Topic: What hone type to use ?

[Gnat]

My cylinders sat around for 20 years with oil on top of the pistons. Don't really see any pitting at all however, there is some,very little, stuff/gunk on the walls. Honing is the answer, I like the idea of a ball hone used on a good drill press.The rings are almost new so I really don't want to replace them as long as I have decent compression. So here's the question what type abrasive should the ball hone use for a light job. Many are available

Gnat

[Fritz]

Hi!

Just out of curiosity: Why would you want to hone your cylinders just because there's some "stuff" on the cylinders?
I'm just asking, because my cylinders have some traces of corrosion but I didn't bother having it honed. Compression is very good and the bike is running well, so I just don't care about the stains.

[Terry in Australia]

The Flex Hone (or "ball" hone as the flex is sometimes called) is a great tool, it's the only hone my cousin would use in his shop when he was a Suzuki dealer, and he particularly liked it for honing two strokes.

Take a look at the site link attached, it will give you an idea of what flex hone abrasive will best suit your application. Cheers, Terry.

http://www.brushresearch.com/flex-hone.php

[Gnat]

I can't seem to get the crap off the cylinder walls..was afraid to use anything stout. Figured honing was the way to go...hard to get out of round that way.

Yes I went to the brush place they offer 5 different abrasives for the cylinder hone best suited to 1.75 inches. I just don't know which one to use..hence the question

Gnat

[bucky katt]

the ball hone is as close to "idiot proof" as youre going to get too. it's why thats all i use when doing a hone job. i have sizes from 3.75" to 4.5" from when i did small and big block fords, had to borrow a smaller hone from Ilbikes to do my k4 750 cylinders.

[campbmic]

Fritz- From my limited understanding the main reason for honing is to;

1) Allow the rings to seat properly on new metal
2) Create a better surface for oil to be dispersed on

In my personal opinion you can put old rings and pistons back in old cylinders without honing as long as their within the recommended limits. However, Autozone does rent a hone machine for free. I plan on using this as soon as my rings come in. If you have the money go for a ball hone these are apparently the best.

[Terry in Australia]

Actually the absolute best hone is the Ammco (or Sunnen, Lisle, Snap On etc) "4 stone hone", it is a brilliant design which actually uses 2 stones and two "wipers", is micrometer adjustable, and works so well you can actually bore an engine out to the next oversize pistons, with no problems at all.

I've got several of these in my 'shop and love them because they will remove material very quickly, but therein lies it's achilles heel, if you're not careful, what should have been a clean up ends with an excessive piston to cylinder wall clearance, necessitating an overbore. These hones are very expensive though, 150-400 bucks for a new one, depending on which brand, Lisle being the cheapest, and Snap On being the most expensive.

Here's a nice Ammco hone especially suited to motorcycle cylinders on Ebay: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Ammco-3950-cylinder-hone-with-stones_W0QQitemZ270513903952QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Automotive_Tools?hash=item3efbe29950

Cheers, Terry.