Xr2 Routine Maintenance

NIC SURRY · 12-02-2009, 10:55 AM

With all the talk on hear of XR2's going bang,is there anthing I should be checking to try and pevent a blow up,I have checked compressions all level and at 150,Would any further checks involve a strip down? on my 2 stroke bikes it was regularily re ringed but presumably a low compression would highlight the need for this?.The engine currently runs fine with no adverse nioses but would strip and check it if it saves money in the long run?any comments appreciated.Nic

Cookee · 12-02-2009, 01:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NIC SURRY

With all the talk on hear of XR2's going bang,is there anthing I should be checking to try and pevent a blow up,I have checked compressions all level and at 150,Would any further checks involve a strip down? on my 2 stroke bikes it was regularily re ringed but presumably a low compression would highlight the need for this?.The engine currently runs fine with no adverse nioses but would strip and check it if it saves money in the long run?any comments appreciated.Nic

Impeller and water pressure!

The Docta · 12-02-2009, 01:33 PM

Hi Nic

As has been said time and time again - XR2 is a great motor as long as it is well maintained. I have had conversations with v v experienced racers who have used XR2's for years. They have told me that motors are great and ARE reliable but need to be properly maintained.

Usual stuff... needs to be set up properly (propped so it dont over rev and with correct carb jet set up), use proper oil (i use the merc hiperf stuff - this is the recommended oil for the XR2 200) and at right mixture (32:1) and well mixed, right fuel pressure, coolent system working properly with good pressue.

Motor will not go bang without good reason!

As you say, if rings are good, compression will be good.

Testement to XR2 is in an interview published in Sports boat and Rib magazine last year with top race mechanic (based in west country... im sure some of you will know who I am referring to

) who commented that his favourite engine was an XR2 due to simplicity (and reliability in the right hands!).

However, he also said his favourite combo was a Phantom with an XR2 (not a ring

) so perhaps he isnt to be trusted afterall

Cyco · 12-02-2009, 01:35 PM

Gearbox oil, mid section bushes, you could check the reeds.

Techteam · 12-02-2009, 01:36 PM

Depends what you would class as routine maintenance really and how you use your engine. There is no hard and fast rule to XR2 blowups it's sometimes very difficult to even offer up an explanation as to why it blew up at best you are making an educated guess based on experience. The earlier piston design was very prone to cracking round the skirt, we recommend changing the piston to the ART manufactured part which seems to be far more robust. If your engine has an unknown history or a lot of hours it's worth an investigative stripdown and as you say far cheaper than a blowup which can make hell of a mess of an expensive piece of kit.

Matt · 12-02-2009, 02:12 PM

Yeh, there's only 1 decent engines guy in the westcountry.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Docta

based in west country... im sure some of you will know who I am referring to

Cyco · 12-02-2009, 02:31 PM

NB? Best guy I know for XR2's
And I've had alot of them!

Tony Davis · 12-02-2009, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Yeh, there's only 1 decent engines guy in the country.

I think Chris Lewis has retired!

NIC SURRY · 12-02-2009, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techteam

Depends what you would class as routine maintenance really and how you use your engine. There is no hard and fast rule to XR2 blowups it's sometimes very difficult to even offer up an explanation as to why it blew up at best you are making an educated guess based on experience. The earlier piston design was very prone to cracking round the skirt, we recommend changing the piston to the ART manufactured part which seems to be far more robust. If your engine has an unknown history or a lot of hours it's worth an investigative stripdown and as you say far cheaper than a blowup which can make hell of a mess of an expensive piece of kit.

Do I take it is more common for Piston/Ring faliure snapping a rod rather than Crank/Bearing/Con rod failiure,or is it normally a seizure problem?If stripped is it a case of crack testing?if I decided to get the engine stripped Who would be the best person in the West country to get to do this and any idea of costs?

Wayne Kerr · 12-02-2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cookee

Impeller and water pressure!

Ain't this true for all in the "high" HP range?

Techteam · 12-02-2009, 07:48 PM

Piston failures are in my experience the most common cause of problems. Most rod failures are caused by the piston seizing just imagine the heat generated as the piston starts to fail. I have never had to crack test a piston they are normally clearly visible by eye.

Cyco · 12-02-2009, 09:05 PM

with the current price of an XR2 powerhead I would just carry on using yours until it gives you a problem then simply buy another that has had a recent rebuild (there are plenty about) and this will most definately work out cheaper than getting yours re-built.

PHANTOM EVOLUTION · 13-02-2009, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tony Davis

I think Chris Lewis has retired!

i think there were a few people who used to play with XR2 & race motors

Bazza · 13-02-2009, 04:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PHANTOM EVOLUTION

i think there were a few people who used to play with XR2 & race motors

Yep, i know one who made a rather special injected XR2 for me once, how many ECUs did we try till the right stuff Neil !!!
Happy days 40 hours and rebuild, it never never missed a beat, you pays yer money and you gets the results !!!!
Now we are into whisper racing 300 hours OK but NO NOISE!!

PHANTOM EVOLUTION · 14-02-2009, 10:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bazza

Yep, i know one who made a rather special injected XR2 for me once, how many ECUs did we try till the right stuff Neil !!!
Happy days 40 hours and rebuild, it never never missed a beat, you pays yer money and you gets the results !!!!
Now we are into whisper racing 300 hours OK but NO NOISE!!

too many ! but when we found that special one it made it fly ! and that engine had a very unique sound to it

dodgy dave · 14-02-2009, 09:04 PM

are we talking about a red ring hear ?

NIC SURRY · 16-02-2009, 09:48 AM

Thanks for response,I've done most of the suggestions,Buy another if it blows might be the answer its just finding one when the enevitable happens-probably mid summer,I'm only using mine predominently for leisure use but what is the safe maximum revs as my engine with a low pitch prop(pulling toys) seems to keep reving and presumably has no rev limiter,I'm trying to prop it to say a maximum of 6,000 would this be relatively safe?or could I go higher?

Burty · 16-02-2009, 01:31 PM

I'm pretty sure that max power is produced somewhere around 7k so prop it for that but when pulling toys / skiers Etc i cant see you reving much more that 6500 as the extra load will hold the engine back

NIC SURRY · 16-02-2009, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burty

I'm pretty sure that max power is produced somewhere around 7k so prop it for that but when pulling toys / skiers Etc i cant see you reving much more that 6500 as the extra load will hold the engine back

Hi Rob with the 21p high five it pulls 6500 revs easily (50mph approx)with a doughnut but too scary ,it feels like it would go off the scale on a 8k rev counter with no load,I've got a 23P OFFSHORE four blade to try-the 21p OFFSHORE four blade worked OK,I'm hoping the 23P will give a good holeshot(Pull a Skier/doughnut) and sensible revs top speed-one prop to do both jobs-might be wishfull thinking .as you know the 23P Lazer was a crap holeshot-I'll then flog some props instead of collecting them.

Burty · 16-02-2009, 06:16 PM

got to be worth a try, I've still got those spacers in the car for you