deglazing and rings

[fuelcat]

Hi I was told that since I was replacing the base gasket that I should deglaze the cylinders and put new rings. My bike (1981 GS550L) has 20,000 miles on it. I had no problems with the engine and none of the gaskets were leaking but I had to take the head off because of a broken bolt. The rings are in spec and I can still see the cross hatching in the cylinders. I was reading other threads and some were saying if the ring are in spec you may be able to reuse them but you should still deglaze the cylinder. I ordered a flex hone online for the size 55-57mm 350 grit. My cylinder is 56mm.

Is there a chance that deglazing the cylinder will make the rings not fit as well? Like I said I can still see some of the original cross hatching.

Will it be over doing it if I run that flex hone through it?

Should I get new rings even though these rings are in great shape and are in spec?

If I get new rings should they be the same size as the originals or should they be oversized?

Thanks for your help

[niclpnut]

Won't be overdoing it to run the flex hone through. That's the smart route to go. You might be able to reuse the rings, but why not just go ahead and put new ones in.

Then you would be half way to a fresh top end on your 20k bike.

The rings should be the same size. If you get oversized rings then you would need oversized pistons and cylinders honed/overbored. As long as the cylinders are in spec then you want standard size rings.

While you have the head off, it might be worth the extra couple hours and $50 to pull the valves, put in new stem seals and lap the valves back in.

When you pull the head its strongly recomended to replace the base gasket even if you don't plan on messing with the rings/cylinders.

Nic

[Nessism]

Yes on the new valve stem seals. Very important detail here.

Not sure about honing when reusing the same rings. If the rings were sealing well before, they will again. Honing just wears metal away. Have to admit though, I'm not sure about this detail.

Good luck

[Roger P.]

Why spend time and money on repairs that aren't going to be necessary for tens of thousands of miles and many seasons of riding? You'll probably sell the bike before any of this will be necessary. Who even knows if parts will be around then? Honing cylinders without putting new rings in is just accelerating the wear cycle of the current ring set, that are already seated and within spec. They only break in once.

[tkent02]

They only break in once.

Not true, the rings can be reused, even in a different cylinder if it is honed.
They will break in to the new cylinder.

To re use them in the same cylinder, some folks just put them back in, some will re hone the cylinder and do the whole break in process again.

Is your compression perfect or just adequate?

20,000 miles is nothing for a 550, if the compression is great, and there is no wear I'd re use them. Hone it or not, I would hone them. Some do, some don't.

[fuelcat]

yes the compression was great the bikes engine is in great shape! I only had issues with the carbs in which I had to buy new ones on craigs list then rebuilt those. Last paid machanic broke float tower and tried to wield it. It never ran right after I got it back from the machanic and I did not know why so it just sat. I am the second owner of this bike and I have had it for about 20 years. It has been garaged most of the time.I decided to try to get it going myself so this is my first time wrenching.

will the bike smoke if the rings are breaking in?

[tkent02]

will the bike smoke if the rings are breaking in?

It shouldn't smoke at all, and if it does it should stop right away.

If it smokes a lot for a long time there is a problem.

I slapped a GS 1000 together, pistons and rings from one bike, cylinders from another, carbs from over here, head from over there, literally assembled a motorcycle out of a few parts bins. Didn't smoke at all, it actually ran like a bat out of Hell until the moron who bought it dumped it and broke the engine case open.

[rustybronco]

I didn't hone the '80 when I had the cylinders off I.
I plan on deglazing the 1000's cylinders and reusing the old rings when I get that far.

[fuelcat]

Oh wow! That would turn my stomach if I did all that on a bike and it got wrecked like that!

On a off note..My chain guard is bent up. Can I just leave it off or will oil and dirt spit every were. I am thinking of going in a cafe racer style on my bike but I was wondering if the rear fender and chain guard is removed would it make it messy to ride?

[fuelcat]

I didn't hone the '80 when I had the cylinders off I.
I plan on deglazing the 1000's cylinders and reusing the old rings when I get that far.

good to know. I already purchased the Flex hone tool so I guess I will use it. I will go very light on it. I am going to resale the hone tool for less if any one is interested.

[fuelcat]

Here are some pics of my cylinders

[fuelcat]

another cylinder

[fuelcat]

Piston I started to clean it. it has some scratches on the side but they are not deep. does it look ok?

[fuelcat]

here is the other side of the number one piston

[fuelcat]

one last pic of the top, I am going to clean the rest of the carbon off today