Pulling a motor - any tips or tricks?

[mclarkson]

I have very little mechanical experience, and I'm getting ready to pull the motor from my Kawa 454. I thought I'd ask if there were any tricks or practices I should know about, or if it's just about two guys grunting and swearing and trying not to throw their backs out.

[Tattooo]

What does your manual say about pulling the motor???????????

[DrFxr]

^^^^This is the best place to start. All bikes are different, some are easier to tip on the side and lift the frame off, some you can slide out on tire irons, many of them you can just pick up an place on a stand. See what your manual advises unless someone with a Kawi chimes in.

[mclarkson]

After a long list of bolts, cables, and so forth to detach, the manual says, and I quote, "Remove the motor to the right."

I thought there might be some back-saving ways to go about that.

[Dinnertimedave]

Before you start unbolting it, liberally douse all the fasteners in good quality penetrating oil. Not WD40, proper penetrating oil. I, like many other old farts, swear by a 50/50 mix of ATF and acetone, dirt cheap and works well. Keep shaking it though!!. Let it soak overnight, should make life a lot easier, take particular care with the long bolts that go through the engine cases at the front, they seize like fuck on those Kawasaki's. Have fun!!!

[Tattooo]

I thought there might be some back-saving ways to go about that.

Lye the bike on it's side and lift the frame off of the motor......... It's still not easy..... That's the way you take a 1100F motor out..........

[53rigid]

Lye the bike on it's side and lift the frame off of the motor......... It's still not easy..... That's the way you take a 1100F motor out..........

Sportsters as well. works like a charm!

[BuddhahoodVato]

Yup

After a long list of bolts, cables, and so forth to detach, the manual says, and I quote, "Remove the motor to the right."

I thought there might be some back-saving ways to go about that.

Like I always say, "If it was easy, everyone would do it."

[goofyfoot2001]

454 was my dream bike back in the day. I was riding a 1973 Honda 350 FOUR. I had that 454 brochure by my bedside. It was a belt drive! wow