Top end seize

Discussion specific to the 1989 - 1994 (E Series) KDX200 model sold in the USA
User avatar
Julien D
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 5858
Joined: 07:53 pm Nov 07 2008
Country: USA
Contact:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Julien D »

Friedom wrote:Not enough. Your assessment is valid, although I never had a hanging idle to indicate lean conditions (which may or may not matter).
SS109 pointed out that another likely cause was that I was running 87 octane. I didn't know better.

I talked to Millenium Tech today, and they said it would be around $1500 for them to fully rebuild the motor. After a good laugh about that, we whittled it down to replating the cylinder so I could at least sell it off, ported and polished with the piston kit all ready to bolt on.
There's a crank on Ebay finally though, and I'm seriously considering getting that and a fresh head and reassembling it all myself.

"Good job, guys. "

You should, it's really not a bad job. Pretty fun, all in all.
Image
david
Member
Posts: 524
Joined: 08:30 pm Oct 10 2011
Country:
Location: Forney, TX

Re: Top end seize

Post by david »

Friedom wrote: we whittled it down to replating the cylinder so I could at least sell it off, ported and polished with the piston kit all ready to bolt on.
If you are going to sell it, don't waste the money on 'ported and polished'. This is a performance modification designed to wring the last ounce of power and/or move the power band. Just get it repaired and re-plated.
'81 KDX 175
'90 KDX 200
'07 Vulcan 2000 Classic LT (totaled 4/25/15)
'82 Honda GL500 (sold)
'96 ZXi 1100 JetSki
'98 STX 1100 JetSki
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

Julien D wrote:
You should, it's really not a bad job. Pretty fun, all in all.
No doubt about that. It's the ongoing expense that's getting me. The pay/play ratio on this one is a little rough.
david wrote:
If you are going to sell it, don't waste the money on 'ported and polished'. This is a performance modification designed to wring the last ounce of power and/or move the power band. Just get it repaired and re-plated.
I agree. The port and polish was already done before though, thus my interest in saving the cylinder. Has BDK valves in it too.

"Good job, guys. "
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

Well the engine is back, millenium got some money. I bought an 89 crank and had it shipped directly to RB. Should have it back next week (optimistic). New crank bearings and seals waiting for it here. Then reassembly and hope for the best! I should replace the reeds and reed block, but there's light at the end of the tunnel at least.

"Fun Wheel Drive"
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

New rad valve in. Check.
Rebuilt crank with new crank bearings. Check
Cases assembled 3x. Extra o ring on output shaft removed. Check.


"Fun Wheel Drive"
User avatar
KDXGarage
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 14061
Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
Country: United States of America
Location: AL, USA
Contact:

Re: Top end seize

Post by KDXGarage »

Third time is the charm :cool:
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

Jason wrote:Third time is the charm :cool:
Thankfully I had read enough stories about verifying things go together right that I left the left side main bearings out until I was certain that it was ready for assembly. Then I tried dropping it in with freezing bearings/heating the case like I did on the right side, and the bearing went in a whopping 5mm, expanded and got stuck. Nothing some threaded rod and sockets could fix.

"Fun Wheel Drive"
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

She's all together, assembled, torqued, oiled, mounted, broken in and awesome!
Definitely runs better now than last time. Got some rad valves in there, plus I was missing the crush gasket in the exhaust before (didn't know it).
She's pulling 3rd gear wheelies. I didn't expect that!

Now I'm actually interested in getting some good plastics to make it a looker. Any good sources of blue plastic around, by chance?

"Fun Wheel Drive"
User avatar
KDXGarage
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 14061
Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
Country: United States of America
Location: AL, USA
Contact:

Re: Top end seize

Post by KDXGarage »

Congratulations on getting it going!

You may want to try FRP Offroad for blue plastic. I got my blue (aqua) shrouds from him... 14 years ago. :shock: :shock: :shock:

Also, keep a constant eye on eBay. Off color plastic commands a premium, though!
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

Message sent off to frp. 68$. Is that each or for a set? I love my bike, but that's a but much for cosmetics on a dirtbike.


"Fun Wheel Drive"
User avatar
KDXGarage
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 14061
Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
Country: United States of America
Location: AL, USA
Contact:

Re: Top end seize

Post by KDXGarage »

Aftermarket shrouds are almost always sold in pairs, except for the bikes that only came with one radiator.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

Found some blue ones on ebay for a decent price. Hope they look good.
As luck would have it, when I went to run the bike for a short ride yesterday, I started with a warm up and then wanted to dial in the carb. What the? Where'd my air jet go? D'oh! New one will be here next week some time.


"Fun Wheel Drive"
User avatar
KDXGarage
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 14061
Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
Country: United States of America
Location: AL, USA
Contact:

Re: Top end seize

Post by KDXGarage »

Cool that you found some blue plastic. Which parts did you find?
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

Just the side panels. The green shrouds on my white tank are going to stand out even more now.

"Fun Wheel Drive"
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

Anyone know if the wiseco piston bumps the compression ratio? I'm wondering if that's part of the issue that I had with this engine last time.

"Fun Wheel Drive"
User avatar
KDXGarage
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 14061
Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
Country: United States of America
Location: AL, USA
Contact:

Re: Top end seize

Post by KDXGarage »

I think the piston is standard compression. That may have been more than an old piston.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

It was actually a wiseco piston with about 20 hrs on it since a full rebuild.

"Fun Wheel Drive"
User avatar
KDXGarage
KDXRider.net
KDXRider.net
Posts: 14061
Joined: 06:45 am Nov 01 2004
Country: United States of America
Location: AL, USA
Contact:

Re: Top end seize

Post by KDXGarage »

Oh. Nevermind.
Thank you for participating on kdxrider.net. :bravo:
To post pictures from a device: viewtopic.php?f=88&t=24128
Friedom
Supporting Member I
Supporting Member I
Posts: 803
Joined: 08:46 pm Nov 22 2015
Country:

Re: Top end seize

Post by Friedom »

Hey have you rebuilt your top end? Anyone notice that the head nut closest to the spark plug tightens way further down the stud than any of the others?

"Fun Wheel Drive"
User avatar
Tyl3r
Platinum Member
Platinum Member
Posts: 1336
Joined: 06:51 pm Nov 26 2012
Country: USA
Location: SW Pennsylvania

Re: Top end seize

Post by Tyl3r »

I'm pretty sure they should all be even. Maybe your stud isnt threaded into the cylinder as much as the other studs?
05 KX220 Hybrid all decked out
Post Reply