CA77 Engine/Free Up

[hondadreamca77]

Anyone ever use a chain wrench on the stator to free a CA77 engine? I plan to wrap several layers of rubber on the Stator first to avoid gouging it....thoughts?

[MRiesAP]

I was just thinking about attempting this with a oil filer wrench or strap wrench. Let me know how it goes.

[hondadreamca77]

Will do. This motor is seized from sitting up; mileage only 5K. A chain wrench should be much stronger than a strap wrench so I plan on using a breaker bar, heating the cylinders, and giving it "gentle" but definite persuasion. I don't want to snap the crank or rods...... cylinder bores have been soaking in oil six months now.

[conbs]

If you have to wrench on it too hard, 1) You are liable to break something. 2) Your pistons may be rusted to your cylinders so badly that you are going to have to tear down your engine anyway.

That said, these engines apparently do have a propensity to lock up from sitting. First, you should spend some time with the search engine on this site. A lot of people have gone through this before. There is much you can learn from them.

Before you get your chain wrench out, mix up some 50/50 ATF and Acetone penetrating oil. Squirt some in both spark plug holes. See if either side leaks down. Its a good idea to drain the oil first and let the penetrating oil drain out the drain plug. If either/both doesn't leak out of the cylinder remember that it is going to come back out the spark plug hole if you break things loose. Keep the sides of the cylinders covered with rags.

After you let the penetrating oil soak for several days (sometimes it takes a couple weeks), try putting your bike in 4th gear and rocking it back and forth to see if it will break loose. If it does, that may be a signal that the cylinders are not that bad. Even if you do have to rebuild your motor, if you can get it to break loose, it will make dis-assembly much easier. Be gentle. If a ring is rusted in just one spot and you force the rest to move it could break a ring that you might be able to save with gentle persuasion. Rust is your enemy in the cylinders, but I have seen motors that were locked up pretty badly get freed up and run pretty well.

Good luck with your project.

[hondadreamca77]

Thanks! Cylinders have been soaking for 6 months. Plan on tearing it down and new rings etc. anyway as this is a frame up restore. My addage is better plan to free it up first before rebuild if all possible. Much easier to tear into if its free.

[conbs]

6 months is more than long enough for your penetrating oil to work if it is going to. If you cant' free it up search for LM's method of using a chicken foot puller to push the pistons out.

Remember to cover up the spark plug holes with something to keep the oil from squirting all over the place.

[hondadreamca77]

The chain wrench worked. I cover wrapped the stator good and then gently using a breaker bar began rocking it and it moved on about the fifth rock. Oil squirted out one side of plug hole about ten feet. Apparently only one side was locked up (the side sitting exposed 30 years). Compression is great after pulling it over 25 times with strong air coming out of both spark plug holes at top strokes. Needless to say, I am very HAPPY about this.

You too can use a chain wrench if you are careful; proven fix! Just be patient and don't approach it like a wrecking ball..