Hello again all........Could i ask you all for some help and addvice please Am going to strip engine down to replace mains (before they break up )...........is it best to go straight to LT ........or is it cheeper to get parts from some where else ........Have done a search on this site and found some part numbers i need.......... Am looking to replace mains+seals.........Also balance bearings+seals..........sprocket seal(leaking).........maybe rings while its apart..........(bike only done 5500kms 1995 mk3 must have stood for a while to cause bearing trouble so hopefully bore ok)..........check crank and replace little end....gaskets.....e.t.c.......If any body could help with part numbers or addvice on what to look for ....would be very gratefull .......many thanks Rich .........ps does it show am new to the forum ..........And not very good on computer

First question - How competent/confident a mechanic are you?
How much non-work/family time do you have to strip & rebuild?
How quickly do you want it finished by?
How much money are you prepared to spend? (you will inevatably find things you had not considered that need replaceing)

Very rough cost options for some of the things I'm familiar with:

You should budget for a complete gasket set ~ £55
Rebore ~ £40-50
New piston, rings, little end ....... ~ £100
Rings ~ £25
Main bearings ~ £20
Main seals ~ £20
Complete bearings and seals for the whole engine ~ £250

LT labour ~ £150-200. (Someone else might give you a better idea on this)

There is a multitude of options...........

Thanks for your reply knackerd. That gives me an idea. Am going to do the work myself ....Just wanted to find out the best (cheapest) place for parts......will take it to bits and see what i find Thanks again Rich........

Some bearings/seals you will get from your local supplier for a little cheaper but some things you will have to get from LT or other more specialist dealer.

I've done a rebuild on my Mk2.2 in the last year (still rattles so it may need a rebore as well), anyway, back to the point, the mains ended up cheaper from LT. I tried a few bearing stockists but as the bearings are not run of the mill stuff it was cheaper for LT to provide them (and much quicker).

I've kept loads of the part numbers if you want to go to Lings or David siver spares etc.

Thanks for that knackerd and mudfacetony thanks for the offer..- Rang up LT today (nice bloke very helpfull) and ordered new mains,seals, balance bearings, and seal...........The trouble is unless you have all part numbers you need you have to go to LT. you can't just nip to your local bike shop and get them to order it. But having said that in the past had to wait weeks for parts so you can't have it both ways i supose .........like to know MFT if your bike was any better after you replaced mains .......cheers both...Rich

Mudfacetony wrote: I tried a few bearing stockists but as the bearings are not run of the mill stuff it was cheaper for LT to provide them (and much quicker).

You will also get bearings with the correct radial internal clearance that way. Standard clearance bearings won't last long in a bike engine, they end up too tight.