Plating Steel Cylinders

[Hooligan]

As new cylinders are not being made for our bikes (with the exception of Banshee stuff) eventually we will all get to the point where our steel cylinder liners are at their max size. I've always wondered if steel liners can be Nikasil plated to allow our engines to be essentially run forever? Turns out they can.

I found this place that offers such a service. Although it isn't exactly cheap.

http://www.powersealusa.com/repair-proc ... st-repair/

[bitzz]

Yes you can Nikosil OEM cylinders. It won't make them last forever tho.
It will cool better and seal better.

I've always used CV Tech in Quebec http://www.cvtech-aab.com/en/content/34-nikatech" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
No, it's not cheap.

[Hooligan]

I didn't mean that the plating would make them last forever but that the ability to plate and replate means a cylinder barrel can now last forever. Because currently we are limited to 5 or 6 oversizes and the. The barrel becomes unusable.

[JonW]

I dont know about 'lasting forever' Ive seen plenty of modern MX bikes have ring damage on the bores and for them it often means you need a new cylinder.

[bitzz]

That ad you posted is kinda misleading...
Nikosil doesn't build up, I think it's about a thou thick, when finished. You cannot use it to reduce bore size, it's not that thick.
It DOES provide a harder wearing surface, so the rings seal better and is longer wearing so everything lasts longer.

[evan_calgary]

I think Peter has plenty of understanding of the process and clearly you are not adding a quarter of a mill to the barrels.

Provided you don't have a serious failure and damage the bore you could essentially run them forever if you continuously replated. Aren't a bore usually good for 10-30k km's though? Just so many blown up, poorly rebored, rusted out cylinders out there results in a lack of available cylinders...

[steeley]

As has been said a plated cylinder will last longer providing there is no piston/ring/clip /bearing failure that marks the bore. I have an rgv250 which has plated bores . I was told to replace pistons and rings every 10,000 miles. Yes the plating is not cheap. A couple of years ago I had a pair of 350LC cylinders relined, again not cheap but thought now they will out live me.

[evan_calgary]

As has been said a plated cylinder will last longer providing there is no piston/ring/clip /bearing failure that marks the bore. I have an rgv250 which has plated bores . I was told to replace pistons and rings every 10,000 miles. Yes the plating is not cheap. A couple of years ago I had a pair of 350LC cylinders relined, again not cheap but thought now they will out live me.

What did the relining run you? Just curious...

[Hooligan]

Aside from any overt damage I would suspect that the plating is harder than the iron liners we currently have. Thus a plated cylinder should last a lot longer before needing to be looked at.

[evan_calgary]

Certainly true.

[Bare]

Yessss Nicasil Works v well.
But it's ~300$ a hole which usually separates the window shoppers early on. Try US Chrome for best in the business work... (google)
They will replate an Iron Liner then rebore it to spec. Nicasil'd bores Live V long...barring catastrophic damage.
Meaning Many sets of Pistons/rings can wear them selves out on it.
Ideally suited to a favoured Ported cylinder which would be difficult to replicate Or some obsolete cyl where the Owner rightfully refuses a re sleeve repair

[Zombie]

Why not just resleeve and cut the ports you need? Port maps are easily found.

[steeley]

Had my 350 LC cylinders relined a couple of years ago. if I remember right it cost 360 odd pounds . Armstrong engineering did the job ok so far, not done the mileage like I use too though so still running in .

[Questo vecchio rz]

A friend uses these guys exclusivly, on all his bikes and they did his 700 h.p."aircooled" twin turbo 911 that was 40,000 miles ago too! Cost was around the $400.00 range for the motorcycle Yamaha RD400 cylinders if I recall?


Millenium technologies. http://www.millennium-tech.net/serviceInfo.php?id=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[two-stroke-brit]

A friend uses these guys exclusivly, on all his bikes and they did his 700 h.p."aircooled" twin turbo 911 that was 40,000 miles ago too! Cost was around the $400.00 range for the motorcycle Yamaha RD400 cylinders if I recall?


Millenium technologies. http://www.millennium-tech.net/serviceInfo.php?id=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

^^^^these are the "go to guys" for relating the KDX200/220 cylinders too.