97' XTC looks like it clipped a ring

NY_SXR700

NY_SXR700

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Joined
Jun 21, 2003
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292
Age
58
Location
Rochester, NY
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www.sohonetworkx.com
Buddie has an all stock 97' XTC 600. He noticed it was running "poor" as he puts it. He thought a plug was fouled out. I looked at his plug and it had alum on it. We pulled the head and I saw something I have not seen before. All my piston fail from heat (too lean). His is just fat and black. His piston looks like a bottle open pulled it up on the exhaust side. It's not melted as all the metal is very sharp and jagged. Is this something that happens on this motor? I want to know, as I have not seen this before. He drove it 65 miles back to the truck on one cyl, as he had no idea he lost one. He also said that is happened wen going slow. It just popped and started running crappy. Ohh, he was also running a B9-ES plug and not the BR9-ES. Would not using the resistor plug be a problem?
 
I bet when you get it apart the ring locating pin is gone. I am guessing it is a twin, and they did have that issue on some. When the pin falls out the ring spins, and the ring end catches the port. Maxdlx
 
It's a known issue for the 97 twins. Mine went at 2500 and warranty covered 2 jugs, pistons, rings , gaskets and labor. Use the newer, 98, pistons and rings. I have around 6,000 miles on mine since the rebuild and it's as strong as when it was rebuilt
 
Replace both pistons, good or bad. The problem was the locating pin would break & let the ring rotate atound & catch the port & break. '98 & up pistons are good, or aftermarket, but i like oem.
 
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