RX1 aftermarket piston problems?

[SUPERTUNER]

Has anyone had any problems with any aftermarket brand of RX1 pistons. I had 2 sets go bad for me. This is not a bash towards the piston manufacturer but I need to get to the bottom of this. One engine I built and the other one that recently came to my shop was not built by me. I am trying to get the piston manufacturer to warranty these. Both engine siezed without ever firing. Someone e-mailed me during the winter stating he suffered 2 siezed pistons but after running it. If anyone has some exprience with this, I would like you to post here or if you prefer, please e-mail me at KliesECP@sbcglobal.net . In all 3 cases they were all turbocharged. I am of the opinion that the piston to wall clearance is too tight. Both engines that I looked at siezed without ever firing! Always seems to be #2 and #3 pistons.

Freddie

 

[snowy1]

I am running wisco,s no problems here been running two years, when you say they siezed with out firing, how could it sieze with out biulding some heat, if it was that tight I would have thought you would notice that when the pistons were installed, am I missing something here, just trying to figure out what happened.

 

[givemeaboost]

I've had the ring seize on my Wiseco when I set it up at .012 clearance but after openig it up to .016 no problems since, Ken.

 

[SUPERTUNER]

I am running wisco,s no problems here been running two years, when you say they siezed with out firing, how could it sieze with out biulding some heat, if it was that tight I would have thought you would notice that when the pistons were installed, am I missing something here, just trying to figure out what happened.

The piston wall clearance is too tight. I had a custom set of pistons made at .003" piston to wall clearance and to this day it is the strongest snowmobile ever on my dynamometer. I did not build the second engine in question. The customer built it himself and from what I could see did a great job. His siezed without ever firing too. The pistons look identical to the ones I took out of the first engine.

Freddie

 

[nitrousmudbogger]

I have heard of this problem also.Ill see what the guy I talked to did to fix it.

 

[SUPERTUNER]

I received an e-mail from the piston manufacturer. They will not warranty this second set of pistons nor did they warranty the first set that I took directly in the neck. He did state that he would give a discount on a new set. He did not say how much of a discount. THis has to improve a lot just to suck!

 

[Simons CPR]

i have used wiseco and je pistons, they work well but the engine builder must set up piston and ring clearance for his own application, if you bolt them in as they are, or do not clearance them properly for there intended application you will see piston failure. we have done alot of testing on these engines and have a guaranteed package availible for them. with our engine prep package for high output turbo applications (400+hp) we completely go through the engine and resize all the clearances... rod, main, cyl wall, end gap, etc. and we guarantee your success. the cost is 1500.00 jeff

 

[SUPERTUNER]

Thank you for weighing in on the matter Jeff. I am now 100% certain that the piston to wall clearance is too tight. I even called them and told them the amount of boost we will run on the first engine and they told me .001 for clearance. Wayyyyyyy too tight! Sorry!

Freddie Klies
www.easterncycleperf.com

 

[Sled Dog]

I would still like to know how they siezed without firing? Did you guys have to pound these pistons in place? If so was it not noticeable they were that tight when installed?

 

[SUPERTUNER]

I would still like to know how they siezed without firing? Did you guys have to pound these pistons in place? If so was it not noticeable they were that tight when installed?

Of course not Sled Dog! A square peg in a round hole?!!! I am are very careful when assembling race engines. I measure EVERYTHING!

 

[rx-hi]

When you say without firing are you refering to detination and so the engine was started and caused catistrophic damage? Or did you roll the engine over by hand without starting and it locked up? If this happened was it just a piston problem, and no damage to the cylinder walls etc. or was there further damage to the engine?

 

[SUPERTUNER]

When you say without firing are you refering to detination and so the engine was started and caused catistrophic damage? Or did you roll the engine over by hand without starting and it locked up? If this happened was it just a piston problem, and no damage to the cylinder walls etc. or was there further damage to the engine?

This has happened to 2 engines so far. The first one I built and the second was built by the owner of the sled. They sieze simply trying to turn them over with the electric starter. You hear them try to start but it does not. There was no other damage to either engine.