Hello all

I'll explain briefly a bit of background about my bikes and then ask my questions.

My 2003 4PT was stolen in May and after much delay and time wasting I finally received the insurance payout in October. In the meantime I had bought a 1991 3TB and spent a month or so rebuilding all the cycle parts but I didn't touch the engine. Once I had the bike back on the road I realised that it probably needed a top end rebuild or timing chain at the very least.

About a month ago I had a call from the police to say that my stolen 4PT had been recovered. After a short delay while it was examined and photographed for evidence I was told I could collect it. So after I'd coughed up the £200 recovery and storage fee I took it home. It looked rough, covered in mud with plenty of cosmetic damage just about everywhere but it felt solid and was complete.

Once I'd established that it still started and ran OK I stripped it completely with the idea of simply swapping the engine into the 3TB. I know I'd have to alter some of the wiring to move the TCI unit and replace and re-route the clutch cable but all that's OK. The problem is that the engine number on the stolen and recovered bike was destroyed and I don't really want a dodgy looking engine in the bike (some travel hoped for in the near future).

My questions are therefore:

1. Can I use the cases from the 1991 3TB (with correct engine number) and build everything else from the 4PT engine into/onto those cases?

I have both complete engines so the blanking plugs for the tacho drive on the 3TB and for the hole for the old style clutch (LH case) on the 4PT are present.

2. Apart from using the 4PT clutch cable and swapping the horn from right to left hand sides, what else can I expect?

I'll order a gasket set of course and sealant for the cases, and check bearings and seals as I go, replacing if necessary. The 4PT engine had around 10k miles on it when it was stolen, so if I get into this I'm hoping that it will be pretty good inside.

I'll be selling off the 4PT specific stuff but keeping what I can use as spare for the 3TB. I guess I'll have to destroy the frame as the number was removed and it has been written off by the insurers.

Many thanks in advance to anyone with some input.

Regards - Alastair.

Is it possible your insurance compnay could supply you with the engine number, or maybe the DVLA could from the reg number? Then you could legally fit the 4pt engine and get the logbook changed accordingly.
Geoff

Thanks Geoff, I'll try and ring the DVLA to see what they say. I have the reg number but no record of the engine or frame numbers as the insurers took and destroyed the V5. DVLA won't give me a logbook without the frame number, but if I just want the engine number that may be different.

Regards - Alastair.

why not just file the old number off the 4pt and stamp the new number onto it ? the metal is thick enough. and then spray it . who will ever know the number you have is legal .

I may do that, but I was looking for a completely above board solution.

Regards - Alastair.

You did not say if old 3TB engine is electric start or kick only.

If it's electric, TCI unit are similar , same connectors, you can use both (only a small difference in advance point), my advice is try to sort out with burocracy how to write again a number on the engine, maybe the old 4PT one, as once it has a number you can use on the old 3TB.

Open both cases and exchange parts will be a never ending job, and with no guarantee on the results. And with the risk of making errors on the job that will delete all your efforts.

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It's electric start only. I'm in contact with the insurers now to try to negotiate having the logbook back with the original numbers. If they agree to that and the DVLA will re-issue it I'll just use the 4PT as it is with supporting paperwork to prove that it is the 2003 engine.

I may be able to do something legitimate with the frame then as well.

Thanks for the reply.

Alastair

*Update*

The insurers agreed that I could keep the bike since I'd already paid £200 to get it back, they said they'd valued it at 10% of the payout which would have been £184 so I'm OK with that.

I wrote to the DVLA explaining the saga and asking for the V5 back, all I have had so far is a phone call last week from a woman who clearly hadn't got a clue, she even asked "why would anyone want to remove the frame number?"

I will wait and see what the outcome is.

If all goes well there will be a 2003 XT600e frame with logbook and reg number for sale soon and a nice 2003 engine in my 1991 bike.

*update again*

I got the V5 back from the DVLA today so the engine number can be replaced on the 4PT engine and that can be swapped into the 1991 bike.

The frame from the 2003 4PT now has its logbook with frame number so I'm happy again.

Alastair.