[jayrobbins]

It would move down freely sometimes and others would be completely locked up. Then with a lot of force go down again.

[GreenRE]

It would move down freely sometimes and others would be completely locked up. Then with a lot of force go down again.

Something is amiss here. Make sure you are around when they open her up.

[jayrobbins]

I hope to be.

[jayrobbins]

Its official its the crankshaft bearing. Were do you guys buys your part? I'm in las vegas Nevada USA

[mrunderhill1975a]

You should be able to get parts at Arlen Ness cycle shop on boulder highway in Vegas.  Or, you could get it at Nfield Gear at the website above.

[1 Thump]

 If you are going to put in bearings you should put in the good stuff. The bearings in the fireball crank can take way more beating than your stock bearings. If I was you I would also put in the carillo con rod and heavy duty oil pumps. Its a very good long term investment. The rod is custom made but Tom Lyons may keep a couple in stock. You will never have to do a bottom end job again.

[Ice]

If you are going to put in bearings you should put in the good stuff. The bearings in the fireball crank can take way more beating than your stock bearings. If I was you I would also put in the carillo con rod and heavy duty oil pumps. Its a very good long term investment. The rod is custom made but Tom Lyons may keep a couple in stock. You will never have to do a bottom end job again.

Big + 1

[mikail gransee]

Kinda weird that the lower end gave up with so few miles...

[Chasfield]

Not if the oil pump drive has stripped itself. Big end would be shot in a couple of minutes. A careful investigation of pump shaft, worm drive, crank run-out etc. will be essential.

[500KsGerry]

Sorry about  your woes. Hope you  get her  up  and  running.  Gerry

[Arizoni]

This is strange.
If the oil pump was not working I would expect to see the piston seize long before I would expect to see a rolling element bearing break down.

In any case, if some bearings from a European country or from America are available I would try to get them to use rather than bearings from the OEM.
SKF, FAG and Timken, to name a few are excellent companies.

[Ice]

Makes me wonder if the cork quill seal was dried up and no longer sealing.

[Chasfield]

Would a 2000 model have a cork seal? Had the neoprene moulded in type been introduced by 2000?

Re: rolling element bearings. If this is a classic iron barrel model then the hard working big end is a fully floating plain bush with some lube holes drilled in it - not rolling element. And that bush will heat up fast when deprived of oil.

[ace.cafe]

Hard to say what the exact problems are, or what caused them, until the tear-down.
It isn't unusual for an old model with practically zero miles to have some rust on the bearings. That could be the problem right there.

The 2000 models had neoprene quill seals, so that's probably not the issue.
But when the bike sits that long without use, things can get rusty, even inside the engine.

As previously recommended, use top quality bearings for replacement. Upgrade everything you can while the engine is torn down.