Piston Broke

[grbrown]

Originally Posted by banquo

Useful stuff to add to the memory banks!
So, to summarise, both Harley and Wiseco do specially shaped pistons to match the 883 heads, specifically for this conversion, but the heads need to be relieved if stock 1200 pistons are used.
Good to know.

I suggest that stock 1200 pistons should not be used in that application. There is no need to do extra work when the correct pistons are available off the shelf. Wiseco certainly make the pistons, not certain if Harley does.

[Hawkeye]

The kit i bought for my 883 had Keith Black pistons, they worked a treat.

If the crowns of the pistons were that high i would have thought valve trouble as well. I was very cautious when i built mine, rolled the engine over about six time to make sure they did not touch.

[Bilbo]

Originally Posted by Rubianroaddog

Hey Bilbo,
Would be nice to know which muppet did this job for you. I have considered modding my 883, wouldn't want to to the same guy.
Cheers
Mick

I'm reluctant to get into a naming and shaming scenario at the moment as I still haven't told the builder the results of the diagnosis. However, I expect you could find out with a bit of searching around.

I am going to write to him with a copy of Will's invoice/report and request that he stumps up the cost of rectifying the error.

Whether it will get me anywhere, I have no idea.

[Adam 105th sportster]

Perhaps his response will be the deciding factor as to whether you post further details & other forum users stay clear of him or respect him doing the 'right thing'. Good luck.

[Bilbo]

I picked the bike up from Will Burrows on Saturday, and although I have clear instructions about running it in, the bike feels better than ever and more like it should be.

Their report is saddening. For the sake of clarity, I will reproduce it here. It is concise and to the point so there is no need for me to embelish it.

"The machine was brought to Will Burrows Motorcycles with a minor tapping noise from the front cylinder. An engine strip down to crankcase mouth level revealed odd pistons front to rear, minor partial seizure marks on the front bore, minimal seizure marks on the rear bore together with minor witness marks of piston to head contact.

The cylinder barrels were taken to Lancaster Engines where it was discovered that the bore was not perpendicular to the joint faces so a 20 thou re-bore was necessary to correct this.

The engine was reassembled with Wiseco forged pistons at 20 thou oversize. These pistons are produced specifically for 883 to 1200 conversions. Steel cored base gaskets were used and multi-layer steel head gaskets.

The engine was fully assembled, run up and tested; the engine oils and filters were changed following a test drive."

I have yet to hear from the original engine rebuilder, but you can be sure that I will keep this forum well informed of ongoing events.

The upside is that the bike is now the way it should be; Swooping through the leafy lanes up to Coniston yesterday, all the expense and worry simply vanished. It felt great. Now I can start to enjoy it.

[Rubianroaddog]

Great to hear you are back on the road.

Enjoy.

Cheers
Mick

:60277EB7B 04744289C0

[Bilbo]

Originally Posted by Bilbo

I picked the bike up from Will Burrows on Saturday, and although I have clear instructions about running it in, the bike feels better than ever and more like it should be.

Their report is saddening. For the sake of clarity, I will reproduce it here. It is concise and to the point so there is no need for me to embelish it.

"The machine was brought to Will Burrows Motorcycles with a minor tapping noise from the front cylinder. An engine strip down to crankcase mouth level revealed odd pistons front to rear, minor partial seizure marks on the front bore, minimal seizure marks on the rear bore together with minor witness marks of piston to head contact.

The cylinder barrels were taken to Lancaster Engines where it was discovered that the bore was not perpendicular to the joint faces so a 20 thou re-bore was necessary to correct this.

The engine was reassembled with Wiseco forged pistons at 20 thou oversize. These pistons are produced specifically for 883 to 1200 conversions. Steel cored base gaskets were used and multi-layer steel head gaskets.

The engine was fully assembled, run up and tested; the engine oils and filters were changed following a test drive."

It is a month since I had the engine rebuilt again at my own expense and I have had a phone call but nothing else from the original engine builder, even though I have sent him two letters and a copy of the invoice. He was very annoyed that I didn't take it back to him (threatened me on the phone) but I got the impression that even if he did know that he had done it wrong he would never have admitted it.
There is no way that he could defend putting two different pistons in, (one with a skirt and one without) even if he thought that standard 1200 pistons were OK with 883 heads (which they are not).

It looks like I am going to have to just accept that I made a mistake going to him in the first place and stand the loss. I have heard one or two things lately that, if I had known, I would have stayed away in the first place.


Bilbo

[DickDastardly]

Originally Posted by Bilbo

It is a month since I had the engine rebuilt again at my own expense and I have had a phone call but nothing else from the original engine builder, even though I have sent him two letters and a copy of the invoice. He was very annoyed that I didn't take it back to him (threatened me on the phone) but I got the impression that even if he did know that he had done it wrong he would never have admitted it.
There is no way that he could defend putting two different pistons in, (one with a skirt and one without) even if he thought that standard 1200 pistons were OK with 883 heads (which they are not).

It looks like I am going to have to just accept that I made a mistake going to him in the first place and stand the loss. I have heard one or two things lately that, if I had known, I would have stayed away in the first place.

Sorry to hear that you got done by someone who appears to have no morals!

But, glad that your bike is sorted now; I think that a name and shame section isn’t that bad an idea! It works for ‘Rogue Traders’ on the telly!

Then you won’t have these ‘experts’ who talk the talk’ but don’t ‘walk the walk’, I’ve met a few and thankfully they go out of business but not before good folk get done!

Why not have a section where a rider can air their grievances and where a trader can respond? At least then you wont get these arrogant barstewards that think they are doing you a favour by charging ‘top dollar’ and doing a ‘botch job’, might make ‘em think twice before they dole out the ol’ fanny “they all do that” or the ‘sharp intake of breath’ followed by “that’s gonna cost” or “not this month, it’s the parts you see, I’m gonna have to have them ‘specially made” etc. etc.
Or just a complete ‘bull-shitter’ who you have to go to as there is no one else!

No recompense for you mate, but well done!

[kevscrivener]

The only caveat to that is if someone who has a personal grudge gives a misleading report which screws a genuine bloke.

The comeback to HDRCGB could be catastrophic.

[DickDastardly]

Originally Posted by kevscrivener

The only caveat to that is if someone who has a personal grudge gives a misleading report which screws a genuine bloke.

The comeback to HDRCGB could be catastrophic.

This would be a 'Open' non-judgemental forum where the 'Mods' could be 'Judge, Juror and Executioner' and no posts that we could be sued for just facts............ one side and then the next.

Hey, I've got a great idea................'I' could Moderate it, what do you think?



OK, I've had better ideas


But not many!