OzVMX Forum

Marque Remarks => Maico => Topic started by: KTMaico on June 20, 2011, 03:48:45 pm

Title: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: KTMaico on June 20, 2011, 03:48:45 pm
I have been trying to get some information on Porting Spec's on Maico 490's from various people and Maico experts around the world with no success. My cylender has the boost finger ports in the liner, but are bloked by the cylinder walls, my cylinder is a piston port version. I know that on Reed valve versions these ports are open and are used, but if I open these on my piston port cylinder will I be adding or taking away from the bike performance?

Also over the years of the Maico 490's there must have been some documented Port modifications for performance increases, Rick Sieman (Super Hunky) recently had a posting put up on this site by Mark (Firko) about the gains on a Maico 501 after porting and othe engine modifications. I would imagine that there must be some similar info for the 490's. Any and all help would be appreciated.
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: 090 on June 20, 2011, 03:53:30 pm
Do you intend on lengthening your arms?
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: JohnnyO on June 20, 2011, 03:59:19 pm
I have been trying to get some information on Porting Spec's on Maico 490's from various people and Maico experts around the world with no success. My cylender has the boost finger ports in the liner, but are bloked by the cylinder walls, my cylinder is a piston port version. I know that on Reed valve versions these ports are open and are used, but if I open these on my piston port cylinder will I be adding or taking away from the bike performance?

Also over the years of the Maico 490's there must have been some documented Port modifications for performance increases, Rick Sieman (Super Hunky) recently had a posting put up on this site by Mark (Firko) about the gains on a Maico 501 after porting and othe engine modifications. I would imagine that there must be some similar info for the 490's. Any and all help would be appreciated.
My cylinder is the same as yours.. i'd just leave it and ride it as it is, they go ok.
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: paul on June 20, 2011, 04:00:02 pm
standard 490,s go hard enough stock why stuff around with a good thing
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: mxmaniac on June 21, 2011, 08:08:29 pm
I have been trying to get some information on Porting Spec's on Maico 490's from various people and Maico experts around the world with no success. My cylender has the boost finger ports in the liner, but are bloked by the cylinder walls, my cylinder is a piston port version. I know that on Reed valve versions these ports are open and are used, but if I open these on my piston port cylinder will I be adding or taking away from the bike performance?

Also over the years of the Maico 490's there must have been some documented Port modifications for performance increases, Rick Sieman (Super Hunky) recently had a posting put up on this site by Mark (Firko) about the gains on a Maico 501 after porting and othe engine modifications. I would imagine that there must be some similar info for the 490's. Any and all help would be appreciated.

Are u in Victoria?
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: Marc.com on June 21, 2011, 09:17:37 pm
yeah take 2mm out of the top of the exhaust port and sharpen the transfer ports .... that will do it.
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: Lozza on June 21, 2011, 09:19:05 pm
I have been trying to get some information on Porting Spec's on Maico 490's from various people and Maico experts around the world with no success. My cylender has the boost finger ports in the liner, but are bloked by the cylinder walls, my cylinder is a piston port version. I know that on Reed valve versions these ports are open and are used, but if I open these on my piston port cylinder will I be adding or taking away from the bike performance?

Also over the years of the Maico 490's there must have been some documented Port modifications for performance increases, Rick Sieman (Super Hunky) recently had a posting put up on this site by Mark (Firko) about the gains on a Maico 501 after porting and othe engine modifications. I would imagine that there must be some similar info for the 490's. Any and all help would be appreciated.
They will add some usable mid range
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: Davey Crocket on June 21, 2011, 09:53:19 pm
Jeez Kev....you cant even find your pants....so what are you going to shit in if you make your 490 go faster?
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: DR500 on June 21, 2011, 10:11:12 pm
he's got to be able to start it first!!!!
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: KTMaico on June 22, 2011, 03:09:25 pm
No I can't ride a stock Maico 490 to it's full potential, it's about getting a bike I could not afford to when I was racing and doing all the things I could to make it the best I could. 30+ years after I stopped racing, I can now afford a bit more and I have more time on my hands to pursue silly dreams. I will try opening the bike up on a track with no pants on so I can add a little jet propulsion. :)
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: East Coast Maico on June 22, 2011, 11:38:21 pm
Ever consider a Reed valve cylinder?
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: KTMaico on June 23, 2011, 10:03:02 am
Ever consider a Reed valve cylinder?

Bill I have been tossing with the idea of a new Reed valve Cylinder for two years now, but I have a problem with justifying the cost against the gain. The new Reed valve cylinders with the Aluminium Sleeves with Nicrosil Coating sounds good though. my maico cylinder is at it's last bore (4-5th over) and is currently 515cc so I eventually may have to as a re-sleeve is a eventuality. Plus i am not a Wiseco Piston fan. I would also probably go with a Mosbarger reed setup. At the moment i am trying to sort out getting a fully Blown RM125 done in the states and then brought here to finish off.
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: JohnnyO on June 23, 2011, 10:41:21 am
The reed valve cylinder is the biggest improvement i've noticed when riding a 490 with one compared to my piston port engine but is it worth the money?? Reed valve 490's are common in the UK but i don't think many of them were the remanufactured nicasil cylinders.
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: KTMaico on June 23, 2011, 11:18:22 am
The reed valve cylinder is the biggest improvement i've noticed when riding a 490 with one compared to my piston port engine but is it worth the money?? Reed valve 490's are common in the UK but i don't think many of them were the remanufactured nicasil cylinders.

