Engine Break-in

Message
Author
User avatar
m1a1dvr
Legendary 300
Legendary 300
Posts: 459
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:29 am
Sex: Male
Location: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

Engine Break-in

#1 Unread post by m1a1dvr »

I have been reading different articles in magazines about breaking in the engine. The manual says to keep the RPM's below 8000. The problem I am having is that most of the articles that I have read tell me to rev the engine hard. They tell me to bring the tack close to the redline in second, third, and fourth gears. It also said to use hard acceleration and deceleration in each gear. I am really confused can anybody help me?

User avatar
BubbaGump
Legendary
Legendary
Posts: 294
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:57 am
Sex: Male
Location: Edmonton, AB

Re: Engine Break-in

#2 Unread post by BubbaGump »

m1a1dvr wrote:I have been reading different articles in magazines about breaking in the engine. The manual says to keep the RPM's below 8000. The problem I am having is that most of the articles that I have read tell me to rev the engine hard. They tell me to bring the tack close to the redline in second, third, and fourth gears. It also said to use hard acceleration and deceleration in each gear. I am really confused can anybody help me?
Ignore magazines and find out what the manufacturers say about break-in reagarding RPM's and time. Follow it and you won't have problems - afterall, their engineers are the one's that designed the bikes - they know how they should be run.

8)
Those of you who think you're cool annoy those of us who really are! 8)

User avatar
ofblong
Site Supporter - Platinum
Site Supporter - Platinum
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:51 pm
Real Name: Ben
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 4
My Motorcycle: 1996 Honda Shadow Deluxe VLX
Location: Michigan

Re: Engine Break-in

#3 Unread post by ofblong »

BubbaGump wrote:
m1a1dvr wrote:I have been reading different articles in magazines about breaking in the engine. The manual says to keep the RPM's below 8000. The problem I am having is that most of the articles that I have read tell me to rev the engine hard. They tell me to bring the tack close to the redline in second, third, and fourth gears. It also said to use hard acceleration and deceleration in each gear. I am really confused can anybody help me?
Ignore magazines and find out what the manufacturers say about break-in reagarding RPM's and time. Follow it and you won't have problems - afterall, their engineers are the one's that designed the bikes - they know how they should be run.

8)
with that philosphy you wont get very far. most engineers I know dont know how to run the machines they build let alone set them up.
96' Honda Shadow Deluxe VLX
Dream bike: Ducati Multistrada 1100S
[img]http://hdbits.org/pic/smilies/hdlove.gif[/img]

User avatar
BubbaGump
Legendary
Legendary
Posts: 294
Joined: Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:57 am
Sex: Male
Location: Edmonton, AB

Re: Engine Break-in

#4 Unread post by BubbaGump »

ofblong wrote:with that philosphy you wont get very far. most engineers I know dont know how to run the machines they build let alone set them up.

Wow - you're kidding right? So you think they don't know what will cause premature damage to an engine? Interesting - I know that some of the million dollar equipment we run has strict parameters for break-in. Most have an event data recorder that will rat us out if we broke the parameters - thus cancelling the warranty. But hey...sounds like you know. :roll:

8)
Those of you who think you're cool annoy those of us who really are! 8)

User avatar
fiveoboy01
Veteran
Veteran
Posts: 86
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 2:43 pm
Sex: Male
Location: WI

#5 Unread post by fiveoboy01 »

Most "factory" requirements for break in(cars, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATVs etc etc) are BS in my opinion. All you need to do is get the rings seated properly, and that does not take all these miles/hours that the MFR recommends.

Some may disagree with me, but I've been putting together my own race car engines for years and don't do much to break them in. And I've had several brand new recreational vehicles. They take plenty of abuse, and I've never had a ring or bearing related failure. Are motorcycle engines that much different? I wouldn't think so.

User avatar
ofblong
Site Supporter - Platinum
Site Supporter - Platinum
Posts: 2638
Joined: Wed Apr 26, 2006 6:51 pm
Real Name: Ben
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 4
My Motorcycle: 1996 Honda Shadow Deluxe VLX
Location: Michigan

Re: Engine Break-in

#6 Unread post by ofblong »

BubbaGump wrote:
ofblong wrote:with that philosphy you wont get very far. most engineers I know dont know how to run the machines they build let alone set them up.

Wow - you're kidding right? So you think they don't know what will cause premature damage to an engine? Interesting - I know that some of the million dollar equipment we run has strict parameters for break-in. Most have an event data recorder that will rat us out if we broke the parameters - thus cancelling the warranty. But hey...sounds like you know. :roll:

8)
most of the ones I have met have no idea what really will cause it. I am a mechanic (though an industrial one) and like i said most engineers I know dont know their arse from a hole in the ground. There are some who know alot and are very bright but they are few and far between.
96' Honda Shadow Deluxe VLX
Dream bike: Ducati Multistrada 1100S
[img]http://hdbits.org/pic/smilies/hdlove.gif[/img]

Scott58
Legendary 750
Legendary 750
Posts: 768
Joined: Mon Feb 21, 2005 5:14 am
Sex: Male
Location: Northwest Indiana

#7 Unread post by Scott58 »

Take it easy and don't lug the motor. Very your rpm's as much as possible. I've broken in alot of motors and they last a long long time. A Race engine isn't meant to last 100,000 miles (although I'm sure a few have). After 500 miles I'll start getting pretty agressive. By 1000 miles everything pretty much settles in. Your bike should run strong for a long time.
05 Honda Rebel
04 Spitfire Cub-24
05Suzuki S50

MotoF150
Legendary 750
Legendary 750
Posts: 910
Joined: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:01 pm

#8 Unread post by MotoF150 »

the best way to run any bike is to run it and ride as soon as you start it, get the engine to warm up, to get to normal operation temp as fast as it can, cold engine, increased engine wear
2011 Toyota Tacoma 4x4, 09 Yamaha Tmax, 08 Suzuki King Quad 750

User avatar
BigChickenStrips
Legendary 500
Legendary 500
Posts: 692
Joined: Tue Apr 04, 2006 3:31 am
Sex: Male
Location: Tenn.

#9 Unread post by BigChickenStrips »

in another thread, techBMW (a mod here and also a motorcycle mechanic i believe) stated you can seriously "fudge" your engine up by revving it real high and riding it hard while in the "break in" period. bent valves and somethign else. im too lazy to look for it, maybe he will chime in here
[b]Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency! [/b]

User avatar
m1a1dvr
Legendary 300
Legendary 300
Posts: 459
Joined: Thu Apr 06, 2006 6:29 am
Sex: Male
Location: Williamsport, Pennsylvania

#10 Unread post by m1a1dvr »

Huh. I have seem to have started an argument on here. That was not my intentions. But I am still comfused. I have broken in quite a few quad engines but reving then throught the range right off of the bat. But the manufactures have never put a limit on how hard they should be run and for so long. The whole street bike concept is new to me. Alot of people have given both sides of the argument that I was talking about, rev it up, and not to rev it up. So I guess what i am saying is a street bike engine anything like the quad engines that I have broken in?

Post Reply