1. Husqvarna Motorcycles Made In Sweden - About 1988 and older

Measuring for rebore

Discussion in 'Vintage/Left Kickers' started by Rowan, Apr 29, 2016.

  1. Rowan Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Christchurch New Zealand
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 430 auto
    I am in the process of getting my '87 430 auto rebored to 3rd oversize - I have a Wossner piston on the way at present.
    I would like to know the best place to measure the bore so that clearance is correct. The manual says to measure at the very bottom of the bore but I have been told to go up a little - 1/2 to 1 " up from the bottom. I want to get it right so I am asking those who know what is best for my engine.

    I am under the impression that Wossner write the clearance on their packing. Should I use that or can somebody recommend something different.

    Many thanks
    Rowan
  2. fran...k. Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    eastern ct
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    420ae 98wr125 2004wr250 others
    Other Motorcycles:
    electric freeride 1993 yam gts
    Probably not much help answering what you ask.
    The bore should be cylindrical while the piston is tapered.
    There were no instructions pertaining to clearance and/or type of use intended with the Woosner piston I got but that was a few years ago.
    What I find troubling from a design aspect is that the head gasket is designed for the stock bore and sticks out into the cylinder as the bore is increased.
  3. 84scrambler Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    mid Florida
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 xc 250, 85 wrx 250, 79 wr 250
    Take it all to the machine shop that will be doing the boring so they can properly do the measurements. Yes , Wossner includes the clearance that they desire. A good machinist will want the new piston and the cylinder to make it right.
    RUF and justintendo like this.
  4. Joe Chod Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    upstate NY
    Bottom line.....any machine shop that will bore without the new piston in hand does not know what they are doing
    RUF likes this.
  5. Rowan Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Christchurch New Zealand
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 430 auto
    Yes - of course I have already had the bore measured by the ONLY good 2 stroke machinist in town ( that's how I know it needs a re-bore ). Many engine shops can't do 2 strokes properly. I am just waiting for the piston kit to give to him so he can do the job.
    My main concern is where to measure the clearance - at the very bottom of the piston skirt or up a little bit. I have been given conflicting advice.

    Thanks
    Darrel78 likes this.
  6. jimspac Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Connecticut
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 250WR, 82 430WR, 84 250WR, 85 400
    Other Motorcycles:
    86 400WR, 82 Montesa Cota 349
    Clearance is measured a specified distance up from the edge from the bottom. Most piston manufacturers supply that fitment point along with the clearance required.
  7. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    Exactly can't bore till the piston is in hand to measure it. I can rough bore till the cylinder is cleaned up so the proper sized piston can be ordered. Then and then only can the cylinder be finished bore to size with the proper clearances. I rough bore when the cylinder is scored really bad.

    Did you replace the crank bearings and seals?
    IMvintage and justintendo like this.
  8. Rowan Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Christchurch New Zealand
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 430 auto
    The engine man measured the bore and found that it is slightly over the 87.0mm current size (about .002") - hence the 3rd oversize piston is on the way. He has told me he always works with 'new pistons in hand' and he will not touch my cylinder until it arrives.

    The engine has done only about 25 hours on the current bearings - but I will check them for movement anyway.

    Thanks
  9. justintendo klotz super techniplate junkie

    Location:
    mercer, pa/northwest pa
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    84 250,86 400,87 430,88 250,95 360
    Other Motorcycles:
    99 kawasaki zrx 1100
    then why do you need to measure it?
    a correct job is done the way others have mentioned above..
    i give the shop a list of available piston sizes..the shop bores until round and the cylinder is cleaned up, then lets you know what size you need. after i get the piston for them, they then hone to correct tolerance. there is no measuring by the customer, as you need bore gauges to get a correct measurement. this involves me going to the shop twice to drop off the jug, then the piston but it insures a good job.
    any wossner i have bought has the tolerance they want on the product label.
  10. Kartwheel68 Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    Newnan, Georgia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    82 125XC, 250XC, 430XC, 430WR, 250CR
    Other Motorcycles:
    83 175WR , 76 250WR, 74 250 Mag
    What he said. Just give the machinist the piston and let him do it.
  11. fran...k. Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    eastern ct
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    420ae 98wr125 2004wr250 others
    Other Motorcycles:
    electric freeride 1993 yam gts
    You guys are right it is on the label. At least the clearance value. In theory (my theory) the bore should be exactly on the millimeter or half a millimeter. I will have to examine a Mahle box and some brand x ones. side.view.of.two.430.pistons.JPG There does not seem to be any information on the packaging for the Cagiva era replacement.

