Deglazing Nikasil?

[onesnowdawg]

Rebuilding the top end on my M7 this season and am wondering whether anyone has tried deglazing the cylinders with a scotch brite pad and soapy water? I've heard the horror stories about nicking the ports when using a ball type hone and likewise with the bar type hone so don't want to go down that road. A dirt bike buddy told me he has heard of guys deglazing plated cylinders with a scotch brite pad. My local machine shop doesn't have the diamond hone so I'm stuck trying to find an alternative way to deglaze my cylinders and my local dealer I don't trust. Cross hatching is still evident on the walls of both cylinders.

Any suggestions?

Thanks in advance.

 

[RACINSTATION]

You need to use the proper nicasil safe ball hone. You can get them from Snap-On for about $50.00 or through Arctic Cat for a little more. Your local sled shop or dirt bike shop sure as heck better have one. I would think there would be hundreds of shops in Colorado that have them in the shop spinning as we speak.

Scotch brite won't do the trick. Also, on the M7 they were notorious for bubbles in the nicasil. You can see or feel them with your finger and it was usually below the main exhaust port. If you haven't had trouble by now I am sure you are OK, as most of those issues surfaced early on in 2005 and 2006.

 

[onesnowdawg]

I'll look into getting one from snap on. I hate to say this but I don't trust the mechanics at our local AC dealer in SW Colorado. I prefer to do it myself anyway. Is there a grit # you would recommend? I didn't notice anything bad in the jugs when I pulled them and was quite surprised how good they looked along with the pistions. Tolerances look good for a standard bore rebuild. Coulda probably run the engine another season but with 4500 miles on my sled I didn't wanna chance it.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[01ZRTCAT]

The Mfg that re plate use a Diamond hone, I have never seen a ball type of this material? Most machine shops have the set up ...

 

[RACINSTATION]

Yes, the replating companies use a diamond hone. This is to set final clearance. This guy is trying to break the glaze to install a new set of rings and pistons. Use an aluminum oxide ball hone.

 

[mikew5945]

Do you have a Harley Davidson shop close? They did mine. Usually well trained mechanics.
OR
Mail them to RACINSTSTION.
Have whomever check the new pistons with each cylinder. Meaning check the size and ring gap.

 

[onesnowdawg]

Thanks for the comments everyone and for clarification I am only trying to deglaze the cylinder walls to properly seat the new rings. I found an aluminum oxide 320 girt ball hone on enginehones.com for $50 just as Racinstation said. I just wanted some feedback on whether ball hones were safe to use on the the nikasil plating. The hone companies do indeed make a softer material for plated cylinders.

Thanks again.