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SOHC.co.uk Forums => CB350/400 => Topic started by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 05, 2021, 11:40:51 AM

Title: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 05, 2021, 11:40:51 AM
My brother is visiting me in the morning to help me lift out the engine - it will be more a case of him lifting with me directing the process.

I am wondering does anyone know the approximate weight of the engine minus the sump, head & block ?

Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: Nurse Julie on February 05, 2021, 01:50:01 PM
I don't know the precise weight Ted but if it helps, I can just about pick it up on my own but I wouldn't want to carry it too far 😁😁😁😁
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: robvangulik on February 05, 2021, 04:27:43 PM
A complete engine weighs just under 60 kilo's
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: Laverda Dave on February 05, 2021, 09:43:29 PM
I lifted the Kawasaki Z400 engine out on my own a couple of weeks ago. The head and barrels were removed along with the sump, starter motor and clutch. It was still heavy but manageable on my own just a bit awkward lifting it out. It's a lot easier lifting the engine out of a frame that's going to be repainted, it's something else putting it back into a newly painted frame on your own!
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: taysidedragon on February 06, 2021, 12:22:25 AM
I weighed one without the top end recently to work out the carriage charge Ted. 😉

It was approximately 35kg, noticeably easier to lift than the whole lump.
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: Nurse Julie on February 06, 2021, 08:34:37 AM
I weighed one without the top end recently to work out the carriage charge Ted. 😉

It was approximately 35kg, noticeably easier to lift than the whole lump.
I most certainly couldn't lift a complete engine on my own. But as I said previously, I can just about lift a bottom end so it sounds like 35kg is my absolute limit 😊😊😊
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: Laverda Dave on February 06, 2021, 10:45:50 AM
I weighed one without the top end recently to work out the carriage charge Ted. 😉

It was approximately 35kg, noticeably easier to lift than the whole lump.
I most certainly couldn't lift a complete engine on my own. But as I said previously, I can just about lift a bottom end so it sounds like 35kg is my absolute limit 😊😊😊

That sounds like the benefits of eating three Weetabix for breakfast Julie 🙂
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 06, 2021, 12:05:20 PM
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50913807503_f398c64b77_k.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/2kz5zai)engine out on a NJ engine mount (https://flic.kr/p/2kz5zai) by Macabe Thiele (https://www.flickr.com/photos/187487200@N03/), on Flickr


My brother (Paul) came over to visit this morning - we two handed the engine lift initially me on the left side he on the right.
Momentarily rested the engine on the frame when it was 90% out - this enabled Paul to move his grip for the lift out onto a slab of Kinspan.
I think I had overthought the weight & difficulty. I did casually mention that NJ could lift an engine out unaided so this spurned him on.lol

Can you refit the engine with the sump attached but without cylinder head?
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: taysidedragon on February 06, 2021, 12:48:03 PM
No. Sump has to stay off.
The weight I quoted was without clutch, alternator and starter motor!! Well done getting it out. Onwards and upwards now, subject to 'the boss' of course. 👍
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: Bryanj on February 06, 2021, 12:53:25 PM
You can refit the engine complete, Honda did on the line, its just easier to fit only the bottom half as the top will build in the frame
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: Nurse Julie on February 06, 2021, 12:58:58 PM
Great work Ted. On the subject of lifting engines, you would never see anything as funny as Trig and myself lifting fully assembled CB750/4 engines. I really do use every scrap of strength I can muster to help take the weight but my goodness, they are heavy. Trig always has a little energy left though to shout at me telling me I'm not holding it right and I'm going to drop it 🙄🙄🙄
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: taysidedragon on February 06, 2021, 01:02:50 PM
You can refit the engine complete, Honda did on the line, its just easier to fit only the bottom half as the top will build in the frame

Did they? There's not enough room with the sump on and breather cover, oil filter fitted.
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: philward on February 06, 2021, 02:05:03 PM
Great work Ted. On the subject of lifting engines, you would never see anything as funny as Trig and myself lifting fully assembled CB750/4 engines. I really do use every scrap of strength I can muster to help take the weight but my goodness, they are heavy. Trig always has a little energy left though to shout at me telling me I'm not holding it right and I'm going to drop it 🙄🙄🙄

