Reputable Machine Shops for Cylinder Sleeves

[BadIdeas86XR]

In need of a cylinder sleeve installed on a 1980 RM125. Looking for past experiences from you guys. Who to use who to stay away from you know the deal. Located in the NE region would prefer someone local if possible, just to have a quicker turn around, if not no worries.

Would it be smarter to buy a sleeve and ship it with the cylinder, or find a company that does everything in house, meaning make their own sleeves and do the installs. Thanks?
 

Edited April 8, 2021 by BadIdeas86XR

[Smoking 2's]

Millennium or power seal, La sleeve but I'm sure there way busy and weeks behind about now.

Or buy a sleeve from La sleeve and have a local machine shop do it if you have one

[BillDirt1]

Millennium.

[beezer]

I'd try to find a bigger piston and bore it out.

[BadIdeas86XR]

2 hours ago, beezer said:

I'd try to find a bigger piston and bore it out.

It’s been re-bored twice already from what the previous owner says. Gonna put it back to stock bore.

[BadIdeas86XR]

2 hours ago, Diverdown said:

Millennium.

Called Millennium, 3 1/2 week turn around time as of now ? Gonna reach out to some other shops and see how backed up they are.

[beezer]

I'd measure the cylinder.

Wiseco makes 56 mm pistons.

[willie]

Rebored twice is halfway through it's service life. As mentioned just measure cylinder to determine what size piston is needed and a local machine shop can bore to fit. No need for new cylinder (yet).

[redhurricane]

Good luck with lead time, Millennium as already stated 3+ weeks, Kustom Kraft is 4+ weeks. Springtime, shops are busy as everyone has their junk at the shop for work. Do some googling around your area for machine shops, make some phone calls and I am sure you can find someone that will do the work. Stick to the motorcycle machine shops, the car shops may not be fluent in getting port edges cleaned up and good to go. 

[BadIdeas86XR]

Found a seasoned machinist. Small scale one man show he’s been doing it for decades and has already done some work for a few friends and they all said it was excellent quality. A week turnaround time and it’s within driving distance.?

I will measure first, but I think it’s past it’s life expectancy, could be wrong, those gouges are pretty deep. Either way though he can do the job.?
 

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by BadIdeas86XR

[BA1]

Does your cylinder have port chamfers?  The edges look pretty sharp to me.  Any new liner or bore job will need to have the ports re-chamfered.  Otherwise a ring will catch, which appears to be exactly what happened to your RM.

[BadIdeas86XR]

Already clarified with the machinist, didn’t even need to ask, he went through exactly what he does and it’s all in there.??

[BV's]

good on you for supporting the local guy, but a sleeve is a step backwards from a plated jug.  

[DEATH_INC.]

50 minutes ago, burntvalves said:

good on you for supporting the local guy, but a sleeve is a step backwards from a plated jug.  

No plated Suzukis in 1980. That'll be steel already.

[Mike Naccarelli]

Powerseal. In Pennsylvania  very good service.   But they are 5 weeks turn around time as of now 

[BadIdeas86XR]

4 minutes ago, Mike Naccarelli said:

Powerseal. In Pennsylvania  very good service.   But they are 5 weeks turn around time as of now 

Powerseal doesn’t do sleeves, they only do plating. Called today, for sleeves they refer out to Ken Oconner in CT. I called Ken, he’s so busy he’s not even taking anything at the moment.

[swapnifty]

I’m also in the NE area in need of some cylinder work for my cr250r , care to share the shop you’re using? 

[Mike Hamershock]

Vintco makes a fresh sleeve you can have pressed in since that one is shot.

I just sent my 79 RM125 jug off to Power seal for a bore and Nikasil job, plus mill head by .5mm. I got a barn find that was still on the original bore. Doing a total rebuild to better than stock specs. 

 

 

[redline7500]

5 hours ago, redhurricane said:

Good luck with lead time, Millennium as already stated 3+ weeks, Kustom Kraft is 4+ weeks. Springtime, shops are busy as everyone has their junk at the shop for work. Do some googling around your area for machine shops, make some phone calls and I am sure you can find someone that will do the work. Stick to the motorcycle machine shops, the car shops may not be fluent in getting port edges cleaned up and good to go. 

Kustom Kraft has had my rmx250 cylinder since January 28th and they just got around to starting mine last week. They had issues getting a sleeve and piston. Last I spoke with them on the phone they are swamped tight now. 

[BadIdeas86XR]

9 minutes ago, Mike Hamershock said:

Vintco makes a fresh sleeve you can have pressed in since that one is shot.

I just sent my 79 RM125 jug off to Power seal for a bore and Nikasil job, plus mill head by .5mm. I got a barn find that was still on the original bore. Doing a total rebuild to better than stock specs. 

 

 

Nice man, I need that gas tank! ?