I have a 97 ZRT800 with a big bore 1004 kit, cpr pipes, reeds, clutching etc.

I just locked up the motor. I am not sure exactly why yet? Pulled the pistons out and one has 1 mm grooves from the skirt to below the ring. No cracks. My sled will quit running when its hot. It will coll off and work fine. I think it is a crank bearing.
Now My question: This sled has 7200 miles on it. BUT the top end has 500 miles on it,new track, new bearings allallround, new clutch and secondary. The only thing left is the crank and bearings, which have all the original miles. I talked to someone who said that t may be better to buy a refurbed crank rather than replace one or two bearings if bad.

SO should I throw 1500 more inot this thing, or part it out and get something else. When it works it rocks great. But it is getting old

Seems like 1500 is alot to throw into a 9 year old sled. Maybe find a used motor and put in it, and sell it and get something newer.

I personaly wouldnt put $1,500 into a 97 its gettin old and it has over 7 thousnad miles, every thing is gonna start going now, Iwould get a new sled

Find a place that make bearings and get them made for your crank. Theres a place down here in northbay that make bearings and there 1/3rd of AC price. I would rebuild that motor without a doubt. It wont cost you even close to 1500 if you shop around.

Ya wut hyperflow said, shop around and get it fixed..with a sled like that, it may be old but can blow by the new sleds easily. I'd invest a bit of money and im sure it wont cost you half of that.

Just got a used lower end for my roomates 98 zl500 on ebay for ~$400 complete with cases, crank, oil pump, water pump and carb boots on it. Everything was very clean and suposedly had 700 miles on it. The zl's running great now. It pays to shop around; just wait for a deal and rebuild it.