Engine rebuild - cylinder re-sleeve

[Stephan]

Also, any opionions on the insanly thick .25" sleeve?? Cant find much info on pros/cons. It seems to me like it is a good thing, but won't disapate heat as quickly.

Only negative I can see is if it reduce cooling channels. If not, it is the same as oem cylinders, I suppose sleeve is made from cast iron, same as existing one.

[Chris58]

Yes its made of ductile iron, I heard because iron doesnt conduct heat as well as aluminum..it will run hotter. it's much thicker than the oem sleeve.
I cant see it being a issue at all though.

Now if i ever rebuild again, I can fit some big bore pistons

[mik_str]

while I acknowledge this is a moot point now that the sleeves have been inserted already, but are you aware if there was any possibility of having aluminum sleeves put in and then having them nikasiled after having them machined down to size?

just asking...

[Chris58]

Yeah, I did consider doing that.. It does seem like a good option.
Would be good for heat transfer, its claimed to last longer(but that's not always true) , could be used with a tighter clearence with a aluminum piston.

I personally would worry too much about the structural integrity of an aluminum sleeve and the possibility of chipping the coating etc. Its also not possible to fix any issues, you would have to resleeve and re-nikasil.

Update: sleeves were pressed in today with no issues 0.003 interference fit.

[Chris58]

I just picked up my block from the machine shop, they made an error when measuring piston to bore clearence... He thought that clearence should be measured with .003 on each side of the piston. Its now .006 instead of .003.. completely f'd up the build. $750 later and I'm back where I started.

Im probably sending pistons to get coated because I cant afford to redo the sleeve or buy new pistons. Im using .002 of TLMB coating (techline product) to take up clearence, and honing to fit.

Its supposed to be a long lasting permanent coating to take up clearence and reduce friction..

Anyone have experience with this coating or similar products?

[8541Hawk]

I just picked up my block from the machine shop, they made an error when measuring piston to bore clearence... He thought that clearence should be measured with .003 on each side of the piston. Its now .006 instead of .003.. completely f'd up the build. $750 later and I'm back where I started.

Im probably sending pistons to get coated because I cant afford to redo the sleeve or buy new pistons. Im using .002 of TLMB coating (techline product) to take up clearence, and honing to fit.

Its supposed to be a long lasting permanent coating to take up clearence and reduce friction..

Anyone have experience with this coating or similar products?

So the shop made an error and you still had to pay for the job? That just isn't right.

[Stephan]

You mentioned possobility of big bore in future, now it is coming serious. Especially if second bore will be for free. I would sell the pistons and found new oem (maybe worn) ones from other bikes. Just check piston to valve gap or before final assembly.

What about 100mm from vtr sp? Or other bikes, you have wide range of choice now.

[E.Marquez]

Mate, if the shop made the mistake, the shop eats the repair cost. Anything else should have legal action attached to correct.

If you want to meet them 1/2, have them order a set of JE oversize pistons, re bore and hone and offer to sell the extra two pistons for them

Even DLC coating wears off a piston in use...how fast? i don't know . But Id suggest being upfront with the coater at what your trying to accomplish with the coating and then ask their opinion on if it will do what you want. Its their reputation at stake, Id bet if they feel it wont work, they will tell you.
oh and, find a new machine shop.. Piston wall clearance is never expressed as "per side" thats a mistake that never should have happened.. Sounds like the job was left to the new apprentice and no supervision.

[Chris58]

You mentioned possobility of big bore in future, now it is coming serious. Especially if second bore will be for free. I would sell the pistons and found new oem (maybe worn) ones from other bikes. Just check piston to valve gap or before final assembly.

What about 100mm from vtr sp? Or other bikes, you have wide range of choice now.

I like that idea, most bikes have different wrist pin sizes...usually smaller. The storm is 0.945.
It would also be hard to find one with the proper compression height etc.

If anyone knows of a high compression 99 or 100mm piston with the proper pin size let me know, I do have free boring until this is sorted.

I heard something about Porsche pistons, but couldnt find any that look compatable. I also read that the sp1/2 pistons are a different wrist pin.

Any other ideas?

[Stephan]

I would ty to find it in online catalogues of aftermarket piston producers like wiseco, je, woesner. Maybe this information is there.

[Chris58]

I would ty to find it in online catalogues of aftermarket piston producers like wiseco, je, woesner. Maybe this information is there.

Thanks Stephan, So far ive tried wiesco, and je. Havent heard of woesner though, ill give that a try.

[8541Hawk]

2 more places to try if you haven't yet:
https://ariaspistons.com/index.html

http://www.cp-carrillo.com/

[Chris58]

I looked through alot of catalogs... the closest pistons I found were an xr600 big bore kit, xl600 & xr650L. They all have a 24mm wrist pin, you can get a 100mm bore, compression height is 1.15" (I measured the stock storm at 1.19")
So the stock 650 piston would work.. but would be around 9 to 1 compression(without doing the math). They do have high compression ones that may work around 10.5 to 1, but Id be concerned about how deep they might need to be fly cut.

I also own a xr600 with a big bore kit. The stock piston is around somewhere.. Ill have a closer look at it.

Side note:
This could be a viable solution for any turbo builds needing low compression.

[Chris58]

Well I recived my pistons from being coated. The crown coating was chiped around the edges out of the box, piston skirts had pitted spots from bubbles, and sagging in the coating. He was supposed to add .004 .. but there was an extra 0.007
When I called back to see wtf happened, he informed me that the chipping was from removing masking tape, and to just sand out the imperfections myself.
Having an incredably hard time finding honest quality work around here.
Ordering new 99mm pistons from JE and the machinist is going to bore and hone for free.

[mik_str]

99mm? what rings will you be using? the largest OEm rings are 98.5mm...