Topic: LA Sleeve or Wiseco?

[Really?]

Hey folks, this sleeve stuff is new to me and both of these perty much cost the same.  Better, same, good, bad....watcha got?

This is for Hooker, the YZ50G project I have.

LA Sleeve
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YAMAHA-YZ50-YZ-50-CYLINDER-SLEEVE-1980-/320571028103?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4aa385b287

Wiseco
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/YAMAHA-YZ50-YZ-50-WISECO-CYLINDER-SLEEVE-1980-/290557967944?pt=Motors_ATV_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43a69abe48

I found a top end kit in the UK for what seems to be a good price that I am about to pull the trigger on.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Piston-kit-Yamaha-YZ-50-yz50-G-H-J-K-40mm-/190546092439?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item2c5d6ea197

Please provide our thoughts. 

[MCRider]

I've got no way to prove it, but if I had to bet, I'd bet Wiseco buys their sleeves from LA Sleeve.

[Really?]

Thanks Ron, I'll do LA Sleeve!

[Really?]

Pulled the trigger on the piston kit and submitted an offer for the LA Sleeve.

[Really?]

The guy denied the offer and with no counter offer.  I asked him why no counter offer.  He said that has to check availability tomorrow and the only place that makes them is Advanced Sleeve.  I don't think Advanced Sleeve is LA Sleeve but I could be wrong.

The guy shows that he has 10 available but has to check availability?  That don't sound right.

[MidnightLamp]

I believe wiseco does in fact use L.A. Sleeves OR Advanced Sleeve for all their sleeving needs:

http://www.wiseco.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ItemID=H15SL&ModelID=480&ModelYear=1976&AppID=6422

http://www.wiseco.com/Powersports/Accessories.aspx

Cylinder Sleeves
Wiseco has been offering high quality cylinder sleeves from Advanced Sleeve and LA Sleeve for many years because of the quality and care put into the manufacturing process. We do not offer the entire product line but do stock sleeves for the most popular applications and big bore setups.

You can reference our paper catalog for a full listing of sleeves or you can see them listed under the accessories section when doing a year/make/model search by application. Both of these companies design and produce high quality engine sleeves manufactured from cast iron, ductile iron, and aluminum for your performance application.

[Really?]

Thanks for the info Midnight.  Hooker has been a heck of a learning experieince. 

Advanced Sleeve shows it in thier catalog.  I will call them and pray pray pray I can get one.  I did not see anything for LA Sleeve.

I figure I will try and go direct to Advanced Sleeve and bypass the lying butthead on eBay.  Finding parts for this bike is a nitemare.

I am getting a taste of what those Sandcasters are going through with regards to parts. 

[MCRider]

Very interesting Midnight. My presumption of a LASleeve/Wiseco partnership came from my experience with retailers rebadging others products as their own. A time honored tradition. No need in reinventing the wheel. If someone makes a product that dovetails with one you make, why not work out a distribution deal?

The LASleeve/Wiseco partnership seems above board and fairly priced.

Current big time purveyors of this activity are CycleX and Carpy. CycleX seems to work out pretty good pricing deals. Carpy is a bit more egregious seeming to add a premium to the price for his name. Still, I'm a capitalist and don't blame anyone for pricing goods to their advantage. No one is forcing you to buy.

[Really?]

Contacted Advanced Sleeve.  They were out of stock.  So, they are making one for me.  Very pleasant people to talk to! 

Go direct to them, you will thank yourself!

[MidnightLamp]

You're very welcome for the info! I've been going over wieseco's site with a fine toothed comb over the past few days to hunt down the rings for a wiseco 836 kit from the 80's. Turns out they've been using the same rings since then  Hah, I know the feeling on finding weird parts. I'm building a bitser bike, and it's a nightmare to ask for very specific parts for somewhat odd older bikes =P

And MC, I know what you mean totally. For the most part I'm okay with it because you can get everything from one place and put a face on a stack of parts. It's always a tradeoff I guess, because if the person you're buying from has no stock and a custom wants an item, it makes you look bad =P

And as a future tip, wiseco has Canadian rep you can order from (for the rest of us!) that has a lot of stuff in stock, and the american distributor is also really friendly. They sat down an measured an entire set of rings for me, before referring me to the Canadian rep for ordering!

[Really?]

The ebay guy is a treat.  He does not list them as LA anymore.  He closed the three listings he had and relisted them without LA in it.

He also told me in an email this morning they do not make them anymore.  But, he still has it listed with 10 available. 

I am calling out FRAUD on this guy.  He will take your money though.   Beware of ehimports.  I kind of think he is the Wiseco listing with another name but not sure.