11/27/06

Welcome to  the Virago Disassembly  page.

So I buy a book and start reading. Then starts the disassembly, removing that engine that just hangs out in mid air. After removing the engine, I call D and he and I are going to carry the engine into the basement where I can take my time and methodically remove, label, and inspect each and every item. Well it proves to be too bulky for the both of us to carry it down the stairs so while I'm thinking of an easier way, D picks the thing up, eyes bulging, and CARRIES it down the steps, why they didn't break I'll never know (the steps, not body parts). Of course D's voice is a little higher now. 

I started by disassembling the parts engine for practice. Then the on to bike's motor. As I start removing covers it becomes apparent that someone left it on its side and it rained in the motor. Inspection shows damage basically limited to bearings. ( Which explains the loud rushing noise emanating from the motor) So I decide to remove the old bearings. The crank is pressed in the bearing and you need YAMAHA special tool #blah blah. I'm cheap and not going to buy $$$ of special tools to use once so I look, think, look ,think. Aha! someone at the factory put two conveniently located threaded holes through the crankcase to the counterweights on the crank. My wheel puller bolts just happen to be the same size. Thread bolts in and tighten to add pressure, then thread the nut on the end of the crank and tap, tap, tap, I think it moved, tighten the bolts, tap, tap, tap I think it moved, etc. then the crank falls out of the bearing. The mains are press fit so I decide if I use a small hammer and large screwdriver to tap, tap, tap, rotate quarter turn, tap, tap, tap, quarter turn, you get the idea. An hour and a half later, plunk! out comes the bearing, and I say I have no patience! The gear puller destroyed the small needle bearing but who cares, it was scrap anyway.

The yellow circle shows part of the crankcase that is missing.

This is what the assembling begins with, without the final drve of course. Later I found out that the final drive is different from 750 to 920 to 1100 and is in the right angle drive located in the left end of this picture.