Cruzinimage pistons and rings

[Oddjob]

Just wondering if anyone has ever checked or compared the profile of a Cruzinimage piston against a genuine Honda one.

I'm reading some really negative stuff about aftermarket pistons and especially about the quality of Cruzinimage  piston rings, notoriously the 350 four ones which are reportedly very soft and wear extremely quickly. Reports I may add that come from a very experienced mechanic and certified Honda/Kawasaki mechanic trainer, not the sort of person to shout wolf you'd image.

I've seen an image where 2 pistons are joined on the same gudgeon pin, so they sit side by side and it's impossible to get them misaligned as that's exactly where they'd sit on the conrod, the rings were in different positions, the crowns didn't align or even look the same, Hondas are normally flat and the aftermarket was really domed, this would seriously affect the compression.

Another image of Cruzinimage rings after less than 500 miles, both a before and after picture showing ring end gap, it had doubled in less than 500 miles, which is worrying as a lot of members have fitted these kits.

Not trying to scare anyone here, just wondering IF anyone had done a comparison, especially of the piston. Just curious to see how they compare.

[Bryanj]

When i get Doms barrels back i will compare with art and yoshi for you Ken, i have some from Aus that are domed as hc pistons so can put them on as well for you

[AshimotoK0]

Just wondering if anyone has ever checked or compared the profile of a Cruzinimage piston against a genuine Honda one.

I'm reading some really negative stuff about aftermarket pistons and especially about the quality of Cruzinimage  piston rings, notoriously the 350 four ones which are reportedly very soft and wear extremely quickly. Reports I may add that come from a very experienced mechanic and certified Honda/Kawasaki mechanic trainer, not the sort of person to shout wolf you'd image.

I've seen an image where 2 pistons are joined on the same gudgeon pin, so they sit side by side and it's impossible to get them misaligned as that's exactly where they'd sit on the conrod, the rings were in different positions, the crowns didn't align or even look the same, Hondas are normally flat and the aftermarket was really domed, this would seriously affect the compression.

Another image of Cruzinimage rings after less than 500 miles, both a before and after picture showing ring end gap, it had doubled in less than 500 miles, which is worrying as a lot of members have fitted these kits.

Not trying to scare anyone here, just wondering IF anyone had done a comparison, especially of the piston. Just curious to see how they compare.

Just glad I followed my gut instinct and old school axiom of 'you get what you pay for'  and always fitted genuine pistons and rings to all of my bikes. My concerns were that there were some bad reports about their rubber products failing very prematurely, so my logic was that if they are selling those of poor quality, then what about the other stuff they sell. Just hope I am wrong for the sake of others who have used their products. If they are anything like the other Japanese companies I have dealt with, then they won't respond well to any complaints.

[Laverda Dave]

That's a bit worrying considering I was going to buy a set for the rat bike rebore! Are there any other makes apart from Honda? I think I used an IMD(?) Piston kit in the 250RSA, hopefully they do a set for the 400/4. Do Cruzinimage makes pistons and rings for anyone else?

[Nurse Julie]

That's a bit worrying considering I was going to buy a set for the rat bike rebore! Are there any other makes apart from Honda? I think I used an IMD(?) Piston kit in the 250RSA, hopefully they do a set for the 400/4. Do Cruzinimage makes pistons and rings for anyone else?

IMD sell Cruzinimage pistons / rings. Personally, I've never had a problem with Cruzinimage kits on my own bikes and we've never had reports from customers that they have had problems either. But, i also read a couple of years ago about 350 piston rings being not a good fit but that was on a twin not a four.
Edit... Forgot to say that Cruzinimage rings are Riken, which is what Honda use.

[K2-K6]

That's a bit worrying considering I was going to buy a set for the rat bike rebore! Are there any other makes apart from Honda? I think I used an IMD(?) Piston kit in the 250RSA, hopefully they do a set for the 400/4. Do Cruzinimage makes pistons and rings for anyone else?

Possibility https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255571788913 but a little pricey.

Seems to be only pistons, but 6 available https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285149322144

Both sets 0.25mm over sized.

[DomP]

Oh I'm loving reading this thread!

[paul G]

Never had any issues with mine and the 400/4 gets some hammer as anyone who has one will know, you have to keep them buzzing 

[Nurse Julie]

Oh I'm loving reading this thread!

I think it's an interesting thread Dom. There are lots of forum members that have Cruzinimage piston / ring kits fitted by Graham after engine builds and re bores , so it will be good to hear if they have had any issues they haven't told us about. My own personal experience is that they are a good piston / ring kit and I do a lot of miles on my bikes, if there was an issue, it would have presented itself by now.

[Laverda Dave]

That's a bit worrying considering I was going to buy a set for the rat bike rebore! Are there any other makes apart from Honda? I think I used an IMD(?) Piston kit in the 250RSA, hopefully they do a set for the 400/4. Do Cruzinimage makes pistons and rings for anyone else?

Possibility https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/255571788913 but a little pricey.

Seems to be only pistons, but 6 available https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/285149322144

Both sets 0.25mm over sized.

Gez, reassuringly expensive as they say🥴. Thanks for the tip Nigel, I might well go the original route but interesting comment from Julie about the ring manufacturer. I've yet to measure the bores but I do know the original pistons are in there and the bike has done 46,000! I remember the magazines in the 70’s say Jap bikes wear out due to the high revs, I don't think so🙂

[AshimotoK0]

That's a bit worrying considering I was going to buy a set for the rat bike rebore! Are there any other makes apart from Honda? I think I used an IMD(?) Piston kit in the 250RSA, hopefully they do a set for the 400/4. Do Cruzinimage makes pistons and rings for anyone else?

Edit... Forgot to say that Cruzinimage rings are Riken, which is what Honda use.

If they are genuine Riken then you would expect them to work just fine. Do they have the 'R' stamping on them Julie? That would be a good indication.

[AshimotoK0]

I'm reading some really negative stuff about aftermarket pistons and especially about the quality of Cruzinimage  piston rings, notoriously the 350 four ones which are reportedly very soft and wear extremely quickly. Reports I may add that come from a very experienced mechanic and certified Honda/Kawasaki mechanic trainer, not the sort of person to shout wolf you'd image.

Any links to posts discussing this please Ken?

[DomP]

I'm pretty sure my top ring had an R on it.

[Nurse Julie]

I'm pretty sure my top ring had an R on it.

Yes, R is Riken.

[McCabe-Thiele (Ted)]

That's a bit worrying considering I was going to buy a set for the rat bike rebore! Are there any other makes apart from Honda? I think I used an IMD(?) Piston kit in the 250RSA, hopefully they do a set for the 400/4. Do Cruzinimage makes pistons and rings for anyone else?

I have a set of new genuine NOS Honda 400 oversize pistons & rings that I bought for a spare engine that I recently sold so they are now in my bedroom wardrobe waiting to be sold.