Randys Cycle Service & Restoration: Engine & Transmission Rebuilding

ENGINE & TRANSMISSSION REBUILD

We're often asked how much it will cost to rebuild an engine. We don't have a

set price as every engine is different. Our examples below (scroll down) indicate

the approximate cost $ for that particular job. Our labor rate is $120 per hour.

Turn around time = 3 months.

We don't accept engines or bikes that have been heavily modified

We don't work on race bikes or do performance work (ONLY stock vehicles)

We do not rebuild engines unless they are for use in stock bikes. No customs

We don't sell engines

We don't work on modern/current motorcycles

We don't do "piecemeal" work. No valve job, cylinder boring, or transmission

work unless we do an entire engine rebuild on a complete bike with properly

functioning brake, steering, wheels & electrical systems

We require the entire bike to do an engine rebuild so we may properly test

ride, tune & synchronize our work with the rest of the bike - EXCEPTION is Honda

CB750 SOHC (early 70s) engines. We have a test stand only for SOHC engines so the

entire bike will not be needed. Stock carbs must be provided & will be rebuilt (at an

additional cost) along with the engine and anything else that's wrong with the bike.

If there are other mechanical problems with the vehicle, they will be repaired

prior to test riding. Stock Carburetors will be rebuilt along with the engine at an

additional cost.

2-stroke projects will be accepted on a case-by-case basis. If accepted,

they will require cylinder boring, new piston(s) & new rings. 2-strokes used for

highway use (over 45 mph) will NOT be accepted.

All projects are subject to review and may not be accepted.

Want us to rebuild your engine? Before contacting us, familiarize yourself with our

prices (see Directory or simply scroll down), Estimate Process, $180 Estimate Fee

& Restoration Agreement. When you're ready to proceed, contact us via email

(info@rcycle.com) with detailed answers to the following questions AND detailed

photos of the motorcycle and engine:

Your full name, address, daytime phone number & email address

Year, make & model of the vehicle

Is the bike 100% stock with no modifications?

Why do you feel the engine needs to be rebuilt?

What is your budget for this rebuild?

When & who worked on this bike previously?

Who will be servicing the bike after the rebuild?

What issues/damage/missing parts does the engine or bike have?

Are you wanting top end, bottom end or a complete engine rebuild?

Does the engine have broken bolts or fins?

Are the carburetor(s) stock? (They will be required and rebuilt at an additional cost.)

Will you be providing any new parts?

Will the engine need crankshaft balancing?

Want cosmetic work like polishing, zinc plating, media blasting, painting or stainless steel bolts?

The engine is ready for its first test run & fine tuning.

To see & hear the engine run, click here.

Do you wwn an early British bike or BMW? Wondering if you should bother going into the bottom end and having the sludge trap cleaned or oil slinger serviced? Take a look at what we found in a recent bottom end service on 1972 Triumph Bonneville T120R.

Notice how the sludge trap opening is almost completely filled. Had this completely filled and not been cleaned out, oil would not be able to reach the rod bearings and could cause serious engine damage.

The final step in our total engine rebuilding is to run/start the engine & create a video.

This intensive, 100% rebuild with paint, polishing, re-chroming & many new parts = 34 labor hours.

The shiny bits you see in this debris are tiny metal shavings from the internals of the engine such as bearing material.

Some of the many parts that make up a Honda CB750 engine. Parts have been cleaned & bead blasted

1970 Honda CB750 KO engine, complete rebuild - top & bottom @ $4,500 US project

Disassembly of the engine

Randy taping the engine prior to painting

Reassembly of the engine

We created several

1-minute videos to

keep our customer

current on the progress of the rebuild.

Video 1 & 2 shows the

many parts from the engine.

Video 3 shows the engine reassembled.

Video 4 is of the engine running on our own custom- designed engine test stand.

Click to play Video 1

Click to play Video 2

Click to play Video 3

Click to play Video 4

To View All our motorcycle videos on YouTube.com,

click here.

