IL4 Big End

Any one done any work to the big end of an IL4 before? Im buying an FZR400 which has just had an engine rebuild new gaskets etc but the person im buying it off didnt have the big end done at the same time, the bike runs but rattles atm its at the place i work and is owned by one of the sales guys and the mechanic who spent a lot of the time rebuilding it has said it sounds like the big end. Well me and my Dad (who has many years of mechanical expertise under his belt) are going to fix it only trouble is my dad has never gone this far with a bike engine, any one got any tips? i have been told to turn the engine upside and work on it that way as it is easiest.
Thanks

Originally Posted by Holdup

Any one done any work to the big end of an IL4 before? Im buying an FZR400 which has just had an engine rebuild new gaskets etc but the person im buying it off didnt have the big end done at the same time, the bike runs but rattles atm its at the place i work and is owned by one of the sales guys and the mechanic who spent a lot of the time rebuilding it has said it sounds like the big end. Well me and my Dad (who has many years of mechanical expertise under his belt) are going to fix it only trouble is my dad has never gone this far with a bike engine, any one got any tips? i have been told to turn the engine upside and work on it that way as it is easiest.
Thanks

downsizing then or keeping the sv??

Keeping SV i want the FZR as a project come summer toy come track bike after my restricttions up

An in-line 4 has 4 big end bearings, not just one. What kind of a knobber does a partial rebuild like that and calls himself a mechanic? If you've already got it then strip everything and check. Do not assume anything or go off what the previous owner/mechanic is telling you. Big ends tend to knock, not rattle. A rattle is usually a little end or valvegear related.

Good luck with your search...

[squirrel_hunter]

Dump the troubled engine and stick a Thundercat lump in there.

More info can be found at 400GreyBike

[yorkie_chris]

If the crank's scored then it's FUBAR really.
If the bottom end trouble has been caused by low oil, then there will be damage elsewhere.

A set of big end shells, main bearings, gaskets etc. is likely to account for most of the cost of a 600 lump. Leaving just carbs etc. to acquire. With the thundercat being a common one in breakers and around then this is unlikely to cost you much.

I can't talk about buying bikes as projects/$hitters ... but it had better be cheap with a f##ked engine!

Originally Posted by Rocket

An in-line 4 has 4 big end bearings, not just one. What kind of a knobber does a partial rebuild like that and calls himself a mechanic? If you've already got it then strip everything and check. Do not assume anything or go off what the previous owner/mechanic is telling you. Big ends tend to knock, not rattle. A rattle is usually a little end or valvegear related.

Good luck with your search...

The owners not a mechanic and i cant remember why he didnt get big end done, Thanks for help though

[yorkie_chris]

Easier said than done to do the big end, for a start it's a full strip down rather than just head and barrels off. Also requires a micrometer and some plastigauge which most people won't have.

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

If the crank's scored then it's FUBAR really.
If the bottom end trouble has been caused by low oil, then there will be damage elsewhere.

A set of big end shells, main bearings, gaskets etc. is likely to account for most of the cost of a 600 lump. Leaving just carbs etc. to acquire. With the thundercat being a common one in breakers and around then this is unlikely to cost you much.

I can't talk about buying bikes as projects/$hitters ... but it had better be cheap with a f##ked engine!

Id hope it wasnt low oil! i will look into putting a 600 in it then, if it comes to the point where it cant go any further then i should get my money back from stripping it

Originally Posted by squirrel_hunter

Dump the troubled engine and stick a Thundercat lump in there.

More info can be found at 400GreyBike

Thanks will look into that

Originally Posted by yorkie_chris

Easier said than done to do the big end, for a start it's a full strip down rather than just head and barrels off. Also requires a micrometer and some plastigauge which most people won't have.

luckily its a project i want to do over time and not rush, im sure my dad can lay his hands on some them if he doesnt own some already