Blown Engine

[canthelpitimaguy]

New to the forum so I hope this is posted in the right place. I've been having some issues with my 87 warrior and I thought id bring them up here before I started doing any work.

I was recently riding on my farm, and I was on my way home when I had the engine give out. It sounded like it threw the cam chain and I had my cousin toe me home. When I got home I pulled the cover off the head were the cam gear is and noticed the chain still perfectly in place. I then removed the valve covers because before it blew I noticed it making a clicking sound and figured it was the valve adjuster screw because I have had trouble in the past with the intake adjuster wiggling itself loose. I found that the adjuster and lock nut were missing. I then pulled off the spark plug and found that the tip was sheared off. I will get some pictures of the spark plug because it is really mangled and strange to look at.

I was wondering how this could have happened. Also, I am trying to keep this a low cost project and I was wondering if it is just worth picking up a running engine off ebay instead of doing a repair. I know I wont be able to tell whats damaged until I break it down, but would it more cost efective to have a top end, jug and head repair, valves, and cam replacement or a used running engine off ebay? I figure my bottom end is fine, unless there is a possibility the valve adjuster screw could drop down into the trans.

On top of this I need new bulbs, brake pads, shocks, and something is wrong with the starter. The solenoid clicks but the motor doesn't crank. It has pull start so I've been using that, but it would be nice to have e-start working again. I haven't checked everything with multimeter yet, but I will try to get on that. Just wondering if anyone had an idea of places to look first.

This is a serious project bike that I would like to get back to solid running shape, but I have to keep budget and time in mind. I have two other project dirt bikes that went down only a few weeks before (really bad month :argh: ) and I am restoring a car, so budget is huge here.

Thanks for the help.

 

[duneracerweston]

Rebuilding is going to be cheaper and more reliable

 

[canthelpitimaguy]

Even if there is extensive damage to the cylinder wall and head? Cause I have a feeling the bits of spark plug really did some damage.

 

[duneracerweston]

Boring honeing valves and piston put together is about 300 and a eBay motor is 400+ and you cant trust them

 

[canthelpitimaguy]

Ok, well is there any way the valve adjuster screw could have fallen to the bottom of the engine?

 

[duneracerweston]

No not unless you put it there so your problem should only be in the head and or jug area

 

[bones]

unless you doped a value and put a hole is the piston then you might have pieces of piston in the bottom end and if there is damage to the head you'll need one of those to...

the last time i pulled a plug that the end was beat up it was a doped value ...broke the piston into 8 pieces, fubared the head, bent the connecting rod and killed the value

 

[canthelpitimaguy]

crap...well i wont know the damage till its broke down, but im starting to think it might not be worth my time

 

[duneracerweston]

ya thats a worst case scenario hopefully its not that bad

 

[bones]

shouldnt be that bad tho ... cuz you could still tow it mine was locked right up i couldnt even get it outta gear

 

[canthelpitimaguy]

I dont think anything blew past the piston because its locked up and im figuring the bits of plug are jammed against the head by the piston.

 

[bones]

pull the head and you'll know right away

 

[canthelpitimaguy]

where do you get your head work done?