top end/parts questions

[mirageags]

main question: my bike was sounding pretty strange wringing it out at hogback and has been decreasing in power and making odd noises it seems lately, nothing like when it was new. still starts fine but it has to have at least 100 hours on it now or close to it and im getting harder on it so this year im going to have the top end done so it can hopefully go for many more years. im getting a wiseco piston kit and doing the cam chain also, over winter. what else do i need to get to do a top end? gasket kit? any other things that dont come with the wiseco piston kit that i should do? im also going to replace the plug.

I also need a shifter. i bent the end of my shifter when chris and i went up to brantingham on a log or rock, and havent been able to reach my toe to it as well becuase the end is bent forward and has been making me miss shifts. chris said get a hammerhead but i havent been able to find one for my model, unless i am a dumbass and did not see it. something trick and cool looking like red anodize to match my super expensive new rear wheel would also be a plus.

I am also going to replace the rear sprocket and chain, but have limited choices on that becuase of clearance. also some misc odds and ends like a front tire (i have a new rear) new front light shroud and tail light that strangely stopped working, i think i can get a trick looking brighter one on crfs. im going to freshen this bike up alot for next year.

[BLACKeR]

Talk to Gary, he has really good prices on Athena pistons. Their quality is top notch. He has good prices on Regina chains too.

[jaked308]

Agreed, Gary carries Athena which is a quality product.  I personally would pick Athena long before Wiseco.  I hear their big bore kits are sweet in the X's!!  You also need to have to valve train looked at and most likely rebuilt.  The CRFs are noted for having one of the weaker valve trains, although the X's hold up far better because they don't see the high revs as often.  My CRF broke a valve spring at less than 40hrs.  It was $400 in parts alone just to put it into perspective. 

So here's the list as I see it:
-Piston kit
-Complete gasket kit (not much more expensive and comes with valve seals, keep the spare gaskets for later)
-Valves
-Valve springs
-I think there are some other misc head parts also, I'm no expert I just break them.
-Check the cam also

[BLACKeR]

Athena 280kit would be the tits.

[bardeenm1]

Gary also has some great prices on tires right now.

[bardeenm1]

Athena 280kit would be the tits.

x2 on that buck up and do it.

[mirageags]

my valves were still perfectly in spec in may, i will check them but i dont think they have moved at all yet. Im going to let those wear the titanium coating off and having harder starts before i drop that kind of cash. Im doing the top end becuase i dont want the stock piston to explode or cam chain snap. I will probobly have gary do the engine though as i may not have alot of free time this winter, as well as i want it done right, i dont want to screw something up doing it myself.
so i need a top end gasket kit too. Good brands?
i wont be doing the big bore kit as i dont want to drop that kind of cash and dont really need more power right now in the woods.

[redrider911]

Holy shit 100 hours on a Honda and everyone is thinking just a piston and rings? I would do a crank and Def a timing chain.

[ajd187]

I would check the valves again, and if they are bad then send the head out to get stainless steel valves put in.  Those last FOREVER and the performance difference at our level of riding (our being just about anyone on the site) is microscopic.  It's straight up brain dead that they don't put those on these bikes from the factory.

[ajd187]

Piston and rings for sure, athena or wiseco but I would say with the prices Gary has on Athena just go with that.

I would replace the cam chain and also the tensioner.  Those have little springs in them and they retract in and out.  With 100 hours, it should probably be replaced and the part is only $40, but one of those things taht can really fuck things up if it fails.  Maybe even see if they make a manual cam chain tensioner for that bike.  I know you can get them for DRZ400s and YZ250Fs, and they take all the auto cam chain tensioner worries away.

Check the spec on the crank too, side to side play is OK, up and down = replace. 

I'd say buy a manual and do it yourself.   Tim showed me how to do a top end on my YZ250F three winters ago and it wasn't super hard.  The hardest part is getting the stupid oil wiper rings on that piston, that is a pain in the ass.

[jaked308]

Hand it to Gary, and tell him to take a look and let you know what he recommends.  He is an honest guy that will do the job right.  If the valves are good then fine, but you don't want to do a half ass job.  It's far from cheap to rebuild a 4 stroke, which is why most people sell them before having to rebuild them.

[mirageags]

Holy shit 100 hours on a Honda and everyone is thinking just a piston and rings? I would do a crank and Def a timing chain.

you have to remember though that probobly half or more of those hours are light trail riding. i dont go as fast as i do with you guys when im by myself or up at camp. i just go easy and explore. the first year i had the bike it was all pretty slow easy trail combing. maybe its not 100 but definitely around 75. im not completely sure ive had the bike for 3 years it was new still in 09, but i put alot of hours on it when at camp. like 150 miles or more in a weekend there. well, you know anyway, we probobly rode  almost 7 hours while we were there in just that weekend. i wish i had bought an hourmeter.

[redrider911]

I would do the crank, but at least to the cam chain

[mirageags]

oh im definitely doing cam chain. i saw pro x on rocky mountain, is that any good? although if i do get an athena through gary anyway id just have him order what he reccomends is best.

where can i get one of those hammerhead shifters you were talking about, and what makes them a good shifter?

[jaked308]

I honestly have no faith in the valve train on Honda's.  I'd think your bike with that many hours is a bomb waiting to explode.  The X's are solid bikes, but you just gotta stay up on them.  Have Gary look it over and give you a quote.