Any professional engine rebuilders in S'pore?

[MiddleAgedBiker]

Just got an old bike that I'd like to do a project on to rebuild.

 

Does anyone know of any shop in S'pore that does proper engine rebuilding? Meaning they will do a proper compression test and leakdown test first to find out what's wrong, and after taking apart your engine, they will actually measure everything according to the manufacturer's specs before changing parts?

 

E.g. they actually measure clearance between piston and cylinder wall, piston ring gap, do a plastigauge measurement of various bearing clearances etc.

 

Then they actually torque all the important bolts using a torque wrench, and not by "feeling"?

 

Are there any such shops in S'pore?

[yeukeong]

i dont think, even agent will do all the things u stated...

Edited January 31, 2011 by yeukeong

[MiddleAgedBiker]

I'm very surprised too. S'pore is quite advanced in other fields, and such services are quite common in the States.

 

I've always wondered why nobody in S'pore does this. Perhaps it's the time it takes, thus the labour charge is very high, and very little supply...(i.e. expensive people rather just sell off or scrap the bike)?

[Rahza]

most probably due to the fact that cars or bikes are considered as disposables in sg... max usage 10 yrs.. maybe 20.. no pt taking so much trouble to restore em..

[stoner]

Well, for my current ride... I wouldn't say 100% Re-build but/as I bought it 2nd Hand (3years of age)...

 

I sent it to "stay" with a mechanic (who is a friend) to let him go over the whole bike, rectified issues & replace worn-out parts over a period of almost 3months. Change/replacement/rectification.....Than Ride.... feedback.... Change/replacement/rectification.... ....Than Ride.... feedback.

 

In local industry practice, no bikeshops or mechanic really does engine rebuilts. Rather IMHO, trouble shooting is the game...

 

You got an issue.... they solve it for you.

[ezzyoiler]

this is a throw away society..we dont repair/rebuilt parts we replace them..

 

eg..once i have a wheel with an enlarged bearing seat...

shop says nobody repairs bearing seat anymore...here replace it with a used one..

with so many vehicles piling up in the scrap yard..while repair...??? replace is the thing..

[cumified]

how many bike scrapyards are there in sg. and where is it located.?

[KeraKing]

i've heard a lot about this torque wrench..

 

how important is it?

is it hard to do?

 

from my opinion i think the mech they can repair the bike good enough aredi.

 

tho some old timer mech said then can do my crankcase, ect until swee2

[MiddleAgedBiker]

Duplicate post

Edited March 1, 2011 by MiddleAgedBiker

[MiddleAgedBiker]

i've heard a lot about this torque wrench..

 

how important is it?

is it hard to do?

 

from my opinion i think the mech they can repair the bike good enough aredi.

 

tho some old timer mech said then can do my crankcase, ect until swee2

 

A torque wrench is indispensible in proper engine rebuilding. You just cannot rebuild an engine properly without using one. If you are close enough to your mechanic he would even admit this to you.

 

To say more "pai tia", if you go to other first world countries where motorcycling is a culture, and you walk into any professional engine rebuilding shop, they will all do the things I mentioned in the OP. If you tell them someone rebuilds an engine without proper tools like a torque wrench, they would call it a "chop shop". But of course, as they say, you can do a job properly but it will cost you. Labour charges in those countries is also very high, ranging from $40 - $90 per hour.

 

Sure you can put the bike and engine back together, but it will not last. Oil leaks, warpage of surfaces and parts when they heat up, over-tightening stress fractures, etc. etc.

 

Our bike cases are made from aluminun. Aluminum is quite fragile for a metal. When you overtorque cylinder head bolts for example, you will cause the cylinder stud threads to become damaged. If you undertighten, you get cylinder head leaks. And for the gasket to be properly compressed, you need to tighten all bolts to the same torque, and not at one go, but in stages. Very difficult to do without a torque wrench.

 

Not only is correct fastener torque critical for engine/transmission bolts, it is also important for other things for proper function and long life. E.g. brake caliper bolts, axle bolts, etc.

[ezzyoiler]

torque gauge is an indispensable tool...but then without the manufacturers service manual for the correct torque for each assembly...your guess is as good as anybody..

 

so chop shop all over singapore...no manual..no proper tools..

[kinwei]

A torque wrench is indispensible in proper engine rebuilding. You just cannot rebuild an engine properly without using one. If you are close enough to your mechanic he would even admit this to you.

