Source for XT350 piston

[jester_parks]

gudeon pin I can send you - just get this OEM-piston - the rings will pop up sometimes, somewhere!
I will put the pistons onto the weight-scale and tell you if there`s a difference - only know at the moment that its a handfull more heavy than the RS-piston, so we can expect a load of stress on the rod

[jester_parks]

So, last night I took my wife`s digital weight-scale and took the pistons for a test:
Honda CB250RS = 328 gr, Yamaha XT350 = 369gr, Wiseco 87mm(o/s) = 361gr....all with gudeon-pin and rings.
Still over 30 gr more heavy and I can`t see a chance to shave off material....
My cylinder is out to have the sleeve fittet and after return it will go for boring and honing....and the bike itself is also in the process of being completed...things are falling into their places!

[jester_parks]

the clubman-racer is being modelled: clip-ons and single seat are lined up and soon I can show you the final result - however without "big-bore-unit"....

[xwhatsit]

Hahah, excellent! What did you pinch the gauges off? Those are some hefty brakes -- may end up going over the bars with such a light and short bike!

I lost that cheap piston auction, now that exams are over I will knuckle down and get stuck into this. There's still a cheap one on eBay though. I see a couple of auctions for rings, but separate shipping etc. may just be better off paying the extra for the Wiseco kit.

Doing anything special for exhaust system? My existing exhausts are horribly rooted, I'm going to get a 2-into-1 made I think.

[jester_parks]

still willing to send you a piston with rings and pin that will do - just say something!
Don`t get what you say: "What did you pinch the gauges off?" - what is gauges?

Brakes and wheels is Kawasaki GPz305 and they slot in without big problems, but I am going for the classsic spoke wheels, which are in the making also:
rear-hub is Yamaha XT350 with 2,15 x 18 Akront rim - going to be lighter than the original as I am converting to 428-chain: big savings in rotating masses!
Front hub not decided yet; can`t find something that will fit "as is".

[jester_parks]

Yes, this is a japanese racer based on the RS....and the other picture is retouched by me to see how a "civil"-version could look like!
Otherwise a Micron 2-1 would be the easiest way to go, I guess...

[xwhatsit]

Sorry -- maybe a colloquialism, I meant what bike did the gauges (gauges mean the speedo, odometer) come from? They look quite at home there.

Is that first one really a CB250RS?! Good lord. I've thought about high pipes, but might wait until I have a tank/seat combo so I know where the pipes should go first.

Thanks for the offer -- how much do you want for the piston/rings/pin? I may have to give in and accept

I got a nice little package earlier this week, have been too busy to post up pics though. It's a lot lighter than I expected. There are two things I'm not quite sure about; #1 is the little `lip' or flange around the top of the sleeve. I don't think the 250RS sleeve has such a flange; given that there will be less metal after boring out the cylinder, is it wiser then just to have the machinist stick the sleeve in the lathe and take off the lip? I might just ask the guy at Wade Automotive what he thinks.

The other thing is the interior of the bore. It's supposed to be original size, from that I assumed it's all pre-prepared. The inside of the bore looked discoloured and felt very rough; however when touching it I realised some of it is just some very light surface rust from air exposure. Is this pattern in it simply the `hone' that they apply -- or do I need to have it prepared before I stick a piston in there?

[jester_parks]

This flange is absolutly correct and the Honda-sleeve has got it also, it prevents the sleeve from "sinking in". Obviously your sleeve needs boring and honing - this can be done only "with" the piston for exact size.
The piston I offered to you I will send for free - I think the pin and the rings can be reused - about the piston ask your machining-shop.
Drop me your address and I will forward it to you!
Cheers
christofbeck(at)web.de
the gauges are cb200 and have been a steal at ebay

[jester_parks]

How are things? My project is developing fine: the cylinder sits on the crankcase! Waiting for the head with bigger valves now.
In case there`s still need: could get a Yamaha piston 86mm with rings NOS - but decision must be made within the next two days! Price will be Euro 45 + postage

[jester_parks]

Piston and rings - NOS - ready to be sent to NZ:

[xwhatsit]

Hooray! Hey, if you have pictures of the XT350 piston in the 250RS cylinder you must post them too

[jester_parks]

So, my RS is ready for roadworthy...still 250ccm only, but clip-oms and Bol`Dor-Disc 276mm

[xwhatsit]

Gorgeous! Nice work with the seat Is that the stock rear mudguard, you just painted it silver? I've long wondered what to do with the rear end, but that's very tidy.

[jester_parks]

It is the original mudguard indeed - just powder-coated: it was the easiest way to get rid of the bulky spoiler-seat....and the chrome Yamaha-fender I experimented with did not work. "Learning by doing"
Here is my wifes RS: 2-seater "custom-seat" and standard otherwise

[jester_parks]

Hurray!!!.....the piston made it finally NZ!!....two months (!!) of waiting ....and expecting that the parcel got lost.
Now the CB350RS project will proceed