VERTEX piston kit

VERTEX offers this piston kit. The piston slides in the cylinder and takes the force of the air-fuel combustion, passing it to the connecting rod and crankshaft.

Forged or cast piston?

• Forged: hot-pressed then machined aluminium, stronger when hot and lighter for the same strength; sometimes fitted with a little more clearance, and costs more.
• Cast: aluminium poured into a mould, like most OEM pistons; it expands little, runs quietly and costs less, but tolerates overheating less well.
• In short: forged for racing or a tuned engine, cast for a stock engine used for leisure riding.

Why choose VERTEX?

Vertex has made its pistons in Italy since 1953 and has supplied KTM’s original pistons since 1996: molybdenum-disulphide coated skirt and Japanese rings. Its two-stroke pistons are cast from an 18 % silicon alloy. Its four-stroke pistons are forged from 2618 alloy.

When should you replace the piston?

Harder starting, loss of power, blue smoke, oil consumption or a knock when cold: these are the signs of a tired top end.

No manufacturer hour figure for this model. Cross-Mania guideline: compression check every 30 h in hard use and every 60 h for leisure.

Specifications and fitting tips

Cross-Mania tip: Measure the cylinder bore before ordering: the piston must match your cylinder size. Follow the manufacturer's break-in procedure and replace the top-end gaskets at the same time.

Also needed with this part

• 4-stroke engine oil : LIQUI MOLY 10W40 1 L · MOTUL 10W50

Compatibility

Universal part: check the dimensions before ordering.