1982 GS1100E piston lining?

[Guest]

OK, last question for a while.
Are the suzuki motors running a lined piston wall?
I've got to do a head gasket and was thinking of ringing it as well while it's apart. Also going to check guides and replace seals. My K100 has lined piston walls so all you had to do was rings, no hone can be done.
Motor has miles with abuse on it but what I can feel so far the bottom end is good.
TIA

[rphillips]

Yes, they have liners,that can be replaced. Why not hone them if replacing rings. First have the cyl.'s checked to be sure they are not distorted in any way. A light cross-hatch honing, then the new rings. Always heard it helps the new rings to get seated in.

[Grimly]

OK, last question for a while.
Are the suzuki motors running a lined piston wall?

TIA

Not in the way you mean it. What you refer to in the BMW is a coating - aluminized or chrome, which, as you say can't be honed. 'Nikasil' was the most commonly used version.
The GS engines use a replaceable steel liner which slips into the alloy block (some have found their liners coming loose when they've painted the block and oven-cured it). The handy thing about that, is it makes re-lining relatively easy compared to a Nikasil block. Nikasil bores don't wear, but if they get damaged, it's usually game over for them.

[Tom R]

Get a flex-hone from brush research for around $40.... not sure what grit would be best. I’d think 240 or 320.

[Guest]

Not in the way you mean it. What you refer to in the BMW is a coating - aluminized or chrome, which, as you say can't be honed. 'Nikasil' was the most commonly used version.
The GS engines use a replaceable steel liner which slips into the alloy block (some have found their liners coming loose when they've painted the block and oven-cured it). The handy thing about that, is it makes re-lining relatively easy compared to a Nikasil block. Nikasil bores don't wear, but if they get damaged, it's usually game over for them.

Awesome! Thank you.
Going to start tearing down the motor this weekend and giving it a full check up. I have a ball hone, so I'll scuff it a bit before putting it back together with new rings.
I bought this bike from a guy who had it running but it was a basket case, but for $100 I'll have some fun with it. Going to go completely through it and build it simple. The frame and motor is a 82 1100 4v, the rear swing arm and carbs are off a 84ish? 1150E. Kind of a mix and match of sh!t but if I can build something cool for less than $2k I'll be happy.

[rphillips]

I remember Mercury outboards had chrome on the cylinder walls for a couple of yrs. Chrome flaked off a few & they quit the process. Don't know anything about the BMW's

[1948man]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nikasil

Used on many later model Suzukis

[rphillips]

Amazing what we can learn around here!!