T500 pistons - NOS vs. eBay cruzinimage

[jabcb]

Need to get a 2nd over piston set for a 74 T500.

What's the current thought about the cruzinimage piston set?
Its less than 1/2 the price of NOS.

The cruzinimage set includes rings, piston pins & circlips.
Is it OK to those parts as well?

[tz375]

I have used them and so far no issues. There was some minor scuffing after a day at the dyno and they seemed to survive WOT and over 8,000 revs at the drag strip in my 750. I'd be happy to use them in any street bike. I don't think they will last forever the way I'm using them but it was built as a fun mild street bike - not to race.

I'd like to hear if anyone else has experience with them.

[bill in okc]

I've got a set of 1st oversize cruzin image pistons in a Kawasaki H1 that is about to be fired up. The Kawasaki folks that have used them have not reported any problems that I could find. They looked good and fit like they should.

edit: The only thing I found there was a recommendation not to use the cruzin image retaining rings but to use oem without the little piece of wire that turns in towards the center - for easier installation or removal I guess. The fear was that little bit would fatigue at the bend over time and break off... not that I plan to put a million miles on this bike but I went with oem clips just because.

[Vintageman]

I believe the aluminum is very good. I am not sure how well they copied oem for T500. For example the Gt750 the spacing for rod eye and end bearing is ~1mm too wide. You know the GT750 limited side to side play at piston and allowed big end to move more instead. To do that they rely on two washer with notch shoulder for wrist pin bearing at small end so everything was to be spaced accordingly.

The T500 is not like gt750, but is a dimension to verify... if too wide bearing may move side to side not sure long term what that would mean if anything. I bought the GT750 from cruzinimage but went OEM after all. Most of stuff looks like fisrt pass best copy but, relies on the world for testing and feedback. doesn't respond too well to feedback

[Vintageman]

I believe the aluminum is very good.

But, I am not sure how well they copied oem for T500. For example the Gt750 the spacing for rod eye and end bearing is ~1mm too wide. You know the GT750 limited side to side play at piston and allowed big end to move more instead. To do that they rely on two precision washers with notch shoulder to go around wrist pin bearing at small end so everything was to be spaced accordingly with little play ala piston.

The T500 is not like gt750, but is a dimension to verify... if too wide bearing may move side to side not sure long term what that would mean if anything. I bought the GT750 from cruzinimage but then went OEM after all.

I bought GT380 pistons from him and some of the wrist pins slides in piston very easy. Usually OEM requires a little force to install. So I would expect the wrist pin to walk side to side very easy and would question the wrist pin clip tab design long term wear. I tried new OEM pin and that still slid very easy in the pistons too. I did not use these pistons. The nice thing on these piston is the ring pins are spaced so it works on Gt250 A/B as well and I think he has 1.5 mm over size where oem stops at 1.0mm


If you buy please verify such dimensions I am curious