My 2014 Pro RMK (Lola) has been my favorite sled I've ever ridden I love her. She has taken care of me and I've taken care of her, or so I thought. Hearing that the pistons in these motors liked to "abort mission" after a few thousand miles I decided on a rebuild to try and get ahead of the issue and gain some reliability. So at about 2000 miles I rebuilt the top end with new RKtek forged pistons, along with the rings, wrist pins, wrist pin bearings, and the necessary gaskets. After a couple shorter 20-30 mile test rides at op-temp and using some very restrained throttle input (it was the beginning of the season I wanted to rip) I felt as though the engine was ready to rock, and it was! Yeah no the engine didn't burn up after I rebuilt it, unlike my ever supportive father told me it would.
So, Lola and I soldiered on for a couple years. I kept her full of 91 and oil, I kept her greased up, I cleaned the valves twice a year, I thankfully only went through one a-arm somehow, and I replaced the primary clutch at 3400 miles. I thought life was good, the lighter forged pistons seemed to help keep the throttle response snappy and everything was running just peachy. Until the end of March this year when I had just passed 4100 miles on the clock, I was following my dad up a hill and she let go on me. The engine gave out and there was all of the sudden a lot of angry noises coming from under the hood.
I'm not a mechanical failure forensics expert so I honestly have no idea how the engine failed but if I had to guess the skirts started collapsing and then got caught on my exhaust port stopping the piston dead in its tracks and the rod pulled itself right out of the bottom of the piston. I've attached some pictures I took and I can take more if needed because I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me would be able to paint a better picture... with some better pictures? Either way I'm disappointed because these pistons were supposed to be stronger and more reliable than stock but they barely made it over 2000 miles. Meanwhile in "I'm always rightville" my dad's sled, which is the same exact sled as Lola, is bone stock with 3000 miles and still pulls like a freight train all the way up the hill. RIP Lola 2014-2020.
Also all jokes aside about my dad and I we get along great and he's been gracious enough to give me his sled since I'm in school. Plus he's going to finally pull the trigger on an axys so I'm happy about that and I know he will be too, can't thank him enough for always having my back.
So, Lola and I soldiered on for a couple years. I kept her full of 91 and oil, I kept her greased up, I cleaned the valves twice a year, I thankfully only went through one a-arm somehow, and I replaced the primary clutch at 3400 miles. I thought life was good, the lighter forged pistons seemed to help keep the throttle response snappy and everything was running just peachy. Until the end of March this year when I had just passed 4100 miles on the clock, I was following my dad up a hill and she let go on me. The engine gave out and there was all of the sudden a lot of angry noises coming from under the hood.
I'm not a mechanical failure forensics expert so I honestly have no idea how the engine failed but if I had to guess the skirts started collapsing and then got caught on my exhaust port stopping the piston dead in its tracks and the rod pulled itself right out of the bottom of the piston. I've attached some pictures I took and I can take more if needed because I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me would be able to paint a better picture... with some better pictures? Either way I'm disappointed because these pistons were supposed to be stronger and more reliable than stock but they barely made it over 2000 miles. Meanwhile in "I'm always rightville" my dad's sled, which is the same exact sled as Lola, is bone stock with 3000 miles and still pulls like a freight train all the way up the hill. RIP Lola 2014-2020.
Also all jokes aside about my dad and I we get along great and he's been gracious enough to give me his sled since I'm in school. Plus he's going to finally pull the trigger on an axys so I'm happy about that and I know he will be too, can't thank him enough for always having my back.
