BEST TOP END KIT

[kennystag]

HI ALL WHAT IS THE BEST TOP END KIT TO USE A 185CC ALLOY CYLINDER KIT OR A 185cc CAST IRON CYLINDER KIT.
CHEERS
STAG

[Stevepshipley]

That's a question that will get a myriad of answers, all different and all correct.
Personally for I'm a mugello fan, but hey what do I know

[Eden]

imo a cast iron 186

[MickYork]

This question can be answered with other questions:

What type of performance do you want fast/tourer/torquey/etc ?

This then leads to the question of "what kits are available that meets the spec' you require" ?

if it comes down to 2 kits that meet the spec' you require and 1 is plated and the other is cast......then the debate begins

If both kits are set up correctly then the difference between plating and cast is irrelevant.

If not set up correctly then the plating will be slightly more forgiving in the tolerance of error (imo ) but if a seizure does occur then the cast is probably cheaper and easier to repair. Re-plating a barrel is going to cost around £150 (inc' delivery) plus a new piston. The plating can only be done by a few companies in the UK. A badly seized barrel may require a re-bore which can usually be done by a local company usually costing a lot less than the re-plating. The cost of a seizure makes the cast the preferred choice, but.....the running in (1000 miles on cast versus 100 miles on plating) can be off set against the cost to favour the plating.

Most modern vehicles are using plated cylinders so logic would favour the plating. Never-the-less the Lambretta is designed for a cast barrel and there are plenty of tried and tested kits/set-ups that are working fine with a cast set-up.

Personally i'd opt for the plating but I do fancy one of the cast kits that are available

The bottom line is: if one method was better than the other then only one of them would be available.

[kennystag]

Hi all,
This is the kit I am thinking about getting. Anybody had any dealings with this kit.
Cheers
Stag
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321787461547? ... EBIDX%3AIT

[foremanbob]

What do you honestly think you are going to get for £105....

Generally these are really poorly made kits with huge inconsistencies in port timings etc.... you might get a good one you might not...

I'd be spending my money elsewhere IMHO

[Captain Pugwash]

My take would be an original barrel well set up with the money for a cheap kit wisely spent on the original setup, next choice purely because of cost would be a GT 186 kit (if not based on cost then the GT kit would be my first choice), both cast iron but both are well proven. Then there's pleanty of other good kits mostly in alloy and plated but if you spend on more power you will most likely need to rebuild the engine to suit changing parts from the gearing right through to the Crankshaft.
As has been said it all depends what you want from the kit.

[dickie]

Hi all,
This is the kit I am thinking about getting. Anybody had any dealings with this kit.
Cheers
Stag
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321787461547? ... EBIDX%3AIT

Nooooooooooooooooooooo.

Save yourself the grief. I built my first engine last year and went through 3 of those before settling on a gt186. It rides lovely. Rt195 are cheap at the moment though; only 350 quid from scooter center and head and shoulders above that kit you're looking at.

[rexton270s]

if your after one of these cheaper kit try buzzsolo in halifax,he reworks the kits to a great standard but at a little more cost!