Nikasil coating on cylinder walls

[Coolbreeze]

I am contemplating having my '56 H-D KHK cylinder walls coated with Nikasil. Has anybody had that done? What do you think about the idea? Where is the best place in the U.S.A. to have it done?

[moldthread]

We have been using Nikasil to reclaim WR & KR cylinders for several years instead of sleeving them.
Advantages are no weakening of the cylinder and better heat transfer.
The Nikasil seems to have some additional lubricity for the piston & rings and does not wear like the cast iron.
The only thing that can be used to hone the bores is a diamond hone, the material is so hard.
Both US Chrome and Millenium located in Wisconson are good.

[Coolbreeze]

How about PowerSeal? I just got a quote from them.
Does it make sense to have Swain coat the pistons in addition to having Nikasil on the cylinder walls?
My goal is to have a long lasting road bike that can be ridden at highway speeds all day long. Well, at 70 years of age, my "all day long" doesn't have as many hours in as it once had!

[Coolbreeze]

Just got a quote from BoreTech for $205+ / cylinder. They imbed the carbide directly into the cast iron instead of using nickel plating to hold the carbide. Any ideas as to which technology is the best?

[Knotthed]

Just got a quote from BoreTech for $205+ / cylinder. They imbed the carbide directly into the cast iron instead of using nickel plating to hold the carbide. Any ideas as to which technology is the best?

I have the same question. I sent emails to both Bore-Tech and Millennium asking the differences or pros/cons and both email went unanswered. My question was specific to applying to cast iron base.

I know millennium does great work and nikasil is no problem on aluminum base. Bore-Tech was recommended to me from BMW folks.

I would like to know more about the Bore-Tech process and how they keep the particles intact, or do some eventually come lose and circulate?

[Coolbreeze]

Andrew at Revolution Performance (Division of Millennium Tech) tells me that loose materials will be blown out the exhaust. That makes sense: It would be hard for debris to make it past the piston rings.

[Knotthed]

George,

Did you have this done? Do you have any pictures?

If the rings are scraping the cylinders up and down, I could see anything that is dislodged on the top side of the rings would get blown out, but what about anything that is dislodged on the bottom side of the rings - that would be left to circulate. No?

A recent update at the Bore Tech website indicates that they are no longer an option for cylinder work due to health issues. https://bore-tech.com/