Broken Piston
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 34
From: Hamilton Montana
Highly advised to pull that engine and disassemble. You don't know the true damage. For instance, how do you know the chunks of that piston didn't make it's way to and through the bearings on the bottom end? Could be living on borrowed time. I feel your pain dude, trust me. I did that to two pistons at the same time. 
The bores needed a few thou to clean up, yours looks no different. Bad news man...but just putting a new slug and rings in there is making a large gamble. Just my opinion. YMMV.
The bores needed a few thou to clean up, yours looks no different. Bad news man...but just putting a new slug and rings in there is making a large gamble. Just my opinion. YMMV.If something did end-up down there, I'll find it when I drop the pan (gotta do that to get the piston out). If there's anything I don't find, the pickup screen will find it.
If the pickup screen doesn't catch it, I'll wish my oil pump all the best of luck in mincing it and feeding it to the oil filter. If the oil filter doesn't catch it... well, then, what the hell is it there for?
Long story short, I don't feel like tearing down a motor to save myself from... well, tearing down a motor. Yes, I realize that I'm gambling a little in-that if things go catastrophic, it's going to be worse...
But in my experience, that's a gamble I prefer.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 9,366
Likes: 969
From: Out back
I'll know more once I get that piston out, but unless it's missing chunks from the bottom, I don't see any conceivable way that anything could have gotten into the crank-case.
If something did end-up down there, I'll find it when I drop the pan (gotta do that to get the piston out). If there's anything I don't find, the pickup screen will find it.
If the pickup screen doesn't catch it, I'll wish my oil pump all the best of luck in mincing it and feeding it to the oil filter. If the oil filter doesn't catch it... well, then, what the hell is it there for?
Long story short, I don't feel like tearing down a motor to save myself from... well, tearing down a motor. Yes, I realize that I'm gambling a little in-that if things go catastrophic, it's going to be worse...
But in my experience, that's a gamble I prefer.
If something did end-up down there, I'll find it when I drop the pan (gotta do that to get the piston out). If there's anything I don't find, the pickup screen will find it.
If the pickup screen doesn't catch it, I'll wish my oil pump all the best of luck in mincing it and feeding it to the oil filter. If the oil filter doesn't catch it... well, then, what the hell is it there for?
Long story short, I don't feel like tearing down a motor to save myself from... well, tearing down a motor. Yes, I realize that I'm gambling a little in-that if things go catastrophic, it's going to be worse...
But in my experience, that's a gamble I prefer.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 10,230
Likes: 885
From: Alexandria, Virginia, USA VA
bore sure looks to be scratched from the piston damage
no way I'd slap a piston in that hole Do it right or skip wasting your time and money!
that new piston will NOT likely be happy in that hole
no way I'd slap a piston in that hole Do it right or skip wasting your time and money!
that new piston will NOT likely be happy in that hole
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 34
From: Hamilton Montana
Believe it or not that hole had 155psi of compression just before tear-down.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,270
Likes: 118
From: N. Babylon NY
Good luck!
Last edited by STEVEN13; Apr 4, 2022 at 08:28 PM.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 457
Likes: 34
From: Hamilton Montana
Yeah, I'll definitely run a ball hone down that cylinder to freshen up the cross-hatch.
