DIY Nikasil...Is it possible on a blind cylinder

AlfA01 · Sep 3, 2019

In my many YT subscriptions is this guy here in Europe that does a lot with two strokes. He mainly does small engines that are liquid cooled for small motorbikes from what I've seen.

In the video series I've been watching lately, he's doing a DIY nikasil coating in a cylinder he cast himself. I'm curious if it could be done DIY on a blind cylinder for a saw. Definitely would be feasible for a two piece head race saw.
Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Machining

KYsawman · Sep 3, 2019

I think the blind cylinder causes trouble. I used to have snowmobile cylinders replayed. They where two piece cylinders.

AlfA01 · Sep 3, 2019

KYsawman said:
I think the blind cylinder causes trouble. I used to have snowmobile cylinders replayed. They where two piece cylinders.

I know it's difficult and I had pretty much given up on getting them done due to cost. Here in the EU no one does blind cylinders that I've found.

Outback · Sep 3, 2019

I love that guy, he never quits. I've been watching him for a couple of years. 2 stroke singles are more or less the same. You can learn a lot from someone in a similar, but different field of exploration on the same subject. Plus who doesn't love the dyno too.

Deets066 · Sep 3, 2019

US Chrome is the only place that I know of that does blind cylinders. If most places that specialize in plating shy away from blind ones. I’d say doin it in the garage won’t get you the results your looking for

KYsawman · Sep 3, 2019

Us chrome is who I used back in the late nineties when I was racing snowmobiles. They always did great work.

AlfA01 · Sep 3, 2019

Deets066 said:
US Chrome is the only place that I know of that does blind cylinders. If most places that specialize in plating shy away from blind ones. I’d say doin it in the garage won’t get you the results your looking for

Agreed, but I do keep hope of one day revitalizing these 2100 cylinders I have with missing plating. Cost to benefit just isn't there considering the re-plating cost and shipping.

ammoaddict · Sep 3, 2019

Ok, I have to ask. What is a blind cylinder? A one piece cylinder that does not have a removable head?

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

huskihl · Sep 3, 2019

ammoaddict said:
Ok, I have to ask. What is a blind cylinder? A one piece cylinder that does not have a removable head?

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

Correct

Stevetheboatguy · Sep 3, 2019

Would it be cost effective to have L.A or Advanced make you a iron sleeve? Or isn't there enough meat to bore it for a liner?

Sounds backwards, but if the alternative is the trash can why not? Iron sleeves will hold up for a long while, just not as long as the plated.

Steven

Deets066 · Sep 3, 2019

Stevetheboatguy said:
Would it be cost effective to have L.A or Advanced make you a iron sleeve? Or isn't there enough meat to bore it for a liner?

Sounds backwards, but if the alternative is the trash can why not? Iron sleeves will hold up for a long while, just not as long as the plated.

Steven

I just don’t think there is any gain over getting it plated. You’d still have cost and a lot more work. I don’t see it being practical

Red97 · Sep 3, 2019

Stevetheboatguy said:
Would it be cost effective to have L.A or Advanced make you a iron sleeve? Or isn't there enough meat to bore it for a liner?

Sounds backwards, but if the alternative is the trash can why not? Iron sleeves will hold up for a long while, just not as long as the plated.

Steven

I tried one...

Seems the jug had enough meat to hold the sleeve.

Not sure the cylinder had the correct cooling area to work with a sleeve?

About .0035-.004" clearance and it still seized.

@huskihl

huskihl · Sep 3, 2019

Red97 said:
I tried one...

Seems the jug had enough meat to hold the sleeve.

Not sure the cylinder had the correct cooling area to work with a sleeve?

About .0035-.004" clearance and it still seized.

@huskihl

Yep. Not sure if the pistons aren't right for a sleeve. Or maybe the rings. Or maybe we still didn't have enough clearance. I warmed that Echo up a good 5 minutes and the piston swelled up faster than the sleeve could.

Stevetheboatguy · Sep 4, 2019

Red97 said:
I tried one...

Seems the jug had enough meat to hold the sleeve.

Not sure the cylinder had the correct cooling area to work with a sleeve?

About .0035-.004" clearance and it still seized.

@huskihl

10-4 was just a thought. Figured cooling or expansion might have been a issue, but wasn't sure. A bunch of air cooled atvs and some older saws have iron liners. But then again they aren't usually turning 10k +.

Steven

Bigmac · Sep 4, 2019

Red97 said:
I tried one...

Seems the jug had enough meat to hold the sleeve.

Not sure the cylinder had the correct cooling area to work with a sleeve?

About .0035-.004" clearance and it still seized.

@huskihl

Mcculloch recommend .007 in there 125cc kart motors with iron sleeves. I do notice less of an issue in liquid cooled bikes, but also noticed a longer warm up time for the plated cylinders

drf256 · Sep 4, 2019

It’s not the plating that’s the issue, it’s the final honing that is. A blind cylinder requires special tooling.

Probably easiest to make a head Dan, then get the open jug done locally.

I bought a bunch of stuff to try home Nikasil, but after watching the videos above, I felt it was a bit much work for the amount I’d be trying to do. Also, out of my league to be honest.

AlfA01 · Sep 4, 2019

drf256 said:
It’s not the plating that’s the issue, it’s the final honing that is. A blind cylinder requires special tooling.

Probably easiest to make a head Dan, then get the open jug done locally.

Looks like the only way possible, Al. I'm in no rush. I've just been watching these vids lately, so I thought I'd post them up and see what others thought.

drf256 · Sep 4, 2019

I watched them all. The guy is impressive. The undercover scotch beaker is quite funny.

I bought the finest carbide powder I could find and Nickel Chloride, as I am already set up to Nickel electroplate and have done so many times.

After watching the actual process, I decided to bow out of it. A lot more involved than I had ever imagined.

Chroming the bore might be easier. I’ve also wondered how straight Nickel would hold up, as most chrome plating is Nickel based, the chromium is just the clear coating.

beaglebriar · Sep 4, 2019

AlfA01 said:
Looks like the only way possible, Al. I'm in no rush. I've just been watching these vids lately, so I thought I'd post them up and see what others thought.

I have box full of dead cylinders to send you when you get it figured out. [emoji16]

AlfA01 · Sep 4, 2019

beaglebriar said:
I have box full of dead cylinders to send you when you get it figured out.

Lol. Thanks DJ. I ain't that ambitious about it just yet.

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