Best way to part out an R65 engine 1981?

[Sam LP]

Hello.

I am having a clear out and that includes an R65 engine and gearbox - looks to be post 1981 because it has the later light weight flywheel/clutch assembly. It came from an Sussex Ambulance mechanic who had bought it as a spare for his sidecar rig (!) He said that he had never had it running but it had good compression and he thought it would be alright.

FYI I have a R90/6 that I aim to keep running forever. It has a post 1981 crank, clutch and gearbox.

I have to clear some space because I am a hoarder, but as a hoarder, I don't want to lose something that I might be able to use. i.e. spares for my own bike, The engine and gearbox cost £120 about 5 years ago, money is not a big issue on it.

I could try and sell it as a complete engine, but not knowing any real history on it, my gut feeling is that it should be parted out, then some bits sold on ebay and some of the parts kept for myself. My skill level at motorcycle work is what I would call medium.

I'll list what the engine came with:
Complete engine including alternator, starter (9 tooth Bosch), diode board, bean can, electronic ignition module, gearbox with broken off rear clutch arm lug (post '81: last owner dropped the gearbox on a garage floor).

Thanks for your replies

Sam LP

[Ken in Oklahoma]

Aside from monies, my first thought is that how much you break down the engine would depend on how much effort you want to put into the ebay listings. The cleanest, easiest way would be to sell the engine whole.

Supporting the selling-the-engine-whole approach is that a lot of R65 engines get totally trashed because breaking a valve is a common failure mode for them. The minimum failure would usually be one side cylinder, piston, and head. That would talk to selling the short block and top end separately.

On the other hand, in a whole lot of cases there is so much shrapnel from the blowup that a complete tear down of the engine is called for to make sure that all of the bits and pieces are gotten out, the penalty being another blowup of the same engine.

If I were a R65 owner with a blown engine I would be very interested in a complete engine, for just that reason. If the short block and top ends were listed separately I would be reluctant to bid because I would really want to buy the whole thing.


Ken

[Sam LP]

Thanks for your concise reply Ken

I remember hearing about R65 engine losing valves, down to a thinner valve stem.

So in that case selling the engine complete does sound like a better option.

In that case do you think I could keep the charging system, and starter motor and then sell the engine, ignition bean can and electronic ignition separately?

Thanks,

Sam

[chasbmw]

Keep the gearbox,

[Sam LP]

Will do. It won't take up much space. Thanks.

[Ken in Oklahoma]

So in that case selling the engine complete does sound like a better option.

In that case do you think I could keep the charging system, and starter motor and then sell the engine, ignition bean can and electronic ignition separately?

I would be inclined to keep the charging system, starter motor, bean can, and ignition. I'm not certain if the starter is unique to the R65 or not, but the other items would have a wide appeal should you sell them on ebay. Plus, this hypothetical guy I was talking about with the blown engine already has those items and doesn't "need" them.

The R65 transmission, as you already know, fits all the airheads of its time period. Plus coming from a R65 it would likely be less worn due to the lesser power put through it. The broken ear on the rear is a snag though. But I can also imagine that a new rear cover could be found since there are lots of blown transmissions out there with good rear covers.


Ken

[bbelk]

Keep the gearbox,

Shoot. I was about to tell him it was worthless and I would relive him of that burden.

[Major Softie]

To take the opposite side to Ken's points:

Selling the entire engine is much simpler, but shipping it is not AT ALL. For practicality's sake, it restricts your market to "pick up only." If you live in a really large metro area, that might not be a big issue. In my area, it certainly would be. Parting it out can allow very easy shipping of most parts (after all, we've already agreed, you're gonna keep the tranny, right?). So, while the "hassle" of all the separate sales does complicate the parting out choice, the shipping ease and lower cost opens up a lot more market to you.

[Sam LP]

Thanks very much for all your advice, I'll sort it all out this weekend.
Best wishes, Sam

[Deleted User 287]

When I received my last engine from a breaker, it was in a large double-corrugated box (~ 2.5' cube) with two used rear tires from sport bikes - one as a rest for the engine below and one above. Then the box was sealed with metal straps besides the usual tape.