Cracked cylinder liners

[Mike Farmer]

 

Hi.

I'm writing this after a recent discussion with a friend. We were discussing whether or not to use pots with cracked or even chipped liner 'skirts'. Probably as a result of being dropped at some stage I reckon that within reason they are useable if the cracks have been drill (run) stopped and any broken areas are of a common sense reasonable size with no skirt distortion.

I base this opinion on the thousands of singles that have a part ground out to accomodate the conrod. If its ok with best part of a square inch ground out, I believe its Ok with the same amount chipped.

I agree you are taking a chance to some degree but personally I don't have a problem with it. The only thing it may possibly affect is the piston skirt, but I dont think that is a reality. Be interesting to know how many bikes are going around in this state. My A50 certainly is. Providing the piston runs free.

Mike

[idie]

I can't for bikes but years ago my father in laws Morris Traveller threw a rod and took a chunk out of the skirt on number three cylinder. I just put a chamfer around the broken area. It run for year like it. Also when I was involved with a RT bus the same thing happened on the engine. A good chamfer enabled it to run for a few more years until we sourced another engine.

[MGI]

I remember putting new pistons into a 500 Fiat, couldn't get the right ones but Gordon Moss Engineering suggested fitting Vauxhall Viva pistons which had identical dimensions etc. The only problem was the push rod to the petrol pump went from the cam on one side of the engine to the lift pump on the opposite side of the engine - this fouled the slightly different skirt of the one piston so I hack sawed a section off the offending piston skirt to allow the pushrod to work! - worked OK never had any problems with the mod all the time senior management had the car!