Which pistons??
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 322
Likes: 8
From:
RE: Which pistons??
I like the KB pistons, you run HALF the clearance of the others(.0015" instead of .003")because of the hyperutectic (sp?)alloys used, much less heat expansion,less slop and less wear over time with GREAT performance.
sorry if I'm into longevity with performance. but what good is a hot rod that has to be rebuilt after every ride for anything other than drag racing??
sorry if I'm into longevity with performance. but what good is a hot rod that has to be rebuilt after every ride for anything other than drag racing??
Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,950
Likes: 2
From: Colorado Springs, CO
RE: Which pistons??
I agree with jmetro. Hypereutectic pistons are probably more than most riders actually need. Forged are definatly overkill unless you're running a severe engine build. A set of stock cast alum pistons will last >50K miles of hard riding. People do it all the time. >100K miles have been done if you baby the engine. If you're after longevity, use cast or hyper.
Banned
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 1,195
Likes: 0
From: Nor-Cal
RE: Which pistons??
Sorry but cast pistons are just asking for problems on any performance build in fact cast pistons just aint a performance build,period.As far as Hyperjunk well good luck on the tight tolerances.I,ve seen ,not heard ,but physically seen two separate engines toasted from their crap in the last year.they are having problems with them running tight and actually creating so much heat they froze up the rings and like to jerk the top of the piston off.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 5
From: Fort Worth TX
RE: Which pistons??
JE is what we have gone to in the last year for alomost 99% of our builds. CP, would be my second the others well I have a shelf full of burnt ROSS pistons, as well i have way too many KB pistonsthat are smoked. When the chips are down the less quality pistons do not hold up. I have seen cast SE pistons( sealed power) run and take some huge abuse as well seen them go phoof and end up in chunks in the bottom. From a pure performance stand point hard to beat a JE piston or CP both are high quality.
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 322
Likes: 8
From:
RE: Which pistons??
the ONLY KB pistons that i have EVER seen smoked were because the ring end gap was set up incorrectly. it specifically states that a larger end gap is needed. and you usually have to file the rings to achieve this gap. sounds like whoever installed those pistons that burnt up, didn't know what they were doing.
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 1,061
Likes: 5
From: Fort Worth TX
RE: Which pistons??
HMMMM well to be straight forward then , How many engines have you yourself built using KB pistons?? As well how many engines have you built using other brands?? We build in the area of 200+ a year. And have been for several years, so in that time and the amount of pistons used you get a idea of what works under many conditions, some good and some bad. Bottom line you like them great use them , but I choose not to based on many years of engine building and what I have seen from real world use. For the money they charge for them you are almost to a real forged piston. If you are saving money then buy a cast Se piston as I feel these hold up better than a KB.
Tourer
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 322
Likes: 8
From:
RE: Which pistons??
I've personally built 35+ engines using KB.(thats me personally, not just the place i work)and all of them are yet to have any issues. I've also used wiseco and SE at the choice of the customer, and have had some small issues with them, ie premature wear, knocking after full break in etc.
the longevity of the engine is a very bias guage on how different components work though. initial break in, fuel used, riding style, regular maintenence all play a role, and are only controlled by the customer...................
so if you like what you use.......go for it.
but there are other options that are not worse just because you couldn't get them to work.
the longevity of the engine is a very bias guage on how different components work though. initial break in, fuel used, riding style, regular maintenence all play a role, and are only controlled by the customer...................
so if you like what you use.......go for it.
but there are other options that are not worse just because you couldn't get them to work.