Newbie

[Snakeoil]

Hi,

I'm a new Monza Jr. owner. Please have pity on me. It was a gift so, so far, my investment has been nil other than a few skinned shins from it being in the way in my shed. I banished it to the shed since it was a non-running bike.

Engine is stuck and it is... fugly. Tool boxes are missing. Kick start lever was gone, but friend gave me one, which I promptly replated and is now the best looking part of the bike.

I put 50/50 atf/acetone in the jug and it's been there since last fall. I checked it the other day and level is right where it was when I filled it. So, the piston/rings/jug are superbly joined by the forces of nature. Still will not budge with the kick start.

The bike now sits in my barn and I'm seriously considering it for a summer therapy project.



I did take a look at the bevel drive and the valve gear. Looks pretty good.





From what I've been told, yellow pain on the cam means the hot 125 cam is in the engine, which I understand was common for many. So, off to a good start.

So, it has potential. Once I get the piston free, I'll probably get the urge to keep going. Won't be a stock restoration. Not worth it. But it could make a nice little giro bike in a quasi-racer trim.

regards,
Rob

[450duke]

Hi Newbie
My suggestion is for you to purchase Tom Baileys Masterbook Workshop Manual. He has a chapter in there with good suggestions to free up a motor. The book has a lot of useful information and is well worth the few dollars it costs. Also it's not a real good idea to keep bashing away on the kick starter as you will most likely only cause more grief and not free up the motor anyway..
Cheers
Paul

[Snakeoil]

Not bashing on the kick starter. Was just giving it a poke once in awhile.

Thanks for the tip on the book. I'll check it out. So many resto books are disappointing that I tend to be a bit gunshy now. Lots of basic stuff, but no nitty-gritty detail stuff.

regards,
Rob

[CaptonZap]

So as not to irritate 450duke further, you might try this to attempt to turn the motor over.
Place the bike on the center stand, or a lift, so that the rear wheel is off of the ground. Put the transmission in top gear. There will be some slack in the drive train, so turn the wheel until it stops, then smartly turn the wheel the other way. When you reach that stop, turn it smartly back the other way.
The elements in the drive train will not be subjected to any more force than they would be subjected to during normal operations, and the back and forth motion of the piston will help free it up. Heating the cylinder up with a torch might also help, but be careful with a flame, if that is what you use, so as not to melt a fin. Some oil on the fins will start smoking around 450 deg F, so if it smokes, reduce the heat. and remember that it will take some time for the heat to migrate into the barrel.
An industrial hor air gun would be a better method, but if you don't have one, "run what ya brung".

CZ

[Nick]

Pull the head off. You can then put a scissors jack between the engine and upper frame rail. Use that to try and free the piston. Repeatedly heating the cyl and letting a cool will also help. Try some Liquid Wrench too.

If all else fails you can try rapping on the top of the piston with a piece of wood and hammer, just don't go crazy....

If the jack works you can probably re-use the piston; if you pound on it too much you can't.