Atlas cylinder resleeving

jms · Jun 26, 2024

Hi
Finally have decided to re-sleeve my Atlas barrel. Just not happy with its condition after honing. Why re-sleeve? Because I have a new set of standard dished pistons with rings that I want to use.
Does anybody here know of a competent machine shop that does this here in Connecticut?

kernel65 · Jun 27, 2024

There are various opinions on trying to sleeve Norton barrels. I’m sure smarter people than I could give you the +\-‘s.

Might be easier or more cost effective to find another set of barrels and have them bored?

mdt-son · Jun 27, 2024

kernel65 said:
Might be easier or more cost effective to find another set of barrels and have them bored?

OP wants to fit STD size pistons.

jms: Re-lining a Norton jug will set you back around $600. Cost includes liners, fitting, boring to size, and decking.
A new through-stud barrel from AN is $860, finished, painted, and ready to fit.
Considering it's a much stronger design (750 barrels are prone to breaking at the flange, especially after re-lining), AN's barrel is a better option, IMHO.

Shipping costs to the US is a disadvantage of course.

- Knut

jms · Jun 27, 2024

Knut,
Correct I have new standard dished pistons. When you talk about decking are you talking about setting the spigot flush with the gasket surface?

mdt-son · Jun 28, 2024

jms, An installed liner will never be flush when installed, and heating may have warped the cylinder. They have to install the liner with an overhang. Too deeply installed and there wil be a leak. Decking means a final fly cut to ensure top of cylinder is flush, which is essential for the head gasket to work as intended. This is standard procedure in the automotive world.

- Knut

baz · Jun 28, 2024

Is it an early or late atlas
IE spigot sticking out the top or flush ?

texasSlick · Jun 28, 2024

I would go with Reply #3, or have my original barrels returned to stock bore by nickel plating.

Nickel plated bores are a million mile plus.

Slick

jms · Jun 28, 2024

baz said:
Is it an early or late atlas
IE spigot sticking out the top or flush ?

1967 non spiggot

marshg246 · Jun 28, 2024

kernel65 said:
There are various opinions on trying to sleeve Norton barrels. I’m sure smarter people than I could give you the +\-‘s.

Might be easier or more cost effective to find another set of barrels and have them bored?

Since he needs to stick with STD pistons, then boring is out, but it's so difficult to find anyone competent to bore who has time to do it in the US, I stay on the lookout for used cylinders that are in tolerance. I have built both a 750 and an 850 with low-mileage used STD cylinders.

I will be shocked if he can find anyone to sleeve them in the US, again with the skill, time, and willingness to do it!

I agree with @Knut. Buy new. With the barrels and needed parts they would be between $975 and $1000 delivered to the US depending on exchange rate.

jms · Jun 28, 2024

texasSlick said:
I would go with Reply #3, or have my original barrels returned to stock bore by nickel plating.

Nickel plated bores are a million mile plus.

Slick

Slick,
I never considered the plating option. How is that actually accomplished? Anybody that you would recommend?

jms · Jun 28, 2024

marshg246 said:
Since he needs to stick with STD pistons, then boring is out, but it's so difficult to find anyone competent to bore who has time to do it in the US, I stay on the lookout for used cylinders that are in tolerance. I have built both a 750 and an 850 with low-mileage used STD cylinders.

I will be shocked if he can find anyone to sleeve them in the US, again with the skill, time, and willingness to do it!

I agree with @Knut. Buy new. With the barrels and needed parts they would be between $975 and $1000 delivered to the US depending on exchange rate.

I guess its hard to beleive that there is no one here in the US with the skills

marshg246 · Jun 28, 2024

jms said:
I guess its hard to beleive that there is no one here in the US with the skills

If you find someone please let us all know.

If you want to read my nightmare of the last cylinders I had bored start at May 29, 2023 and read through August 19, 2023 here:

Rebuild High-Mileage Norton 850 Engine - GME

Rebuilding a high-mileage Norton 850 Commando

gregmarsh.com

To me, sleeving a Norton cylinder, especially a 750 cylinder needs a properly equipped expert and just knowing how and are equipped to bore doesn't make make you a sleeving expert.