    Attached Files:

  12. grouty Auto Lover ...

    Location:
    South West UK
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    78 390WR, 78 390 AMX, 500 Humph
    Other Motorcycles:
    works 73 CCM 520, another 73 CCM520
    With my Auto being air cooled I tend to go to .10mm over rather than the .08mm stated by Wossner. Only because the Auto's run hotter. If it's a watercooler then I would reckon it's best with the recommended clearance. Those with L/C Auto's probably will give you the correct answer.
    fran...k. likes this.
  13. fran...k. Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    eastern ct
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    420ae 98wr125 2004wr250 others
    Other Motorcycles:
    electric freeride 1993 yam gts
    I am not sure they run hotter in most situations seem to coast but if an air cooled bike was used in winter conditions, snow with some depth it is easy to reason the cylinder would most likely be colder than a water cooled one.

    Note that piston says 84-88. The earlier 420/430 pistons have the ring slot a bit farther down. Some other differences I have noted in the past.
  14. dukkman Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Warwick Queensland Australia
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    85/WR 400,86/WR 240,83/430 is mates
    Other Motorcycles:
    69@71/TS90-76/TS100-72/DKW-78/PE
    A two stroke bore wears the most in the middle where there is the least material.
    A finished bore should measure the same all the way through or it's a balls up.
    ajcmbrown likes this.
  15. Rowan Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Christchurch New Zealand
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 430 auto
    Justintendo. I don't have any bore measuring gauges myself so that is why I had the machinist do the measuring. He told me it is worn and he recommended re-boring rather than just putting in a new piston of the current size.

    My original question was regarding where to set up the clearance - at the very bottom of the skirt/cylinder or slightly up the bore.
  16. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    Once I finish boring and honing the cylinder I wash it. Then port it. Wash it again the burnish a moly paste into the cylinder walls and piston skirt. This eliminates the first start up wear. I pump some two stroke mix into the lube hole on the right ignition side bearing. (Pre start up lube.) the crank seals is lubed when there installed.

    The moly treatment works awesome. We tested it on a seasons worth of running hard. At the end of the season we took the engine apart to find the cylinder and piston still looks like we just assembled it.

    I was taught in engine building to measure the piston opposite the wrist pin holes. But I check it at the top about 3/8" down. The wrist pin holes and near the bottom. About 1/2" up. The upper half of the piston expands more it's closer to the heat in a air cooled engine. It also depends on how hard the engine is pushed too. If she's run hard and put away wet lol, I put the clearance a tad larger. With the bore I check for taper. I allow .0000" only top to bottom. The worst taper I have seen is .00005". But 99.99% it's .00000".
  17. 84scrambler Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Location:
    mid Florida
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    87 xc 250, 85 wrx 250, 79 wr 250
    The widest part at the "Bottom" front to back.

    I learned that in 2 minutes doing a search on this forum.
    dukkman likes this.
  18. GaryM Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    Austin, Tx
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    1981 430cr second 430 CR 500cr
    Other Motorcycles:
    1981 490 Maico
    Dukkman is the most correct. Folks boring the cylinders are not all the same. It should be correct.

    Nothing is better than a dial bore gauge and it worth the investment.

    Their even more things to check. I found a couple bores that failed on a Maico and one Husky I had bored were not parallel
    Bore guy did not even set cylinder square ! Out of round, taper , out of tolerance etc. are others.

    I now double check each cylinder done. top , middle , bottom and a least four sides. If ports are not in way check the cylinder bridges areas
    I have seen these messed up on the way the cutter hits them.

    In hot climates bore it to the high side for clearance on the big bores. Give a bit more room to expand.

    In my experience today the Mahle of yesterday seems to be one of the best pistons. They are lasting longer than the new ones.
    RUF and dukkman like this.
  19. david gross Husqvarna
    AA Class

    Location:
    New Zealand
    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    2008 WR250 1984 WR250
    Other Motorcycles:
    1979 GS750
    Rowan , I have used HPE in Christchurch and always had a good service .
  20. Bigbill Husqvarna
    Pro Class

    Husqvarna Motorcycle:
    '83 250wr
    Other Motorcycles:
    0 right now
    I have a dial bore plus a inside, outside mics too. With the dial bore you also need the master gauge ring to set and make sure the dial bore is set correctly.