Eric R
06-28-2006, 08:52 AM
Hello all,
I've been luking here on and off since last year when bitesize visited the forum I've been a regular at for a few years now. ( http://http://www.ninja250.org/forums/ In fact, This is my public face there: http://www.ninja250.org/Eric%20R )
I've had the '89 4Dr. LX carb. for about six years now and it's been a fabulous little beast.
For some reason though, I am cursed with it all the same. I do not consider myself a good mechanic, but I do like to think I am at least competent. This car has made me worry about the competence part.
A couple of years ago, I missed that it was leaking water, and that the temp needle was pinned to to top of the scale while on a long driving trip in temps approaching 100F. When I could not get the intake and exhaust manifolds off to check for (optimistically) a warped head only, I gave up and had a shop put in a rebuilt engine.
Now, after months and months of leaking oil, I have replaced the valve cover gasket (done it before and it cured the leaking then), realised the oil filter base plate was leaking this time and replaced it's gasket, and then proceded to fill the engine WITH THE DRAIN PLUG OUT!
The only bit of good luck in this story is the fact that I had stuffed a rag in the drain hole so I wouldn't get dripped on, so not a drop had been lost.... *yet*. While trying to remove the rag and put the plug in, I dropped the plug and the crush washer fell off without me noticing -- until I had the plug in.
*sigh*
I pull the plug replace the washer quickly and reinsert thinking that was stupid and sucked, but all I need to do is replace the oil. Start the car for a few moments and then check to see if the base plate is holding oil.
Holy cows, there's still oil dripping down here.
It sure looks like I should have gone ahead and done the oil pan gasket at the same time. Unfortunately, the biggest drip is on the radiused area right under the timing belt.
Anyone want to lay odds that I'll find a blown crank seal tonight when I take the pan and belt cover off?
Somebody just shoot me.
:violin:
I've been luking here on and off since last year when bitesize visited the forum I've been a regular at for a few years now. ( http://http://www.ninja250.org/forums/ In fact, This is my public face there: http://www.ninja250.org/Eric%20R )
I've had the '89 4Dr. LX carb. for about six years now and it's been a fabulous little beast.
For some reason though, I am cursed with it all the same. I do not consider myself a good mechanic, but I do like to think I am at least competent. This car has made me worry about the competence part.
A couple of years ago, I missed that it was leaking water, and that the temp needle was pinned to to top of the scale while on a long driving trip in temps approaching 100F. When I could not get the intake and exhaust manifolds off to check for (optimistically) a warped head only, I gave up and had a shop put in a rebuilt engine.
Now, after months and months of leaking oil, I have replaced the valve cover gasket (done it before and it cured the leaking then), realised the oil filter base plate was leaking this time and replaced it's gasket, and then proceded to fill the engine WITH THE DRAIN PLUG OUT!
The only bit of good luck in this story is the fact that I had stuffed a rag in the drain hole so I wouldn't get dripped on, so not a drop had been lost.... *yet*. While trying to remove the rag and put the plug in, I dropped the plug and the crush washer fell off without me noticing -- until I had the plug in.
*sigh*
I pull the plug replace the washer quickly and reinsert thinking that was stupid and sucked, but all I need to do is replace the oil. Start the car for a few moments and then check to see if the base plate is holding oil.
Holy cows, there's still oil dripping down here.
It sure looks like I should have gone ahead and done the oil pan gasket at the same time. Unfortunately, the biggest drip is on the radiused area right under the timing belt.
Anyone want to lay odds that I'll find a blown crank seal tonight when I take the pan and belt cover off?
Somebody just shoot me.
:violin: