48 Chief engine removal

[exeric]

Harry needed a helper I put mine in and out with brute force and ignorance hahahaha Don't powder coat it, always ends up looking like what it is........ plastic.

That's what I've always done, and I did it earlier this year. That motor weighs a ton but carefully muscling it in, and out is the only way, and you can see by the picture that Harry posted, that's what Indian did. Also, don't powder coat the frame, paint it like Indian did.

[cdf6333]

I've been doing it 45 years and I still pull the heads. It's just a lot easier and safer that way. I just put my 46 back in and did it again. I can't think of a reason why not, if ya have the time. The heads have to be re-torqued anyway, so twice instead of once. There's a ton of room if you do it that way. The front right frame rail is the tough one to avoid I think. The carb has to be off, BTW.

[phillie]

Harry needed a helper I put mine in and out with brute force and ignorance hahahaha Don't powder coat it, always ends up looking like what it is........ plastic.

[marsh1915hd]

Lay the bike on it's side and lift the frame off. Put it back on the same way. Easiest way I have found to do it.

[exeric]

Thanks Jim, I was trying to remember the Ace bandage trick; which is brilliant by the way.

[jim d]

You can wrap the frame with ace type elastic bandages to protect it after painted. Use some old inner tube or bicycle tubes under the bandages in critical areas this will protect without bulk. Look for them cheap in the dollar stores.
Jim D.

[pisten-bully]

Kevin, yes... after you remove the rear mount bolt it will have to slide forward just a bit to clear that rear mount, then you can lower it slightly. Watch the oil line from pump to sump valve.

And.. just look how easy it is to go back in!


Or... halfway through this video the boys have no problem dropping that engine into the frame... looks like they've done this before!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nnVHXjJHIoo

[gkpjxb]

Harry, thanks for the reply. I wasn't sure about the rear head. When I look level across the top of the head, it looks like the head cooling fins 'wrap' around each side if the crossbar. So, when I pull the motor mounts, after supporting the bottom of the engine, I should be able to lower the engine further in the frame just a bit to clear that rear head while tipping it out of the frame ?

[pisten-bully]

The big question I have is “Are either of the heads supposed to be removed before pulling the engine?”

Kevin, you can leave the heads on. And...get a helper! Block under the engine so that when you pull the mounts the engine is supported, then tip the top outwards first (on the exhaust side) and once the heads are clear of the lower cross bar then lift the engine/tranny out of there. Going back in is the reverse, but with your newly painted frame you're going to want to wrap something on the nearby frame tubes to protect them in case things don't exactly go your way!

[gkpjxb]

Hello folks

I've have a 48 Chief that has had a lousy paint job on the frame for years. The sheet metal is 'Indian Red' and the parts that are supposed to be Gloss Black are just that. My summer and winter project has been to have new 'Red' paint applied to the sheet metal and to remove everything painted Black for Powder Coating Gloss Black. I didn't realize how lousy the paint job on the frame was until I started removing attached stuff from the frame for powder coating and cad plating. The frame paint just flakes off where the assemblies are attached or if you just look at it wrong. I can’t paint everything else and not the frame.

I need the pull the engine from the frame, which I’ve not done before and am looking for advice on the correct way to pull the engine from this frame.
I don’t want to damage the perfect cooling fins on the heads or anything else.

The big question I have is “Are either of the heads supposed to be removed before pulling the engine?”

Any input would be appreciated.

gkpjxb- in eastern WA