removing engine verses top and hints

Got a tech tip for Voyager 12's from your personal experiences, or one complete with pictures and instructions, here's where to post it. You can also ask about tips or procedures here.

Moderators: the2knights, Highway Rider

Post Reply
pasam
Streetster
Streetster
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:42 am
16
Current bike(s): 2002 Voyager XII
Location: Mill Hall, PA
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

removing engine verses top and hints

Post by pasam »

Hi,
I need help in suggestions on how to remove the engine or just the engine top to remove debris from the top of the piston in a voyager 1200, 2003. Any suggestions on what all needs to be removed will be appreciated.


Also this subject may have been covered before but, the site for some reason does not allow me to use the search feature.

Thanks, Sam in central PA.
02 Voyager
cushman eagle
King of the Road
King of the Road
Posts: 1983
Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:08 pm
13
Current bike(s): '99 Kawasaki Voyager 1200
1958 Cushman Eagle restoration has been finished,and have put 3030 miles on her!
Location: Orrville,Ohio
Has liked: 854 times
Been liked: 290 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by cushman eagle »

I do not know what you need to remove from the top of the piston :hmm:
But a couple tricks I have learned working in our farm equipment repair shop:
1-Fasten a small piece of tubing, that will fit in the spark plug hole,to an air compressor nozzle.Bend the tube to enter the plug hole,insert the tube and try to blow out the dirt,swishing it around to get it all.
2-I will also at times,fasten that same tube to my shop vac, with an assortment of hoses and fittings,trying to vacuum them out!
I have been fairly successful in cleaning debris put of cylinders,etc,without disassembly :woohoo:
'99 Voyager VXII,'58 Cushman Eagle
User avatar
ekap1200
Master Fabricator
Master Fabricator
Posts: 1364
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:54 pm
16
Current bike(s): 2000 voyager end of year total. 108.634
Location: Williamstown, New Jersey
Has liked: 33 times
Been liked: 134 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by ekap1200 »

More info. what could possiblly have gotten into the jugs. Did a rodent chew thru the air filter, or did removel of spark plugs foul things up. We sure want to know why anyone would want to pull the engine when spring is just around the corner. And what and how did debris get in there.
"Its not bad if you don't know something, but when you don't know you don't know; That's when your in trouble". Joe Place 1912-2008 (my grandfather)
User avatar
cranky
King of the Road
King of the Road
Posts: 1037
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:36 am
8
Current bike(s): 2003 Voyager
Location: San Jose, KalEfornYa
Has liked: 303 times
Been liked: 80 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by cranky »

.. thanks for that ? ... it was kinda drivin' me nuts too..... all ears???? GBG
'03 Voyager - http://tinyurl.com/mqtgpwp VROC pics of Gina
Cranky - Bill Snodgrass AVA # 6544. VROC # 16804
Cranked >128K miles, Mtn bike-no motor!!!
San Jose, KalEfornYa
User avatar
ekap1200
Master Fabricator
Master Fabricator
Posts: 1364
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:54 pm
16
Current bike(s): 2000 voyager end of year total. 108.634
Location: Williamstown, New Jersey
Has liked: 33 times
Been liked: 134 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by ekap1200 »

cranky wrote:.. thanks for that ? ... it was kinda drivin' me nuts too..... all ears???? GBG

This is for all the newer bike owners that winter their bikes in a shed....... make damn sure before you hit the starter, that no rodents have made a home anywhere in the air intake.....And that your battery is at 100% charge , not just a bit on the charger , but surely at 100% based on what type of battery you have and the using the proper method of chargeing.
"Its not bad if you don't know something, but when you don't know you don't know; That's when your in trouble". Joe Place 1912-2008 (my grandfather)
pasam
Streetster
Streetster
Posts: 24
Joined: Sat Mar 01, 2008 2:42 am
16
Current bike(s): 2002 Voyager XII
Location: Mill Hall, PA
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 0

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by pasam »

hi,
He lost a piece of the end of a plug wire in #2 cylinder when he pulled the plug. He screwed up by not blowing the area out well enough. The piece appears to be plastic or bake-lite from the end of the plug wire. it was apparently broken off beforehand, about 1/4 inch wide in a half moon shape. We have already tried all kinds of vacuum hoses, but no luck, even a sticky stick arrangement. We will make another good try before pulling the motor. We are fearful with blowing air in not knowing the valve position. A good lesson to make sure nothing is down beside the plug before pulling it.

