Car and Bike Talk

quad decade guy · Jan 30, 2022

Lineandinitial said:
Yes. Pretty normal. The pictures make it look worse, but the rod was covered with rust.

The piston failed due to heat from nitrous. The pistons were cast and we’re out in last year. We use forged Kibblewhites now.

The latter. The engine was making about 8k before the traps so she was on it.

It’s typical to polish parts before install. Especially cast parts unless you buy to your spec.

Probably a few years on the pistons. Not really sure.

Ok. Really? Shot peening.....in extreme cases.

I have rebuilt many, many motors.....never polished the rods....matter of fact.....only had one "thrown" rod(broke in half)....and Kawasaki had many of those(that year). Probably a manufacturing flaw.

Sounds like polishing of any sort(rod) wouldn't have helped......sounds like the motor was pushed beyond design limits.

Never saw a rod like that unless exposed for a while.......bores too....and when just neglected or abandoned. In any case....doesn't seem to have been a factor for you.

Lineandinitial · Jan 30, 2022

quad decade guy said:
Ok. Really? Shot peening.....in extreme cases.

I have rebuilt many, many motors.....never polished the rods....matter of fact.....only had one "thrown" rod(broke in half)....and Kawasaki had many of those(that year). Probably a manufacturing flaw.

Sounds like polishing of any sort(rod) wouldn't have helped......sounds like the motor was pushed beyond design limits.

Never saw a rod like that unless exposed for a while.......bores too....and when just neglected or abandoned. In any case....doesn't seem to have been a factor for you.

We run at Bonneville, El Mirage, Alvord, among other places. These are not street bikes or even drag bikes.
This particular S2 is probably at the lower end of the stable. "Polishing" is really close inspection and smoothing off cast seams and anything that could chip off and it a standard practice when building competition engines. This bike is a 1995 and did over 150 about 10 years ago.
Oh and peening of cast grey Iron is very touchy and it has to be annealed after peening. This does increase the fatigue strength, but lowers its thermal properties, so it doesn't work for engine components.

rod · Jan 31, 2022

Cooler built into bumper-----nice

Lineandinitial · Jan 31, 2022

rod said:
View attachment 370661

Cooler built into bumper-----nice

Good choice of beer! Love CO!

rod · Feb 2, 2022

1BROWNWRENCH · Feb 2, 2022

brownelf said:
Those grates get slick when it’s wet, the last time we crossed in a high wind warning. I stopped at the first exit and let my wife settle down for a few minutes. It reminded me of the time I rode out of the keys as a tropical storm was coming in, had a sportster back then.

Those rail crossing plates made of the black stuff are slick as hell too in the rain.