are the stock wrist bearings caged?

[Davenjw]

I just pulled my stock pistons off the 04 rev I just bought and the needle bearings in the wrist were no longer caged. when I pulled the first one needles went everywhere. the second one was the same.

is this a common accurance? the pistons looked like they have gotten hot. heat marks are visible near the exhaust side underneath the piston. crank seems fine, and it was running when I tore it down (doing the piston update).

anything to worry about? tracked down all but one needle bearing.... but verified it is not in the bottom end and pulled the water pump housing and verified it did not fall in the coolant passages. when I pulled the handful of bearings away from the motor i was not being extremely careful so i think one rolled away then. I can spin the crank and there is no debree in the bottom end.

 

[700rmker]

Yes Stock bearings are not caged. You defiantly don't want to have any in the bottom of your case.

 

[Davenjw]

damn, I figured something had gotten so hot it ruined the cage. thats a relief!


I really don't want to tear the bottom end out of the sled to "make sure" that needle bearing isn't in there. there isn't a place a flashlight can't see and a crank won't pinch in the bottom end of these sleds right? the one that fell in the bottom was very easy to spot and get out. I'm just really scared that one other bearing i couldn't find is hanging out in a nook that I can't see waiting to destroy my motor the second I start it.

 

[mastertech]

That's scary to not know for sure. If I where you I would get a bend-able magnet. I would find it or take her out.. Good luck.

 

[Davenjw]

That's scary to not know for sure. If I where you I would get a bend-able magnet. I would find it or take her out.. Good luck.

the stock needle bearings are not magnetic. made it a lot harder to get that other one out :-/ I turned the piston over and put all the needle bearings in the piston, and i can stick the magnetic wand in there and not a single one will sitck to that magnet.

 

[winter brew]

count them so you know you found them all.....I don't recall the number, big help eh? LOL

 

[highmark00700]

I just rebuilt a 04 ho for a guy over the weekend. I had the same problem and I was even using a skidoo piston pin puller but a couple needles got away. I found them with a magnet under the motor and they were magnetic. There is a total of 28 needles per cylinder. The new skidoo piston kits come with a caged bearing now.

 

[Davenjw]

Yes. I caught the second pistons set, and counted 28 as well. I have 28 collected from the second and 27 from the first.

 

[Davenjw]

FOUND IT! and just had a shot to celebrate.


the last unfound one rolled off the seat when I tipped the sled last night, and I thought it was the one I dropped while counting the last time.... as it turns out that was the missing one and the one I dropped was in a bin below my bench. with all located, I feel much more confident putting the engine back together! as soon as the parts show up, of course.

 

[dsmitty166]

Makes it a lot safer to put back together now!