Frequently Asked Questions
Repair process
My cylinder had detonation damage when I sent it to you – will you be able to fix that?
Yes, we can repair the damage before we replate the cylinder. However, the damage was the symptom and not the cause, and unless you find the cause and fix that, you will continue to experience detonation and will damage your cylinder again.
There are lots of resources online describing the causes of detonation, and you would be wise to learn as much as you can about the causes and remedies. If you don’t feel confident in your own knowledge, talk to your engine builder.
What does it cost to get my cylinder repaired?
We always try to keep our prices very competitive, and we are sure you will be pleasantly surprised at how affordable our repairs are. Please contact us for current pricing.
How long will it take before you can ship it back to me?
We always try to provide the fastest possible turnround, but schedules can change depending on workload and other factors.
View our current: TURNROUND TIME
The “skirt” on the bottom part of my cylinder broke off and I can’t find it. Can you still fix my cylinder without it?
Yes. Even if you have the broken part, we usually don’t weld it back on because experience has taught us that building up a skirt from new metal is a better solution.
Shipping
When I send my cylinder for repair, what do I need to send with it?
All that we really need is the cylinder itself, but it is good if we have the piston too so that we can be sure to give you the correct clearance. We can supply pistons and gasket sets at competitive prices from world leading manufacturers such as Wiseco, Vertex, CP piston & ProX if you would like us to. Remember also to include a note of your name, address, daytime phone number and any special requirements.
Please fill the following work order form if you send something and you can always hit us up to have our shipper account to have a better rate
: Shipping
Do I need to take all the studs and the power-valve out before I send it?
When we process cylinders, we usually need to immerse the whole thing in some strong chemicals that will attack materials like steel, brass and so on. Because of that, we like to have all of those materials removed before we start work. Sometimes, parts are cast into place during the manufacturing process and they are impossible to remove. In that case, we will paint a protective lacquer on those parts to try to prevent any chemical attack. YOU MUST UNDERSTAND that while we take all reasonable steps to avoid damaging parts when we process cylinders, we will not accept any responsibility for any damage that does occur. If any parts are not removed before the cylinders are sent to us, we may have to make a charge for removal.
How can I get my cylinder to you?
We get deliveries from most carriers each day. They all know where we are so just use the one that you feel most comfortable with. Remember when you are packing your cylinder to use a box that is plenty big enough for the whole consignment, and be sure to separate all the parts using newspaper, cardboard, rags, or something similar.
If you are including a piston, don’t be tempted to put it into the bore thinking it’ll be safe, because the bore is probably damaged anyway!
If you are sending more than one cylinder, it’s best to put each one in a box alone as described above, then put each of those boxes into a bigger box taking care to put plenty of packing material in as well so that the cylinders can’t bang against each other in transit.
If you really must use polystyrene “chips” or “peanuts”, put each cylinder and each piston in a plastic bag or a small box first. We understand that the carriers try not to damage the packages they handle but it does happen sometimes, usually due to insufficient packaging being used.
If you live locally, feel free to bring your cylinders in person…
Please fill the following work order form if you send something and you can always hit us up to have our shipper account to have a better rate: Shipping
When my cylinder is finished, how will you ship it back to me?
We always try to find the best service at the most economical price depending on the destination address.
We have good rate with purolater and dicom ''GLS''. Please call us if you want a preference shipper.
How long will it take before you can ship it back to me?
We always try to provide the fastest possible turnround, but schedules can change depending on workload and other factors.
View our current turnaround page in our ''turnaround page''.
Payment
What does it cost to get my cylinder repaired?
We always try to keep our prices very competitive, and we are sure you will be pleasantly surprised at how affordable our repairs are. Please contact us for current pricing.
What happens about payment?
We accept MasterCard and Visa (credit or debit) cards. Alternatively, customers can settle their bills by direct deposit into our bank account. Please contact us for the details. There’s no need to include payment with your order – we’ll call you for payment as soon as we have your order ready to ship out. We do not accept cheques.
DEALERS
I’m a dealer – how can I qualify for a discount?
We have a simple form that must be completed in order for us to consider an application to become one of our dealers.
Questions
Why should I send my cylinder to you when I can get a sleeve fitted at my local shop?
Because sleeves are just old news!
Why would you want to add extra weight to your machine, increase bore wear and lose engine performance?
My cylinder already has a cast iron sleeve installed, but it’s worn past its biggest piston. Can you help me?
Probably yes, we can install a new sleeve.
How thick is the finished coating?
Usually about 0.10mm (0.004″). We can plate much thicker than that (and often do), but as the coating thickness increases, so does the edge buildup on the ports and lead-in chamfers etc. There are also technical reasons to avoid excessive thicknesses, but there are sometimes economic reasons to plate cylinders regardless of thickness, for example if the cylinder can’t be replaced or if no pistons are available in the size that you need. Please contact us to talk about this if it is applicable.
I had a rod break on my vintage racer and it went through the back of the bore. It looks like it’s scrap to me, but I can’t get a replacement from anywhere. I’m desperate – can you help me preserve my bike?
I had a rod break on my vintage racer and it went through the back of the bore. It looks like it’s scrap to me, but I can’t get a replacement from anywhere. I’m desperate – can you help me preserve my bike?
Probably! We pride ourselves on the quality of our welding and machining of damaged bores, and if you have seen our literature before you will probably already know what we are capable of. Sometimes (rarely) we come across situations where we do not feel confident that any repair would offer satisfactory performance or durability, and we will tell you that before we get too involved an a salvage attempt and let you decide how you would like us to proceed.
Of course, extreme damage like this will need to be priced according to the amount of work involved, so please contact us before you throw the cylinder away…
Why do cylinders occasionally have porosity in the bore?
This is a common question we receive, and the best answer is that it is formed in the cylinder during the casting process. Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions about porosity. Some customers are worried that that a ring will catch on it or that it will cause poor ring seal. This is typically not the case. Kept in proper ranges rings will not be negatively affected by porosity. The holes fill up with oil creating a better ring seal and lowering the coefficient of friction. Some bore coating techniques actually rely on deliberately introducing holes in the surface of the bore to achieve this.
To understand porosity you have to understand what it is. Simply it is trapped gas bubbles from when the aluminum was poured. Most foundries have technologies that reduce this porosity but as a rule the deeper you go in a casting the more porosity you will find. That is why cylinders that are bored oversize are more susceptible to porosity than stock replates.
Welding can also introduce porosity. As a rule, everything is done to eliminate it but, depending on the material or its age, it may not be possible.
Another question is why does it have porosity on it now when it did not before? There are two reasons for this. Our plating process chemically removes material to allow the plating process to work. That etching sometimes exposes new porosity just under the machined surface of the bore. Our plating fills in most of the porosity but some of the bigger pits may be leftover.
The most important factor about porosity is that generally it is nothing to worry about. Every OEM has a specification on allowable porosity and we won’t normally send a cylinder out that would not pass their typical specification. After all, the piston and ring/s in a two-stroke engine are perfectly happy to pass the ports hundreds of times every second, so why would there be a problem with holes in the surface that are far smaller?
In very rare cases where it might be necessary to ship a cylinder that is perhaps marginal we would call our customer before shipping to discuss the issues.
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