I LOVE IT WHEN A PLAN COMES TOGETHER

With only a bit of jangling the hoist was transferred to Reigate where I immediately reassembled it. I had given the job of removing the engine from the bike frame some considerable thought,  the workshop manual says that a special frame should be placed under the engine to support it, I didn't have one of those, but four piles of three bricks and a plank of wood was half an inch higher than the underside of the sump.

 With Jacquie on hand to steady things and to take photos the crane was positioned over the rear of the bike and after passing a rope twice around the frame the jack handle was pumped and the whole bike lifted just sufficiently to build the brick and wood platform under the sump. The bike was lowered and the platform took the weight of the bike. There was only two long engine bolts and four allen screws to be undone and after the bolts had been pushed out theoretically the engine was free, but the bottom frame rails needed to be persuaded to part company with the main frame and a few clouts with my hide mallet did the job.

After some vigorous pumping the bike separated from the engine until Jacquie called out there was a couple of things still attached, the linkage between foot brake and master cylinder was quickly detached and the cable from the prop stand was also released. The rear of the bike was hoisted until it cleared the engine and then it was swung side ways and lowered. The bottom frame rails were unbolted from the engine and pulled away, to be refitted to the bike later.

The rope was secured around the engine and the crane hooked up to it, a couple of adjustments of the rope to get the engine to hang square and it was raised just enough to allow it to be swung around and rolled out to the back of the car whence it was gently lowered into the car.

The bottom rails were reattached to the main frame which would allow what little remained of the bike to stand firmly and securely on its center stand. The crane was again dismantled and stowed along side the engine in the back of the car ready for taking it all back to my home garage. I was left feeling pretty smug that my forward planning had allowed the job to go perfectly, but then again I've got to get the engine it into car yet.