Cafe Vision maiden Voyage

[Rick G]

The water in Luckys cafe engine was likely the result of being parked out doors in the rain, not as a result of a failure in the cooling system or head gasket . I've torn down several visions with a bad cylinder,  damaged beyound use by water getting in to the cylinders through open intake valves. If its caught in time ( as lucky must have )  repeated oil changes will flush it all out and save the engine .
The ones I've come accross  were not so fortunate . The rings in one cylinder or the other,  were rusted to the bore and the pistons had to be driven out  using a wooden block and a large hammer .

[YellowJacket!]

Dang.  How'd I miss this post.  I need to come to goin riding more often.

I've been to Lucky's a couple times while he was workin gon his new cafe V and I must say that wen he is done with it, it is going to be a really nice bike.  The scary thing is that for a bike that was so badly neglected and sat outside for so long, it starts up a lot easier than YJ or Luckys regular rider!!

David

[Tiger]

The scary thing is that for a bike that was so badly neglected and sat outside for so long, it starts up a lot easier than YJ or Luckys regular rider!!

David

:) It should do 'cause its.......steam driven :o ;D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D :D... ;)

[jasonm.]

Here's something many forget. ONLY the heads and cylinder are liquid cooled. So if there is coolant getting in...it's thru the head gasket. A bad pump seal will only and should only leak out the "weep hole" by the thermo housing.  There is steam and there is white smoke. White smoke is 90% of the time a head gasket. I suggest pulling the radiator, valve covers etc. and retorquing the head. I did this on my '82 for other reasons. You just need the proper tool to do this. An 8mm allen socket designed to reach. I made mine from and long 8mm and fit into a socket and cut it to just clear the cam caps. FYI, you may have to remove some bearing caps from the cams. AND may not be able to actually geta a torque wrench in everywhere. Then you use the 1/4 rule. Loosen the head nut 1-2 full turns squirt oil around the nut. Then retorque 1/4 turn tighter than before.MARK the ALLEN.  DO this one nut at a time. NOT all at once. Otherwise you could loose the "sealing properties" of the gasket.