Nikasil Plating Norton Bores

Stephen Hill · Sep 5, 2017

I was wondering if anybody has used Nikasil plating in their Norton barrels. Access Norton archive has threads about Nikasil plating in alloy bores, which is not what I am asking about.
I appreciate that Nikasil is usually plated on alloy bores, but as far as I can tell, it plates just fine on cast iron. Nikasil plating can reclaim a damaged or worn bore. And it wears much better than cast iron. Seems like a natural solution to me.

Anybody had a Norton barrel plated? How did it work out?
And if not, why not?

Stephen Hill

comnoz · Sep 5, 2017

Stephen Hill said:
I was wondering if anybody has used Nikasil plating in their Norton barrels. Access Norton archive has threads about Nikasil plating in alloy bores, which is not what I am asking about.
I appreciate that Nikasil is usually plated on alloy bores, but as far as I can tell, it plates just fine on cast iron. Nikasil plating can reclaim a damaged or worn bore. And it wears much better than cast iron. Seems like a natural solution to me.

Anybody had a Norton barrel plated? How did it work out?
And if not, why not?

Stephen Hill

Yes, and it works very well. It makes a hard and long lasting bore. Jim

PS, Use iron or moly rings. Chrome rings are not ideal for Nickasil bores.

Stephen Hill · Sep 5, 2017

Makes me wonder why more people don't go this route. It is probably more expensive in the short run. But in the long run it is cheaper as you would need fewer rebuilds and the barrel will last forever.

Stephen Hill

Brooking 850 · Sep 6, 2017

Jim, will those Total Seal rings work in a Nikasil coated bore, or are they too hard?
Regards Mike

comnoz · Sep 6, 2017

Brooking 850 said:
Jim, will those Total Seal rings work in a Nikasil coated bore, or are they too hard?
Regards Mike

The standard Total Seal rings are just iron and should work fine.
I would ask Total seal before I used them however. Jim

Brooking 850 · Sep 6, 2017

Thanks Jim

acotrel · Sep 6, 2017

What sort of cast iron are Commnado barrels made of ? I wouldn't have thought anything would plate onto grey cast iron or even meehanite or nickel-bearing cast iron.

Bernhard · Sep 7, 2017

Re; “PS, Use iron or moly rings. Chrome rings are not ideal for Nickasil bores.”

Strange, the Yamaha TZ 250/350 two strokes has Nikasil plating in their barrels and they use chrome piston rings :shock:

comnoz · Sep 7, 2017

Bernhard said:
Re; “PS, Use iron or moly rings. Chrome rings are not ideal for Nickasil bores.”

Strange, the Yamaha TZ 250/350 two strokes has Nikasil plating in their barrels and they use chrome piston rings :shock:

This is true. Lots of two strokes have done it and some ring manufacturers still say it's OK.

But time has shown that chrome rings tend to cause streaking in Nikasil bores, particularly the top ring in a 4 stroke, which runs drier than a two stroke ring. Jim

jseng1 · Sep 7, 2017

Stephen Hill said:
I was wondering if anybody has used Nikasil plating in their Norton barrels. ... Nikasil plating can reclaim a damaged or worn bore. And it wears much better than cast iron. Seems like a natural solution to me.

Anybody had a Norton barrel plated? How did it work out?
And if not, why not?

Stephen Hill

You can use chrome rings with silicon carbide impregnation and it will triple the life of an iron cylinder. Its not too expensive and has worked out successfully with many British twins. Send your cylinders to Bore Tech in Ohio for silicon carbide impregnation ph. 513 625 8374 (they also do boring). Or Laystall in the UK.

Nikasil has the advantage of building up and reclaiming a worn bore but if you don't need that then why not go with the silicone carbide?

gripper · Sep 7, 2017

Laystall silicon carbided my bores after I had done about 1000 miles running in. The compression is awesome.

Nikasil Plating Norton Bores

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