ST1100 engine removal question

dwalby

dwalby

Joined
Mar 13, 2012
Messages
4,856
Location
soCal
Bike
'97 ST1100
Pulling the engine from the '98 I bought and have a question about the transmission/swingarm connection.

The service manual doesn't mention removing the swingarm as a pre-requisite task when removing the engine, and the engine is removed with the transmission intact. Since the driveshaft is connected to the transmission through the swingarm, that connection needs to be uncoupled before removing the engine. So I'm guessing that after removing all the engine mounts you just move the engine a little forward and the driveshaft will just slip out of the transmission housing? Are there any fasteners that need to be removed, or is the rubber coupling boot all that's there?

any advice will be appreciated, TIA

Doug
 
As Martin said, Nope, yes.
The drive shaft is spring loaded so it will kind of 'jump' back on during installation with a little encouragement.
If you can watch Allen Millyard's videos for engine removal, I found them to be really helpful.
But really pay attention to where he has the ratchet straps attached - it is not obvious at first glance.
Getting it out is a lot easier than putting one in (done both twice). ;)
 
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I also found you can remove the alternator (you can get to all three bolts but be careful the 'plate' doesn't come out with it) and slide it back a little bit.
That makes getting the engine out (without it in place) a lot easier (or it did for me).
The 'hangup' is when you remove the side frame on the left side, the 'attachment' piece at the back left side is sticking right in the way.
You have to rotate the engine almost perpendicular to get it out.
I found an auto tranny jack helped a lot dealing with the weight.
Or another option is just hook the whole frame to a 'skyhook' and lift it off the engine.
Very few wires to disconnect, easier to remove the radiator and get it out of the way.
Don't forget to disconnect the shifter! :doh1:
Good luck as it is a bit of work but definitely doable by yourself.
 
SupraSabre said:
I'm not sure I'd trust my ceiling with that much weight. :think1:

Besides, no need when I can use the tractor! :rofl1:
Click to expand...
Well, my roof rafters are well built trusses and the 'connection' spans a couple of them.
And it would be a lot of trouble to get my tractor into my workshop ... ;)
 
Uncle Phil said:
Well, my roof rafters are well built trusses and the 'connection' spans a couple of them.
And it would be a lot of trouble to get my tractor into my workshop ... ;)
Click to expand...

Thank goodness, when my builder built the garages, she put in tall garage doors! :thumbsup-2x:
 
But my tractor is old IH Diesel - a big farm tractor (tall wheels, etc.)
I figure if I put in low and hooked to my house, it would probably pull it off the foundation!
It was cheaper to buy a big one at the time than a small one because all the 'city' farmers wanted the small ones. ;)
I also have a full size backhoe but unfortunately it's not running.
I wish I could find someone to haul it off as I don't have the patience to fool with it any more.
 
Uncle Phil said:
Mileage?
Click to expand...
No, I bought Al's non-running '98 that he had advertised here a week or so ago.

After pulling the carbs on the '98 it was obvious it never had the coolant hoses replaced, so that would have been another couple hundred bucks in parts in addition to whatever it would take to sort the carbs. I decided that rather than spend the time and money to get his running I'd stick with my known condition '97 and swap as many parts as was practical. So that's how all the red bodywork became available. It didn't make sense to try for two running bikes, my '97 had too many issues to consider selling it, but now its in great shape.

The ST is such a low-demand dinosaur the only m/c salvage yard I could find didn't want it, so I'm dismantling it and I'll ask one more time here in a few days if anybody wants anything else from it, and then its going to be history.

FWIW, the '98 had 67k miles on it.
 
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