Cylinder Chrome Plating

Pat Calhoun · Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2001 7:53 pm Post subject: Cylinder Chrome Plating

Does anyone have any advice on Chrome Plating a cylinder, and if so what advantages - disadvantages are there.
This is for 2 cycle CR125 Shifter motor.

Thanks
Pat

John Denman · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2001 3:50 am Post subject: Cylinder Chrome Plating

Chrome is not a ductile enough material to work as well as the Ni-Si-C plating. West Bend used Chrome and it had a tendancy to flake off. It does not seal as well as Ni-Si-C plating, but may have a slightly less friction.

John Wehrheim · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2001 4:10 am Post subject: Cylinder Chrome Plating

We have send all of our cyclinders to US Chrome in Wisconsin. They do a fantastic job and very reasonably priced.

Rob Linders · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 725

John W.,

I'm curious, does US Chrome actually use chrome, or are they using another material to replate the barrel?

Thanks,
Rob

John Wehrheim · Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2001 9:56 am Post subject: Cylinder Chrome Plating

There website is www.uschrome.com. Here is what they say on their site

U.S. Chrome's Fond du Lac, Wisconsin facility is dedicated solely to the rapidly expanding market of nickel composite coatings. Our expertise has made U.S. Chrome the recognized leader in nickel silicon-carbide cylinder technology. Whether you have high volume OEM production or a single aftermarket cylinder in need of repair, we are equipped to serve your needs.

Our NiCom® (nickel-silicon-carbide) coating is used by the biggest names in industries such as automotive, marine racing and recreational vehicles. The high-performance NiCom® coating completely eliminates the need for cast-iron liners in aluminum engines. NiCom® greatly increases engine performance and reliability through reduced piston drag, superior lubricity, increased oil retention, and much higher heat dissipation than cast-iron liners. Unlike cast-iron bores, NiCom® plated cylinders are fully compatible with chrome-faced piston rings. For these reasons, the nickel silicon-carbide coating is used almost exclusively with most Formula One and CART racing teams

Jimmy Moore · Joined: 26 Jul 2001 Posts: 664

They tried nickel plating in model airplane engines to try and get around having to use expensive chrome plating and the nickel plated sleeves were total crap compared to the chrome plated ones. Maybe there's been some improvments in nickel plating made since then but, now you see model airplane engines being advertised as having "true chrome" plated bores.

Jean Stafford · Posted: Sat Sep 22, 2001 8:53 am Post subject: Cylinder Chrome Plating

When chorme plating a cylinder, it's importatn to remember the expansion rates of the substrate material.

In order to plate chrome onto aluminum the thickness of the chrome must be small, usually less than .002" per side. The only way we were able to achieve a good bond to the engine cylinder was to install a naval brass liner, then chrome plate this. Hence the model industry's deignation "ABC".
We also had to remove the chrome plating on the rings we used.

Over the years the motorcycle engine manufacturers have pretty much perfected the "Nicasil" process and are using it with much success.

Rings used in a chrome cylinder must be cast iron, or some un-plated material, cause the chrome plated ringr play havoc with a chrome bore.

Jack Burroughs · Joined: 18 Jul 2001 Posts: 144

Back in the 50's there was a guy named Ron Jones in Deleware that chromed the barrels of out-board racing motors, particularly the pre W.W.II racing motors that were no longer available. His work was quite in demand by the Alky racers of the time. Never haerd a complaint. For further info anyone interested should contact Dick O'Day in Gasoline Alley, Patterson N.J.