Ok i have a 1997 softail. I had a crank pin go south so i sent it out to be rebuilt and sent the cylinders to be bored. I got the cylinders back with piston supplied by the shop that did the work. He marked the pistons with a arrow cam side but that put the arrow stamped on top pointing to the back. the pistons are made by jcc and have a height spot on a wristpin boss and said it is cam side. So is this right or should the arrow go to the front?

 

For stock pistons, the arrows face forward. For after market pistons, the arrows probably need to be oriented toward one another so that the larger cutout in the piston crown aligns with the larger intake valve.

-Dave

 

The cutouts are the same sizes,

 

Never heard of jcc.. can you post a pick of the tops and skirts... Are they flat tops or domed

 

How about checking with your shop? Simpler surely than explaining everything to us!

 

Black arrow was put on by machine shop that sold me the pistons. that would put the stamped arrow to the back and the other piston was marked so the stamped arrow would face forward, But when i called him to make sure this was right was told the divot on the pin boss should be on the cam side on both pistons that would put the stamped piston facing to the back. After getting two different answers from him i just want to make sure.

 

Better understand now why you ask! As for the correct answer....

 

Because i have got two different answers from him and i need to be sure.

 

I suggest you call the piston manufacturer and ask them, the guy you are asking does not seem to know...

Hopefully one of the expert engine builders on the forum will jump in.

 

Well according to that picture of the bottom one, of the top of the piston... With the arrow pointing forward that's pointing to your exhaust valve which would be oriented on the front cylinder... Those valve reliefs definitely not the same size.. with the front being the smaller one indicating it is indeed the front cylinder....