1980 XJ 650 Engine Removal?

OK I've been searching for most of my morning for this.

I want to remove the engine from my 1980 XJ 650 for paint and polishing along with cleaning, buffing and repair to the engine and frame. User Wizard posted a few times about laying the bike on the side and just lifting the frame off....this sounds the best, as I'm alone in my garage 99% of the time and I tend to work on the bike at odd hrs, help is hard to find.

Is there a wright-up on this, or a little more instruction? Be damed if I can find it Please feel free to shoot me tips and advice. I have been documenting the revival of this bike and plan on uploading the transformation once complete.

Things like, does the shaft drive need to be disconnected from the engine?
I assume the rear wheel needs to be removed.
It would be easier with the front end off?
Really only a few parts of the wiring go directly to the motor. So if they were unhookd and tied up out of the way, easy??

Thanks,
af226

 

Carbs off, bracket for the clutch cable off, make sure any engine mounting bolts you leave have the nuts to the right, rear wheel off, final drive off, remove the 4 bolts from the final drive before removing the rear wheel as you need to lock it with a piece of wood (through the spokes & against the swing arm), lay the bike on it's right side, on something soft, pull the remaining bolts & lift the frame off, the more you can take off the easier/lighter it will be, i.e. front end (optional). Starter lead, gen' lead & pick up wires, pull the connectors.

 

Awesome thanks.

af226

 

And do not forget to remove the oil filter housing!

Ghost

 

Personally, I find that it's just as easy to straddle the frame, reach down and lift the engine up and slide it out to the side.; I make a little platform for the engine to slide onto ahead of time. My advantage is long legs and long arms. BUt I've done it the otherway, too. Either way works, I just don't like getting the engine dirty on the side. Thats all.....

dave

 

You can always try this. I would only advise about the fluids that may come off. don't do it on the lawn unless you want a dead patch of grass and chemicals leaching into your drinking water (most likely).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TT88Yb4ED_c

 

ive got the same deal goin on so any help would be awsome iam doin a 650 into a hardtail also what is the best way to take the oxidation an crap out the fins on the engine..

 

Get the motor soda blasted.

 

Wouldn't soda blasting get all sorts of crap in the motor? I wasn't looking to rebuild the engine, its in good shape with good compression. I was thinking of cleaning as best I can then painting if necessary. Carefully cleaning with Simple Green and 800 grit wet paper should do the trick?

af226

 

I've done a bunch of them, I just plug the inlet & exhaust ports with strips of oily rag, but even if the medium gets into the mill it just desolves, & will cause no harm.

 

Or if you want to be cheap, suffer & sweat a bit you could get some wire wheels for the drill and scrub them fins out one at a time... But it's slow going, nasty ally oxide dust flying round that you don't want to breathe & you still have to plug the ports... and it doesn't dissolve if it does get in the motor :? Soda FTW

 

Well motor is out. Thats for the info Wizard. It got jammed but remove the horn and slipped the frame right over. Now to clean the grease and grime off. Not sure if I can afford soda blast on my budget.

Any one have an idea who is good in Toronto area? And how much?

af226