Parting Out a Motorcycle

Good Answer.... I would also add that if you're going to take the gear box apart - do that as a separate job and take lots of pictures of the internals as you work...

I found that an indelible marker is useful to mark the cogs / pinions etc...

John

PS - I've just read to the end of the thread so 'parting out' is easy peasey

Take it apart. Take pictures of the parts and sell those parts on EBay.

The way I see it, the real value is the engine\transmission. The price for that should be approximately the same value as the bike in it's current condition. If you can't get decent dollar value for that, why not just sell the bike as is, and save yourself some aggravation.

But if you can get the fair amount for the engine\transmission, them you should make some additional money for your effort by selling the wheels, tires, seat and handlebars. I would think that any other parts that you sell beyond that will be a blessing. Good luck.

OK at the count of three start telling me why I am wrong.

Due to the increased cost of fuel the bike may be worth more than you paid for it. A good manual will tell you up front what tools are needed and how long the procedure may take to complete as well as pointers of associated information and sources if you need help. Or MSG Del

I was going to strip it out and sell it, but my brother-in-law now wants to buy it. I liked the bike a lot, so while I probably could get more money for it the other way, I'd rather know someone is still riding it.

Thanks for all of the suggestions. They were really helpful when I was trying to figure out how involved of a process this was!

The clutch is an easy and inexpensive DIY project (painless compared to a clutch job on a car.)

You can get a replacement speedo at a scrap yard. One that specializes in bikes. Ask around and you should be able to find someone capable of rolling the odometer to where it should be.

The head bearings should be available. Check some of the online parts places. Some of them specialize in Honda.

Parting it out would be no fun. You "can" make more than what you likely paid but you'll be sitting on a room full of parts for a while. I've got 2 Honda CB basket cases that I'm not sure what I'll do with. I paid a few hundred bucks for them in working order. I've taken the parts I needed for a CB400 restoration. Their next stop will likely be the metal recycling center if I get no bites on Craigslist.

That is good to know. I saw that prices for clutch parts on Ebay were pretty reasonable, but I know how crazy (expensive/difficult) it is for a DIYer to replace one on a car, so I assumed (wrongly) that it was a similar deal.

When working on motorcycles, or anything with a lot of aluminum threaded things, the first tool on your list must be an impact screwdriver. It will be your friend.

Excellent link!!

I give you a good answer just for that. But the rest was equally informative.

Agreed. Excellent resource. Thanks!

What a shame about the cam wear. Were you using synthetic oil? What do you think about extreme pressure additives to the oil?

Yes, I used the bloody expensive Redline synthetic oils but that engine still ate its cams. I would personally stay away from additives. I have never heard any positive third party research into their efficacy and there have been a number of instances where the side effects were worse than the symptoms. Given that most motorbikes use a wet clutch, additives can have some serious effects on clutch operation. Proceed with caution.

I eventually sold it in 1992 after having ridden it for 40,000+ miles. Hated to see it go, but I had two young children at the time and had less time for riding let alone time tinkering away in the garage. Sixteen years later, I still have my VF500F Interceptor and now I own an '06 Buell Ulysses as well which keeps me entertained quite nicely out on the back roads. The four kids are older now and we take them all out trail riding.

It's nice once they get older (except for the usual teenage issues )

Cheers!

That is good to know. I know that oil with moly can destroy your clutch totally, but I just learned that in about the last month or so (finally, something learned NOT the hard way).

If you decide to do the work yourself, you MUST buy the manual and use a torque wrench as not doing this will cause you to strip out important threads......they are repairable with a special Helicoil set, at a price......so do not take the risk.

A German saying, loosely translated says that when tightening up screws and bolts " After very tight comes very loose! ".....

das ist goot!

I spent a month in Germany earlier in the year and that is about all I remember. That, and I call my German Sheppard "Das Hund!"

I thought about buying a torque wrench and was pleased to learn that my father in law has one. That is a great saying, and so true.