Post by ltdhpp on Feb 19, 2014 19:57:09 GMT -5
... and what to do with the helix!
While I wait another week for my buddy to come inspect the Reflex frorks/frame for stress, I poked around at the helix for a bit. As I went deeper and deeper I found more and more missing nuts/bolts/gaskets and finally no piston! Surprisingly, the excitement that was growing overpowered the disappointment. On a helix, you have immediate access to almost everything you need as soon as you remove the one bolt holding down the seat (it clips into the frame in the back). Also, it looks like you can cleanly unbolt the whole rear sub-frame that holds that horrible bulbous rear end and remove it ALL! This leaves just enough frame to hold the seat and shocks, with plenty of tube to clamp some lights to.
If I can get this thing running for cheap enough, I think I want to do a naked scooter, since it's begging for it. It has lots of broken mounts on the rear panels and is missing the grab bars anyway.
So, back to the engine...
I saw no evidence of why it was taken apart. The cylinder wall and underside of the valves are surprisingly clean. No obvious damage to the rod and the crank turns over smooth by hand. It seems like most everything is there, minus the piston, gaskets, a lot of the hardware, and probably every small piece that gets removed to get there.
A couple things concern me though...
It looks like crud got down into the case. When I pulled the jug off, I found a layer of yard debris crud under it and stuck to what I could see. It looked like somebody mowed the grass next to this while the jug was off...
Also, whoever took it apart didn't know what they were doing. They got the head off without removing the timing chain tensioner, I guess buy unbolting the cam hold-down. So, who knows what else they screwed up.
A couple other things I know are wrong are that the clutch nut is rounded very badly, the front brake is dragging, and the engine mounts are very sloppy.
So, what would you do?
Should I even consider trying to put a top end kit on it since crud got in, or with the chance there is a bad crank bearing or other problem?
Should I try to find a good used clone motor?
A NEW clone motor?
Say there is a loose budget of 500-1500 bucks - if I sell my truck (which I don't really need) I could get that extra grand. Maybe a bit more with some man-whoring...
The idea in general excites me to no end, but the idea of spending more to get there than the price of a Helix that RUNS does not.
While I wait another week for my buddy to come inspect the Reflex frorks/frame for stress, I poked around at the helix for a bit. As I went deeper and deeper I found more and more missing nuts/bolts/gaskets and finally no piston! Surprisingly, the excitement that was growing overpowered the disappointment. On a helix, you have immediate access to almost everything you need as soon as you remove the one bolt holding down the seat (it clips into the frame in the back). Also, it looks like you can cleanly unbolt the whole rear sub-frame that holds that horrible bulbous rear end and remove it ALL! This leaves just enough frame to hold the seat and shocks, with plenty of tube to clamp some lights to.
If I can get this thing running for cheap enough, I think I want to do a naked scooter, since it's begging for it. It has lots of broken mounts on the rear panels and is missing the grab bars anyway.
So, back to the engine...
I saw no evidence of why it was taken apart. The cylinder wall and underside of the valves are surprisingly clean. No obvious damage to the rod and the crank turns over smooth by hand. It seems like most everything is there, minus the piston, gaskets, a lot of the hardware, and probably every small piece that gets removed to get there.
A couple things concern me though...
It looks like crud got down into the case. When I pulled the jug off, I found a layer of yard debris crud under it and stuck to what I could see. It looked like somebody mowed the grass next to this while the jug was off...
Also, whoever took it apart didn't know what they were doing. They got the head off without removing the timing chain tensioner, I guess buy unbolting the cam hold-down. So, who knows what else they screwed up.
A couple other things I know are wrong are that the clutch nut is rounded very badly, the front brake is dragging, and the engine mounts are very sloppy.
So, what would you do?
Should I even consider trying to put a top end kit on it since crud got in, or with the chance there is a bad crank bearing or other problem?
Should I try to find a good used clone motor?
A NEW clone motor?
Say there is a loose budget of 500-1500 bucks - if I sell my truck (which I don't really need) I could get that extra grand. Maybe a bit more with some man-whoring...
The idea in general excites me to no end, but the idea of spending more to get there than the price of a Helix that RUNS does not.
..BAD TO THE BONE..
