kev, this sounds what i will do.

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BUELL-Turning riders into mechanics since 1983!!!

This was actually a topic with a co-worker today. He was pointing out that while it (knife-edge) doesn't help performance directly, it allows the residual oil to sling off the crank easier and help splash-oil the underside of the piston, increasing reliability.

He made good arguments.

Quite a few push rod, long stroke old Brit bikes had a scraper (P+M Panthers spring to mind) to prevent oil being slung up the bore - it used prevented excessive oil consumtion. More modern motors have metered oil jets to cool under the piston.
I'm not sure of my facts on this one, but I seem to rember mates building scrapers into their sumps (mainly Ford X flows) when they went stage rallying.

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If your dreams don't scare you, they are not big enough.

Unfortunately, these engines are still based on 50's technology.

Some actually drill their cranks for more oil passages for better oiling of the piston skirts.

Oil consumption comes more from oil through the valve guides than up from the crankcase. The piston has three rings scraping the walls, where the iron guides wear quickly and let oil blow by.

Knife edging also reduces windage, apparently. Although not sure of the benefit of that with a dry sump.
I'm told it helps prevent oil foaming on a wet sump engine.
Anyway, proper balancing will increase reliability and make a smoother running engine, so it's worth it for those two reasons alone.

so would about 350 quid sound right? i have no idea how much time or know how goes into this job?

tubbs got a bloke to do my m2 balance dirt cheap, a shame when people retire

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BUELL-Turning riders into mechanics since 1983!!!

It sounds about £250 too much to me.

You want it balanced, not gold plated.

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I started out with nothing and still got most of it left.

Not for the bloke who retires......

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Spencer Racing... www.spencerracing.co.uk

Well if stickers add 10hp, chrome adds 20hp, wouldn't gold add like 50hp??

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Feros Ferio

...probably just baffles, to stop the oil surging into the (extended) sides of the sump... 'Big Wing Sumps' increased the oil capacity but the oil would run away and hide in the corners during over-enthusiastic cornering and braking

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'98 M2 Razorback, it's a keeper.

Yeah Muzz just do it

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Buell X1 PBS

cranks are off to basset down. will keep you posted on what happens. way way cheaper than anywhere else i could find

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BUELL-Turning riders into mechanics since 1983!!!

I hope this guy has done it then, mind you, he may have other, slightly more pressing, issues

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Wear the fox hat