Engine Break-In - Read This

[Rucky]

This is a very interesting article on one man's opinion on breaking in engines. Just wondering what others think. It seems very logical; however, I'm not sure I can bring myself to gamble with a $14 000 sled.

Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

 

[ZRrrr]

Motomans ideas have been around for a long time. No one seems to debunk his theories. I like it myself.

 

[Rufus777]

I've been breaking engines in like that all my life!! Never had a problem, blew up one Yamaha motorcycle, but it was from riding it to hard for too long and it melted the top of the piston. And it was well broken in!

 

[maxwell]

break it in how your going to ride it period. it hasnt let me down in probly 30 motors.

his one line says it all

"The loss in power from an easy break-in and the resulting poor ring seal can be
anywhere from 2% - 10% !! "

 

[ZRrrr]

I broke in 2 new pistons and 2 sets of rings at the Grassland drags last year. Didn't do the best at that race, but for the following races that winter it ran the strongest it ever has.

 

[Powertool29]

Very interesting. I have thought that for a long time and was told that by a wise old man to ride it hard right out of the box.

 

[ESOX]

Very interesting indeed! What to do...what to do???

 

[krazy ken]

Going to try this method on my Grizzly 700,when I get the top end back from Mot's. Interesting statements about porting also, wonder if applies to 2 stroke engines also. Trying 720 BB, 10.5-1 piston, porting the head and cam.

 

[team dirt]

that is almost the identical break in we use on large cat and waukeshaw motors for gas compression. even changing the oils after a certain amount of run time. I have really never thought about break in on my sleds, usually to stoked and just pin the sh!t out of them, never been any issues with it. deffinetly warm them up properly though, i wait till i have good heat in my rear exchanger first as i have seen some cold seizes due to the thermostat opening and bringing all that cold fluid into the engine.

 

[ZRrrr]

Just a reminder that Motomans method is with the engine under load! That's a key factor.

 

[Ancient Sledder]

As mentioned before, this applies to 4 stroke engines. I have been playing with 2 strokes since 1968 and a thought just hit me. When you fire up a new 2 stroke and run it there should be fine pieces of metal from the break-in process. Where do they go? The only time I have seen metal in the expansion chamber or can is from engine failure.

 

[muskegman]

It makes sense to me. I have always warmed up engines properly and then broke them in(sleds and bikes) just like I normally ride, except staying under redline. I have never had engine failure issues. I remember my dad and older brother telling me back in the late 70's..."break it in like you drive normally, always changing rpm and you'll have a powerfull machine"
Just my two cents...

 

[Octane]

Just a quick note, this is how i broke my sled in today, i premixed my fuel 50 to 1, let the sled warm up till the rear cooler was warm to the touch then rode it like i plan to ride it. the trails we were in were perfect you could punch it - catwalk then take off down the trail.
off and on the flipper the whole time some WOT - LOTS of 3/4 to 1/2
machine ran strong the whole day i am nothin but happy

 

[RUDY]

i gotta break the engine on my m8,i was reading the article and it said i should i change the oil after at 20-30 miles,is the recommended?

 

[Octane]

maybe change your chain case oil after the first good weekend of riding. i dont think it needs to be done immediately

 

[RUDY]

i know buddy a few new sleds and he drove the balls off them,other ppl that had the sled couldn't come close to touching his.

 

[mb1]

This is a very interesting article on one man's opinion on breaking in engines. Just wondering what others think. It seems very logical; however, I'm not sure I can bring myself to gamble with a $14 000 sled.

Break In Secrets--How To Break In New Motorcycle and Car Engines For More Power

Interesting indeed. Curious why you would consider it a gamble to do this? Do you have reasonable evidence backing up a different method?

Unless of course you mean breaking the reccomended break-in, I understand.

 

[Octane]

the recommened artic cat break-in is absoutley absurd. its something like half throttle for 200 miles 3/4 for 200 and 3/4 with some WOT for 200miles.. freakin ridiculous. it would take you a season of getting nothing but stuck to accomplish a proper break-in.

 

[Rucky]

Interesting indeed. Curious why you would consider it a gamble to do this? Do you have reasonable evidence backing up a different method?

Unless of course you mean breaking the reccomended break-in, I understand.

That is what I was referring to.

the recommened artic cat break-in is absoutley absurd. its something like half throttle for 200 miles 3/4 for 200 and 3/4 with some WOT for 200miles.. freakin ridiculous. it would take you a season of getting nothing but stuck to accomplish a proper break-in.

This is correct. It takes 600 miles to break-in the cat engines by manufacturer's procedures. Not happening. Lucky if I run a tank through it before it's getting worked in the mountains. :d