John they are available now, ask Bill. It is a improvement and a big advantage ove the steel liners. Do you want that top to match your pants (freebie)?
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: JohnnyO on June 23, 2011, 11:32:22 am
I know they're available Kev but very expensive, i was wondering where the Poms sourced the ones they use?
Thanks mate i could use the top, i'll try and catch up soon.. maybe dirt track titles?
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: paul on June 23, 2011, 11:39:46 am
im putting a original reed cylinder on mine at present ,if i get a chance ill take some pics to show the difference in porting be tween the 2
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: KTMaico on June 23, 2011, 12:05:46 pm
I know they're available Kev but very expensive, i was wondering where the Poms sourced the ones they use?
Thanks mate i could use the top, i'll try and catch up soon.. maybe dirt track titles?

I have posted here before, I know the guys in the UK that are casting the new Cylinders. Both brothers are Maico 490 owners and riders, Richard is going to send me videos of their next Farleigh Castle race in about 2 weeks. They swear by them, I am not 100% convinced that the performance output is there compared to a well tuned and running Piston Port. But in saying that the other advantage is the Aluminium Liner (Better heat disperstion and tighter tolerances) and Nicrosil Coating (No Reboring and Standard Mahle Piston) are a attractive option.

I will bring the top to Nudgee this weekend.
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: JohnnyO on June 23, 2011, 12:11:42 pm
I believe most of the cylinders i saw in the UK were genuine Maico '82 reed cylinders. After riding both the bottom end increase and throttle response gain is impressive with the reed..
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: East Coast Maico on June 24, 2011, 10:13:19 am
the UK cylinders from richard are exactly like the 82. i could not see the difference.
Kevin, not sure about the mossbarger Reed. most are using a v force. Reed bikes start so much easier then the piston port. you also need a reed pipe to make it work correctly.
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: JohnnyO on June 24, 2011, 10:24:55 am
How much are the reed cylinders and can you run a Wiseco piston/rings or do you need different rings with the nikasil?
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: KTMaico on June 24, 2011, 11:04:51 am
The ones that are been done in the UK are a exact copy of the original Reed Valve cylinder, the boys had the barrel laser scanned to get the exact dimensions and measurements. You should be able to use all pistons in the cylinder, but I would go back to Mahle because of the coatings and metallurgy of the pistons (expansion and tolerances considerations).

The problem I have is the cost of the cylinder, piston, reeds, cage, pipe and ancillary requirements add to a hefty amount and does the difference justify the cost? Does this madification add another 2.5-3 K to the value of the bike? eg... if a really good Maico 490 piston port in Australia is worth 12-16K is the same bike worth 15-19K with a reed valve cylinder? On the other hand the conversion maybe the best long term alternative to re-sleeving a existing cylinder on a bike that the owner has no immediate intentions of selling.
(http://ausvmx.ning.com/photo/richard-carters-race-maicos-1/prev?context=user)  (http://ausvmx.ning.com/photo/interior-design-uk-style/next?context=user)
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: JohnnyO on June 24, 2011, 11:31:47 am
The reed cylinders are good but i don't think you could justify the hefty price. Nikasil cylinders generally use different rings to a cast iron bore as far as i know.
I don't think any Maico would be worth more than $10,000 Aus in todays market, especially with how cheap they are in the UK by comparison and the ease of importing nowdays...
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: Slakewell on June 24, 2011, 01:09:01 pm
There was one on Marks the other day for 3k add $1200 for shipping at the most it would owe 4.5K
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: paul on June 24, 2011, 01:19:20 pm
There was one on Marks the other day for 3k add $1200 for shipping at the most it would owe 4.5K


then restore it ,
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: paul on June 24, 2011, 01:44:12 pm
sand blast
rechrome forks
bearings
paint
new rims
spokes
engine rebuild plus repair the bent fins
new pipe/muffler
new shocks
tyers .tubes
cables/ seat redone
plastics
stainless bolts
new handle bar .levers
re plateing odds and ends

cost is then ?
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: Slakewell on June 24, 2011, 02:00:09 pm
It wasn't that bad , was in race condition , I'm sure you could spend money on it if you wanted to but to me it looked at least 80% I was surprised by the value. 
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: paul on June 24, 2011, 02:05:09 pm
the add said it needed resto  /engine rebuild etc,,,,nearly bought it my self though
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: KTMaico on June 24, 2011, 03:30:18 pm
I know mine cost a small fortune to have everything completely re-built and all the extra's. I looked here and overseas to buy one before I found mine. I look at one I think Paul was selling through Les and that was around 10K then. I know I have gone a bit overboard on mine, but I have not spent the time and money to try and sell mine to make a profit. I just wanted the best I could get for my personal bike and I have no intentions of selling her at the moment. I have been offered a substantial amount for the bike, but I knocked it back partialy because I did not want to sell her and also I was not to sure how serious the offer was.
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: KTMaico on June 24, 2011, 03:59:49 pm
Just to add on the value and cost of Maico 490's. Have you seen the prices of the Maico's on Maico Only UK website!!!! and Carl tells me he does sell them at those prices, up to and above 10K GBP (pounds). Factor the exchange rate and shipping costs in.
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: paul on June 24, 2011, 04:17:41 pm
http://www.maicoonly.co.uk/maico-bikes.html
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: paul on June 24, 2011, 04:37:08 pm
   whoa ;D  
10,000.00 GBP  = 15,187.62 AUD 
Title: Re: Porting for Maico 490
Post by: Slakewell on June 24, 2011, 06:37:56 pm
I know what it costs to built bikes from 0 to everything and it isn't cheap my last built I even thought I knew and it swallowed $500.00 than budget.