 

To say more "pai tia", if you go to other first world countries where motorcycling is a culture, and you walk into any professional engine rebuilding shop, they will all do the things I mentioned in the OP. If you tell them someone rebuilds an engine without proper tools like a torque wrench, they would call it a "chop shop". But of course, as they say, you can do a job properly but it will cost you. Labour charges in those countries is also very high, ranging from $40 - $90 per hour.

 

Sure you can put the bike and engine back together, but it will not last. Oil leaks, warpage of surfaces and parts when they heat up, over-tightening stress fractures, etc. etc.

 

Our bike cases are made from aluminun. Aluminum is quite fragile for a metal. When you overtorque cylinder head bolts for example, you will cause the cylinder stud threads to become damaged. If you undertighten, you get cylinder head leaks. And for the gasket to be properly compressed, you need to tighten all bolts to the same torque, and not at one go, but in stages. Very difficult to do without a torque wrench.

 

Not only is correct fastener torque critical for engine/transmission bolts, it is also important for other things for proper function and long life. E.g. brake caliper bolts, axle bolts, etc.

 

To add on, this is how the usual torque wrench looks like,

 

http://www.seritt.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/TorqueWrench.jpg

 

Normally you will turn the handle to set the correct tightening torque. When you tighten the bolt until the preset tightening torque, the whole wrench will sort of like give way abit giving a click sound. Then you will know it has reached the tightening torque. But will need the bike make/model service manual inorder to know the tightening torque value of each individual screw too.

[Makiyo Ng]

My 1982 RD 125LC was re-built by my mech Ah Peng at AMK Pk 1. It's good now after more then 1/2 yr job...Thks to him man. I like antique bike..

[aRcHeR]

To add on, this is how the usual torque wrench looks like,

 

http://www.seritt.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/04/TorqueWrench.jpg

 

Normally you will turn the handle to set the correct tightening torque. When you tighten the bolt until the preset tightening torque, the whole wrench will sort of like give way abit giving a click sound. Then you will know it has reached the tightening torque. But will need the bike make/model service manual inorder to know the tightening torque value of each individual screw too.

 

not forgetting that it needs to re-calibrate on a yearly basis.

[KeraKing]

ooh.. that looks like easy to use?

just set the Nm(?) according to the downloaded service manual and wrench awayy..

 

will stop me breaking things on me bikes too!.. haha

 

so what makes the shops dun care about it?

[MiddleAgedBiker]

torque gauge is an indispensable tool...but then without the manufacturers service manual for the correct torque for each assembly...your guess is as good as anybody..

 

so chop shop all over singapore...no manual..no proper tools..

 

There are rough guides for torque values depending on the size of the fastener, so in a worst case like an antique or classic bike, one has to "agar agar" a bit using these lookup values.

 

However, like you mentioned, it's best to have the manual, because some critical parts require that you torque the bolts in a specific order, or else it will warp the part.

 

I've often heard old timer bikers say that rebuilt engines never feel the same again as original engine. The level of vibration, reliability, durability etc. is just not the same. But if done properly with a manual and with proper measuring instruments, it is possible to build an old bike back to factory spec.

 

We have many talented mechs in S'pore and I'm sure doing this is no problem for them. It's just the time/money tradeoff. It will probably be very expensive if they do it the right way, and it won't make economic sense for most people because they rather just do it cheap and sell the bike.

 

Also, I don't know if it's worth it for them from a profit standpoint. They also need to eat. Change tyre, change sprocket/chain, change oil/filter etc. these kind of fast jobs are probably higher margin fast profits. Engine rebuilding is a slow careful job, and to turn away fast margin fast profit jobs probably also don't make sense financially in Singapore. That's my guess.

[KeraKing]

what if u bring this torque wrench and the service manual to ur mech, and ask him to do for u?

or if u one who has time, can do it urself with his help?

 

what other tools are required for a proper rebuild?

[MiddleAgedBiker]

Feeler guage

Vernier caliper

Micrometer

Bore guages

Dial guage

Magnetic stand

Torque wrench

Straight edge

Bearing puller/installer

Arbor press

Cylinder hone

Valve lapping tool

Valve lapping compound

 

If valve job is required:

Valve grinder

Valve seat angle grinder (machine + professional machinist)

 

If overboring of cylinder is required:

Cylinder bore (machine + professional machinist)

 

Seriously, the only reason I want to pay someone to do it is to save time. If you already had all the tools and the manual, you can just do it yourself (except for the parts that need a machinist).

