It has been a fair while since I last wrote on the Forum due to various reasons (getting older is top of the list lol), but also been fairly busy sorting & rebuilding my son Chris’s NSR250 MC18 R5K with him.
But, before I start, can I thank all those on the NSR WORLD Forum (you all know who you are) for all their help & pointing me and Chris in the right direction as none of the following would have been possible, not forgetting all the invaluable information on the NSR WORLD site itself.
Our first attempt was to fit a used MC28 Engine to the MC18 which looked in reasonable enough condition to do. However, fitting the MC28 Engine into the MC18 threw up a number of issues, and items to be purchased, that although have been previously documented I guess it’s not till you try & do it you just don’t realise!
The issues & items required as follows:
- (1) New/Used MC21 PROTEC GPS-01 Gear Position Sensor Product 11609 or MC28 Change Switch (MC18 Neutral Switch is not only completely different, it is also in a different position on the Crankcase to the MC21/28 & operates in a totally different way. Additionally, Neutral switch re-wiring is required, but this is not much of an issue.
(2) Used MC28 2T Oil Pump as one didn’t come with the Engine (MC28 2T Oil Pump has an additional Oil Way to the MC18);
(3) New DMR-JAPAN Dry Clutch Collars/Spacers (Original Spacers had worn so bad the Clutch didn’t work at all);
(4) New DMR-JAPAN MC28 Water Pump, TYGA & DOGFIGHT RACING also supply their own one as well (The issue with the Water Pump arose when sorting the Clutch issue above out);
(5) New DMR-JAPAN Wide RC Valve Pulley Type2 with a wide Pulley & over-torque release mechanism (Our attempt to get the MC28 RC Valves to mate as best as you can with the MC18’s PGM II).
NOTE: More detail of these issues above will be dealt with as I continue to add to this topic in the coming weeks.
Most of the parts above were obtained via: WEBIKE JAPAN, AMAZON JAPAN, JAUCE JAPAN & Jap4 UK Ltd.
After riding the NSR250 for a little while, the MC28 Engine decided to be near impossible to start, so a re-think led to a total rebuild of an Engine for the MC18 R5K as follows.
MC18 R5K Engine Rebuild
Rebuilding the MC18 consisted of using the MC28 Crankcase, new or rebuilt MC28 Crankshaft (Steve at Performance Engineering, Plymouth) with the MC18’s Cylinders (Nikasil plating by Langcourt, Weston-Super-Mare, UK), original Cylinder Heads, Stator & Pick-ups.
Detailed instructions on the complete Engine strip and rebuild are on the NSR WORLD site which I found extremely useful and as you will see a great deal of similarity. The MC28 Engine was removed for cleaning prior to dismantling & all parts open to any ingress were taped off and sealed.
Last edited by philup_7@hotmail.com on Mon Mar 09, 2026 4:48 pm; edited 3 times in total