Which piston? Namura or Wiseco

[speedfreek]

I rebuilt this bike (Foreman 450) about 6 months ago for a friend and used an unknown brand piston and rings. I know it was a cheap piston kit. Well my friend sunk it no tellin how many times and now the rings are completely shot! I bought the bike from him and I want to put quality parts in it so it will last a long time. I know Wiseco is better but I don't know if the Namura will last as long if taken care of.

What I'm asking is: Will the Namura last as long as the Wiseco if taken care of? I'm just looking to save a few bucks if I can.

I don't have any problems buying the Wiseco but I don't want a forged heavier piston if I can get a lighter cast one that will last just as long.

[jacobw]

the namura piston is a quality piston i know lots of people that have used them with good results

[86 Quad R]

i've had plenty goed experience with namura in the 2 stroke scene but cant comment as to how it is in the 4 strokers.

[morse250r]

x2 running one in my 2 stroke now little beefer piston

[Trxman300]

i wanted to get a 330cc big bore kit from Namura but thought they sucked. and i also knowticed that with the kits it says that you might have to take a dremel to the bottom of the sleeve to get the piston to fit. So what is it, are they dumb and cant make good quality parts or is their machine broken? i just dont get it......

[morse250r]

i know its a german company >?

[riggsracin]

in the shop we use to put them in polaris for people on a budget. they seem to be ok, them a shindy
pro x makes good pistons also,

[speedfreek]

I remember building this bike the first time and using a Shindy piston kit. I don't know if it was sand that ruined the rings or just cheap parts.

I ordered a Wiseco the other day. I plan on keeping this bike so I better use parts that I know are good! :D

[honda400ex2003]

i havent had any problems with my wiseco and know a ton of guys that use them with good results from all of them. steve

[riggsracin]

thats what in my kx250f it came with the cylinder works big bore, there the best

[rocky_mtn_honda]

wiseco all the way...:D

[speedfreek]

Well I did settle on Wiseco. Here is a pic of it. I like the way it is designed.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k264/pnewell44/Honda%20Foreman%20450%204x4/b5d8f8fe0288.jpg
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k264/pnewell44/Honda%20Foreman%20450%204x4/427458d5442f.jpg

[rocky_mtn_honda]

sweet...and you didnt settle, you chose wisely. ;)

[honda400ex2003]

agreed. steve

[speedfreek]

Ok guys. Here it is. The results. I thought the Wiseco (Forged) piston would be heavier than the Shindy (Cast) piston but I was WRONG! I know that forged is heavier than cast BUT Wiseco has made a forged piston that is lighter AND stronger AND more reliable that will last longer than any cast piston there is. For anyone who may condsider buying a cheaper piston you better re-consider.

One of the reasons why I considered the cheaper cast piston was (I thought) it was lighter and that it would rev faster there fore giving more horse power. Boy was I wrong! Here are the results. Wiseco is almost 2 ounces lighter than this cast piston.
http://i90.photobucket.com/albums/k264/pnewell44/Honda%20Foreman%20450%204x4/15887b01eeed.jpg

[honda400ex2003]

looks pretty cool good info, thanks. you could also try to take some of the skirt out if you wanted to make it a bit lighter. i dont think i would do it personally but i have heard of snowmobile guys around that do it to even up the weights of the pistons. if you took the same amount of on both sides of the skirt it would still be proportioned right and would wear the same. steve

[rocky_mtn_honda]

looks like theres any easy ounce and a half in shavings scratched outta your old cast one...lol j/k :p

[speedfreek]

Originally posted by rocky_mtn_honda
looks like theres any easy ounce and a half in shavings scratched outta your old cast one...lol j/k :p lol. Yea.
When I got the piston off, the bottom oil ring was GONE. I mean nowhere to be found! I looked all in the transmission and could not find it.

[Smoker]

Num, num, num, crunch, crunch snacking on piston rings yummy.

[Ferris]

Originally posted by Trxman300
i wanted to get a 330cc big bore kit from Namura but thought they sucked. and i also knowticed that with the kits it says that you might have to take a dremel to the bottom of the sleeve to get the piston to fit. So what is it, are they dumb and cant make good quality parts or is their machine broken? i just dont get it......

It's off the subject, but. Actually Namura makes the piston and 4 Play makes the cylinder on those kits. The problem isn't with the cylinder it's with the cases. It's supposed to be a drop in kit with no issues but it's been noted that on some cases they will need to be clearanced to work. Some will need clearanced and some won't. According to one of my the techs at a distributor they've had the same problem with Athena kits too.

[Trxman300]

so doesnt it just make sense to have Namura just make their own kit, that way they can specialize it to the specs they need to work good and fit right..

[Ferris]

Originally posted by Trxman300
so doesnt it just make sense to have Namura just make their own kit, that way they can specialize it to the specs they need to work good and fit right..

Namura doesn't manufacture cylinders, just like Wiseco, JE, Vetex, Prox, etc don't make cylinders they make pistons. What most people refer to as the Namura kits are actually packaged together by a distributor. You can also get that kit with other brands of pistons but your local dealer has to specifically ask for it. The problem isn't the 4play cylinders is in the OEM Honda cases. I suspect at some time during the 17 years Honda has been making the 300ex they made a change in the design of the cases. On a newer set of cases you shouldn't have any problem but on the older ones you might.

I've sold quite a few of these kits and I have only heard back from one customer that he had a problem with the cylinder fitting. It was off a bike he picked up for $50 and he had no idea what year it was only that it was an early model 300.

Sorry for getting of topic.

[Trxman300]

o. i thought they made both pistons and cylenders but didnt put them togeather for some odd reason.

well i have an 04 and i want to get the kit. i just dont wanna have to deal with it not working... like i said i am no machanic and when it comes to tearin down an atv or dirtbike, it takes me some time. and if it is motor work, i prefer a machanic to work on it. if i pay good money, i want a good quality job!