Sam in central PA
02 Voyager
User avatar
cranky
King of the Road
King of the Road
Posts: 1037
Joined: Wed Jul 06, 2016 12:36 am
8
Current bike(s): 2003 Voyager
Location: San Jose, KalEfornYa
Has liked: 303 times
Been liked: 80 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by cranky »

... ouch.. and thanks for the update!!!!
'03 Voyager - http://tinyurl.com/mqtgpwp VROC pics of Gina
Cranky - Bill Snodgrass AVA # 6544. VROC # 16804
Cranked >128K miles, Mtn bike-no motor!!!
San Jose, KalEfornYa
Thadbaker86voyager
Cruiser
Cruiser
Posts: 79
Joined: Thu Jan 28, 2016 12:43 am
8
Current bike(s): 1990 XII Voyager
1986 XII Voyager
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 2 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by Thadbaker86voyager »

It is amazing what can hide in those spark plug wells!! Have found all kinds of road debris. But anything that was ever dropped ends up there too! My favorite is electrical fuses!! Be sure the drain holes are open!!
User avatar
Barry
Grand Tourer
Grand Tourer
Posts: 398
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:00 pm
16
Current bike(s): 87 Voyager 12
Has liked: 100 times
Been liked: 69 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by Barry »

With some creative thinking, you should be able ensure the exhaust valve is open. Then apply air to dislodge.
Barry
87 Voyager XII
User avatar
Mr Jensee
King of the Road
King of the Road
Posts: 1987
Joined: Fri Dec 26, 2008 5:55 pm
15
Current bike(s): Phone 337-781-8158
Home Phone disconnected.
Previous bikes. Yamaha 180, Honda CM200T, Suzuki 1000LNKawasaki ZRX1100.
Location: Lafayette, La
Has liked: 0
Been liked: 9 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by Mr Jensee »

Shark has a tool with a small tubing part that you could use to insert into the piston hole and vacuum out the debris. It only works with their Rocket models.
For Voyager XII Manuals click the link below.
https://1drv.ms/f/s!Ao3K0Ai2gvglgS3l7J4pBJrjfBhc
User avatar
ekap1200
Master Fabricator
Master Fabricator
Posts: 1364
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:54 pm
16
Current bike(s): 2000 voyager end of year total. 108.634
Location: Williamstown, New Jersey
Has liked: 33 times
Been liked: 134 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by ekap1200 »

Surely worth the effort and at least another hour or so fishing. Try putting the piston at the bottom of stroke and fishing with something long and somewhat flexable with some HEAVY grease on the end of it. Happy fishing, This could be an expensive fishing trip and a lesson one won't forget. This is why I tell people, if you don't own an air compressor, don't even bother with changing the plugs more harm will come from it.....
Gene
"Its not bad if you don't know something, but when you don't know you don't know; That's when your in trouble". Joe Place 1912-2008 (my grandfather)
User avatar
Barry
Grand Tourer
Grand Tourer
Posts: 398
Joined: Thu Feb 21, 2008 2:00 pm
16
Current bike(s): 87 Voyager 12
Has liked: 100 times
Been liked: 69 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by Barry »

Have you tried using a small grabber tool similar to this one?

https://www.lowes.com/pd/Kobalt-Flex-Cl ... 8f9cb332e2
Barry
87 Voyager XII
cushman eagle
King of the Road
King of the Road
Posts: 1983
Joined: Sat Jan 22, 2011 10:08 pm
13
Current bike(s): '99 Kawasaki Voyager 1200
1958 Cushman Eagle restoration has been finished,and have put 3030 miles on her!
Location: Orrville,Ohio
Has liked: 854 times
Been liked: 290 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by cushman eagle »

Yes,Barry,That is another tool I rarely use,but very happy I have on hand when I need it :woohoo:
I would guess mine is 25+ years old,but has paid itself off many times :thmup:
'99 Voyager VXII,'58 Cushman Eagle
User avatar
ekap1200
Master Fabricator
Master Fabricator
Posts: 1364
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:54 pm
16
Current bike(s): 2000 voyager end of year total. 108.634
Location: Williamstown, New Jersey
Has liked: 33 times
Been liked: 134 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by ekap1200 »

I got one more trick up my sleeve. get your piston at bdc and shoot some heavy grease down in the jug. Now using thin #22 wire feed down into the jug about a foot or so. The thin wire will allow for a larger piece be passed thru the plug hole. pull it up slow and easy as if your crabbin with a line and a piece of chicken on it.....
"Its not bad if you don't know something, but when you don't know you don't know; That's when your in trouble". Joe Place 1912-2008 (my grandfather)
User avatar
ekap1200
Master Fabricator
Master Fabricator
Posts: 1364
Joined: Fri Jul 04, 2008 12:54 pm
16
Current bike(s): 2000 voyager end of year total. 108.634
Location: Williamstown, New Jersey
Has liked: 33 times
Been liked: 134 times

Re: removing engine verses top and hints

Post by ekap1200 »

Well we all want to know how you are doing on your fishng for the broken spark plug cap. It seems so common to find a broken cap on #2 , and it should not be. There have been numerous posts for the EASY way to get that plug wire out of the way in this AVA forum. But I will post it again for the newbies. remove the two philips head screws from the throttle splitter and snake the plug wire out from underneath . Now you can lift the wire out of the way.

We have given you enough advice now to get this out of the jug. If it fit down there it can be fished out. NOW if there was alot of sand and small gravel , well you may be in trouble.

keep at it, It will not cost anything to keep at it at this point.
"Its not bad if you don't know something, but when you don't know you don't know; That's when your in trouble". Joe Place 1912-2008 (my grandfather)
Post Reply

Return to “Tech Tips - Voyager XII (1200 Four)”