Snowmobile Engine Components
About Snowmobile Engine Components
These are the parts inside the engine itself: pistons and piston kits, ring sets, gasket sets, top end sets, bearings, seals and the small starting parts that go with them. Riders usually shop here for a rebuild after a seized piston or lost compression, or to refresh a worn engine before a season.
Start by deciding how much to replace. A piston kit or piston assembly, listed by its bore in millimeters such as 68.25 or 72.38, suits a cylinder that is in good shape or has been machined to match. A full top end set groups the main wear parts for the job in one listing, and a complete gasket set suits a larger rebuild.
Ring sets are sized to the piston, and needle bearings and oil seals are chosen by the dimensions in the title. Before ordering, confirm the cause with a compression or leakdown test and measure the cylinder against your service manual. Parts differ by engine, so the make and years in each listing matter, and the Ride Finder at the top of the page narrows the list to your sled.
Brands in this category include Vertex, Hot Rods, EPI, Ultimax and NGK Spark Plugs. This category sits inside Engines & Components. If you are unsure a part will fit, read why a part did not fit first.
FAQs on snowmobile pistons, gaskets and bearings
What is usually in a snowmobile piston kit?
A piston kit normally includes the piston and the parts that fit with it, but contents vary by listing, so read it carefully. Check whether rings, a wrist pin or clips are included, and what bore size the kit is for, then compare with your cylinder.
Why do ring sets have to match the piston size?
Rings seal the gap between the piston and cylinder wall, so they are made for a particular bore diameter. A ring set that is the wrong size will not seal properly or sit correctly in the groove. Match the ring set to the piston you are fitting.
What is a complete gasket set used for?
A complete gasket set supplies the gaskets and seals needed when you take the engine apart, so you do not have to reuse old ones. A top end job may need only a smaller set. Read the listing to see what the set covers.
Should I replace the piston pin bearing during a rebuild?
Usually yes. A needle bearing costs little compared with the damage a worn one can cause, so it is normally replaced during top end work. Match the bearing by the dimensions in the listing or your service manual.
What should I check before starting a top end rebuild?
Confirm the problem first with a compression or leakdown test, then inspect the cylinder for scoring and measure it against the limits in your service manual. Work out the parts you need from that, rather than guessing, and order a gasket set with the piston.
