SPI pistons = crap?
- Thread starter POS Pol
- Start date
SPI JUNK PISTONS
SPI Pistons are JUNK!
Cheapest piston out there, you can find them on China ebay for 8$ per piston kit. I wonder how much it's costs them to build that piston.
I had problems with the ring location pin falling out and causing catastrophic damage to the engine.
I am also NOT impressed at all with that cheap coating that falls off the piston when you look at it.
I have wiseco pistons now yes my fingers are crossed, so far so good. I know that wiseco also moved their piston manufacturing to China as well.
We need a good piston manufacture HERE IN THE USA!
SPI Pistons are JUNK!
Cheapest piston out there, you can find them on China ebay for 8$ per piston kit. I wonder how much it's costs them to build that piston.
I had problems with the ring location pin falling out and causing catastrophic damage to the engine.
I am also NOT impressed at all with that cheap coating that falls off the piston when you look at it.
I have wiseco pistons now yes my fingers are crossed, so far so good. I know that wiseco also moved their piston manufacturing to China as well.
We need a good piston manufacture HERE IN THE USA!
R
RKT
Well-known member
Like anything made in China/Taiwan.. you never really know what factory they came from and if it had a dirt floor..
I get calls every week (during the season) that have the same issues mentioned in this thread.. Usually the result of the failures costs the owner valuable time on the snow and some pretty good coin.. Of course, you also hear the success stories as well..
IMO, If you know that there is a better piston out there.. USE IT! I would never skimp on piston since they are the heart of any engine.. The $75 savings you get can cost you much more down the road..
I know I always prefer to have the best possible internal engine component in my engine when I am 50 miles out in the back-country
I get calls every week (during the season) that have the same issues mentioned in this thread.. Usually the result of the failures costs the owner valuable time on the snow and some pretty good coin.. Of course, you also hear the success stories as well..
IMO, If you know that there is a better piston out there.. USE IT! I would never skimp on piston since they are the heart of any engine.. The $75 savings you get can cost you much more down the road..
I know I always prefer to have the best possible internal engine component in my engine when I am 50 miles out in the back-country
like Iphones ha ha 
agreed on spending a little more to get a superior product
agreed on spending a little more to get a superior product
There is nothing wrong with SPI coated pistons. I've(as well as the other engine builders in this thread) have seen enough failures of all kinds. OEM and aftermarket alike to completely blame the manufacturing process of a single piston alone. I've warrantied enough top ends and complete shortblocks to know that OEM's can screw the pooch just as quick as a customer doing his own top end rebuild as well. The bigest thing is break-in procedures and fuel requirements. Plain and simple.
With that being said, the non-coated pistons that SPI offers(usually for lower HP motors) are junk. Two different factories, two different standards.
I do use Wiseco/SPI pistons in most builds. I'd like to try the Wossner's in my 800HO but I'm having a hard time seeing anything available for the stock bore.
With that being said, the non-coated pistons that SPI offers(usually for lower HP motors) are junk. Two different factories, two different standards.
I do use Wiseco/SPI pistons in most builds. I'd like to try the Wossner's in my 800HO but I'm having a hard time seeing anything available for the stock bore.
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I've rebuilt my iqr800 mod the last two years with spi tmoly coated pistons with no issues and I put a fair bit of miles on with a decent bit of abuse. I would not hesitate to use them on my next rebuild.
Post some pictures of your pistons.
Post some pictures of your pistons.
P
POS Pol
Member
Just updating everyone on my problem. I rebuilt it again and used Ski-Doo pistons and put on 500 miles and they worked perfect. The compression has not dropped off any and I didn't change anything else. I used the same thickness base gasket. From now on I will only go with OEM parts.
1 ring = less compression less issues...
2 rings = more compression possible fuel related issues...
its THAT simple...BJ
