Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

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sedsberg
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Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#1 Post by sedsberg » Sun Dec 10, 2017 8:27 pm

Had my cylinders rebored a couple of years ago and I suspect the supplied pistons are som cheap, rubbish pistons. I've gotten that before from the same shop (for a different bike). Planning on changing them next summer.

What pistons are recommended for this bike?
1990 RD350 F2 1WT

evan_calgary
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#2 Post by evan_calgary » Mon Dec 11, 2017 12:49 pm

There is no 'best' piston in my opinion. Go buy wiseco if you want peace of mind. Otherwise all of the usual companies such as Namura and even CruisinImage off eBay make fine pistons...It is very rare you hear of a failure actually due to the piston these days and most of these bikes are quite low mileage. What is your concern? Tolerance?

Sure there will be some strong opinions that come up though. Can't say my honing/boring specialist has had any issues when I brought up the topic and that and building motors is all he does...

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JonW
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#3 Post by JonW » Mon Dec 11, 2017 8:06 pm

Amusingly the cheapo CruisinImage pistons are actually pretty good, the nasty ones Ive seen recently are the Tawianese Mitaka units; cast by a child.
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

evan_calgary
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#4 Post by evan_calgary » Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:37 pm

Other than poor casting, weight and dimension tolerance, I am not sure what qualifies as a 'bad' piston. You hear the odd story of someone having an early failure but it is rarely first hand or recent and the other qualifying factors that could be user error are not identified.

hondaror
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#5 Post by hondaror » Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:40 pm

JonW wrote:Amusingly the cheapo CruisinImage pistons are actually pretty good, the nasty ones Ive seen recently are the Tawianese Mitaka units; cast by a child.
Jon, you mean, cast by a child with no skills. Some kids I know, do a better job then many adults.
Rory
2 1984 RZ350s
1985 RZ350
9 1986-1990 RZ350s
2000 ST2
2005 749
2005 749 with 999 engine

hondaror
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#6 Post by hondaror » Mon Dec 11, 2017 9:40 pm

JonW wrote:Amusingly the cheapo CruisinImage pistons are actually pretty good, the nasty ones Ive seen recently are the Tawianese Mitaka units; cast by a child.
Jon, you mean, cast by a child with no skills. Some kids I know, do a better job then many adults.
Rory
2 1984 RZ350s
1985 RZ350
9 1986-1990 RZ350s
2000 ST2
2005 749
2005 749 with 999 engine

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JonW
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#7 Post by JonW » Tue Dec 12, 2017 12:40 am

LOL! And of course, youre right... I'd say they were cast by a child with a lesser skill level than the ones who made Raasks back in the 70/80s... and that's sayin something LOL!

Truly, they were really bad; inclusions and dents from things in the badly made mould and flashing still evident in the ports. Really nasty. Do not buy them.
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

sedsberg
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#8 Post by sedsberg » Tue Dec 12, 2017 12:28 pm

I've gotten pistons from this shop that had the piston ring retaining pin falling out during assembly. THe boxes are unbranded and the invoice just says "piston".

I can't find Wiseco for the newer RD350s. Just for the old air cooled ones.
1990 RD350 F2 1WT

75RD350rider
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#9 Post by 75RD350rider » Tue Dec 12, 2017 1:26 pm

http://www.fastfromthepast.com/pistons/yamaha" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I have heard very good things about these and when top end time for my RZ comes I am gonna try a set.
I love the smell of Blue Marble in the morning!
Tim Steele in Front Royal, VA

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JonW
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#10 Post by JonW » Tue Dec 12, 2017 7:13 pm

sedsberg wrote:I've gotten pistons from this shop that had the piston ring retaining pin falling out during assembly. THe boxes are unbranded and the invoice just says "piston".

I can't find Wiseco for the newer RD350s. Just for the old air cooled ones.
youre not searching hard enough, try adding Banshee to your search.
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

sedsberg
Posts: 97
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:07 pm
Location: Norway, Aust Agder

Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#11 Post by sedsberg » Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:25 pm

I've never seen it confirmed that banshee and RD350 pistons are the same. But I take it they are.
1990 RD350 F2 1WT

justind97
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#12 Post by justind97 » Tue Dec 12, 2017 10:59 pm

sedsberg wrote:I've never seen it confirmed that banshee and RD350 pistons are the same. But I take it they are.
Identical. Providing you stipulate RD350 YPVS. North America got RZ350 as a name.

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JonW
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#13 Post by JonW » Tue Dec 12, 2017 11:47 pm

just remove the tangs if fitting to an LC.

This info is all over the forums...
80 XT500 Supermoto!
81 RD350LC Resto
82 RD421LC Hybrid
82 RD350LC decapitation project
82 RD250LC JDM '251LC' YPVS
83 RZ350 Resto
84 RZ500 Resto
85 RZ350 F1 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Resto
86 RZ350 F2 Hybrid

Like Watches? www.PloProf.com & www.DeskDivers.com

sedsberg
Posts: 97
Joined: Mon Dec 19, 2011 2:07 pm
Location: Norway, Aust Agder

Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#14 Post by sedsberg » Fri Dec 15, 2017 4:47 pm

Thanks. So I assume I should be OK if I buy any name brand?
1990 RD350 F2 1WT

evan_calgary
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Re: Best pistons for 1991 RD350F2 1WT

#15 Post by evan_calgary » Fri Dec 15, 2017 7:15 pm

You got it! Banshee pistons are the same thing. Just cut off the tab if using on LC. Any big name brand piston will do you fine. If you want to save a few bucks check out Cruzinimage on eBay. I have also had no issues with Mitaka pistons nor casting issues on other 2-strokes!

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