Hey, I know you all do ATVs but I need a machine shop where I can send my cylinders. I have a 1991 Arctic Cat Prowler 440 special. They came with Suzuki built 440 liquid cooled 2 cylinder engines. I need a machine shop to send out my cylinder to. They dealer told me they are aluminum and coated with nickel. if they are scratched they cant be bored over they have to be re-nickeled. I need a machine shop that does that and will hoan my wiesco piston. right now my right cyl has 135psi, it has no paint on it so it seems as though it has already been re-nickeled, it also has a std bore wiesco piston. the left is still painted black, has the stock piston with nothing written on it, and the compression on the left side is 45psi. :-) isnt that great 45psi. When I got it it ran, I hadn't checked the compression, but after a day of riding it crapped out on me. When you would give it like 3/4 throttle it was in power band and ripped but when you went to floor it it backed off, I figured it was a carb program but I guess it just couln't burn the fuel with that low compression. Now it doesn't run at all. It could be a crankshaft seal but I think it is top end. I will be taking the head off soon as I get the clymer manual for the torque wrench specs and any procedures so I don't get coolant in the head. Just thought you guys might be able to help me find a machineing place or have some other advice.

 

It is called Nikisil. Nickel silicone. Many engines use it. Every dirtbike made after 88 uses a nikilsil cylinder. How bad is it scratched? The goal of nikisil is to eliminate the need for boring since it is so hard and wears slowly. Usually, unless you blow a piston apart, the nikisil isn't hurt. The worst thing you can do to a nikisiled cylinder is "blow" the engine up. That is why all of the dirtbike guys rebuild every year whether it needs it or not.

I took a cylinder to FTZ off of an RM125 to have it renikisiled. They send it off but I don't know where to. It costs $195 per cylinder. You will have to send a piston with it so they can hone the liner. You will also have to remove any studs or other steel parts. They dip the cylinder in an acid that eats everything but aluminum, then install a new sleeve.

Look in the back of Dirt Wheels and you may find a name of a company that does this in house.

 

www.eric-gorr.com

Check with him. I know he does dirt bikes but call and ask and he might be able to help you w/your sled motor. I had him do the overbore/porting on my 02 CR265....it doesn't get any better! He is also very competitively priced (actually, he shames many larger companies). It's only 1 guy doing the work, so please be pacient with him if your in a hurry. If you call you'll talk to him, not some noobie that sits at a counter or a sec. that will 'direct your call'.