Have a look at these pistons please! Diagnosis - Snowmobile Forum: Your #1 Snowmobile Forum

Ad's Cat · 07-13-2008, 12:22 PM

I pulled the cylinder covers off the zrt this morning, figured i'd see what the tops of the pistons look like before i decide to go any farther.

I think they look pretty good, characteristic from posts that i've seen but i'm not 100% on the look of the mag side. Here's a few pics...

A few points
1. The colour is the brown-black carbon, no flaking
2. The mag side cylinder WAS the only cylinder firing at start up until i adj. the choke. I never got a chance to run the sled for any period after the adjustment.
3. The cylinder walls look good and clean.
4. The "glitter" in the pic is just from the camera flash, no metal shavings or anything like that.

What worried me is the centre of the piston cleaner than the edges. So is the look of this piston o.k.?

Thanks
Adam

Skligmund · 07-13-2008, 07:04 PM

Looks like a bit of over fueling and over oiling (probably just running too rich). Other than that they look fine to me. Run some seafoam through it when you get it running, that will usually clean it up pretty good.

Ad's Cat · 07-13-2008, 07:24 PM

Thanks for the reassurance. Would love to run seafoam through the sled and my truck, heard some amazing stories about how well it works. Unfortunately i haven't been able to find it anywhere in my area. Anyone know if its sold in Canada?
Maybe I'll get the wife to do some cross boarder shopping.

Ad

Skligmund · 07-13-2008, 08:22 PM

What octane rating fuel are you using? Something that might make it run too cool is running an octane that is too high. if you have 87 octane rating for the engine, run only 87. Anything higher and you will lose performance and can cause carbon build up.

Ad's Cat · 07-13-2008, 08:32 PM

Running 87, i think you hit the nail on the head when you mentioned running rich, there's been a few other sign of that as well.

Thanks again

Ad

**smallengineguy** · 07-14-2008, 05:54 AM

Pistons look good, WAY too wet though. Remove and clean the carbs, especially if one or more cylinders aren't firing unless it's choked. Also remember, you won't get this to run right until it gets cold outside again. Wait until then to adjust it in.

Ad's Cat · 07-14-2008, 08:17 AM

Sorry SEG, should have mentioned, i fogged the engine, including spraying some oil into the spark plug holes. Thats the wetness that you see.
Carbs are cleaned and shelved for now, i reset the pilot air screws to factory 1.5 turns and was planning on tuning once the weather turned cold.
Appreciate everyones help and advice.

Thanks

Adam

kccats · 07-23-2008, 08:06 PM

I would pull the jugs and have a look at the skirts! And if all looks good , put a fresh set of rings in her atleast! Clean up the transfer ports a bit. Clean it up and put her back together!

Blizz · 08-01-2008, 10:49 AM

It seems as though NAPA sells seafoam north of the border or atleast here in QC.

Ad's Cat · 08-01-2008, 07:14 PM

I'll have to check this year. Last summer when i went looking the napa dealer out here told me they didn't stock it. I'm only about 20 minutes from Gatineau though, so a trip over might be in order....cheap beer at the costco there too.

Ad

BC_Dan · 08-01-2008, 10:53 PM

Beer and SeaFoam... now THERE's a combination

Blizz · 08-02-2008, 03:28 PM

Ya our beer prices are great 20.00 for a 24.

Ad's Cat · 08-02-2008, 04:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Blizz

Ya our beer prices are great 20.00 for a 24.

...and thats for premium beer, i think a 2-4 of premium here is around 36 now. Been a while since i've bought the good stuf in ontario.

I've been buying the buck a beers when i can't get over to your side, but last time i did, got a case of 36 bud light cans for $40 and my buddy got the coors light, is it 55 cans for $60?

Where abouts are you?

Blizz · 08-03-2008, 09:25 AM

I'm near Lachute, just across the river from Hawkesbury.