Project No. 11
WL Engine Rebuild & Tuning

It all started when Steve came to me and told me that his son needs a school project and he likes to rebuild an engine. He asked me whether I have an old engine that needs some rebuild.

I sure do, was my answer. I had the rotten WL engine sitting in my garage for quite a while.

It was a cheap buy on e-bay and it was sure in a bad contition. The right thing for a school project:-)

The Rebuild

After cleaning the rebuild can begin.

The cases needed some new races and they had to be lapped in.


One of the flywheels had this dull sound when you hit it with a hammer where the other one had a nice 'pling'. We checked them for cracks but could not find any.

I still decided to buy new ones and since we do that we should get some stroker ones!

Victory Library sells a whole variety of stroker flywheels for 45's. We got the 4-7/16" this results in 861cc with STD pistons.

A set of new connecting rods, new shafts and crank pin were used.

Next step is the balancing of the crank:

 

55% was used as balancing factor.

After both wheels are balanced the crank shaft can be assembled and trued.

I use my old Schäublin 102 lathe to do so.

 

Because of the longer stroke the clearance between rods, cases and cylinders has to be checked and material needed to be removed....

.... on cases and cylinders

 

The cylinders needed new seats for the valves. The Schäublin can be used for this job as well.


The Tuning

Since we have more stroke now, why not doing some more to enhance power.

A deck relieve adds the most (nice pictures of relieved cylinders can be found on www.beautyofspeed.com.

All the blue area has to go to give better flow.

 

Also all the ports and the manifold where reliefed and cleaned.

 


To top it I bought a new set of WLDR cams.

The cylinders are bored to 0.070" over and stroker pistons from Victory Library where used. With the bigger stroke this results in 905cc (55.23")

    

Done: quite a difference from the initial state;-)

And in the bike: She is running very well!!

 

If you like to comment on this project you can visit my post on the Flathead Power Tech Talk

 

 

 

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