On the 750's I've built, I've managed to lift the engine off the bench on to progressiveiey lower (by a foot lower at a time) until lower frame level onto a blocked wooded platform, put plastic plumbing pipe (cut in half) taped to frame rails to protect the paint, shimmy engine partly into frame, then leaned over frame (resting chest on upper frame) and lift and manoeuvre engine into position - my assistant (Mrs Ward) then pokes the bolts into engine.
Taking the engine out the same but used a tolley jack to do the lifting as high as possible (non back breaking height wereby I can use leg strength) to then manually lift to the bench.
Heavy but managable. 40 years of daily press ups/chin ups/running has probably helped!
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: Laverda Dave on February 06, 2021, 03:19:33 PM
Here's how I put it back into the frame Ted. Engine on the floor and lifted the frame over it. I put a couple of engine bolts in and put the sump on followed by the wheels and just lifted it up, nice and easy.
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: Bryanj on February 06, 2021, 03:48:17 PM
I had a "factory" picture years ago but lost it in one of my moves, sure it showed the engine as a lump but i an old now and Guinness doesnt do the brain cells at lot of good!!@
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: ka-ja on February 06, 2021, 07:48:33 PM
Definately dropping the frame over the engine is the easy option, even easier without the forks fitted, but it really helps to fit the sump after fitting the engine.
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 07, 2021, 11:49:35 AM
Yes I agree fitting the sump asap is a good idea to prevent possible damage & keep put contamination of any sort.
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: SeanFD on February 08, 2021, 08:20:01 AM
To put my 400 engine back in, I put a couple of lengths of threaded rod through the mounting holes, and then myself and assistant simply picked it up and, with some bubble wrap around the frame, put it in. It was easy - sump and oil filter were off

The 750 was a different matter: involving some pulleys mounted on a home made “gantry”, a couple of webbing ties, and a different assistant. No pics sadly, but one of a later effort involving a 450K1 gives the general idea

[attach=1]
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 08, 2021, 09:36:15 AM
To put my 400 engine back in, I put a couple of lengths of threaded rod through the mounting holes, and then myself and assistant simply picked it up and, with some bubble wrap around the frame, put it in. It was easy - sump and oil filter were off

The 750 was a different matter: involving some pulleys mounted on a home made “gantry”, a couple of webbing ties, and a different assistant. No pics sadly, but one of a later effort involving a 450K1 gives the general idea

(Attachment Link)

That sounds nice & easy what size rod / thread did you use or was it garage left overs?
I threw all my steel offcut bits & bobs about 30 years ago!
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: K2-K6 on February 08, 2021, 09:52:38 AM
To protect frame finishes I've always used newspaper quite thick and wrapped round the tubes then secured with masking tape.  Very resistant to any contact, cheap and easy to slit the tape and pull out when installed.

For supporting an engine without work frame bolted to it, an old car tire is effective to sit it in any orientation.
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: SeanFD on February 08, 2021, 09:56:43 AM
That sounds nice & easy what size rod / thread did you use or was it garage left overs?
I threw all my steel offcut bits & bobs about 30 years ago!

I honestly can't remember off the top of my head, and I am not in the same place as the bike now to check.

I think it was M10 for the front and M12 at the back lower mounting points. The parts book doesn't give sizes, but the mounting points I used are shown here:

[attach=1]

And the bolts here:

[attach=2]

Just see what'll fit in. Length wise, they just have to be long enough to allow you a good hold, so longer than the bolts, but if they are too long, they may start to bend - threaded rod that is.
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: SeanFD on February 08, 2021, 09:58:58 AM
To protect frame finishes I've always used newspaper quite thick and wrapped round the tubes then secured with masking tape.  Very resistant to any contact, cheap and easy to slit the tape and pull out when installed.

For supporting an engine without work frame bolted to it, an old car tire is effective to sit it in any orientation.

Who reads a newspaper these days?  ;D ;D

But I like the car tyre idea; never thought of that!
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: McCabe-Thiele (Ted) on February 08, 2021, 12:13:39 PM
Here's how I put it back into the frame Ted. Engine on the floor and lifted the frame over it. I put a couple of engine bolts in and put the sump on followed by the wheels and just lifted it up, nice and easy.

That looks a good way - especially if my brother isn't available to act as a human crane.
Title: Re: What does the 400 engine weigh without head & block ?
Post by: paul G on February 08, 2021, 12:20:57 PM
Frame over the engine every time makes it a doddle  ;D
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