Broken thundercat... advice sought (where to get an engine)

Hi all,

The Thundercat is not well at the moment and I am trying to decide what
to do with it. We were on a nice European tour - almost on the way home
- when it started making a VERY nasty noise. That's where the bike's
trip ended[1].

Having a closer look back at home, it seems pretty terminal for the
engine. The problem was a broken crankshaft (picures here ->
http://homepages.nildram.co.uk/~euain/bike/ )

So my questions are - is a bike without an engine worth anything? 1999
Thundercat - excellent condition apart from a slightly rough engine
(ahem).. (30,000 miles - new head bearings, Ohlins rear shock about 7000
miles ago...)

I doubt it - so main question - anyone recommend a good breakers?
(Anyone got a spare Thundercat engine ?). I am in Basingstoke and would
ideally like to pick up the engine rather than have someone deliver one
I hadn't seen (but I accept this might not be possible).

(I am assuming that I can just send the new engine numbers to the DVLA
to get a new V5? Anyone done this before?)

Assuming I get a complete engine - anyone need any spare parts for a
Thundercat engine - the covers are fine (well uncrashed - winter has got
to the paint a bit on some of them), gearbox and top end in excellent
condition (fully synthetic oil since 4000 mile service).

Hmm... I was meant to be saving money this summer.. oh well..

Euain / Fred

[1] - Carole Nash European recovery is very useful.

 

It won't, but a Fazer one will.. Re-fit the original 'cat cams and
carbs and it's full power again.

 

Wow! That is *well* fucked. I wonder what caused it?

Well, in answer to your questions:

The bike is worth money as a breaker - plastics, clocks, breaks, forks,
etc will all sell on Ebay.

As will the top end and everything else, actually. Erm, except the
bottom end ;-))

As someone else said, Fazer (early model, not the new R6-based one)
engines will fit. But financially this makes less sense than breaking or
fitting a replacement Tcat engine.

What's a Fazer-engined Tcat worth? Answer: notalot.

As for the engine numbers - yes, just change the logbook (there's a spce
for engine changes) and post it off.

My advice - if you can find a good Tcat engine for under 500 quid, buy
it. Otherwise, break it.

 

Try on here http://groups.msn.com/yamahathundercats

 

That's encouraging... it gives me another option..

Thanks. That's pretty much what I was thinking. Sounds daft but I'd feel
bad breaking the bike - you get kind of attached after 30,000 miles.

A couple of calls to breakers got responses - "we've just sold our last
one for 350" and "we have one for 600 quid, 4000 miles, still in the
bike". 600 is more than I was planning to spend but at least there are
engines out there.

Still- there is still SWMBO's CB400F (still going strong) when all else
goes pear-shaped.. =)

Euain

 

I'm hoping to get a 'cat engine. Apart from anything else, the Fazer is
painted a different colour and no-one's really going to want a
Thundercat/Fazer hybrid.

I'm kind of hoping that a lower mileage engine might be a selling point
with the bike - the rest of the bikes in very good condition.

Euain