357xp cylinder

[Al Mo]

After loss of compression, took the pot off my 357xp to find piston ring in 2 pieces. Piston is scored, and the cylinder had a couple of small but deep scratches below the exhaust port. Everything else is good and clean.

ive since ground/sanded out the scratches, but this has taken off a small amount of plating below exhaust port. I’m just wandering if this is serviceable, or a def no no. Any advice appreciated. I’ll try and put some photos up. Cheers

[Al Mo]

 

[Al Mo]

[billpierce]

Others may disagree but id certainly be having a go with that cylinder and replacing the piston with a meteor one. Bit hard to tell in the pic but id say the piston is shot and the meteor ones are decent and 25 or 30 quid ( come with decent caber rings)

[adw]

Looking at the pictures has the ring peg come out? If so you need to find it if not already done, it would be very unusual for the nicasil plating to start peeling, I have seen cylinders in worse condition than this still running perfectly fine, the ring does come down to this area, however I personally think it will be fine, it’s never worth trying to rub an odd rut in the cylinder out, these can actually help oil retention, as long as the aluminium transfer has been removed.

[Al Mo]

Thanks for input guys. Bill, the backup plan was to run a meteor piston in it, so glad u’ve seconded that idea.

Adw, I’ve heard that below exhaust port is not a huge issue as compression comes in to play above it. I was thinking that as long as it’s smooth and like you say no transfer then should be ok. Was just a bit worried the plating/ nicosil/ chrome had been taken off and would cause an issue?

alternative would be a Hyway cylinder assembly, write up seems to be positive, be interesting to hear what people think.

cheers folks

[spudulike]

I would try a Meteor piston, Hyway are my third choice with OEM, Meteor and then HYway being the options but I have a theory that Hyway do manufacture Meteor Cylinders, not sure if anyone else has noticed the similarities?

What you say is correct about compression etc

If that retaining pin has come out, check the cases and muffler for it as it will wreak carnage on your engine if it is still floating around.

 

[adw]

If you go for a piston be aware there was two different small end eyes, the later rod was wider.

[Al Mo]

Adw, would prefer to put a meteor piston in a hyway pot, but as it comes as a set would probs gamble with hyway.

Do you mean the pin that prevents piston ring from spinning? Everything thing seems to be accounted for.

cheers for ur input ?

[adw]

Yes that's the pin, just to clarify i would use the original cylinder with a new piston, preferably a genuine Mahle piston, however if others say Meteor pistons are good, but would reiterate the con rod small end was not as wide on the earlier machine, i have 13 or 15mm in my head, if you fit the wider gap piston on the narrow con rod it can and will destroy the piston and possibly the con rod.