1972 jd 500 engine question

[flacker36]

I am looking to put new pistons/rings on my 72 500 with a KEC-440 engine. Does anyone know where I may find them???

Joe

[TASKY]

I believe I have what you are looking for am 53073 standard size piston ring kit. According to the parts catolog they fit sleds serial number 20,0001 and up. I am not sure why they wont fit them all. I also have an early nos cylinder for an early piston port 440 motor. email for details billtasky@hotmail.com

[flacker36]

Bill - My pistons have a bore of 68mm from what I understand the 500 and 600 had the 68mm bore (except the newer fire series). Seemed like everything else (mid mounts) went to the 66mm bore. I don't need original jd parts, aftermarket would be fine.

Joe

[lwb140]

joe , ive rebuilt a couple -3 440/5s for 500's etc, ive gotten pistons from ole tasky for my rebuilds, Besides a chance encounter on ebay he may be the only game in town on pistons , i scored a couple wisecos [p/n 2014] a few years ago otherwise nos are it , there are scads of aftermarket pistons available for the newer reed valve motors /22s and /23s but not for the early kecs . there was a set of 2013p80 that i think went off tonight, they are close but .020 too small .I think jd600 here on the site has a single for a 1972 i bought at the a1 swap meet a couple years ago that is the correct 1972 part number but we never found a mate to it that i know of . wade

[TASKY]

I also have am53072 standard size pistons with rings. With my el cheapo digital caliper the pistons measure 67.81 mm Good luck in your search Bill

[lwb140]

that 72 piston i had had all the same major specs but the skirt was a bit different , maybe a bit narrower but looked interchangable , seemedlike an am52xxx number dont remember specific for 72s as i remember .
there is a 2014ps on ebay now , no telling about a mate to it , wade

[JD600]

I think jd600 here on the site has a single for a 1972 i bought at the a1 swap meet a couple years ago that is the correct 1972 part number but we never found a mate to it that i know of . wade

I'll look into this tonight. I was unpacking some of my NOS parts over the weekend and all of my pistons are actually still on the kitchen table.... Isn't that where they belong?

DE

[HoosierDeereMan]

'72 -11,000 500's used a AM52386 piston. '73 -20,000 500's and 600's used the AM52386 but subs to the AM53072 piston. It also shows all -55,000 600's using the AM53072 piston. Both used KEC 440 or 440/5 engines so the pistons should interchange.

Troy

[JD600]

Yep, this is what i have found out too. They ARE different, but they will interchange. That being said, all you have to do is find a matched set with the same part numbers. I'll look and see what i have.

DE

[flacker36]

I think I have this right, I should be looking for either a JD part # 53072 or a wiseco part # 2014 piston for my 72 500 sled. The one post said the 440/5 also would work - any aftermarket pistons sets for the 440/5 still being made?? My pistons and rings are in real good shape and I can reuse them if I have to. Its just that normally I replace the original pistons in an overhaul, but sense no aftermarket are available I may not be able to. This by no means is a complete restoration, I just want a good rider for years to come.

Joe

[TASKY]

I must be missing something here. What is wrong with NOS? I have NOS pistons, pins, clips with rings or just NOS rings For Sale

[HoosierDeereMan]

Joe,

The KEC 440 and KEC 440/5 are the same bore and stroke. The 440/5 has an extra intake boost port in the cylinder that the 440 does not. This may explain Wade's comment about the skirt being different with the piston he has. The timing port window in the AM53072 piston may be wider for that extra port in the /5 engine. This still would not keep you from running them in the earlier 440 version. I would not recommend mixing the two pistons #'s. If the timing port windows really are different the pistons would not be weight balanced. I don't see an issue with reusing your old pistons with new rings if they are still good. My concern would be the wear in the cylinder bores. New or used won't be a good fit in a worn bore. I don't remember off the top of my head right now but I'm thinking .005" wear in the cylinder is out of spec on these engines.

Tasky,

How many of those AM53072 piston kits do you have stashed in that parts hoard you have?

Troy

[TASKY]

Troy you are being pm'd

[flacker36]

I think I will either re-use the pistons and rings I have (I normally do not re-use rings but in this case I would) or try to get NOS and give up on aftermarket.

Thanks

Joe

[JDT]

Tasky has sold me some nice NOS pistons and they are problem free.

No subsitute for NOS innerds when you rebuild you engine.