You are correct; the bike arrives in the crate with everything installed except the luggage, front wheel, handlebars, and controls. The bike is filled with motor oil, brake fluid, coolant, and fork oil. I only needed to add electrolyte to the Yuasa battery for my Zongshen ZS200GY-2. Personally, I never before heard of a crankcase breather plug. :shrug: However, it certainly won't be difficult to remove any plugs. ;) Posted below is a video showing the basic steps in assembling a motorcycle which arrives in a crate. You will need a helper to assemble the bike.

Actually, he is not holding up the motorcycle. He is using a technique I recommend for installing the front wheel. One man balances the bike on the rear wheel and the kick stand, while the other man installs the front wheel and axle. ;)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_rnztufISI

In the Silk Road thread there's a post where oil has blown through the countershaft seal or something because the breather is restricted with a plastic plug. It's right around the post where the whole motor is replaced.

Many bikes have a breather valve in case the motor is overfilled with oil. On much older bikes there was a hose routed along the rear fender, to keep oil off the engine. It was just dissipated behind the bike. Or, like below, there was a filter that absorbed the oil right at the vent.

http://i172.photobucket.com/albums/w...4312/002-1.jpg

Yes, all of my motorcycles have a crankcase vent tube which is connected to the bike's air box. However, I never before heard of any crankcase vent being plugged. This is just another instance where Jackson puzzles me with his posts. :shrug:

Spudrider

Funny you mention that because he puzzled me with a few of his posts as well......

With a crankcase breather like the below pictured filter, might be good to put that on a tube and higher up for water crossings......

Expat

Dual sport bikes and dirt bikes usually route the crankcase vent hose into the air box in order to prevent sucking water into the engine during water crossings. ;) Zongshen has excellent quality control, and is continually striving to improve even further in this area. Therefore, I find it hard to believe the factory didn't install a crankcase vent hose, and put a cap on the crankcase vent. :shrug: I never heard of any Chinese motorcycle being delivered in that condition, or any other motorcycle, for that matter. However, stranger things have happened. ;)

GJACKSON:
Yesterday, I went in to pick up the bike. When i arrived, I found a whole new engine had been installed. Everything looked alright, it sounded good so after a quick check I drove it home. When I arrived, I noticed that the entire rear end was covered in oil and a nice little pool was quickly forming under the engine... The sound remained but i didn't dare test the new engine for the speed problem.


ZHU:
A couple of things to check. New engines sometimes have the crankcase vent sealed for transport so if they fitted a new engine maybe the did not remove the plug from the case vent . If the engine is sealed then it will spew oil from any available seal or gasket.

GJACKSON:
And by the way, Zhu, you were right. They forgot about the plug in the crank case vent. Thanks. I'll also try to find some fuel cleaner.

http://www.mychinamoto.com/forums/sh...3-report/page6



Man, this was bugging me! I went back and found the entries I was thinking of. The replacement motor was transported with the breather plugged, and the mechanic who installed it forgot to remove it, leading to a blown seal somewhere. Probably nothing to worry about on a crated bike from the factory....but, curious to see where they do route the breather, and if it's plugged during transport. I assume CSC will have instructions.

The boys at Honley have evidently written their own shop manual, independent of the Zong Shen manual- meaning it's not just a translation. Maybe they would license it to CSC?

Okay, that makes some sense. I didn't realize the problem occured after the new engine was installed. ;) Indeed, I would also plug the crankcase vent when I shipped an engine. However, installing an engine without connecting the crankcase vent hose is gross incompetence. :ohno: I have never heard of a Chinese, or any other motorcycle, being shipped from the factory in this condition. ;)

Please post a link where you found the information regarding a Honley service manual for the RX3. :) If such a manual exists, I don't see why Honley would not sell one of those manuals directly to us. :shrug:

The crankcase vent hose is routed to the proper location upon assembly of the motorcycle, and there is no logical reason to plug the crankcase vent hose on an assembled motorcycle. That's why I have never heard of such a thing happening. ;)

I can't find the link to that- It was mentioned in the comments in one of the Honley Venturer reviews and can't find it again. Here is the dealer that imports the RX3 as a Honley:

http://www.earnshaws.bike/

http://www.honley.bike/

I've inquired about a manual....

I'd still like to know the reason for the motor transplant in the first place!
It's hard to know how much of Mr. Jackson's travails are due to inexperience from him, incompetence from the mechanics, or product failure.:doh:

In case anyone is wondering, I'm not trying to give you a hard time. ;) I merely find the entire scenario very difficult to understand. :hmm: I appreciate your concerns. However, based upon 6 years of personal experience with Zongshen products, I am not worried myself. Nevertheless, I do suggest you send a personal message to Mr. Jackson, and see if he replies. ;) Perhaps if he engages you in several messages, he can explain matters better; I hope this is the case. :)

I can not recall hearing of any new Chinese motor which needed to be replaced, let alone a Zongshen motor. All Zongshen motors are thoroughly tested at the factory before they are installed in the motocycle. If Mr. Jackson's mechanics were so inept to install a replacement engine without connecting the crankcase vent hose, I wonder what else they might have neglected when assembling the bike. I am not trying to be unkind, but I also wonder about Mr. Jackson's maintenance schedule. :shrug:

It's also possible Mr. Jackson got a bad engine. :shrug: Even the Japanese and Europeans produce an occasional lemon. I encourage you to keep digging for the truth. :tup:

Thanks for inquiring about the service manual. :tup: The British don't speak American English, but at least they speak English.



I'm just kidding!

:hehe:

Here's the reply from Earnshaws if someone else would like a manual prior to their RX3. delivery:

Hi jim, I have a workshop manual 18 mb that I can send if you like.
Regards
Jason
sales@earnshaws.net

I haven't felt slighted. I do apologize if I seem like a worry-wort, but I came here to learn more about the Zong Shen. I don't have the benefit of your years of experience, Spud, and I confess I'm not thoroughly convinced of the bike yet..

The bike is a bargain, but it's still a lot of money to me, and to buy it I'll have to part with my trusty KLR250, which has given me 0 problems and takes a lot of abuse. I wouldn't even consider it except I like the Zong, I could do with something a little more road-oriented, and I'm ready for electric start- my old knee can't take too much more kicking!

If I'm thinking out loud here on the forum that's just a peccadillo of mine. Don't feel you have to answer all my mental meanderings.

How much is he charging for the service manual? :thanks:

There is no need to apologize; I appreciate your situation. ;) We are very glad you joined us, and we appreciate your input. :)

He hasn't gotten back to me yet...

:D