Opinions Please: Replace GT186 kit with............??

[Donnie]

aye I have thought about it, but again it's the running in issue, it was worth if for the GT as I loved the performance, but if performance from the Gori is similar to a RT195 then the RT would win as little running in required.

[Scooterdude]

For those of you with an interest in welding cast iron it's a very specialised operation and not something to be done like say welding to mild steel plates together: we used to work with a specialist welding company called "Cast iron welding services" (the clue's in the name haha) in Leicestershire who specialised in repairing cylinder heads off ships as they used to crack on a regular basis, some of these things were 3 or 4 foot across and the same or more deep (this is an individual head per piston/cylinder) what they did was to cut the crack right back with a die grinder and burr (they usually went between the valve seats) place the head on 3or 4 fire bricks on the floor then build a firebrick enclose around it with a couple of small openings and put a fire blanket over the top then place a couple of gas burners within the openings and sometimes leave to heat up over night, once they were cherry red they would remove the fire bricks and weld the crack using an oxy/acetylene torch with a cast iron rod and flux, once welded they would rebuild the fire brick surrounding and reheat then leave it to cool completely before crack testing and machining. So as you can see not a straight forward procedure.
You just won't be able to weld a strengthening piece behind that exhaust stub like that at best it will look ok for a while then fall off or at worst you will crack your cylinder turning it into an expensive piece of scrap.

[coaster]

...............You just won't be able to weld a strengthening piece behind that exhaust stub like that at best it will look ok for a while then fall off or at worst you will crack your cylinder turning it into an expensive piece of scrap.

The repair Paul had done just above Lake Como this year was done by a young blacksmith who used an oven to heat the cylinder before welding and again to relieve the stresses. That's the proper way of doing it and will be what I will be looking for when I have mine strengthened. I'll do it before any boring or honing too.

[Sticky]

I've not run the smallblock version, but I've been all over on the big-block BGM RT kit. I suffered a ring peg failure on one of the old style pistons but the new one seems fine. It's main appeals for me were:

better cooling from alloy
decent head with 8-point fixing (not some wobbly warped leaky old Lambretta head made in India)
and most importantly 4 exhaust studs (but only if you have an exhaust with a 4-hole flange)

In the question of "would this kit have survived the original bump that broke your GT barrel?" I reckon yes, probably, but something has to give if there's an impact so the exhaust might be trashed instead.

There's pros to the GT as well but personally I can't see why it's still only got 2 exhaust studs on a weak flange because if that was fixed and there were more head fixings then there really would be very little to touch it.

[bamrattle]

What pipe were you using when this all happened.

[modster79]

I'm building a GT 240 at the moment so have concerns but what concerns me slightly is Richard saying weld a support if not happy, is he saying there is a problem? I never took much notice until this thread but when you look at it, it's a poor design.

[holty]

What pipe were you using when this all happened.

i belive it was a tsr evo, they are pretty low to the ground, saying that my pal has one on his scoot and has never grounded it, but as he knows of the clearance issues he keeps well away from speed bumps and kerbs etc.

[modster79]

That's a good point, at least now we are forewarned, not brilliant but it's a step forward.

[Donnie]

Yep first time it was a tsr evo, second time was a MBGM Clubman

[Donnie]

Kit wise I think I'm 99% certain now Im going to go Imola with a touring setup.

I rode a mates last year which had a 30mm phbh and a bgm clubman and it was lovely so Im thinking that would suit me.

Seems they are £550 in the UK and £470 from the likes of SIP!

[bike grim]

I had an Imola version 2 ( I think but was never certain) which ran a 28PHBH and a Sito Ancilloti. I loved it but sold it to a mate so I could buy a big block. Whenever we ride together I always regret selling it as it runs really nice. I rode it the other day and its exactly the same. After nearly 3 years he hasn't even had to alter the tick over. 65 mph ish ( only 12bhp) with a bit more for over taking using a S2 125 box with a 17 front sprocket and a standard 4 plate with stiffer springs and a varitronic.