spi pistons

[bustamove]

this is just a post as im sure alot of you guys have seen my pics of my 2nd engine rebuild... just in case someone like me is searching the interweb looking for reviews on spi pistons..

DOO NOT USE SPI PISTONS. maybe i had a bad one, but in the rmk 900 its bad news bears, its the only thing i can figure out as to why it failed. i save like 75 going with spi..... was it worth the 2500 rebuild a 2nd time in less then 10miles.... no..

on a lighter note the 900 runs like a top all i can say is..... OH BOY

 

[Gmiller]

This is VERY TRUE, The only piston to use on the 05-06 900 RMK's is the Stock 06 piston. Its worth every penny when you have pistons that are not going to break on you.

 

[Z-Man]

mine still has the 05 ones in it but they are coming out this week. New 06 pistons should be here Tuesday.

 

[94fordguy]

.............

Looks like everything has been covered here but let me reinforce 1 fact so there is no confusion.


DO NOT USE ANYTHING OTHER THAN 2006 Polaris OEM pistons!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


They are simply the best all-around pistons for this motor.


SPI are a direct copy of the 2005 pistons and the 2005 pistons are JUNK. I wouldn't even advise using them as a pen-holder on your desk.

 

[bustamove]

apparently i like learning the hard way... its cuz i already ordered them, and couldn't find any real bad things about them just hearsay. you can't get 05 pistons anyways... its superseeds to the 06 p/n number

 

[jsledder]

I'm another stubborn SOB.... I've got Wiseco's in every sled I own and this one aint any different. I'll let you know when they fail, put them in Fall of 09.

 

[Z-Man]

I'm another stubborn SOB.... I've got Wiseco's in every sled I own and this one aint any different. I'll let you know when they fail, put them in Fall of 09.

So does everyone with a 975. Wiseco's work, but the 06 pistons are better and cost less than the Wiseco's. As long as you don't overheat your machine the Wiseco's work fine.

SPI pistons are in all kinds of sleds and working fine too, just not in the 900's because they copied a flawed design.

 

[bustamove]

if i was building a lake runner or quad engine wiseco's FTW. but where i ride i tend to do trail about 80C with packed snow. then hit the powder 55C then back out. its the cast to forged mix thats got me worried.

 

[Z-Man]

900's get hot in a hurry on the trail so the factory 06 are just a much safer bet. If the wiseco's get to hot they will seize in the the cylinder.

 

[94fordguy]

The big problem with the Wiseco's is that since they are a forged piston, they expand and contract at different rates than the cylinders do. As a result you must be sure to let the sled warm up much more thoroughly and it will be much more sensitive to coolant temperature changes... The 06 OEM is a much better choice for the average rider as it does everything very very well with less fitment concerns.

 

[bannockrider]

where do you buy the 06 OEM pistons online for cheap? are the ones from babbitts OEM?

 

[Z-Man]

These guys have them for less than babbitts http://www.polarispartspitstop.com/

 

[94fordguy]

where do you buy the 06 OEM pistons online for cheap? are the ones from babbitts OEM?

Yup, just select 2006 900 and find the pistons.... those are what you want

Part number 2203098

 

[bustamove]

i got mine from cheap snow parts.com, good fast. you can't get 05 pistons oem. unless you go out of your way to find em.

 

[Z-Man]

i got mine from cheap snow parts.com, good fast. you can't get 05 pistons oem. unless you go out of your way to find em.

Why would you want to find them...lol. I have a really nice set of 05 pistons I just took out if you really want a set. They are in perfect shape.

 

[yosh30]

so what happens when you tear up your cylinders? they only make the 06 pistons in one size right? are you forced to go to a aftermarket counterpart?

 

[guidoxpress]

i hav talked to Swains Tech Coatings and they claim that there coating will reduce the rapid exspension/contraction of the Weisco pistons, and increase the life of them...but you have to have at least .004 piston/cylinder clearence to get the skirt coating...and its only $19 or so each piston (for skirts)

The 975/1140 big bores use Weiscos...i am going to send mine in here soon as well for the coating to give it a shot...

if you need to go overbore pistons due to a bad cylinder, you can ONLY get weiscos from that point on.

http://www.swaintech.com/store.asp?pid=8537&catid=19694

but if you have the stock bore....no brainer...06 OEM as stated.....too bad you had to find out the hard way.

 

[bustamove]

Why would you want to find them...lol. I have a really nice set of 05 pistons I just took out if you really want a set. They are in perfect shape.

no i don't lol. just for people worried about getting the wrong part number its next to impossible.