Fitting cylinder barrels - more difficult with the engine case in the frame?

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Looking ahead to when I have to fit the pistons & barrels I was thinking how much easier it would be to fit the engine into the frame beforehand as it will be a bit lighter & easier to manoever into position.

Does it make fitting the block & pistons harder when the casing is in the frame?

[Nurse Julie]

Its much easier doing the way you plan Ted. There is plenty of room and clearance to get the pistons / barrels / head etc on with the bottom end already in the frame.

[400 Cafe Racer]

Looking ahead to when I have to fit the pistons & barrels I was thinking how much easier it would be to fit the engine into the frame beforehand as it will be a bit lighter & easier to manoever into position.

Does it make fitting the block & pistons harder when the casing is in the frame?

Hi Ted,

Those piston gudgeon circlips can be little sods to get in and have a strong spring action as you may have found when removing the old ones. As a precaution I decided to fit the circlips to the pistons before putting the rods on the crank to ensure nothing would fly off and disappear into the crankcase. Once the engine is in the frame you can't invert it to "tip out" any nasties that drop in there.

As Julie says, for weight reasons it is easier to handle the engine into the frame just part built without the block. My thoughts for myself were, that i would rather not be putting the circlips in place with it is already in the frame. I just wrapped the pistons well and padded all gaps during the lifting in process.

I put the sump on before lifting in, and placed a small trolley jack (padded) under the frame ready to take the weight of the engine while aligning to get the mounting bolts in line.

Just my way FWIW.

Good luck with the rest of the assembly.

Dennis

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

Looking ahead to when I have to fit the pistons & barrels I was thinking how much easier it would be to fit the engine into the frame beforehand as it will be a bit lighter & easier to manoever into position.

Does it make fitting the block & pistons harder when the casing is in the frame?

Hi Ted,

Those piston gudgeon circlips can be little sods to get in and have a strong spring action as you may have found when removing the old ones. As a precaution I decided to fit the circlips to the pistons before putting the rods on the crank to ensure nothing would fly off and disappear into the crankcase. Once the engine is in the frame you can't invert it to "tip out" any nasties that drop in there.

As Julie says, for weight reasons it is easier to handle the engine into the frame just part built without the block. My thoughts for myself were, that i would rather not be putting the circlips in place with it is already in the frame. I just wrapped the pistons well and padded all gaps during the lifting in process.

I put the sump on before lifting in, and placed a small trolley jack (padded) under the frame ready to take the weight of the engine while aligning to get the mounting bolts in line.

Just my way FWIW.

Good luck with the rest of the assembly.

Dennis

That sounds very logical I will do the same - thanks for the tip.
Just one further question can it be done with the oil filter housing in place or must it be off - it's such a useful handhold when moving an engine around?

[Bryanj]

If no top end it can be done but the angle is wierd

[400 Cafe Racer]

Looking ahead to when I have to fit the pistons & barrels I was thinking how much easier it would be to fit the engine into the frame beforehand as it will be a bit lighter & easier to manoever into position.

Does it make fitting the block & pistons harder when the casing is in the frame?

Hi Ted,

Those piston gudgeon circlips can be little sods to get in and have a strong spring action as you may have found when removing the old ones. As a precaution I decided to fit the circlips to the pistons before putting the rods on the crank to ensure nothing would fly off and disappear into the crankcase. Once the engine is in the frame you can't invert it to "tip out" any nasties that drop in there.

As Julie says, for weight reasons it is easier to handle the engine into the frame just part built without the block. My thoughts for myself were, that i would rather not be putting the circlips in place with it is already in the frame. I just wrapped the pistons well and padded all gaps during the lifting in process.

I put the sump on before lifting in, and placed a small trolley jack (padded) under the frame ready to take the weight of the engine while aligning to get the mounting bolts in line.

Just my way FWIW.

Good luck with the rest of the assembly.

Dennis

That sounds very logical I will do the same - thanks for the tip.
Just one further question can it be done with the oil filter housing in place or must it be off - it's such a useful handhold when moving an engine around?

Hi Ted,
I left the filter housing off.