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The 2-Stroke Garage => Turning Wrenches => Topic started by: 1976RD400C on August 04, 2022, 08:51:36 AM

Title: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: 1976RD400C on August 04, 2022, 08:51:36 AM
I'm going to try a set of these on my bike after using Wisecos. Should I allow anything in the clearance for that coating to wear off? If and when the coating comes off how much smaller will the piston be? I have a real good hone and bore gauge and can get the bore just about within .0001"-.0002". I'm thinking set the clearance at .0018" measuring the piston with the coating on it???  Thanks

(https://i.ibb.co/Jd2SwPt/prox.jpg) (https://ibb.co/H2Y9fQ4)
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: DesmoDrew on August 04, 2022, 09:07:04 AM
Lightly scuff through the coating at the front and the back of the piston skirt. That is where you can measure your piston for clearance. The coating is sacrificial and should not factor into your final clearance measurement.
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: SoCal250 on August 04, 2022, 11:29:02 AM
Yup, as Drew said. Here's an explanation from Chuck on the topic https://www.2strokeworld.net/forum/index.php?topic=1681.0
You'll need to trim the tab too of course for an AC engine
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: 1976RD400C on August 04, 2022, 12:22:02 PM
Thanks guys. Now I remember Chuck talked about this. I took some steel wool and cleaned the coating off a little spot on each side and I'm coming up with about .0005" smaller diameter, I'll check that again because Chuck came up with a bit more. My Lisle hone seems capable of getting the cylinder spot on. It just seems a bit sketchy having .001"ish clearance when assembled with a coated piston. The Wisecos I took out had collapsed skirts and the cylinder had a little wear, the clearance measured .007". They were hanging in there, but the ringing sound was kind of ear piercing. I hope the cast piston with tighter clearance will help the motor inhale better. The crank was spreading apart at the big end pin on the rotor side even with the light HPI rotor. This isn't the first time I've had this happen, with other cranks. It moved about 1mm. When I pressed it back, it seems like a nice tight fit, so I don't know. It wasn't out of true when I check that.  The bearings are all real good. There isn't that many miles on it but it is a hot rod. My old TDR single petal reeds seem tired.  There's a very visible gap when they should be closed, ordered new ones.
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: m in sc on August 04, 2022, 01:08:56 PM
hate to say it but a tiny tig weld on the pin will keep it from spreading. one that easy to remove later.  yeah. .007 is a lot of room to dance.   :celebrate:
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: Frank B on August 06, 2022, 06:54:24 PM
Quote from: SoCal250 on August 04, 2022, 11:29:02 AM
Yup, as Drew said. Here's an explanation from Chuck on the topic https://www.2strokeworld.net/forum/index.php?topic=1681.0
You'll need to trim the tab too of course for an AC engine


Like this

(https://i.ibb.co/WHdXrTS/3-A7-BE97-E-9-E9-D-487-F-91-EC-4-A06-D2129969.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WHdXrTS)
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: 1976RD400C on August 07, 2022, 07:24:25 AM
Oh my goodness gracious! Sure am glad I torn this down for inspection. I saw how the lower edge of the intake side skirt was wearing where you cut the tang off on my Wisecos, that I am replacing, and was making a plan to radius that edge on the new ProX I'm installing.
(https://i.ibb.co/5s53VQ1/pistona.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VMvG8FL)

Then I flipped it over and see this horrendous crack going right up the middle of the shirt between the two holes. The other piston had a crack forming also.
(https://i.ibb.co/xYP4Bht/pistonc.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tzkdvBT)
(https://i.ibb.co/6rbGCh4/pistonb.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LY6B7wC)

Having it wear to the point of .007" clearance can be troublesome.    :eek:
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: sav0r (CL MotoTech) on August 07, 2022, 07:49:29 AM
(https://c.tenor.com/B847D7grB4IAAAAC/chris-farley-mind-blown.gif)'

