How can you tell if the cylinder liner is NiSl or chrome? I have a Stil 35cc I would like to try some modifications on.

chrome has a mirror like shine to it and nikasil is somewhat dull and grey in appearance.

i allways thought that all stihl saws used nikasil, sorta like their trademark?

dave

Nikasil is generally though of to be brittle. If you start moving the ports, it will flake off around the edges.

There are other ways to get around this by working on the piston and or taking some off the bottom of the cylinder?

Enjoy,

Jim

I was able to move the exhoust up 0.35 by using a fine diamond burr and taking it very slow. The nicasil didn't flake by working very slow. On the intake I just cut the skirt of the piston. The engine picked up over 1500 rpm on the same prop Ihad been rinning before.