IMPORTANT: STOLEN ENGINE

[gavinfdavies]

I've just discovered that my engine, owned for some time is most likely stolen

Having never really looked closely, I've noticed that the little bit of mangled metal above the oil filter is actually the remains of the engine number. I'd not noticed or given it a second though since my gpz has the number above the clutch. I bought the bike of a 'mate' (or so I thought) some time ago, and have only now stripped it, and started to clean the engine whilst it's on the bench. what a horrible sinking feeling.

now we get to the important part;

only the last two numbers are legible, thanks to brutal use of an angle grinder by the thief. They do not match the last two on my V5. What I'd like to know is, has any one had they're bike/engine nicked and not got anything off the insurance for it? If so, please pm me the last two digits of the engine number, and the date it went missing. if it matches, and the dates tally, then pending a few more checks, it's all you.

Of course, if I hand it to the police, it'll most likely ending up scrapped (due to lack of engine number) and the money ending up in some beaurocrat's pocket, so i'd rather return it to the owner. And even if the police do trace it, it'll just be sold by the bikes insurer, and they'll keep the proceeds.

If all this fails, i'll take it to the cops, and try to nail the *£^&£%^&* who sold it to me.


All the best, and answers on a post card!
Gavin


PS; can one of you lovely mods please make this a sticky, top of each board thingy, until this is sorted? ta

[Mad Phil]

i wouldn't worry to much.

I bought 3 1/2 RG125's for restoration, the 1/2 being a Frame.

No Log book for it, just about readable. Phoned DVLA to see if it was legit.. They couldn't tell me.

Phoned the police, they couldn't tell me & both were not interested in the fact i thought it was stolen.

I have used the frame & registered in on a special form for unknown parts build vehicle. DVLA were very helpful with this & sent me loads of info about how to do it and the forms.

Basically in your case if only the engine is not as per log book the bike will keep its current reg no.

It was probably stolen years ago when they were a much sort after bike & any records of it (if any) will be deleted.

I will send you PM of a poss solution to get you out of the toad..

[cargo]

There is no way to trace it...............and discover the orginal owner..............the police would leave it in a yard somewhere and then it would be the subject of a destruction order.....I'd guess

Handling stolen goods is a serious crime and if the police catch you with the engine they might just charge you. Buying it off a mate is no defence neither is ignorance you should have checked before you handed over any money...............seems to me a very foolish thing to do buying an engine with an obviously removed engine number.


ACU rules require all engines and frames to have numbers.................and if a bike is found without numbers at a race meeting the police are called.

If you have an accident on your bike with this engine in it your insurance will think it's stolen they wont like that and might not pay out............


You need to find a way of somehow making that engine legitimate otherwise.................


Bit of a sorry mess IMHO

[gavinfdavies]

the vehicle's off the road at the moment anyway, so no insurance problems. At the time I was about to end up with no transport, and the guy I bought it off was the mechanic, and had v5 and the service history of the bike, the frame numbers matched, but as you know, the engine numbers are a pig to check.
Also, considering I bought it from a tyre shop, there's somewhat of an arguement that it was a trade sale. The downside being I don't think I bothered to get a reciept. So not sure where I'll be able to get him.

I know what you mean about the police & chucking the engine, this is why i'm just checking on here first.

[gavinfdavies]

Have contacted the fuzz. They're going to ring me to book a time for the special vehicle crime uni to pop in and take a look at it, probably thursday. Hopefully I can get this sorted now.

[gavinfdavies]

Well, a very nice bloke from the vehicle crimes department has been round, spent alot of time chatting about bikes, and has had a good look at the engine.

The police computer has turned up 20 bikes with matching last two digits, but 18 are still owned normally (sorned or taxed), and 2 have been scrapped. One only 3 months ago, and one many years ago. Niether match the middle couple of digits that are still visible.

He's happy that it doesn't match any known stolen bikes, though alot of imported bikes don't have the numbers registered anyway. He'll have another trawl of the database and double check it, but he thinks it'll all come back clear.

Assuming it's all good, then all he can do is send me a letter on headed paper stating it has been fully examined, and it is not suspect. This should help with any scrutineering issues in future years.

So it's all good, and I know have to feel guilty about possibly having a stolen engine!

[cargo]

Well done...............I'm delighted that you've done the right thing.

[razzcolio]

thats good.

do they give u a new number and stuff then?

[gavinfdavies]

can't do that, but he did say it's not a legal requirement to have an engine number (he knows of one car manufacturer who buys new 2.0 zetec engines from ford, that have no engine numbers on them from new!), and the dvla probably won't care so long as the papers are correct. Any problems arising from not having a number will be refered to the police, and will come back ok, just like this time. unless some one reports a vehicle stolen years after it actualy was!

[Mori Man]

Yup, Yamaha 1KT engines have no numbers on them either in the TZR or TDR

The crazy thing is here, they check the engine number in the 2yr MOT , it's OK to swap it out for another as long as you get it printed into the new paperwork before the examination which I done two years ago.

When I went to register my CG in the UK , the main thing was the frame number. Again every other year that bike had a new engine in it and I just sent the paper back to DVLA to have it revised.

Good news any way G , why feel guilty ? You didn't half inch it did ya ? At least you've been willing to do the above board thing and have it investigated - your jobs done

Here is another way of looking at it , one day a bloke had his pride & joy stolen and the toe rags ripped it to bits and sold it on as parts - it was gone for ever It could be your engine came from that bike and is giving you the same pride & joy it did the original owner rather than it was a stolen bike torched to death and dumped in a canal never to grace the tarmac ever again.

I would be happier knowing/. believeng that my stolen bike (KL250) to this day was still being used (preferably not the fuk who stole it) rather than it was crashed to destruction and torched in a field never to be seen again I put a full years wages into that bike - it wanted for nothing and I had the plain bearings uprated to a Bronze composite mix, would never seize ever !

[gavinfdavies]

just had my all clear letter from the local special vehicle crime units (one of the last in the uk!). So atleast i'm partially covered. The sad thing is the only reason it's old owner wasn't found was because alot of imported zxr's only had frame and not engine numbers registered, so this one can't be traced! I'll just send off to the dvla now to get my certificate updated.

Now I can start on the engine overhaul and cafe racer rebuild. I think for now I'll keep the rebuild simple, leave the expensive and complex stuff til later. I just want to get it back on the road. The few things I am going to do, expense wise is...

4-4 system, twin stacked low exits either side, with tiny internal removeable baffles to lower noise for mot etc.
mesh bellmouths on carbs, no air box. Possibly upgrade carbs too (fcrs... mmm)
completely naked front
move all switches/gauges (tiny 45mm speedo and tacho) to the plastic tank panel, with lithium race battery underneath. bars will be minimal - QA throttle (with kill switch), brake and clutch. indicators, horn, ignition, starter, etc will be on the panel.
possible removable headlamp/braket to allow night use
move rad (needs a new one anyway) to under seat area bennelli style.
move oil cooler to vacated air box area (seperated from engine heat by ally/foam heatshield.
possibly a race single seat unit from ARD. (with discrete mounts for a top box to allow use for work, track days etc)

The only 3 figue parts will be the FCRs, exhaust (though probably homemade via 2" pipe bender) and a shiny new rad (possibly er 6 - very long and thin, common as muck, and simple)

all the engine work (and possibly the fcrs) will be left till later (bar jetting etc).

This will give a radically modern cafe racer, for comparatively little cash.

[Max4music]

I doff my cap to you sire for doing such an honorable and right thing. I'm glad it paid off and you didnt loose out.