You got some work out of those.
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: Plasticman on August 08, 2022, 04:49:13 PM
Is it a crack or a casting mark?
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: irk_miller on August 08, 2022, 05:08:24 PM
Quote from: Plasticman on August 08, 2022, 04:49:13 PM
Is it a crack or a casting mark?
That what I see.  Flashing from the seam of the mold. 
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: 1976RD400C on August 08, 2022, 06:00:30 PM
I didn't think it was a crack at first but then...   I think I should have smoothed that area where the tang was removed better. Looks like another one is forming up to the left. Big intake ports and .007" clearance made the skirt bang away on the bottom of the port is what I'm going with as the cause. The ProXs should be good to go in a couple days.

(https://i.ibb.co/9Vwv5wM/crack.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZYHJDHZ)
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: SoCal250 on August 08, 2022, 06:40:05 PM
It almost looks like there's a small impact mark on the outer edge of the skirt right where the crack begins.
After trimming the tab and smoothing out the area, the skirt should be radiused slightly (chamfered) on the outer edge similar to the OE machined finish
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: Striker1423 on August 08, 2022, 07:00:06 PM
Hmmm.... *Looks over at my bike with interest*.

I think that could be some of the noise I'm hearing...
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: 1976RD400C on August 12, 2022, 05:32:21 PM
Should be good to go tomorrow  :vroom:

(https://i.ibb.co/nmNyxDj/prox3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/NCdqcLK)
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: 1976RD400C on August 13, 2022, 03:58:21 PM
Kinda had a freak out. Once it got hot, I heard a noise on the right side. Pull the pipes off and took a look in there. All looked good. That coating on the piston is coming off and making a paste like Never Seize grease. Looks like it is in the hone marks too. There is a puddle of oil/piston coating in the exhaust port. Put it back together and started again. As it got hot here comes the noise. I could feel it touching the head. Then I thought about it, is the piston hitting the head gasket with 1.25mm oversize pistons? I remember something about this could happen with pistons over +1.00mm. Took the head off and that sure looks like what is going on. The hole in the gasket is smaller than the bore. Between new pistons, and having the bottom gasket surface of my cylinders resurfaced flat at one time (.004"), there is no clearance. You think taking a die grinder and carefully making the head gasket hole bigger is the way to fix them?
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: DesmoDrew on August 14, 2022, 05:05:21 AM
Quote from: 1976RD400C on August 13, 2022, 03:58:21 PM
You think taking a die grinder and carefully making the head gasket hole bigger is the way to fix them?

   That is a perfect solution.  :thumbs:
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: pidjones on August 14, 2022, 06:28:44 AM
I'd suggest a sharp knife. If using a Dremel, I'd use a burr. Dangerous to grind nonferrous with a stone.
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: DesmoDrew on August 14, 2022, 09:51:06 AM
Quote from: pidjones on August 14, 2022, 06:28:44 AM
Dangerous to grind nonferrous with a stone.

   What makes it "Dangerous"  :umm:  Stones load up=PIA.  And of course proper ventilation, hearing, breathing, and eye protection are Strongly recommended.  But for this particular solution/application (what this post is about) the only 'danger' is knocking over your beer.  :guinness:
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: 1976RD400C on August 14, 2022, 10:22:20 AM
I used a rotary carbide burr cutter in an air powered die grinder. It cut like butter but had to be careful I held it at a right angle because it could catch and throw the gasket. Head gaskets have a 64.75mm hole which make it hang over into the bore quite a bit with 65.25mm pistons.   :thumbs:
Title: Re: Clearance on a coated ProX piston?
Post by: 1976RD400C on August 17, 2022, 03:16:52 PM
ProXs are all broken in and all seems ok. First run out it ran kind of flat, was not accelerating as hard as before. It didn't have the power it used to. I checked the plugs and they were richer than it has ever been. Messing with these carbs for 10 years I kind of figured it was needle height problem. Lowered the needle and oh yes. That needle circuit has to be right or you are missing out on a lot of performance.