Mahle Then and Now

[Bowtie]

So your telling me that you would want to run this piston in your personal saw???

Like I said I've got plans for this piston that don't include a lot of the material in question, but this is far from what I would expect from Mahle.

If the casting you can see is that sloppy, kinda makes me wonder what the casting I can't see is like? Is there a pocket in the casting somewhere?? Maybe a casting flaw or some other inclusion that may lead to a piston failure?? I don't know if you've priced a cylinder kit for a 084 lately but I personally don't want to buy another one anytime soon.

Point is if you spent your hard earned money on a shiny red Ferrari and when you went to pick it up it had one green fender you'd be pis:censored:sed wouldn't you....... why it just looks bad it doesn't effect the performance any??

This is not the kind of quality you expect when you spend your money to get the best.

Now the nail has been hit on the head.

 

[Erick]

It's poorly finished...to the untrained eye.

Guess I need to train my eye.

 

[Jacob J.]

Josh- I've had to 'make' adjustments on every brand of aftermarket piston available. I've never had to file a ring groove or 'experiment' with different wrist pins to get one to fit on a Mahle piston. Again I'm not saying that Mahle is perfect, but look at what is important (one factor of which being the failure rate of aftermarket pistons vs. Mahle)

I've used a few Meteor pistons as well, but there again none were as perfect a fit in the cylinder as the equivalent Mahle pistons. Even the pistons being sold on e-bay as OEM which are actually Mahle factory "seconds" fit better than any of the aftermarket pistons.

 

[1rockinacman]

I was just reading a post on another site. The builder got a 660 piston right out of the stihl box and said it was the whitest, shinny stihl piston he had ever seen and some black colored rings. He described the rings as looking like the ones from the after market pistons. He put the 660 together and it grenaded on him and took out the cylinder with it. This is a very respected builder. It makes you wonder what is going on with the new pistons.

 

[Jacob J.]

I read that post also and I know that builder. I think what he got was a piston manufactured in Stihl's facility.

 

[1rockinacman]

I read that post also and I know that builder. I think what he got was a piston manufactured in Stihl's facility.

Ya your right he did say it came from Stihl I just figured it was a Mahle piston.

 

[Bowtie]

Jacob I understand what you mean that it probably not a detrimantal flaw, and that Mahle makes a good product. I just think that when you buy an OEM piston, it should be a little better finished off than that one.

 

[Jacob J.]

I agree with you on that end, but the quality of EVERYTHING is down. Cannon bars made now are not as good as the Cannon bars made in 1975. Gilardoni cylinders for Pioneer P-61 saws from 1980 were an absolute work of art, and I've seen Gilardoni cylinders of recent manufacture that look as though they were carved by a four year-old with a plastic knife. Even Walbro carb kits aren't as 'exact' as they used to be- in fact I've gotten several recently where the metering diaphragm was 'backwards'. Take a new Yamaha generator out of the box and compare the fit and finish to a comparable new old stock one from 1990, and see what you think.

The playing field in manufacturing has changed greatly, and part of it's due to a flood of cheaply-made junk.

Yes the piston could look better, but my point simply was that it's still the best product you're going to find for that application at any price. No other manufacturer has stepped forth and made a better offering.

 

[Bowtie]

I agree with you on that end, but the quality of EVERYTHING is down. Cannon bars made now are not as good as the Cannon bars made in 1975. Gilardoni cylinders for Pioneer P-61 saws from 1980 were an absolute work of art, and I've seen Gilardoni cylinders of recent manufacture that look as though they were carved by a four year-old with a plastic knife. Even Walbro carb kits aren't as 'exact' as they used to be- in fact I've gotten several recently where the metering diaphragm was 'backwards'. Take a new Yamaha generator out of the box and compare the fit and finish to a comparable new old stock one from 1990, and see what you think.

The playing field in manufacturing has changed greatly, and part of it's due to a flood of cheaply-made junk.

Yes the piston could look better, but my point simply was that it's still the best product you're going to find for that application at any price. No other manufacturer has stepped forth and made a better offering.

Sad, but true.

 

[Jacob J.]

That piston looks $hittier than this $30 AIP

Josh- you've built a few saws, you know full well that your eye isn't accurate enough (just looking at a picture of one piston vs. another) to detect machining variances of thousandths or ten-thousandths of an inch.

 

[Four Paws]

Josh- you've built a few saws, you know full well that your eye isn't accurate enough (just looking at a picture of one piston vs. another) to detect machining variances of thousandths or ten-thousandths of an inch.

You got me there...HAHAHAHA. Strength and fitment are key - and in all honesty, the Meteors I have used are pretty bang-on as far as tolerances and machining. Maybe they have improved since you last used them, maybe I just got lucky.

No matter really...I like OEM parts when they are feasible. Many of these aftermarket pistons I have are for experimenting with. I would rather only be out a few bucks if my ideas don't work out.

 

[Jacob J.]

And that's the smart money right there.

 

[turnkey4099]

While I can understand the concern about the appearance and what it _could_ indicate about the hidden flaws, I keep thinking that most of the critique does not affect the operation. Granted it isn't "pretty" but putting effort into adding "pretty' onto a fully functional, machined accurately where it counts, item costs money. That translates into high cost to the consumer.

Harry K

 

[Crofter]

Sounds a bit like worrying about a girl having freckles.

 

[SawTroll]

Yep, Factory OEM Stihl, has MAHLE molded right into the piston skirt complete with the S stamp on top.

This piston is part of a factory Stihl cylinder kit. The cylinder looks fine... not quite as refined as the old one but nowhere near as bad as the piston.

Reminds me of an OEM 660 piston that someone complained about a while ago (not on the AS) - even the color fits.

 

[RiverRat2]

Sounds a bit like worrying about a girl having freckles.

I always liked counting freckles??????

 

[Haywire Haywood]

I always liked counting freckles??????

Depends on where the freckles are located.

Ian

 

[Lakeside53]

best to count them with your fingers and toes so you don't loose track :monkey:

 

[RiverRat2]

Depends on where the freckles are located.

Ian

Freckles in the valleys,,,, are always good!!!!!!

best to count them with your fingers and toes so you don't loose track :monkey:

Yeah!!!!!

 

[Smoke N Rust]

Hi, Just signed up to ask about how to count freckles on fingers and toes, No, no, No, I meant to ask about the Mahle pistons.
I know there is much favoritism towards Stihl but this question pertains to jonsereds saws.
Does Mahle still make pistons for Jonsereds 49SP and 52?
My Jred dealers says my saws are obsolete.
49 has 1 ring piston and 52 has 2 ring piston, which is better?
I also would like to hype & trick it up to make 'BIL' with his new saw look :jawdrop: Got any suggestions? porting , timing, carb, chain, ???
Thanks for any info, S & R