Originally Posted By: hate2work
When I was at the Mahle plant I asked specifically about this very thing. I had noticed that the saws that were lined with Nikasil could not be honed after being scored, whereas the hard chromed cylinders were almost always able to be honed back to pure chrome.
They pretty much told us that Nikasil was an inferior process/product compared to chrome. That's pretty much reflected in the price of the saws with/without chrome cylinders. Stihl's 4.4 HP Nikasil saw sells for $490, and there 4.4 HP chrome lined saw sells for $609.
Interesting, I've always been told/read the opposite, that the Chrome (Cromal in Mahle speak) was the older process, and that Nikasli had quite a number of advantages over Chrome.
1. It's thinner so that heat transfer is better. This is important in two strokes.
2. It is harder, so should wear better.
3. It has excellent oil retention properties.
The downside is that once scored, it can't be honed as easily or re-bored.
Porsche, Volkswagen and BMW use Nikasil, not Cromal, and all the bike manufacturers use Nikasil if using Mahle cylinders, or the Japanese manufacturers (except Kawasaki who use a different process) use a Nikasil type process on their bike cylinders.
Most all race car and race bike cylinders use Nikasil or equivalent process too, not Cromal.
http://www.mahle.com/C125713200619F8F/CurrentBaseLink/W276QLJP802MARSEN
"Le Mans - an extreme endurance test for man and machine. For 16 years in a row, the winners of the best known long-distance race in the world have crossed the finish line powered by pistons and NIKASIL®-coated cylinder crankcase from MAHLE."
http://www.mahle.com/C125708F0068F67A/CurrentBaseLink/W26FJBP2038MARSEN
I might have to do more reading.
Maybe the only real advantage is that it's a cheaper process ? although in the motorsport sphere you use whatever is superior, cost is a secondary consideration.