Hello DTT forums. I'm a new poster here. I started this thread to chronicle my installation of a Lifan 200cc 163FML motor into my 1972 SL100. I intend to use the finished bike to bushwack around the unimproved roadways and alleys (of wich there are many) here in my home of Southeast Portland, Oregon.
Below is the bike before I started the Lifan engine install.
A couple years previous, I purchased the bike from a couple in White Salmon, Washington for $500 running with clean title. Its not in awesome shape, but it is solid overall. Major drawbacks were a Kreem-coated tank and some dents and other bruises from a few thousand miles of trail-time. I test road the bike at purchase, but neglected to shift above third at the time. Back at home, I did some sprucing up, then took it for a ride around the neighborhood. As soon as I shifted above third gear, it would not for its life come back down without me stopping the bike and hammering the shifter. With misplaced hope, I pulled the side covers and troubleshot the problem away from the shift linkage (which I had prayed it would be) to inside the engine cases. Naively, I pulled the engine apart and found the problem to be in the shift drum and forks. Never was able to pinpoint the cause, but the project ended up back-burnered and languishing due to my idle disinterest in engine work.
A year or so back, I found online that one may swap in a 200CC Lifan 163FML engine with relative ease. Added horses, electric start, 12v system, and a fresh motor for $550 was tempting. A couple weeks ago, I decided to pull the trigger. I ordered the crate motor from PCC Motor via eBay and received it a few days ago.
The following will be my attempt to log the whole installation, break-in process, and then my review. When I've finished, I may publish an Instructable or similar on this topic as there seems to be a relatively scant quanitity of info about these motors (though I may be corrected by DTT members here).
By way of introduction to the DTT forums, I'm a 31-year-old, business jet mechanic from Portland, Oregon with an awesome, motorcycle-friendly wife, two daughters and a mutt. Thanks!
Below is the bike before I started the Lifan engine install.
A couple years previous, I purchased the bike from a couple in White Salmon, Washington for $500 running with clean title. Its not in awesome shape, but it is solid overall. Major drawbacks were a Kreem-coated tank and some dents and other bruises from a few thousand miles of trail-time. I test road the bike at purchase, but neglected to shift above third at the time. Back at home, I did some sprucing up, then took it for a ride around the neighborhood. As soon as I shifted above third gear, it would not for its life come back down without me stopping the bike and hammering the shifter. With misplaced hope, I pulled the side covers and troubleshot the problem away from the shift linkage (which I had prayed it would be) to inside the engine cases. Naively, I pulled the engine apart and found the problem to be in the shift drum and forks. Never was able to pinpoint the cause, but the project ended up back-burnered and languishing due to my idle disinterest in engine work.
A year or so back, I found online that one may swap in a 200CC Lifan 163FML engine with relative ease. Added horses, electric start, 12v system, and a fresh motor for $550 was tempting. A couple weeks ago, I decided to pull the trigger. I ordered the crate motor from PCC Motor via eBay and received it a few days ago.
The following will be my attempt to log the whole installation, break-in process, and then my review. When I've finished, I may publish an Instructable or similar on this topic as there seems to be a relatively scant quanitity of info about these motors (though I may be corrected by DTT members here).
By way of introduction to the DTT forums, I'm a 31-year-old, business jet mechanic from Portland, Oregon with an awesome, motorcycle-friendly wife, two daughters and a mutt. Thanks!