[ezzyoiler]

There are rough guides for torque values depending on the size of the fastener, so in a worst case like an antique or classic bike, one has to "agar agar" a bit using these lookup values.

 

However, like you mentioned, it's best to have the manual, because some critical parts require that you torque the bolts in a specific order, or else it will warp the part.

 

I've often heard old timer bikers say that rebuilt engines never feel the same again as original engine. The level of vibration, reliability, durability etc. is just not the same. But if done properly with a manual and with proper measuring instruments, it is possible to build an old bike back to factory spec.

 

We have many talented mechs in S'pore and I'm sure doing this is no problem for them. It's just the time/money tradeoff. It will probably be very expensive if they do it the right way, and it won't make economic sense for most people because they rather just do it cheap and sell the bike.

 

Also, I don't know if it's worth it for them from a profit standpoint. They also need to eat. Change tyre, change sprocket/chain, change oil/filter etc. these kind of fast jobs are probably higher margin fast profits. Engine rebuilding is a slow careful job, and to turn away fast margin fast profit jobs probably also don't make sense financially in Singapore. That's my guess.

 

ahhhhhhh rough guides...i see

 

then i suppose all the mechanics i know also use rough guides...ie the size of their biceps will somehow be part of the equations..

 

to do a good job..proper training , right tools and right methods is the way to go..

anyone part missing..as far as i am concerned is a chop shop..IMHO

[ezzyoiler]

what if u bring this torque wrench and the service manual to ur mech, and ask him to do for u?

or if u one who has time, can do it urself with his help?

 

what other tools are required for a proper rebuild?

 

Before you rebuilt ...see the above posts..

[KeraKing]

thanx guys for sharing the info..

will definitely learn about it.

i'm so called frens with a mechanic in jb.. and i can mess around hands on in his workshop

but he's kinda "kampung" type if u noe wat i mean. hehe

so hope to learn about "professional" type too.

 

my 21yr old 2t bike needs new crank already..

i think the mechanic i want to send to also not doing like u stated.

[MiddleAgedBiker]

If you're willing to spend on tools and have the manual, you can probably get folks to help if you ask. But it will be a long and slow job because we're not professionals, so what takes them maybe 1 week to do may take us 2 months to do. Where do you stay?

[KeraKing]

If you're willing to spend on tools and have the manual, you can probably get folks to help if you ask. But it will be a long and slow job because we're not professionals, so what takes them maybe 1 week to do may take us 2 months to do. Where do you stay?

 

i'm staying hdb flat at bedok reservoir.

Dun think i wanna d.i.y my 250 crank tho. Its like the heart of the bike..

[cougar]

Watch too much discovery turbo. Even our car workshop also half pass 6 kind, because most mech are from malaysia, the cheapest ones are not trained and only hands on knowledge tinkering their kup kia, the more expensive ones maybe worked in car workshop or proton factory before they can aim to work in car workshop in sg. Plus our cheap skate sg bike shops not willing to spend on tools, what kind of standard you want? I wouldn't trust any overhaul or rebuild service here and malaysia. Cars or bikes, cause shops here will short-change you.

 

Sg impose this money draining coe cash cow, its just not worth rebuilding production line cars or bikes which could costs as much as coe. Must will buy a new car or bike.

 

Basically sg has no interest in the automotive industry, its too expensive and r & d and equipment too expensive.

[Yamaha]

Just got an old bike that I'd like to do a project on to rebuild.

 

Does anyone know of any shop in S'pore that does proper engine rebuilding? Meaning they will do a proper compression test and leakdown test first to find out what's wrong, and after taking apart your engine, they will actually measure everything according to the manufacturer's specs before changing parts?

 

E.g. they actually measure clearance between piston and cylinder wall, piston ring gap, do a plastigauge measurement of various bearing clearances etc.

 

Then they actually torque all the important bolts using a torque wrench, and not by "feeling"?

 

Are there any such shops in S'pore?

 

u wan rebuild how many cc bike?

if u r talking abt 200 and below. even OEM also dun develop their spares

How many years old bike u talking abt?

RD 125LC, i think u might as well buy a new cylinder and piston. it might cost cheaper to buy than rebuild.

If you are talking abt 400 n above, it might make senses. but again, how much u willingly to spend?