Sportster 1800 - damn engine!

[andyfest0719]

Okay, so I finally got my boat back from the dealer. One of the engines had shaken the mounting bolts loose and "oblonged" all of the bolt holes on the mounting plate. The dealer installed a new plate and put the motor back in. The motor however is still vibrating badly, stalls at low rpm (won't idle), sounds like a Metallica concert, and is throwing a lot of oil smoke out the exhaust. Dealer now thinks maybe a bent driveshaft, but I'm thinking something in the engine itself isn't right. Any ideas??

 

[Dr Honda]

Slide the drive shaft out, and start it. That will let you know quickly if it's bent. But while it's out... you can check it with a dial indicator.

 

[andyfest0719]

Thanks Dr. H. I'll definitely have the mech do that. Maybe a compression test too, while he's got the boat back in the shop.

 

[andyfest0719]

Well, the mechanic took the driveshaft out and there is nothing wrong with it. The engine though is still shaking like the morning after a tequila bender. Visually, everything looks fine - pistons, rings etc. He did say that the engine interior looks "washed", like it had been sucking or leaking in water. He replaced the head gasket and will look at it again tomorrow. Any other ideas as to what would make this engine shake so badly and stall at idle?

 

[voodoo]

Compression test, go thru the fuel and oil systems then fine tuning.

 

[parrothd]

Is it shaking excessively at idle?

Whats are the rpms at idle?

Dump up the idle speed to 1500-2000(in water, 3500-4000) out of water and see if they helps.

 

[parrothd]

Thats should be bump up the idle to it runs smooth, I had this issue with my speedster, swapped out pumps, driveshafts, pto, even tore into the engine, only to find nothing. 1500rpms and it'd shake like hell, 1900 nice and calm...

 

[andyfest0719]

No it shakes at all rpms. Topside of engine looks good - mechanic thinks it's the crank.