How Long Has Anyone Run The Stock Piston In Their 220 ?
How Long Has Anyone Run The Stock Piston In Their 220 ?
Whats a reasonable amount of time to leave the stock piston in a new 220?
Do the skirts break after the engine gets loose
Do the skirts break after the engine gets loose
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I bought mine when it was 4 yrs old and changed the piston 2 years later. However I don't think it is worth leaving it in there. It cost way less to change a piston than it does to rebuild an entire engine.
4 wheels move the body 2 wheels move the soul
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After searching around the web and with myself being in the Automotive parts business for 20+ years , IMHO I feel all we're comparing here is
a cast piston vs. a forged piston.
In the racing world no one would even consider a cast piston but there's street vehicles with 300,000 still running with them.
If your going to ride hard , either a modern 4 stroke or 2 stroke , use a high quality forged piston.
a cast piston vs. a forged piston.
In the racing world no one would even consider a cast piston but there's street vehicles with 300,000 still running with them.
If your going to ride hard , either a modern 4 stroke or 2 stroke , use a high quality forged piston.
- radonc73
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My 99 was changed in 2008....1st time the top end had been done.
While not broken or showing any signs of failure, it was, IMHO, a very low-quality casting.
It might be excess to say "change em all!"....but the cost of a failure was too expensive to ignore, so I changed it out shortly after buying the bike
While not broken or showing any signs of failure, it was, IMHO, a very low-quality casting.
It might be excess to say "change em all!"....but the cost of a failure was too expensive to ignore, so I changed it out shortly after buying the bike
- Indawoods
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The 220 piston is of particular low quality and it has always been advised to change it immediately. There are several pics on this side to show why this is important.
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****'95 KDX 200/****
"People ate cows a thousand years ago for the same reason we eat them now. Cause they are easy to catch.We're not savages,we're just lazy. A cheetah could taste like chocolate heroin. But will never know. Those bastards are fast!!! "
****'95 KDX 200/****
"People ate cows a thousand years ago for the same reason we eat them now. Cause they are easy to catch.We're not savages,we're just lazy. A cheetah could taste like chocolate heroin. But will never know. Those bastards are fast!!! "
- Jeb
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- kawagumby
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I was ignorant of any piston problems when I bought my brand new 97 KKDX220 back in 97. I kept it for about 5 years putting about 150-200 hours per year on the bike - in that span I swapped out the old piston for a new stock one about three times. Never had a problem. I put a wiseco in the 220 I have now based on the info shared on this site - why take a chance when the cost is insignificant?
1994 KDX200, Beta 200rr, yz125, yz250, kx100 modded for adult, gasgas contact 250.
- canyncarvr
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Re: 'Whats a reasonable amount of time to leave the stock piston in a new 220?'
No time at all is reasonable. That would be zero, nada, none.
Re: 'I feel all we're comparing here is a cast piston vs. a forged piston.'
That is incorrect.
Re: 'It might be excess to say "change em all!"....'
No, it's not.
No time at all is reasonable. That would be zero, nada, none.
Re: 'I feel all we're comparing here is a cast piston vs. a forged piston.'
That is incorrect.
Re: 'It might be excess to say "change em all!"....'
No, it's not.
Consider the source
Using a perceived level of knowledge to boost my self worth.
Non impediti ratione cogitationis
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- Indawoods
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I say ...do what you want... but don't say you weren't warned.
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****'95 KDX 200/****
"People ate cows a thousand years ago for the same reason we eat them now. Cause they are easy to catch.We're not savages,we're just lazy. A cheetah could taste like chocolate heroin. But will never know. Those bastards are fast!!! "
****'95 KDX 200/****
"People ate cows a thousand years ago for the same reason we eat them now. Cause they are easy to catch.We're not savages,we're just lazy. A cheetah could taste like chocolate heroin. But will never know. Those bastards are fast!!! "
- MXOldtimer
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Since you just bought the 220 I say pull the stock piston out as soon as it hits your garage. Put the stock piston on the shelf and forget about it. When you go to sell the bike put the stock piston back in.
Then you can run your ad to say, newly rebuilt engine with "genuine" Kawasaki factory piston.
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Then you can run your ad to say, newly rebuilt engine with "genuine" Kawasaki factory piston.
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04 KX-250 Hey.....at least it's green and smokes.
06 KDX-200 for off road play. Gone but not forgotten
07 KX-250F SOLD! I thump no more.
06 KDX-200 for off road play. Gone but not forgotten
07 KX-250F SOLD! I thump no more.
I guess you could say thats marketing at its best or worse ,, what ever works.
I'm not selling this bike ! With 2 strokes getting scarcer all the time if I don't feel like riding it a summer then it's not going to deteriorate sitting in the garage.
I'm not selling this bike ! With 2 strokes getting scarcer all the time if I don't feel like riding it a summer then it's not going to deteriorate sitting in the garage.
Last edited by Curious George on 05:38 am Feb 08 2009, edited 1 time in total.