going to pick it up sat. getting it with some nice accessories for 2000. owner says it needs rings. it smokes a bit at startup and idle but not while riding. i'll do a comp check when i get it home.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...m=170104111222




i saw an athena 435 kit on ebay for 450$ that i was considering but i really don't want to change the cams, get abigger carb, put in new springs etc... to take advantage of the new power. i never race and usually trail ride up to about 40-50 tops mostly. mostly woods riding. any downside to just doing a new piston and rings? ( i can't just replace the rings right?)

thanks for any input,
mike


guess i am going to have to change my screename too.

 

Actually you could just do a ring job, IF the piston and cylinder aren't out of tolerance. Another thing to look at since it smokes would be the valve oil seals. Oil can seep past them if worn enough. Being an '03 it is possible if its got a lot of hours.

later
Aaron

 

i would stear clear of the athena kits. they have had a ton of problems with piston fit. meaning you have to take a grinder to the piston to get it to clear the engine cases while at bottom dead center. if not caught before total assembly and start up, catastrophic failure can and will result in a big hurry.