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Sherpa T 350 Engine Woes

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Sorry about the bad wrist pin. But I think it's to nice a bike to brake for parts. Put a new rod and wrist pin and bearing in it. All the parts can be had. But just my two cents worth

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  • johnmartin247
    johnmartin247

    Nice to see that the forum can help people and create friendships along the way. John.

  • Lbhbul, aka Larry, saved me on this one!!!! His theory was that the cylinder liner had to be leaking air. As soon as the engine heated up it was sucking air between the liner and the jug. We are not s

  • Thanks everyone for your help. I finally seem to be getting somewhere. I built a pressure tester and block off plate for the exhaust and it worked great. Loosing air at the base of the cylinder at t

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  • Author

Looks like I am going to have to eat s%+^t on this one. Should have been two bearings side by side on the small end. I only put one in. Ouch.

  • Author

Sometimes you dig your hole deeper. Sometimes you fill it up. Lately I am really good at digging.

Tripp

Depends on the conrod kit and piston being used, as they're nearly all aftermarket now, but sometimes there is one full width bearing, sometimes two smaller. There can also be spacers to go between the conrod and piston.

That bike is far too good to be a parts bike.

  • Author

Not giving up yet. Guess that is why it ran so poorly. The rod and bore still look good. Will see about getting a new wrist pin and bearings. Might have to get another piston kit.

Expensive mistake on my part.

Tripp

woody is correct i had a 350 piston with just 1 big small end bearing and no spacers. ive just had a rebore on my 250 i was lucky to to get an orignal MAHLE piston.

  • Author

My piston kit came wit two bearings and two spacers. Unfortunately when I put it together I left one in the box. Looking back,I remember thinking to myself that the bearing seemed really narrow.

Guess I should consider myself lucky that more damage did not occur.

Tripp

  • 2 weeks later...
  • Author

Started breaking down the sherpa today. The stator side inner bearing race is spinning on the crank shaft. The plot thickens.

The bottom end kit arrived from Hugh's . Time to heat the cases and see if they will separate.

Tripp

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when you say the inner bearing race is spinning on the crank shaft. do you mean the outer edge off the bearing is spinning in the race off the crank case? if so that means the bearing race is worn? this can happen when the bearing has been taken out lots off time without heating the case up enough to allow the case to expand.

Edited by bondy

  • Author

Built a case separator afternoon. I attached it to the cases and heated them on a gas grill. The separator worked like a charm.

The stator side of the crankshaft seems to have issues. I can easily slide the old and new bearing on and off the shaft without heating the bearing. In fact all three bearings stayed in the cases when I separated them. Great fit in the cases. Bad fit on the shafts.

Seems that I need to have the crank looked at. May ship it to Hugh's.

Tripp

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  • 1 month later...
  • Author

Split the cases and rebuilt the bottom end. Had the crank done by Hugh's. New seals and bearings throughout. New rings etc. Runs great. Blip the throttle hard twice in neutral and she runs away. Swapped in the carb from the other sherpa and it does the same thing. What next? I am at a dead end.

Tripp

Have you over tightened the nuts on the inlet manifold. This can warp the carb. (that's if you have the flange type)

  • Author

Bodwheel,

My engine has what I would call a spigot intake. It is connected to the carb with a short rubber hose. I will pull the intake again and give it a good look. There is air getting in somewhere.

Tripp

Hi saw miller,this is my first post having just joined. I am at present assembling a hybrid M 92 -M99 326 motor. Be aware only these 2 motors used a centre gasket of a particular size,all Bultaco centre gaskets look the same at a quick look. Worth checking. I always face my cases on a thick steel plate with fine grinding paste & a dash of diesel for 10 minutes or so. Surprising sometimes how many low spots show up because the cases are warped. I think your problem is a warped case. I now also use Viton seals on the crankshaft side of the motor.They are very expensive but are ethanol proof & last a lot longer than standard seals. A further check, the seal carriers are prone to cracking,have a look at that. On 2 of my bikes I have turned up from solid new seal carriers. Keep at it & let us know of any progress . I am John down on the Island of Jersey with 1 Lobito, 2 Alpinas & 1Metralla, all road usable.

  • Author

Johnjsy,

Sounds like you have a fine collection of bulls. Thank you for the input.

I removed and re sealed the intake yesterday and found no problem there.

I wish I had lapped the cases as you described, warping could be the problem. This sherpa does not have the original cases, they are from an alpina. The center case gasket seemed to fit very well.

I might t try spraying some carb cleaner around the engine today. I have not tried that since the rebuild..

Where did you pick up the Viton seals?

Tripp from Appling Georgia with two Sherpas and a head ache.

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