Check your skirt! (Sad story).

[Dave H.]

I had heard that Mahle piston skirts will crack...I'm here to tell ya, they sure do!
My '72  six day 125cc recently destroyed itself because I failed to check the piston skirt during the last teardown. The whole skirt on the exhaust side was sucked into the crankcase, pulverized, and injested into the cylinder, where it was pounded to powder. The head squish band looks real ugly. I might be able to get it remachined, but it's doubtful. If someone has a head they'd sell cheap, I'd be real greatful.
Dave.

[Doug Wilford]

Dave;
It is a good idea to check the piston clearances everytime you have the cyl. off. Too much clearance will put an overload on the shirt of the piston and ooops you have found out.   If you can get a .005 feeler gage between the skirt and the cylinder it is time to do something about it, especially if you are racing.  Sorry to hear of anyone having that kind of problem.