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Technical Forums => Milwaukee-Eight => Topic started by: mike jesse on January 27, 2021, 10:29:15 AM

Title: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: mike jesse on January 27, 2021, 10:29:15 AM
Anyone have an idea of how big a stock cylinder can safely be bored to?

I noticed that when the M8 first took off there were lots of 114's being stepped up to 120's.

Now the new normal is aftermarket cylinders and 128 c.i.
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Jamie Long on January 27, 2021, 10:34:06 AM
Quote from: mike jesse on January 27, 2021, 10:29:15 AM
Anyone have an idea of how big a stock cylinder can safely be bored to?

I noticed that when the M8 first took off there were lots of 114's being stepped up to 120's.

Now the new normal is aftermarket cylinders and 128 c.i.

max bore size on 114/117 cylinders is 4.180", the 107 cylinder can be bored to 4.125"
Article on bore & displacement can be found here> https://university.fuelmotousa.com/article/h-d-milwaukee-8-engine-big-bore-displacement-info/
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Nastytls on January 27, 2021, 10:39:36 AM
"Stock" cylinders aren't being bored to 128". I've only seen aftermarket cylinders are up to 126" and the HD SE cylinders are 128". Haven't seen a stock 107" that bored to more than 117". Not sure why anyone would do that anymore thought, when you can get a lot more CI with aftermarket cylinders w/ thicker liners.
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Don D on January 27, 2021, 11:36:14 AM
114/117 to 124, 4.185. I have done many. Leaves .078 per side. Going to sleeved cylinders can hug the case bore and go bigger safely, 4.28".
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: fbn ent on January 27, 2021, 11:40:37 AM
I was just told by a builder/friend that no pistons are made for M8s. He said HD says if you need a bore, you buy new cylinders.....?
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Don D on January 27, 2021, 11:44:08 AM
There are many pistons offered. I prefer Mahle and KB
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: cheech on January 27, 2021, 01:27:28 PM
Quote from: fbn ent on January 27, 2021, 11:40:37 AM
I was just told by a builder/friend that no pistons are made for M8s. He said HD says if you need a bore, you buy new cylinders.....?
I assume you're referring to OEM offering oversize?
No need to worry, as stated above the aftermarket has that covered.
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: fbn ent on January 27, 2021, 01:33:34 PM
Thanks guys, I passed the info on to him.
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: BigT on January 28, 2021, 09:15:44 AM
Quote from: HD Street Performance on January 27, 2021, 11:36:14 AM
114/117 to 124, 4.185. I have done many. Leaves .078 per side. Going to sleeved cylinders can hug the case bore and go bigger safely, 4.28".
Did you mean 120", 4.185?
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Don D on January 28, 2021, 09:45:10 AM
Depends on stroke, 120/124 4.375/4.5
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Hillside Motorcycle on January 29, 2021, 03:57:02 AM
We commonly bore the 107"s to 117", using a CP piston. 4.125".
Just completed another one Tuesday, using an S&S .475.
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: To The Max on January 29, 2021, 07:54:17 PM
I had my 107 bored to 117 and it split the spigot on both cylinders in 3000 miles i was very lucky not to have lost the bottom end as the front cylinder spigot nearly fell off. and that was from when i heard the noise at 80mph to when i turned the motor off. Sorry would never do that again. Max
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Don D on January 30, 2021, 05:49:57 AM
What pistons did you use?
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Nastytls on January 30, 2021, 08:55:01 AM
Quote from: To The Max on January 29, 2021, 07:54:17 PM
I had my 107 bored to 117 and it split the spigot on both cylinders in 3000 miles i was very lucky not to have lost the bottom end as the front cylinder spigot nearly fell off. and that was from when i heard the noise at 80mph to when i turned the motor off. Sorry would never do that again. Max


There are cut away pictures out there, of M8 cylinders bored for 117" and they are practically paper thin at the top of the spigot. Apparently the design of the M8 cylinders is quite different from the TC, so it's not the same as boring a TC for a 107", it's much worse. Knowing this, combined with the fact that new aftermarket cylinders are cheap, I cant see any reason to bore the stock ones.
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: To The Max on January 30, 2021, 03:21:37 PM
Quote from: HD Street Performance on January 30, 2021, 05:49:57 AM
What pistons did you use?
C.P  . Max
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Don D on January 31, 2021, 06:46:39 AM
CP bullet series slipper skirts, their shelf piston, are not offered by us. We use exclusively Mahle and KB (warehouse distributor) and occasionally CP full skirt custom pistons. I have good reasons for this.
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: RTMike on January 31, 2021, 08:16:20 AM
Don do you have any TC 107 Mahle pistons in stock
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Don D on January 31, 2021, 08:48:52 AM
Sorry no. I am not a WD for them and buy from Suburban HD
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: TorQuePimp on March 02, 2021, 05:05:12 AM
Quote from: Nastytls on January 30, 2021, 08:55:01 AM
Quote from: To The Max on January 29, 2021, 07:54:17 PM
I had my 107 bored to 117 and it split the spigot on both cylinders in 3000 miles i was very lucky not to have lost the bottom end as the front cylinder spigot nearly fell off. and that was from when i heard the noise at 80mph to when i turned the motor off. Sorry would never do that again. Max


There are cut away pictures out there, of M8 cylinders bored for 117" and they are practically paper thin at the top of the spigot. Apparently the design of the M8 cylinders is quite different from the TC, so it's not the same as boring a TC for a 107", it's much worse. Knowing this, combined with the fact that new aftermarket cylinders are cheap, I cant see any reason to bore the stock ones.

Also makes the m8 cylinders much easier and less time consuming to sleeve
Having .100 thick cylinders made out of better iron 👍
Title: Re: Max cylinder bore.
Post by: Don D on March 02, 2021, 06:42:12 AM
I have been having them sleeved with ductile iron. The end product is much more stable than HD or S&S cylinders bored for the larger bores. I have 2 143s in planning stages now.