Machine shop questions

[6772man]

I was wondering if yall use a regular machine shop for a bore and hone, or do yall use a shop specializing in motorcycles for the job. I'm in bfe Arkansas and can't find a shop specializing in motorcycles.

 

[Liftrat]

I've always taken mine to my favorite motorcycle dealer, but I have a suspicion that they just farm it out to their favorite machine shop . Any competent machine shop should be able to do the job. Talk with them.

 

[hooktool]

I wouldn't take it to a general machine shop unless they specialize in motorcycles. Cylinder boring uses a special machine which makes it a simple process. I have a mill and a lathe, either of which would do it, and the knowledge to do it, and still have mine done by someone with a cyl boring machine.

You can send it off, there are a lot of shops you can find online. Here's one in CO: http://kustom-kraft.com/


Another iswww.bore-tech.com

John

 

[JasperLP]

What part of Arkansas is bfe in, I know where Egypt is, it's west of Jonesboro.

 

[5twins]

You want to find some place that will use what's called a torque plate when doing the boring. This is a thick metal plate placed on top of the jugs and bolted down. It simulates the cylinders being mounted on the engine. Large car engine blocks don't require this but many smaller motorcycle cylinders do. Apparently the bore specs can change slightly once torqued down so it's best to have them bored while under pressure.

 

[6772man]

Bfe being Judsonia across the river from Searcy. I've built and understand auto motors, but motorcycle motors are a different animal to me.

 

[wesleyonoel]

Torque plates are used when honing cylinders to size on vehicle engines. On a car (truck) engine, the torque plate (a thick piece of iron with appropriate through holes where head bolts/studs attach) puts a "pull" on the block to simulate the distortion created by a properly torqued head installation. Not ordinarily done on standard rebuilds due to added cost. But if the engine is being machined for performance application, torque plates are often used. Just a little more added control of a machining operation in an attempt to simulate real life distortion of an assembled and working engine .....Wesley

 

[Goldy]

Any machine shop specializing in 'engine' work should be more than capable of doing this sort of job. Bring the pistons in with you and be specific about the clearances you are after....the only thing to watch out for is that sometimes they see motorcycles stuff as a training ground for the 'new guy', it usually isn't a problem, but if you are worried about this, give them a line about the jugs being rare and expensive to replace and that you want their 'top machinist' on this job.

 

[nj1639]

Where do the small engine repair shops send their lawnmowers, or do they bore them theirselves?

 

[Goldy]

Where do the small engine repair shops send their lawnmowers, or do they bore them theirselves?

Small engine shops, in my experience seldom do rebores. The common practice is a replacement short block. In fact most 'small engine shops' have no machining capabilities at all. When they do get a rebore done, most of the time the cylinder is sourced out to the local 'engine specialist' machine shop, the cost of which is added to their bill.