Threw a piston

**denefoster** · 21st July 2007, 12:46

Looks like I threw a piston on the DRZ400 last night. Pleasant way to start a weekend. Just got a couple of quotes this morning, and the locals seem to want anywhere from $1200 - $2000 to sort it out. Seems a lot of money, given that I can pick up a full bigger bore kit (including cylinder and all) for $500 USD retail (probably less if I ask some friends). Any thoughts/suggestions of people to call ?

**Conquiztador** · 21st July 2007, 13:04

opened her up to have a look at the damage? Depending on what you find it will obviously alter the price heaps.

Or perhaps you just want to drop her in to a shop and ask them to sort it out? (Tha'll be the most expensive option)

**denefoster** · 21st July 2007, 13:12

Haven't opened it yet.. Was just trying to get some ballpark prices first to see if it's worth putting any effort into it. $1200 minimum is pretty good incentive to just dig in

**Conquiztador** · 21st July 2007, 13:38

then U might as well spend the day in the garage. With some luck U be back on the road next w/e.

Hard to give any pricing when no idea what needs replacing/fixing. I say 8 hours of work + parts (if U have some idea what U are doing).

The only way to figure out what is needed is to open her.

Good Luck

**slowpoke** · 21st July 2007, 14:03

I'm just getting back on the road after some similar major repairs to my R1 recently. At some stage it must have done something similar and liners had been fitted. All well and good....until one of the liners started leaking....
It wouldn't have been so bad but I'd only just got it back together after having the cylinder head refurbished as a result of major valve recession problems......D'OH!!
Back to your problem, if you divide what it cost me by the number of cylinders it would work out at over $1200/cylinder.
That big bore kit sounds like a cheap way out of the problem, depending what you find, and you'll get an improved bike at the end of it. Sounds like the best way out of a bad situation.

**Chrislost** · 21st July 2007, 17:58

aftermarket parts are quite often cheeper then rebuilding what you had before.

stating the obvious i know but...

**imdying** · 21st July 2007, 18:18

Originally Posted by Chrislost

aftermarket parts are quite often cheeper then rebuilding what you had before.

stating the obvious i know but...

Still worth mentioning though mate. With cars, OEM parts are often within 10% of aftermarket parts, but bikes... hell no, not yet (that I've seen at least).

/edit: Although a Citoren Saxo has $640 rear shoes OEM

wtf?!?

**F5 Dave** · 23rd July 2007, 18:02

Really until it is open you don't know what it will cost. A piston could easily have taken out the head & possibly the crank or wrecked the cases if really unlucky.

Aftermarket big bore might be nice,but what does it cost to reliner it & do you have to machine the head, can you run normal pump gas after & will it vibrate more? Check the thumper forums for answers I guess.

Well at least you weren't somewhere inconvenient, like I dunno, maybe the bottom of . . .

**nudemetalz** · 23rd July 2007, 21:09

Try Jap Motorcycle Dismantlers in ChCh. The have a lot of OEM Suzuki Parts.
I can get a new piston kit for my DR250S (like the 350) for around $200.

**denefoster** · 3rd August 2007, 21:29

Just heard the official diagnosis..

exhaust cam jumped a tooth, valves bent, cam chain stretched, head needs a bit of work

lame.

**merv** · 3rd August 2007, 21:45

How the hell would that happen, was the cam chain just so loose?

**denefoster** · 3rd August 2007, 21:58

Hell if I know.. Still waiting to actually talk to the guy after he pulls the head off.. Hasn't given me a cost or time frame yet. Will report back after I hear from him.