Anyone here use KB pistons in their shovelhead? If so which ones and any issues?

TIA,
Max

 

KB uses a piston to wall 1/2 what cast does and we set cast at .003 loose

you know some shops only use what does not work no matter what - its job security - no way he’s a nice guy — yea right

your very talented and have way too much time on your hands - and its a farm tractor engine and your chasing space ship tech

 

UEM's V-Twin catalog, they have some good ole forged also
https://uempistons.com/rt-5-catalogs

 

I have not used KB pistons myself, but have talked to many experianced proffesional Harley motor builders about them,
and without exception i have been told to avoid them,
i have used WISECO pistons on most if not all my builds and find them about the best available.
also, if you wantyour bike to last and keep its value, AVOID ANYTHING MADE AND SOLD BY V-Twin mfg, everything is made in china, hardly anything is fit
for purpose and most he sells are seconds, tiawan Ted's parts have wreckd many a good Harley..

 

It's not that it's KB pistons, it's the hypereutectic piston style of cast pistons, no mater what brand, they hold plenty heat up top and destruct if set up with not enough ring end gap.
I stay away from the hyper's in air cooled engines.
UEM forged pistons are pretty good, I've used them a few times, although they weren't shovel builds.

 

You used wiseco on your shovel builds?

 

yes, on at least the last 5-6 Shovelheads i have built, and on 2 very fast Z1 Kawasaki's,
I use the 9.5;1 compression, Forged WISECO Pistons, which when mated to an L2S Lienweber cam, Kibblewhite black Diamond Valves and a Lectron Carb make them Fly
without over stressing anything that might shorten the motors life,...

 

Wiseco's are great pistons, I use them all the time in high revving engines but there's no advantage to using them in something like a panhead, Maybe a performance EVO? I just run the stock style pistons and hastings rings and carry on, No surprises and no going back into the engine because of some odd outcome.

 

Actually I more interested in issues with the skirts.. Most wisecos have partial skirts but Shovelhead ones are full skirts.. I've use wisecos in 2 95 tc, 1 107 (After they fixed the ring problem. Went from 2mm to 3 oil control) in 07 egc. All bore 107 in a 2000 FXDX after blowing up a SnS 116 motor and 4 1/4 bore pistons in a 131 TC. I'm more interested in anyone using a partial skirt piston in early shovels. The KB is a partial skirt piston for Pans and Shovels.

BTW I've seen early Wiseco TC 95 10.8 to 1 pistons crack at the skirt. I had one and GMR Steve saw one.. A good friend would only use CPs because they rattled less. That don't bother me..

 

We use the same pistons 1937 to the 1984 - short fined iron jugs - long stroke - and a rod to stroke ratio 1.87 is diesel stuff and they still today use long skirts

mini skirts are the new world again its a wheel barrow with pistons - road racing buells the piston from wiseco we modded - deck to skirt bottom around 1 inch