The completed, painted & polished engine.

To see several more pictures of this engine rebuild, click here.

Separated by over 35 years, but the Technology is still the same ...

Example of Primary Chain designs

2005 Harley Davisdon Road King

Directory of Engine Work

Below is a sample of the engines we've worked on. We service all makes & models.

Pricing is an estimate, not a final amount.

Carburetors must be provided and will be rebuilt along with the engine for an additional cost.

For more examples of the various bikes we've serviced & restored, visit Restoration.

* Examples below are Not for Sale *

BSA Rocket III

BSA Spitfire

Honda CA110

Honda CB750 (1)

Honda CB750 (2)

Honda CB750 (3)

Honda CB750 (4)

Honda CL350

Honda GL1000

Harley Davidson

Kawasaki KZ1000

Kawasaki GPZ550

Royal Enfield

Suzuki

Triumph Bonneville (1)

Triumph Bonneville (2)

Triumph Bonneville (3)

Yamaha

Push Rod Seals

Setting Ignition Timing

This is what it means to "split the cases."

Bottom end engine cases, connecting rods, and the oil pump.

Below that is the cylinder head, piston & piston pins from a 1972 Triumph Bonneville T120R which took 18 hours to remove from the frame, re-build, and re-install.

@ $4,500 US project

Complete engine (top & bottom) rebuild & transmission rebuild of a 1980 Suzuki GS 1000 took 20 hours of labor + parts

Push Rod Seals on a British bike (and some Harley & a few early Japanese) can be mistakenly pinched or squashed during installation and lead to annoying, oily leaks.

We carefully choose the correct sizes and install our top & bottom seals to be sure they do not

pinch or tear during installation.

Setting the Ignition Timing on a 1972 Triumph Bonneville T120R

Top end engine rebuild on a 1978 Yamaha DT 175E took 7 hours + parts @ $1,500 US

Top end Engine rebuild of a 1972 Honda CB750 K2 Four. It was rebuild for a restoration that took over 7 months to complete. The engine rebuild required 25 hours of labor & included a review of the clutch & transmission. @ $4,800 project

Complete engine rebuild (top & bottom) of a 1967 BSA Spitfire Mark III

This rebuild took 16 hours + parts @ $2,900 US

New

Bearings

Old

Bearings

Top end engine rebuild of a 1977 Kawasaki KZ1000 A-1. This rebuild took 14 hours + parts @ $2,800 US

Randy organizing the engine valves

& springs

Complete Engine rebuild of a 1969 Triumph Bonneville T120R. The bike had been "restored" by another shop, but after only 3 miles, the engine leaked oil so badly the customer brought it to us to be rebuild. The customer had the crank shaft balanced by House of Balance in Maryland. When it returned to us, this top & bottom end engine rebuild with engine case polishing required 19 hours of labor + parts. @ $4,000 US project

Engine cases after being cleaned Randy installing new bearings

crankshaft & parts to be sent out for balancing

Timing gears being removed

Bottom end engine cases

Getting ready to go back into frame

Timing gear & oil pump lubricated

Clutch basket & belt drive primary

Complete engine rebuild of a 1971 Honda CL350 K3. Click HERE to see a 3-minute video discussing the engine disassembly and engine parts. This rebuild took 16 hours + parts @ $3,500 US

Painted & clear coated engine covers

Clean, organized & ready for re-assembly

Complete top & bottom engine rebuild with full cosmetics &

performance work + carburetor rebuild

1974 Honda CB750 K4 with Wiseco 836 Big Bore Kit

This rebuild is estimated to take 50 hours + parts @ $6,500 US

Complete top & bottom engine rebuild

(no polishing) of a

1968 Triumph Bonneville T120R

The reason this engine is being profiled is because it was "rebuilt" by a professional motorcycle mechanic. Our pictures will illustrate the difference between their version of a rebuild and our version of an engine rebuild.

This rebuild is estimated to take 18 hours + parts @ $3,500 US