You'll note that the two I personally trusted could not take on the work and the company I used was recommended by a friend that used the company several times. All of the other five recommendations were either too busy, retired, moving to a new retirement shop, etc.

texasSlick · Jun 28, 2024

In my opinion, re-sleeving is an "iffy" deal. If done by a knowledgeable shop, it can be successful, but a re-sleeved cylinder will ALWAYS have a heat transfer deficit over a cast- in liner ...... Laws of physics in charge here. A knowledgeable shop can minimize this deficit.

I would contact the following to explore nickel plating;

Millennium Technologies | Nikasil Cylinder Plating

Specializing in Nikasil cylinder plating, cylinder boring and cylinder repair. Cylinder head porting and repair. Crankshaft repair and crankshaft balancing.

millennium-technologies.com

NOTE: NIkASIL is not the plating I am recommending.

Slick

jms · Jun 28, 2024

marshg246 said:
If you find someone please let us all know.

If you want to read my nightmare of the last cylinders I had bored start at May 29, 2023 and read through August 19, 2023 here:

Rebuild High-Mileage Norton 850 Engine - GME

Rebuilding a high-mileage Norton 850 Commando

gregmarsh.com

To me, sleeving a Norton cylinder, especially a 750 cylinder needs a properly equipped expert and just knowing how and are equipped to bore doesn't make make you a sleeving expert.

You'll note that the two I personally trusted could not take on the work and the company I used was recommended by a friend that used the company several times. All of the other five recommendations were either too busy, retired, moving to a new retirement shop, etc.

jms · Jun 28, 2024

Yes I see. If I find someone I certainly will convey it to this forum

jms · Jun 28, 2024

texasSlick said:
In my opinion, re-sleeving is an "iffy" deal. If done by a knowledgeable shop, it can be successful, but a re-sleeved cylinder will ALWAYS have a heat transfer deficit over a cast- in liner ...... Laws of physics in charge here. A knowledgeable shop can minimize this deficit.

I would contact the following to explore nickel plating;

Millennium Technologies | Nikasil Cylinder Plating

Specializing in Nikasil cylinder plating, cylinder boring and cylinder repair. Cylinder head porting and repair. Crankshaft repair and crankshaft balancing.

millennium-technologies.com

NOTE: NIkASIL is not the plating I am recommending.

Slick

Thank you Slick

mdt-son · Jun 28, 2024

jms said:
I guess its hard to beleive that there is no one here in the US with the skills

L.A. Sleeve is my recommendation. They are not cheap though.

AFAIK, they do not use a torque plate when boring cylinders, nor does anyone else (except experts like Jim C.) .

- Knut

texasSlick · Jun 28, 2024

jms said:
Slick,
I never considered the plating option. How is that actually accomplished? Anybody that you would recommend?

A competent plating shop will nickel plate the bores to whatever thickness is required to bring the bore to a std, or std oversize condition. Then the bores will be diamond honed to fit your pistons. The plating thickness can be a few thousandths, 10, 20, up to 50 thou as you require, with cost commensurate.
I would take the dimensions of your cylinders, then call Millennium Technologies and speak with someone, making sure they know what you are after, and not nikasil.

Slick

Note: Plating a bore is a whole lot different job than plating a rod, so don't trust this to a plater operating out of a garage.

kernel65 · Jun 28, 2024

Sorry, over shot the whole standard piston part.

Is the juice going to be worth the squeeze for the dished pistons? Then go with Knut and get a new set from AN.

elefantrider · Jun 30, 2024

jms said:
I guess its hard to beleive that there is no one here in the US with the skills

There are still plenty of people who can do it however will cost you about $600. Just be careful who you choose.

You should be able to find a 750 barrel on Ebay.
I would only consider sleeving hard-to-find cylinders like 600/650.

BTW, what exactly is wrong with yours?

Atlas cylinder resleeving

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