ojcool Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 This is a poll to gauge the quality of the different pistons avalible for the Banshee. Please select the poll answer that best discribes the failure that you (or someone you know) experienced. Please DO NOT post a failure that has a vailid explination, such as incorrect jetting, or any other reasonable explaination for the failure of the part. Please post the experience just don't let something that is unreasonable affect the poll results. Please also detail as much as possible what happend. This should give us a good amount of data about which pistons are the most prone to failure. I could only put 10 options on the poll unfortunatly I wanted to include more brands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajogejr Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 99% of piston failure is incorrect jetting, too much timing, poor gas/wrong octane, incorrect clearances, taking advice from car guys (sorry, couldn't resist) etc. Very, very rare are piston defects... I highly doubt you'll get much valuable info on this poll... Are you posting this to figure out what type of piston YOU should buy? If so...just ask. (Wiseco are what I'd say MOST people use...and since Vito's are Wiseco w/ mods now a days, they're pretty much the same. Vito's does not manufacture any hard parts anymore, they're a machine shop and reseller only now a days...) Good luck on the poll... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
odaen Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 99% of piston failure is incorrect jetting, too much timing, poor gas/wrong octane, incorrect clearances, taking advice from car guys (sorry, couldn't resist) etc. Very, very rare are piston defects... I highly doubt you'll get much valuable info on this poll... Are you posting this to figure out what type of piston YOU should buy? If so...just ask. (Wiseco are what I'd say MOST people use...and since Vito's are Wiseco w/ mods now a days, they're pretty much the same. Vito's does not manufacture any hard parts anymore, they're a machine shop and reseller only now a days...) Good luck on the poll... the poll will be most likely skewed anyway. the more people that run one type of piston will have more failures over the long run, so it may appear that a particular model is worse then the others, when in reality they could be the best. btw, the biggest pile of shit piston was left off the list...the stock one Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajogejr Posted July 7, 2006 Report Share Posted July 7, 2006 the poll will be most likely skewed anyway. the more people that run one type of piston will have more failures over the long run, so it may appear that a particular model is worse then the others, when in reality they could be the best. btw, the biggest pile of shit piston was left off the list...the stock one Aww..c'mon big O. My stockers lasted me 9 years in my 96...(Ok...before I bought it from my buddy, the motor was out for 5 of those years.. ) I've read a lot of bad about the Vitos SS pistons. However, of course...as with everything, I have a few friends that 100% swear by them, best thing since sliced bread for them. So.... As a member here once said (think it was RNBRAD) at one point or another, every part on my bike has failed someone else somewhere else... Well said. Daj... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Blue Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 I would run stockers before I would run a set of namuras or pro-x's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
platinumjason Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Never had any piston problems, however where if you do a poll on "spark plug malfunction" you can put me down for that. :yankyank: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shee-Male Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 (edited) 99% of piston failure is incorrect jetting, too much timing, poor gas/wrong octane, incorrect clearances, taking advice from car guys (sorry, couldn't resist) etc. Very, very rare are piston defects... I highly doubt you'll get much valuable info on this poll... Are you posting this to figure out what type of piston YOU should buy? If so...just ask. (Wiseco are what I'd say MOST people use...and since Vito's are Wiseco w/ mods now a days, they're pretty much the same. Vito's does not manufacture any hard parts anymore, they're a machine shop and reseller only now a days...) Good luck on the poll... Smack dab on the money, well said dajogejr! Remember it is usually the rings that fail as well, or sometimes first, but useually due to age and milage. Wiseco's are the standard nowdays for the mostpart, excellent durable piston. Edited July 8, 2006 by Shee-Male Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
differentstrokes Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Thank god for stock pistons, if it wasn't for one of them blowing the wife would've never went for a nice rebuild on a perfectly good motor. :beer: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CadillacBanshee Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 My stockers just went out on my 2000. Ran tough till the end. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ojcool Posted July 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 99% of piston failure is incorrect jetting, too much timing, poor gas/wrong octane, incorrect clearances, taking advice from car guys (sorry, couldn't resist) etc. Very, very rare are piston defects... I highly doubt you'll get much valuable info on this poll... Are you posting this to figure out what type of piston YOU should buy? If so...just ask. (Wiseco are what I'd say MOST people use...and since Vito's are Wiseco w/ mods now a days, they're pretty much the same. Vito's does not manufacture any hard parts anymore, they're a machine shop and reseller only now a days...) Good luck on the poll... So what your saying is to your knowledge Vito's does not modify the pistons they sell themselves? I was under the impression that they ran a thinner skirt than the Wiseco, or is it just a different intake port. If that is in fact the case why don't I see people modifying the pistons themselves. (as far as the intake port). I'm curious to see if the super stock acutally gives a 6hp gain in an otherwise unchanged engine. Yes I am interested in what the best piston is. In my experience it is generally better from a longevity point of view to use a high quality cast piston in natrually aspirated applications. It's funny about stock pistons because I have had some stock shortblock engines outlast their "high performance" counterparts even at silmilar power levels. It has a great deal to do with the people who build the engine. It's really hard to find a really good machine shop, and even then it's only as good is how the guy running the equipment felt that particular day, and how important your particular project is to him. Sometimes it's really hard to break a factory engine. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RNBRAD Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Daj pretty much hit the nail on the head. Wiseco's and the Pro-X are the 2 best banshee replacement pistons on the market. Each has it's benefit and disadvantages. I would say in a stroker motor I would run the forged or any motor running exteme timing advances, high compression, exotic fuels etc..or any motor that has a higher risk of detonation., anything else the cast will do fine. If your motor doesn't fall into that category, then your better off with cast. It's kind of like high octane fuels. It's a disadvantage unless you need it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ojcool Posted July 8, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Daj pretty much hit the nail on the head. Wiseco's and the Pro-X are the 2 best banshee replacement pistons on the market. Each has it's benefit and disadvantages. I would say in a stroker motor I would run the forged or any motor running exteme timing advances, high compression, exotic fuels etc..or any motor that has a higher risk of detonation., anything else the cast will do fine. If your motor doesn't fall into that category, then your better off with cast. It's kind of like high octane fuels. It's a disadvantage unless you need it. I'm very pleased to hear you say that very true statment about high octane fuel. It never ceases to amaze me the number of people who think that running a higher octane fuel automatically makes more power. When it comes to cars there is nothing in any automotive compter that has to do with octane, however if a car has a knock sensor the PCM can certainly pull timing to protect the engine. IF it has a knock sensor. The manufacturer programs the compter to run safely on 87 octane fuel at 100 degree outdoor temperature from the factory. This is why you can buy a pre programed chip off the internet that will net some small horsepower gains by adding some timing to the borderline knock table. There is much more to be had from a professional dyno tune but you can gain a few HP by just adding some timing on most cars. But you then HAVE to run 91+ octane fuel. I don't know why but I still put 93 in my Banshee. I did put 4 degrees of timing in it though, so it's better to be safe. BTW does anyone know what a banshee Jug bored 80 over displaces as far a cc's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajogejr Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 Yes I am interested in what the best piston is. In my experience it is generally better from a longevity point of view to use a high quality cast piston in natrually aspirated applications. Sometimes it's really hard to break a factory engine. Despite our little spat about jetting, I agree. It's hard to beat a factory engine, period. Bottom line is...I think Wiseco ProLites are your best bet. Whether you're building a monster...or just freshening up a top end, you really can't go wrong. They are the industry standard, peroid...and for good reason. Honestly, oj...I'll get you more info on the Vitos... I truly believe you're better off with Wiseco. Now, when you're talking 4 stroke quads, now there's a whole new ball game. A bunch of good players in that market... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dawarriorman Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 So what your saying is to your knowledge Vito's does not modify the pistons they sell themselves? I was under the impression that they ran a thinner skirt than the Wiseco, or is it just a different intake port. If that is in fact the case why don't I see people modifying the pistons themselves. (as far as the intake port). I'm curious to see if the super stock acutally gives a 6hp gain in an otherwise unchanged engine. Yes I am interested in what the best piston is. In my experience it is generally better from a longevity point of view to use a high quality cast piston in natrually aspirated applications. It's funny about stock pistons because I have had some stock shortblock engines outlast their "high performance" counterparts even at silmilar power levels. It has a great deal to do with the people who build the engine. It's really hard to find a really good machine shop, and even then it's only as good is how the guy running the equipment felt that particular day, and how important your particular project is to him. Sometimes it's really hard to break a factory engine. Just so you know, Vitos has 2 different designed piston (superstock, and power pistons i think are their names). And you can get both of them in either a forged, or a cast piston. The forged one is built by wiseco, I don't know about the cast ones. The cast ones are probably what gave the bad rep to Vitos pistons. But personally I think you shoud port the engine instead of using fancy schmancy pistons. Wiseco pro-lites all the way Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dajogejr Posted July 8, 2006 Report Share Posted July 8, 2006 I've actualy talked to one of the guys that works at Vitos a few months ago...he freequents the dyno I went to. We talked about a bunch of stuff...just not pistons that day. Helluva nice guy, very helpful. I've heard a bunch of conflicting stories on what Vito's does and does not do... MY last understanding is they no longer make (manufacture) any of their parts, they're simply a middle man, swap their sticker on it...and send it on it's way. They have several flavors of pistons. Their claim to add 6HP is pure BS, plain and simple... http://www.vitosperformance.com/atv_parts/home.php?cat=173 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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