Mounting the ST1100 motor to an engine stand

[DreadPir8]

Hi,

New member and this is my first post!

I've pulled the motor out of my '95 ST1100 and plan to do some work on it (timing belt, idler pulleys, water pump, alternator upgrade, starter etc). It's such a heavy motor and I just have my garage. How do folks in here work on their motors? I was thinking it would be nice to mount on an enine stand, but the location of the upper mounting points make this less than straightforward.

Any advice?

DreadPir8

 

[Uncle Phil]

Most folks do all of that work with the engine in the frame because of that (BTDT).
Since you probably won't be dissembling the engine or pulling the heads you might consider building a wooden cradle for it to rest in.
With some ratchet straps you can make it quite stable.

 

[John OoSTerhuis]

Most folks do all of that work with the engine in the frame because of that (BTDT).

What Phil sez. Leave it in the frame. JMHO

John

 

[DreadPir8]

Thanks for your replies, gents. I should have mentioned that I'm actually swapping in another motor (from an older ST1100) as the current one is locked up. I'll take your advice on building a wooden cradle for it - as it isn't very stable on the garage floor (ask me how I know

I'll need to do the maintenance items I mentioned above to the older motor, along with swapping the alternator to a 40A.

Once the motor is back in the bike I may well take the heads off the newer motor to see exactly what happened to it.

DreadPir8

 

[ST Gui]

Welcome aboard Matey!

 

[SupraSabre]

When I did a ST1300 engine swap, I cheated!



I then used the tractor to lift the engine so I could put it on a "mount" I made so I could get to the areas of the engine I needed to, to replace seals and other parts.

 

[ST1100Y]

A sturdy scissor-jack helps a great deal; precise height adjustment, and its metal base can be gently slid and wiggled around on that bike-lift...






Didn't even need to pull the alternator, but I'd suggest to remove the big center t/belt cover to ease clearing that LH downward frame prong.

Picking it up/relocating worked astonishingly easy without braking my back:
once rotated 90° out to the left, rest both cam pulley cases on your knees, grab heads/cylinders on the rear and tilt the 92kg hulk up so the weight rests on your tibia bones,
turn to the side and gentle place engine on box, or cart prepared aside...
Throwing it (or the replacement motor) back in reverse order; I temporarily secured the scissor jack on the bike lift plate, so it wouldn't slide away while I'm wiggling the engine back on.
(alternatively you can have your skinny, lightweight GF insisting on giving your a hand (only 46kg/100lbs per person), who then reacts pretty astonished with "...wow, this went easy!..." )

Once the engine rests on the jack, gentle push, slide and rotate the set underneath the bike/frame while raising the jack accordingly so all parts clear the frame with ease...

 

[ST1100Y]

When I did a ST1300 engine...

Shoo!!!

 

[kiltman]

along with swapping the alternator to a 40A.

This may hang you up when reinstalling the motor in the frame. I seem to recall that the cover of the alternator needs to be trimmed in order to get it to fit properly in the 1990-95 model year frames.

 

[gcos]

Thanks for your replies, gents. I should have mentioned that I'm actually swapping in another motor (from an older ST1100) as the current one is locked up. I'll take your advice on building a wooden cradle for it - as it isn't very stable on the garage floor (ask me how I know

I'll need to do the maintenance items I mentioned above to the older motor, along with swapping the alternator to a 40A.

Once the motor is back in the bike I may well take the heads off the newer motor to see exactly what happened to it.

DreadPir8

Have a look at Alan Millyard on youtube who removed, repaired and re installed an ST1100 engine recently on his own with basic equipment. You will surely get some piece of useful info there.