 4 times now. It's a cake walk.

 

[Buellysses]

Make your wife bend over to help hold up the engine. That's the best advice I can give you.

Well, that, and use a couple of tie-downs to hold the front of the motor up. I like the cam-lock style (non-ratchet). you can hook them on to the crossmember going across the top of the frame, then loop them over the front and hook them to the front motor mount. (I only did that because I didn't have a jack handy at the time, but it seemed to work really well.

 

[uly luigi]

so, what happened to the vid?

 

[Stangxb12r]

Yes I too am curious about this video, I have to replace rocker box gasket on the rear of motor and this would be very helpful.

 

[wiznut]

Yes I too am curious about this video, I have to replace rocker box gasket on the rear of motor and this would be very helpful

Ended up skipping the vid due to lazyness, sorry!... However I did take a bunch of pics and do a write up...

http://www.buellxb.com/Buell-XB-Forum/Do-It-Yourself-Buell-Mods/How-to-Rotate-your-engine--With-Pics

 

[GregoXB]

If you are rotating your engine to change your headers consider doing it this way instead...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxozheEre64

First time out it might take you 2 hours, but guys have told me they can change their headers in 30 minutes this way.

 

[BimmerFREAK09]

so I understand i'm still a NOOB to buell's but, I've looked through your write up and i've also searched google and can't really find a good answer to my questions.

Why do you need to rotate the motor?
how often?
I really want to ceramic coat my headers, do I need to drop the motor to get them off and back on?
If so, should i go ahead and rotate my motor?

I'd really appreciate your help!!! THANKS!!!!

 

[d_adams]

Why do you need to rotate the motor?
how often?
I really want to ceramic coat my headers, do I need to drop the motor to get them off and back on?
If so, should i go ahead and rotate my motor?

You don't.

There's a writeup on how to remove/replace the header without rotating the engine. Took me an hour or so once I figured out what had to come off the bike. In a nutshell, here's what's gotta come off. Airbox (outer and inner) with the baseplate. Seat, battery, rear shock reservoir, rear brake (feed through the seat pan, leave connected) then the 4 bolts holding the subframe. Front end parts, the 3 bolt bracket (I didn't totally remove this, just left it hanging) that holds the oil cooler, the scoop, both sides if you have them. Support the center of the engine, I used the 1/2 moon bracket and it was fine, lift enough to unload the rear shock. Unbolt the shock, I did the top bolt. Swing the shock out of the way, then the fan. Remove the O2 sensor, then the header nuts. It takes a little bit of wiggling to get it past the front bracket, but it rotates up to the back, then just fish it out from the frame/motor in the back.

This was probably the 2nd thing I did to the XB right after I got it home. 1st thing was a different rear tire and I'd never worked on an XB prior to that.

 

[oh9bolt]

 

[BimmerFREAK09]

Thanks dean and 09bolt!!! I appreciate it!!!