998cc Resurrection of 2008 GS. To be or not to be...

[UAKos]

Hello, Spyderlovers! I got 2008 GS from the auction 2 years ago, body and frame is in good condition but engine has a hole in the bottom of the crank case. My options are:

1. Get a crankcase, overhaul kit and rebuild it;
2. Get an engine (unfortunately only used ones available) and just swap it, maybe even Aprilia engine with tune;
3. Turn it up a notch and do a complete Hayabusa or ZX14 swap, but if I do that - no reverse gear;
4. Just get rid of it and forget like a nightmare.

Also I need websites of parts and shops that can supply parts for it because dealers don't have anything because its old.
Any information and advice is deeply appreciated.

 

[racoon]

Sounds like an interesting project, if you're into wrenching on your bikes.

 

[UAKos]

I had Harleys and rebuild engine on 1995 Sportster once. But Rotax is a whole another level, but not impossible. Found shop manuals for sale, but I couldn't find tools for timing

 

[ARtraveler]

Getting 08/GS parts may be an issue. You already mentioned about new engines not available. Where there is a will, there is a way. Most companies stop making parts for machines after 7 years.

08/GS was a good machine. I got the first one sold in Alaska to a customer and put 36K trouble-free miles on it in two years. Then I traded it off. It went to the dealer's daughter. You will have to scour the internet for stuff. Dealers will most likely not be able to help.

Good luck with your project.

 

[UAKos]

thank you! I will consider my available options, but as you mentioned - parts are an issue, even aftermarket is not available...

 

[Peter Aawen]

thank you! I will consider my available options, but as you mentioned - parts are an issue, even aftermarket is not available...

Don't be too discouraged, these same engines and a very similar gearbox (compatible in many/most ways, just no help for Reverse gear! ) were used in a variety of other machines - right off the top of my head, the 998 V-Twin's with the same gearbox, only with 6 forward gears (Can-Am sacrificed 6th for Reverse ) were found in the Aprillia Twins of a similar vintage. So don't restrict your parts search to JUST Can-Am Spyders, there's more 2nd hand & a/mkt parts out there than you might think, even if you can't get new parts from Rotax/Can-Am! :thumbup:

Good Luck! :cheers:

 

[UAKos]

Thank you! I did find crankcase, but things like bearing, gaskets etc are MIA... And cross reference for parts between can am and aprilia doesn't work. This project will definitely take a lot of time but I will try to share my progress with it here

 

[pegasus1300]

The bearings have numbers on them. Take that number to a bearing warehouse and see if they can match it. Same with seals. As for gaskets you may have to make your own there. I bet YouTube has some videos on gasket making. O rings generally come in standard sizes, take old ones to a parts store and match them. Parts stores should have gasket material in a couple of thicknesses. You can make a rubber gasket from Black RTV silicone sealer. Or maybe you can find a good used engine and use yours for spares. In the case of head gaskets if they are metal, I have annealed them and reused them when necessary. Now as to the hole in your case have you taken it to a machine shop to see if there is anything they can do to remedy the situation? None of the above suggestions are ideal but if you can't get the factory part, they will work and it's better than using it for a boat anchor. Or not.

 

[PMK]

My opinion, if you can not find a low cost running Rotax engine to swap in, either do the motorcycle engine or cut your losses and sell it.
Projects like these sound great initially, but typically far exceed good common sense of time, effort, and money to be worthwhile.
Even the idea of the motorcycle engine has to contend with belt vs chain drive.

At a guess, you would have spent enough to just go buy a running Spyder with a V Twin, ready to ride.

 

[Mikey]

Don't be too discouraged, these same engines and a very similar gearbox (compatible in many/most ways, just no help for Reverse gear! ) were used in a variety of other machines - right off the top of my head, the 998 V-Twin's with the same gearbox, only with 6 forward gears (Can-Am sacrificed 6th for Reverse ) were found in the Aprillia Twins of a similar vintage. So don't restrict your parts search to JUST Can-Am Spyders, there's more 2nd hand & a/mkt parts out there than you might think, even if you can't get new parts from Rotax/Can-Am! :thumbup:

Good Luck! :cheers:

:agree: Sometimes you have to think out of the box!! That engine was put in other things at BRP, they and all sports equipment companies don't like changing their molds and retooling any more than they have to, so they mix and match. But even worst-case idea would be to part it out to the public and help out another poor soul trying to rebuild their old iron! There's always a market for parts!! Good luck

 

[UAKos]

@pegasus1300 Thanks for advice, I didnt think about making my own seals, I found good used crankcase but seal for it will be an issue.
@PMK Common sense says "Junk it", but I cant see this kind of machine just go to waste. Also it is an opportunity to learn something new.
@Mikey I thought about about part it out and that's going to be my last resort

Thanks everyone for you support and advices. If you can point me to any websites dedicated to Can Am parts it would definitely help me a lot

 

[racoon]

If you can point me to any websites dedicated to Can Am parts it would definitely help me a lot

Google came up with quite a list, and ignoring the ones that were official CAN-AM websites, this one looks interesting:

https://www.partspitstoponline.com/can-am-spyder-oem-parts

A quick check shows they list crankcase assemblies, both an automatic and a 5 speed.

The bad news is the list price is US $1,200.



Here's another one, with similar prices for the crankcase assemblies:

https://www.partshark.com/oemparts/c/can_am_motorcycle/parts

 

[UAKos]

Thank you! $1,200 for complete assembly is not that bad. These sites will help me a lot! So the project is on...

 

[racoon]

Please keep us updated.

 

[UAKos]

I definitely will! It will be very slow project due to my job, but I will update my every step!