I am looking at buying (another!!!) bike that has Nikasil (or equivalent) bores.
The bike has very little mileage over about 8 years.
Should I be concerned about deterioration of the bore plating?
Cheers
But... Nikasil is chrome.Not especially susceptible to rust, any more than iron.
Not like chrome.
Say what? It's a nickel-silicon-carbide plating/coating. No chromium involved. More specifically, it's "a trademarked electrodeposited lipophilic nickel matrix silicon carbide coating for engine components, mainly piston engine cylinder liners". Whereas "Chrome plating is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. A chrome plated part is called chrome, or is said to have been chromed. The chromium layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, facilitate cleaning, or increase surface hardness."But... Nikasil is chrome.
As were early 700/750/850 Moto Guzzi twins from the late 1960's to the mid ish 1970's .The ref to chrome is from the earlier generation plated bores which were chrome plated, nikasil has no chrome and is plated onto aluminium alloy anyway.
Norton Twins Aluminium Barrels
Norton Twins Aluminium Barrels for Commando Dominator Cafe Racerwww.tga.co.uk
The BSA B44 Grand Prix was an early example of a hard chrome plated bore.
Theoretically you shold not be able to electroplate chromium on steel. Normally when you electroplate, the anode is sacrificed and the plating occurs on the cathode. With chromium, plating begins with reverse potential which causes an oxide anode slime to occur on the part to be plated. Then the current is suddenly reversed, and an over-potential situation occurs which enables the 'strike'. With chromium, if the current is interrupted, double-coating can occur and the second coat will not adhere.Say what? It's a nickel-silicon-carbide plating/coating. No chromium involved. More specifically, it's "a trademarked electrodeposited lipophilic nickel matrix silicon carbide coating for engine components, mainly piston engine cylinder liners". Whereas "Chrome plating is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. A chrome plated part is called chrome, or is said to have been chromed. The chromium layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, facilitate cleaning, or increase surface hardness."
Ken
Nikasil coating might not be a plating process - but a metal spray. I did know something about it 30 years ago.
No - I was looking at an older engine rebuilt with plated liner (Nikasil or similar) and was concerned about potential for the coating lifting away.Regarding OP, is there a make/model/yr bike involved here? might narrow down the coating ..
I have been aware of how this process is utilized but never could I explain it with that kind of clarity...thanks.Say what? It's a nickel-silicon-carbide plating/coating. No chromium involved. More specifically, it's "a trademarked electrodeposited lipophilic nickel matrix silicon carbide coating for engine components, mainly piston engine cylinder liners". Whereas "Chrome plating is a technique of electroplating a thin layer of chromium onto a metal object. A chrome plated part is called chrome, or is said to have been chromed. The chromium layer can be decorative, provide corrosion resistance, facilitate cleaning, or increase surface hardness."
Ken